Pet Industry Federation (PIF) chief executive Nigel Baker has called on the UK pet industry to look beyond the domestic market for growth and to start to rebuild a distinctive British presence overseas.
While the PetQuip organisation used to provide a focal point for UK exhibitors abroad, since the body ceased trading earlier this year British exhibitors have lacked co-ordination at international trade shows, argued Baker.
He said: “Walk into one of the world’s major pet trade shows and you will see countries making themselves visible. National pavilions and innovation areas give buyers an obvious place to discover new products and meet businesses from around the world. But where is the UK?
“British pet businesses are still exhibiting internationally, but increasingly they are scattered across enormous exhibition halls with no obvious focal point for buyers specifically looking for British products. The Pet Industry Federation believes it is time to change that.”
Although Brexit has made exporting more complicated, with additional paperwork, certification and border requirements for businesses selling pet food, treats and other products of animal origin into Europe, Baker maintained that PIF can use its collective strength to negotiate with international exhibition organisers over space, location, packages and rates.
He continued: “PIF is already helping companies navigate the paperwork and practical requirements involved in exporting and supporting businesses trying to understand how to get their products into international markets.
“Where we secure discounts or other commercial advantages, our intention is to use that value to make participation as attractive and affordable as possible for the businesses taking part.”
Baker pointed out that there are grounds for optimism for British exporters, with the UK and EU working towards a new sanitary and phytosanitary agreement which, once implemented, is expected to remove many of the barriers affecting trade in food, animal and plant products between Great Britain and the EU.
He said: “Our ambition is to develop PIF UK Pavilions and UK Innovation Centres that become destinations within the exhibitions themselves – distinctive, highly visible areas that buyers actively want to visit with strong UK branding, open and inviting layouts, product discovery, demonstrations, meeting and networking areas and other activity can give buyers a reason to come in and spend time there.
“We want to promote participating British companies and their products to international buyers and distributors in advance, so the UK area is already on their list of places to visit when they arrive.”
Baker added: “Other countries continue to invest in making their businesses visible internationally. We have to think differently, work collectively and be proud of what Britain produces.
“You don’t have to conquer the world overnight. Sometimes exporting starts with one exhibition, one distributor or one conversation with the right buyer.”
