The first half of 2025 has been marked by renewed uncertainty for international traders, as US tariffs and geopolitical instability have hit global trade. However, international appetite for the UK’s food and drink products remains strong, as consumers flock to buy ‘brand Britain’.
In the Chartered Institute for Export & International Trade’s customs whitepaper, ‘Growing Trade’, trade and customs specialist Joseph Goldsworthy offered five key strategies for boosting your food and drink exports in 2025.
The free guide covers a number of different areas – including taking advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs), labelling your products and perfecting your paperwork – explaining how to make sure your food and drink trade survives and thrives this year.
Embrace ESG
The fourth way to boost your exports is by embracing sustainability.
Today’s consumers are increasingly conscious about the environment and business ethics.
Over three quarters (78%) of respondents to a US survey in 2020 said that a sustainable lifestyle is important to them and influences the products they purchase.
With growing concerns about climate change, and what can be done to protect the environment, it is crucially important that companies adopt an environment, social and governance (ESG) policy into their working practices and goals.
Implementing environmental policies, or demonstrating how the company applies social policies, may draw consumers and distributors in other markets to your product. It is also important to adopt ESG principles if looking to continue exports in certain regions.
Deforestation
With the delayed EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) now set to be introduced at the end of 2025, those importing or exporting products like cocoa to Europe will need to pay keen attention to its provisions.
Adherence to this regulation could dictate whether your brand can continue to export to the EU.
Similarly, the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has come into force, meaning that larger companies, as well as certain SMEs, need to publish social and environmental information about their business.
Keep up
The world of ESG is quickly evolving, and staff will need to be up to date to apply any directives into their practice.
The Chartered Institute offers a specialised ESG course to give traders the tools to do just this.
Members can also enjoy exclusive Lunchtime Learning webinars covering ESG issues, while these topics are also explored in our member-exclusive Food and Drink Special Interest Group.
If you’re not currently a Chartered Institute member and you’d like to benefit from member-exclusive content to improve your FTA knowledge of FTAs, as well as access to a host of other products, explore membership with us here.
The Chartered Institute is also hosting a free webinar on growing your food and drink exports at 2pm on 21 May. You can sign up here.
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