Brexit 'will not stop Spanish produce being enjoyed in UK'

BREXIT should not stop British people enjoying Spanish food and drink, given that exports from the Mediterranean country to the UK have 'increased significantly' in the last two or three years and demand is not expected to decrease much, if at all, says an industry expert.

José Antoni Valls of the food and drink fair Alimentaria says there should not be any changes to the bilateral relations between the two countries after October 31, since British consumers 'are demanding more and more wine, fruit and vegetables, meat and olive oil'.

These relations remain healthy, Valls stresses – Spain is the second-largest exporter of food produce to the UK, only beaten by The Netherlands, which is popular because of being geographically closer.

A total of 6.7% of Spain's food exports go to the UK, Valls reveals.

“Structurally, food and agricultural produce exported from Spain to Britain have increased significantly in the last two or three years,” Valls, who is currently in London fronting the Alimentaria fair, explains.

Rather than this major hike in demand being a case of 'Brexit stockpiling', Valls believes it is more down to a 'growing British acceptance' of Spanish food and drink, 'value for money' and the fact that 'Spain is a completely accessible market'.

Spanish influence is more visible than ever in British supermarkets, cafés and restaurants nowadays – chorizo, juice from Valencia oranges, tortilla (Spanish omelette), brava spicy sauce for patatas bravas, all i oli and other Mediterranean groceries are now mainstream in the UK, and café cortado is served in high-street coffee chains such as Costa and Starbucks.

Last year, the most in-demand Spanish product was wine - even though New World varieties and French and Italian wines are the most prolific, cava is being seen as a viable alternative to Prosecco and a cheaper alternative to champagne, and Castillo de Liria retails at over four times the price it sells for in Spanish supermarkets, which is still considered a reasonable price – and, in total, accounted for €311 million in sales to wine-makers in Spain.

Tinned fruit and frozen vegetables, and olive oil, were the second- and third-most purchased Spanish goods, valued at €309m and €163m respectively.

Valls believes the 'different scenarios' which could result through Brexit will not take the focus off Spanish producers in favour of other markets, since 'it all depends upon many variables'.

These 'variables' include 'factors in the receptor market', and whether the produce is 'fresh, perishable, or staple' – but overall, Valls believes, it will be the end consumer in the UK who will 'feel the effects of Brexit in their pocket'.

“Concerns are there, but concerns are one thing and alarmism is another – we need to wait and see,” Valls says.

“Of course, other repercussions of the UK's leaving the European Union might affect production volume – such as the depreciation of the pound sterling.”

But overall, the message from Alimentaria to the British consumer is a positive one: “There's a bilateral relation in the food and drink industry that's here to stay.”

“It's going to carry on the same, in the sense that the British consumer likes Spanish wine and these preferences are not going to change – even if habits have to change because of higher prices,” Valls stresses.

“The UK is a growing market, which is in our interest, and where we need to reinforce our brands and our reputation.”

Alimentaria is next on in Barcelona, over April 20-23.

It started travelling the globe in 1996 and averaged around 6,000 visitors at each fair, but has now reached 45,000.

From 2020, the firm will also be running the Alimentaria Trends show, where the latest all-the-rage cooking and serving techniques, recipes and produce including organic, allergy-friendly, halal and delicatessen will be exhibited.