France's love for UK food exports driving demand for cheap postage options, claims Parcels Please

According to information from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), exports from the UK increased for the sixth consecutive year in 2010. With exports to the value of £10.83 billion, the industry enjoyed a 11.4 per cent increase on the levels for 2009.

While the majority of the exported food went to Ireland - despite its recent economic troubles - a large portion of the UK's exports were sent to France. The Netherlands, Germany and Spain additionally remained popular destinations for UK produce while other countries, such as Hong Kong, the USA and the UAE, also enjoyed a boom.

Overall, the produce most highly desired by other countries came from the dairy sector, but fish and meat also enjoyed a significant increase. What's more, prepared foods such as soups, sauces, rice and ice cream, as well as baking products and cereal, all received a boost in 2010.

A spokesperson for international delivery experts (http://www.parcelsplease.co.uk/) Parcels Please said that many people may be surprised by the most commonly exported foods: "Here in the UK there are a lot of people who think we are lagging behind other countries when it comes to fine food - especially when you're talking about cheeses and meats - as there are so many other European countries like France and Italy who enjoy a much better reputation.

"But that's just not the case, the UK is home to some fantastic produce, and the news that dairy was the most popular export just goes to show we can compete with the big boys when it comes to products such as cheese or yoghurt."

The report from the FDF supports the belief the food and drink industry in the UK is an important one for the economy as a whole, and Food and Farming Minister Jim Paice has spoken out about how important the export sector is to the UK's producers.

Reliance on the export business means that postage and packaging companies who deal with overseas orders could find that their services are more frequently in demand. Furthermore, for local producers who are struggling to capitalise on the popularity of UK food stuffs, a cheap delivery service can make all the difference to their profits.

According to Parcels Please, this margin can be the difference between a successful business and a struggling one. A spokesman explained: "When you're operating on a tight margin, any extra cost savings can make a huge difference to your business. Many local producers have been hit by the effects of the recession and there are some who are struggling to survive.

"While news that UK exports remain strong is welcome, businesses need to be able to utilise things such as services offering (http://www.parcelsplease.co.uk/cheapest-parcels-to-europe/de...) cheap parcels to France and other countries with a high demand for UK goods, to help them make sure they are turning a profit and continuing to benefit the country's economy as a whole."