Britain’s Love Affair with Italian Food Keeps Trade Flourishing

Remember being told by some anti-Brexiteers that if the UK voted for Brexit we wouldn't be able to enjoy Italian foods or wines at home? It turns out that this has not been the case.

Because from pasta suppers and pizza nights to a good espresso or a glass of Italian wine, Britain’s enthusiasm for Italian flavours shows little sign of fading. 

Now, the latest trade figures underline just how valuable that relationship has become.

Analysis from the Economic Observatory of Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, updated in June 2026, shows that food, beverages and tobacco were Italy’s largest export category to the UK in 2025. 

Together, they were worth €4.56 billion, accounting for 16.9% of Italian exports to Britain. Although the category includes tobacco, the figures highlight the commercial importance of products associated with Italy’s internationally recognised food and drink culture.

The wider trading relationship is substantial, too. Bilateral trade reached €34.5 billion in 2025, with Italy exporting €26.99 billion to the UK and importing €7.5 billion of British goods. That left Italy with a trade surplus of almost €19.5 billion.

Trade has continued into 2026, with Italian exports to Britain reaching €8.64 billion between January and April, producing a further surplus of €5.93 billion.

For British food retailers, restaurant operators and importers, these figures help explain why relationships with Italian producers remain commercially important. The UK was Italy’s sixth-largest export market in the first quarter of 2026, accounting for 4% of its total exports. Italy also ranks as Britain’s seventh-largest supplier, with a 3.3% share of the UK import market.

Of course, bringing products across borders involves more than finding something delicious. Businesses must also manage trading requirements and establish reliable connections. One initiative helping suppliers and buyers make those connections is OpportunItaly.

Launched in May 2025, the platform reports generating nearly 170,000 qualified leads. It offers business matching, export guidance, market reports and trade opportunities across ten strategic Made in Italy sectors, including agri-food, and 20 international markets, among them the UK.

Its “Trade Fair Beyond the Trade Fair” approach aims to keep conversations going after exhibition stands have been packed away. During 2026, it supported Italian exhibitors at LAMMA Birmingham and IFE London. Meanwhile, its Buyers Club provides tailored support, manufacturer introductions and access to leading trade events.

For food lovers, the attraction is straightforward: opportunities to discover Italian products and the people behind them. For businesses, stronger connections could help turn that appetite into lasting partnerships.

Britain’s affection for Italian food is familiar. These figures show that it also remains a significant ingredient in the trading relationship between the two countries.

Discover the Story of Palestinian Wine with Nabeeth’s New Online Shop

UK wine lovers can now explore the distinctive flavours and rich heritage of Palestinian winemaking from home, thanks to the launch of a new online shop from Nabeeth Wine & Spirits.

Founded by Palestinian chef and author Fadi Kattan and wine professional Anna Patrowicz, Nabeeth is a UK-based importer and distributor dedicated to giving Palestinian wines the recognition they deserve.

Its newly launched shop features a carefully curated selection from producers including Cremisan, Taybeh, Ashkar and Jascala. The collection offers British consumers an opportunity to discover wines influenced by Mediterranean climates, ancient agricultural landscapes and generations of winemaking knowledge.

Palestine’s relationship with wine stretches back thousands of years. Vines continue to flourish on historic terraces around Bethlehem, Hebron, Ramallah and areas further north, growing alongside olive and fig trees.

Today’s Palestinian winemakers are building upon that remarkable heritage while developing contemporary expressions of their land. Their wines include bottles made with familiar international varieties as well as indigenous grapes whose qualities and histories are only beginning to reach audiences outside Palestine.

For Fadi Kattan, whose culinary work has long helped tell the stories of Palestinian food and culture, wine provides another powerful connection to land, memory and place.

“Palestinian wine tells a story that deserves to be tasted,” he told That's Food and Drink.

“Behind every bottle are people, vineyards, landscapes and generations of knowledge. Nabeeth is about creating a space for those stories in the UK and allowing people to discover Palestine through what grows from its land.”

Nabeeth works directly with its producers, importing and distributing their wines while developing relationships with restaurants, sommeliers, independent retailers and members of the wider UK wine community. Its online shop now enables individual drinkers to explore the portfolio directly.

Anna Patrowicz, a WSET Diploma wine professional, believes modern consumers are increasingly eager to discover unfamiliar wine-producing regions and grape varieties.

“Palestinian wines can surprise people,” she explained to us. “They have their own character and sense of place, and part of our work at Nabeeth is giving people the opportunity to approach them first and foremost as wines.”

The shop’s launch is about more than introducing another range of bottles. It provides access to a vibrant, living wine culture and an opportunity to encounter Palestine through its vineyards, producers and remarkable wines.

The Nabeeth online shop is now open, with delivery available throughout the UK. Visit shop.nabeeth.co.uk to explore the collection.

Hangovers hurt, so drink carefully!

EU Reset: The Biggest U-Turn to Date

Mike Parr

This article is written by Mike Parr (pictured) who is the CEO UK & Ireland, PML Seafrigo and published by That's Food and Drink as a public service.

In 2016, 52% of the UK voted to leave the European Union in what is now referred to as the Brexit referendum. According to Parliament UK a referendum is when a question is decided by putting it to a public vote. Referendums are an example of direct democracy. Clearly, we no longer live in a democracy.

Yesterday's EU reset announcement makes a mockery of the last nine years. During this period, businesses in the supply chain associated with the fresh produce industry have put a huge amount of time, effort – not to mention significant financial investment - to establish appropriate protocols within the new Brexit trading landscape. 

Producers, logistics suppliers, industry stakeholders and government representatives attended countless meetings to work towards a solution which would allow a fair and seamless transfer of produce into and out of the UK. To say this has been a difficult road to travel is an understatement. The challenging number of U-turns, the persistent failure to listen to those working within the sector, the inability to meet deadlines, the constant whitewashing to suit each government's agenda, I could go on. 

Many companies – including PML Seafrigo – have worked tirelessly to try and remain ahead of the curve and to be “Brexit fit”. In our case, we went as far as investing in a transport and logistics hub with remote HMRC / Defra approved Border Control Post status to enable a faster transit of consignments out of the Port of Dover. 

The site incorporated specialist inspection amenities for Defra personnel. We addressed the need for best-in-class facilities for drivers to match the fundamental services available to them in other European countries. We were at the front of the queue to apply for training to acquire Authorised Operator Status.

Just two weeks ago, discussions were held regarding the much-anticipated plant health border checks, due to commence 1st July.  Baroness Hayman insisted there was to be no easement on the deadline and that the new required checks would be rolled out – this despite the issues the industry has repeatedly flagged concerning Sevington's inability to cope with the required level of inspections. We also voiced our concerns regarding the absence of a definitive list of produce classified as Medium Risk, the lack of clarity regarding the Common User Charge and the unacceptably long evaluation of the pilot Authorised Operator scheme.

And now the Prime Minister has acted unilaterally to reset the rules. Without consulting the nation. Whatever your political persuasion, the fact remains that Brexit was the choice of the UK population, this maverick behaviour is inconsistent with the notion that Britain is a democracy.

We are now faced with the biggest U-turn of them all. And true to form, without any firm guidance to those affected most. There are no specific timings on when the new SPS protocol will start which will cause further bedlam at the border. In the absence of clear guidance, do we default to the original BTOM plans due to come into effect on 1st July or are we able to kickstart the Authorised Operator Status scheme? 

Is the government planning to rollout official inspections throughout a 24/7 window? No thought has been given to the negative impact of inspection checks for non-EU fresh produce, which as Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive at the FPC correctly states accounts for 50% of fresh produce imports. These are countries that have stood by the UK during what can only be described as highly turbulent times. 

We've forged excellent working relationships with non-EU suppliers to maintain the year-round supply of produce. 

How can it be fair to now penalise those that have helped us simply because the government has failed miserably in its attempt to deliver on a cohesive border strategy? And has the government given any thought as to how businesses might be reimbursed for all the time and money spent on working towards the original Brexit plan?

The consumer will be oblivious to all the preparations made by those in the supply chain following the EU exit,  to ensure compliance with the government's instructions. They may be about to find out with the chaos that is about to ensue. 

I truly despair as to what the future holds.