Leading industry players discuss need for more strategic approach to retailers and wholesalers and focus on new, premium varieties
The Spanish food and wine industry has a great opportunity to deepen ties with the UK and boost sales of a wide range of products from fresh fruit and vegetables to cheese and ham.
That was the key message from the 2024 Spain Food Nation Summit, held at London’s Royal Over-Seas League in London on 9 September. Leading figures from both the Spanish and UK food and wine sectors met at the summit to discuss the importance of trade between the two countries and the opportunity to further promote quality Spanish products.
The high-level event was organised by promotional body Foods and Wines from Spain and was attended by nearly 100 senior figures including both Spanish agriculture minister Luis Planas and the ambassador José Pascual Marco.
The summit featured presentations from Red Communications managing director John Valentine on the findings of the Wine Advisory Council that met earlier this year, and Edwin Reyes, agri-food consultant at Promar International, who outlined the potential to increase sales of Spanish cheese in the UK.
Three roundtable discussions at the summit focused upon the particular challenges and opportunities within key product sectors. The Fresh Produce debate was chaired by Fruitnet Europe MD Mike Knowles, and featured panellists John Shopshire, executive chairman of G’s, AMFresh UK chief commercial officer Mark Player and Ventina Partners founder Matt Hancock.
Spain is already the largest fruit and vegetable supplier to the UK, but in his analysis of the market, Reyes said there is further opportunity for Spain to cement and even increase its share by adopting a more strategic approach to both the leading retailers and wholesale markets, together with focusing on introducing new and premium produce varieties.
Aside from the presentations and discussions, the Spain Food Nation Summit featured product sampling and a Cava Bar.
“The event was a great success and a brilliant opportunity for key figures in both the UK and Spanish food and wine sectors to discuss both the barriers and potential for getting more high-quality Spanish product into both UK restaurants and supermarkets,” said Fernando Muñoz, director of Foods & Wine from Spain.
“From the high-level presentations and conversations it was clear that despite an already strong and well-established trading relationship in a number of categories, there is still plenty of room for further growth.”
