On Wednesday 14 May 2014, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Trade & Investment held a Food & Drink Exports Event in the House of Commons.
Nestlé UK & Ireland CEO Fiona Kendrick was one of the guest speakers and brought to life our export business for the assembled guests including MPs.
Fiona highlighted the remarkable competitiveness of the Nestlé Tutbury factory, the centre of excellence for coffee production including Nescafé Original, Gold Blend and Dolce Gusto. There has also been a significant investment of over £300 million over the last three years to both the factory and the Nescafé Dolce Gusto plant, creating over 300 jobs in the process and enhancing the warehouse facilities.
In 2014, the factory will produce over two billion Dolce Gusto capsules – 87% of which will be exported to over 50 countries. She also outlined the need for the UK to remain a competitive and attractive market for inward investment and for business and Government to work even more effectively together to meet the shared goal of 20% food and drink industry sector by 2020.
Speaking at the event, Fiona said:
“Tutbury represents a major manufacturing success story, not just for Nestlé, but also for the UK as a whole and for the region in particular. It creates jobs, generates exports and attracts inbound investment to the region.
The Tutbury example underlines that is it vital for UK exports that this country remains a competitive and attractive market for inward investment. As an industry we would like to see the Government, commit to the same level of food and drink export support as peer nations and specifically Ireland, Germany, France and Italy. There has never been a better time for UK food and drink companies to start exporting”.
Lord Livingston, Minister for Trade & Investment, also spoke at the event which was chaired by Margot James MP and afterwards guests were able to sample Dolce Gusto for themselves at a showcase reception for the food & drink industry.