FOOD and drink exports increased 14.8 per cent in 2011, compared with 2010, worth £18.1 billion, according to recent figures from the Food and Drink Federation.

The strong export figures in both mature and emerging markets has left the sector well placed to enjoy a period of prolonged growth, Yorkshire Bank has said.

Ireland remains Britain’s number one export destination, exports to China increased by 55 per cent and to Poland, by 49 per cent. Exports to Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia increased by 41 per cent and 14 per cent last year, while in the EU exports to the Netherlands and Belgium grew by about 30 per cent.

The growth in Asian markets can be partly put down to changing eating habits, with more westernised products being bought by wealthier customers. While their supermarkets may not yet be widely stocked with UK products, there is a growing trend for specialist shops to carry well-known brands, with meat and cereals amongst the leading growing markets.

David Lee, head of food and drink at Yorkshire Bank, based at North Yorkshire Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) York, said: “A change in eating habits in Asian countries has seen a substantial increase in the flow of Western products.

“Dairy and meat products grew by 220 per cent in China alone last year, with demand looking to remain strong in the long term. The Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will create a natural interest in the UK in the coming months, which will offer British companies opportunities to turn casual interest into business opportunities.”