British food brands push exports at SIAL Paris

Thirty fast-growing British food and drink brands met international buyers at SIAL Paris as the sector works toward £35 billion in exports by 2035. The showcase highlighted innovation, France’s role as a key market and the UK’s push to win more premium export business.

Why it matters: - The UK food and drink sector is using SIAL Paris to sell its next growth story: more premium, higher-value exports. - The industry posted £25.7 billion in food, drink and animal feed exports in 2025. - The sector’s target is £35 billion in exports by 2035. - France remains a major market, taking £2.9 billion of UK food, feed and drink exports in 2025. - A possible UK-EU sanitary and phytosanitary deal could make cross-border agri-food trade simpler, faster and more predictable.

What happened: - Thirty emerging British brands showcased products at the UK Innovation zone at SIAL Paris from Oct. 17-21. - The pavilion brought in international buyers to meet companies shaping trends in food and drink. - Stephen Morgan MP, the UK minister of state for environment, food and rural affairs, visited the showcase and met exhibitors. - The brands on display included XOXO Soda, Wildfarmed, Bold Bean Co, Bio & Me, Symplicity, Crosta Mollica, TRIP and Tiba Tempeh. - More than 75 international buyers visited London ahead of SIAL Paris for a buyer-seller event tied to the GREAT Food and Drink campaign. - The participating brands were also featured at a reception hosted by the British embassy during the fair.

The details: - The showcase featured products spanning regenerative agriculture, plant-based innovation, functional foods, premium ingredients, and products blending indulgence with wellness. - The UK used the Innovation zone to position its food and drink sector as one of the world’s most inventive and dynamic. - The export push is aimed at connecting UK producers with buyers around the world. - Growth is expected to come more from value than volume, driven by premium and branded products. - Barney Mauleverer, chair of the Food and Drink Exporters Association and founder of Future of Food, said buyers come to SIAL to find what is next in the sector. - Mauleverer said innovation, not heritage alone, is now winning orders for British brands. - John Farrand, chief executive of the Guild of Fine Food, said the Innovation zone showed the creativity and quality currently driving the UK sector. - Farrand said the exhibitors collectively hold nearly 200 Great Taste awards, including 158 one-star awards, 29 two-star awards and four three-star awards. - The British government said the fair showed the talent, creativity and export potential of the UK food and drink industry.

Between the lines: - The UK is leaning on innovation to differentiate itself in crowded export markets, not just on origin or tradition. - The emphasis on premium, branded products suggests the sector wants to grow export value even if volumes stay flat. - The push for easier EU trade matters because the EU remains a critical market for British food and drink. - Paris gave UK brands a chance to turn trade-show visibility into buyer relationships and longer-term export deals.

What's next: - UK and EU negotiators are continuing work on a future SPS agreement. - If completed, the deal is expected to reduce certification, declarations and physical checks. - The FDEA says it will keep working market by market and buyer by buyer to support the path to £35 billion in exports by 2035. - UK food and drink exporters are likely to keep using GREAT Food and Drink as a platform to reach overseas buyers.

The bottom line: - Britain is pitching food innovation as its export advantage, and SIAL Paris was the latest test of how far that strategy can go.