Tesco sees huge potential for RP food products in UK

Philippine food manufacturers of fruit juices, biscuits, and other comfort foods have a huge potential market in the United Kingdom, according to Nicholas Orledge, a consultant for the UK who worked as a senior buyer for Tesco.

Tesco is a UK-based international supermarket chain and the largest British retailer in terms of global sales and domestic market share.

Orledge said that the UK’s rising population and increasing immigrants have led to a globalized food consumption patterns among British.

It has also resulted in the growth of exotic foods. According to Orledge, Philippine food products would gain attention from British consumers through trade fairs in their country, dissemination of promotional materials, and by following their food standards.

Orledge pointed out that since Britons are very concerned when it comes to food, Filipino manufacturers should comply with strict UK regulations in order to gain deals.

The British food expert was in Manila recently as guest speaker during the IFEX Symposium Series: The Global Challenge of Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance in the United Kingdom which was organized by the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) and the Brand Management Team for food of the Department of Trade and Industry.

During the symposium, Orledge introduced the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Food Technical Standard which was developed and is used as an evaluation of the retailers’ own brand food products.

This Standard is regarded as the benchmark for best practice in the food industry.

It is now used outside the UK and has evolved into a global standard, not only to assess the retailers’ supplies, but also to serve as a framework by which companies base their supplier assessment programs.

Orledge advised the symposium participants that Philippine food manufacturers who wish to market in UK should pass the BRC’s qualifications.