UK food and farming secretary Caroline Spelman has pledged the coalition’s “support” for a target drawn up by the country’s food sector to grow by 20% by 2020.

The Food and Drink Federation, the industry association for UK food and soft drink manufacturers, outlined its target in a new report published yesterday (14 December).

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Speaking at an event marking the launch of the report, Spelman called the industry’s goal “ambitious” but added: “I’m pleased to see that you have that ambition.”

Spelman said the sector would be “a very important player in the growth and recovery that this country needs” and cited the work industry and government had undertaken to improve the country’s food exports.

Since promotional body Food From Britain was wound up in 2009 following the end of government funding, there have been concerns that UK food manufacturers have not had adequate support to expand overseas in comparision to competitors in other countries.

The FDF’s report contained research from Grant Thornton, which claimed rival manufacturers in many countries were backed by “aggressive state-backed plans” to increase their exports.

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However, Spelman pointed to the formation of a food and drink export forum, co-chaired by food and farming minister Jim Paice and Paul Grimwood, the chief executive of Nestle’s UK operations. In January, the forum will launch an “export action plan” to determine how to drive the industry’s exports, Spelman said.

“This is going to be such an important part of our export-led recovery and I really do want you to hear that from a government minister who sees your role in that important approach to helping this country recover,” Spelman said.

She added that she had asked the UK Trade & Investment government department to help act as a “bridgehead” for exporters into emerging markets.

“The emerging markets are complex markets and we need to be up there with our competitors, providing you with all the assistance that we can to make sure that you can take the opportunity of the growth rates in those emerging markets,” she said.

In the first six months of the year, UK food and soft drink export revenues climbed 13.1%.