Yorkshire food specialists to boost US export sales on Northern Powerhouse trade mission

A dozen Yorkshire-based specialist food producers are set to be part of a Northern Powerhouse trade mission to the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco later this month.

The Wensleydale Creamery, Cartwright & Butler and Shepherd’s Purse are among the region’s companies that are looking to boost exports to North America and other overseas markets by joining the trade event at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California.

The event runs from 22nd to 24th January 2017 and is the largest in its 42-year history with thousands of food and beverage companies from the US and 30 other nations displaying their products.

Organised by the Department for International Trade (DIT), the mission has attracted 21 businesses from the Northern Powerhouse region, including 12 from Yorkshire and the Humber.

Mark Robson, DIT regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “The value of Yorkshire and the Humber businesses meeting existing and potential customers on the DIT’s Northern Powerhouse trade missions can never be underestimated and often translates into valuable orders.

“We’re genuinely pleased to provide the opportunity for The Wensleydale Creamery, Cartwright & Butler, Shepherd’s Purse and all the other Yorkshire and the Humber businesses attending WFF to grow and start successful export business in North America and further afield.”

50% of overseas trade for The Wensleydale Creamery, based at Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales, is generated from export sales to North America. The company also sells in markets around mainland Europe, Australia, Asia and The Middle East.

The firm’s delegation to WFF 2017 comprises export manager Janette Scarth, managing director David Hartley and business and product development director Phil Jones.

Joining The Wensleydale Creamery on the Northern Powerhouse mission is Cartwight & Butler, the provider of speciality foods and beverages based in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Having recently won an export order for its sweet and savoury biscuits, preserves and chutneys to Galeries Lafayette department stores in Paris, Marseille and Nice and already trading throughout mainland Europe, Scandinavia, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, the firm is now looking to expand trade with North America.

Cartwright & Butler is making its debut at WFF with managing director Tony Arnett and new product development advisor Pamela Arnett showcasing a wide range of products while also attending the stand of the firm’s distributor in North America.

Shepherd’s Purse, the independent, family-owned artisan cheesemaker with more than 30 staff at Newsham, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, is also making the trip to WFF.

The company’s range of handmade ewe’s milk and cow’s milk cheeses are available in the UK via specialist wholesalers, independents and blue-chip retailers and abroad via wholesalers, but Shepherd’s Purse aims to become a first-time direct exporter by securing orders from the event.

Caroline Bell, co-managing director with her sister Katie, and sales account manager Amy O’Brien will display Yorkshire Blue, Harrogate Blue, Mrs Bell’s Blue and Yorkshire Fettle.

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