PM hosts spring showcase at Downing Stree to promote best of British business

The UK Prime Minister has hosted a spring showcase at Downing Street today to fly the flag for British food and consumer goods and showcase small independent businesses who are exporting their goods internationally.

Ten businesses held market stalls across Downing Street to exhibit their fineste products including Blaenafon Cheddar Company, a Welsh family business, IGS Vertical Farming, based in Scotland and Dogtooth Technologies, a technology start-up building state-of-the-art intelligent robots for soft fruit picking. 

The Prime Minister was joined by Cabinet Ministers including the International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Environment Secretary George Eustice and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng who also met with stallholders. 

There are now more opportunities than ever for businesses thanks to the trade deals that have been agreed across 70 nations, including countries in the EU - accounting for £808 billion of UK bilateral trade in 2021. We had the fastest economic growth in the G7 last year and international trade is essential in achieving our mission to level up and drive growth across the whole country.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:   

“Putting the best of British business on the global market is a vital part of growing our economy – with exports bringing £640.3 billion last year alone.

“Every corner of the UK is filled with exceptionally talented businesses and I’m delighted that today we have been able to showcase some of the best of what this country has to offer.”

Those invited to the event also include the Founder and CEO of Genius Foods, Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, also chair of Scotland Food and Drink, Michael Bell, CEO of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA) and Chair of the Food and Drink Federation Karen Betts who works closely with the Department for International Trade as the voice of the UK food industry. 

International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said:

“It’s fantastic to see so many examples of great UK businesses thriving thanks to the trade and export opportunities we’ve made available to them. 

“As we continue our journey as an independent free-trading nation our Export Strategy offers a wealth of support for existing as well as new-to-market traders.

“We’re rightly proud of our small business exporters, and I want to see more of our brilliant products made here in the UK sold to the world.”

 CEO of St Evals Ian Greaves said:

“As a British manufacturer based in rural Cornwall, we are delighted to be given the opportunity to showcase St. Eval alongside some of the best of British business at this event. 

“People and planet are at the very heart of all that we do and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to share our passion for sustainability far and wide. From using renewable energy to power our factory, through to plastic-free packaging and protecting and nurturing the natural world around us; high-quality craftmanship and minimising our environmental impact are of the utmost importance. 

“In recognition of our commitment to sustainability, in 2021 we were honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. As the first-ever Queen’s Award for a candle manufacturer, we strive to set the standard for actions to preserve the natural world around us and pioneer leadership in sustainable British manufacturing.”

Last year the Government launched an Export Strategy which will help businesses across the UK double exports and sell their world-class products around the globe. The 12-point export strategy will give businesses the tools they need to become a nation of exporters and reap the benefits of our free trade deals.

Further information on stallholders  

Blaenafon Cheddar Company - (Blaenafon, Wales) 

Blaenafon Cheddar company is a family business situated in the heart of the Blaenafon world heritage site. They specialise in producing handmade Welsh cheddar cheeses and soft Welsh goats’ cheeses. 

Dogtooth Technologies – (Cambridge, England) 

Dogtooth is a Cambridge-based technology start-up that develops, manufactures, and sells state-of-the-art intelligent fruit picking robots. The company operates the largest fleet of fruit picking robots in the world. 

Flawsome! Drinks – (Cardiff, Wales) 

Flawsome Drinks use wonky and surplus fruit to turn them into healthy and sustainable drinks, helping to tackle food waste. Their business saves 20,000 tonnes of wonky fruit and vegetables and is committed donating 1 million drinks to charities around the UK.

Hawkshead Relish – (Cumbria, England) 

Hawkshead Relish Company is an artisan producer of award-winning preserves based in the historic village of Hawkshead. The business is now a multi–Award Winning Artisan Food Producer, shipping their 100+ product range worldwide. 

IGS Vertical Farming – (Edinburgh, Scotland) 

Intelligent Growth Solutions (IGS) is an agri-tech business with a vision to revolutionize the vertical farming market. Vertical farming technology grows herbs and fruit, where the light, temperature, and nutrient provision can all be controlled.

Island Bakery Organics – (Isle of Mull, Scotland) 

Joe and Dawn Reade set up Island Bakery as a bread making business 25 years ago. They only use organic or locally sourced ingredients, and it has since turned into a premium organic biscuit company that sells worldwide. 

Small Robot Company – (Salisbury, England) 

Small Robot Company is a startup company aiming to make food production sustainable using robotics and artificial intelligence. One of their innovations are autonomous “farmbots” which seed, feed and weed crops.

Soap Folk – (Stroud, England) 

Soap Folk make organic handmade soap in the Stroud Valley and comes in FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper packaging. The company reuses offcuts to reduce waste and only use natural and biodegradable ingredients.

St Evals – (Cornwall, England) 

St. Eval craft candles inspired by nature using traditional methods and sustainable production on their farm in North Cornwall. All products are made with an emphasis on sustainability and in recognition of this, they have received a Queen's Award for Enterprise for Sustainable Development.

Tregothnan (Cornwall, England) 

Tregothnan is a tea shop originating in Cornwall which also produces manuka honey on site and exports globally to the US and China. Due to the variety of unique grounds on their estate they’re able to produce a vast range of herbal tea infusions, Cornish Manuka, Wildflower Honeys, Jams and Boquet's.