New Exporter Group Heads Cheese Promotion Drive
UK – Expansion into foreign markets and increasing public understanding of cheese products are the objectives of Dairy UK’s Cheese Exporters Group, launched last week.
12 March 2013
2 minute read
The group was unveiled at the All Party Parliamentary Cheese Group reception in London on Wednesday, receiving full government support.
David Heath, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food said: “I’m very pleased to give my personal support to this new Dairy UK initiative that should be very complementary to work to boost the dairy industry through improving its exports capability”.
Dairy UK Director, Jim Begg, said he was very excited by the news and the backing of Defra.
“One of the key activities of the new Group will be examination of opportunities for collaborative activity. This might involve product development, sharing market intelligence, joint marketing activities and sharing routes to market."
“Other Group activities will include liaison with Defra and UKTI, sharing market information and best practice on export markets, and identification of priority countries for resolution of outstanding export health certification issues."
Also featured at the reception was a call for health regulators to recognise the nutritional value of cheese.
Championing cheese as a nutritious food that can form part of a balanced, healthy diet was Dairy UK Communications Director Simon Bates who said continued criticism of the use of salt in the cheese making process is often misleading and ill-informed.
“Cheese making is something that the UK dairy industry is immensely proud of and it is in everyone’s interests that its nutritional values are recognised,” said Mr Bates.
“A 30g portion of cheddar contains 125 calories, 10g of fat and 6.5g of saturated fat. But it also contains protein, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and B vitamins.”
All cheese makers will be invited to the first group meeting to attend the group on a date still to be confirmed.
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