Entrepreneurs shine at Speciality & Fine Food Fair
Chocolates, teas, curries, spices, nuts, coconut oils, spreads and sauces won Great Taste Awards, one of the most prestigious food awards in the United Kingdom. They were made by some of the 12 small businesses brought to the Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2024 in London.
These innovative small businesses came to London from Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Fiji, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands.
Nine of these businesses were recognized with the prestigious Great Taste Awards, and all 12 reported meaningful discussions during the two-day event, generating 477 business leads, including 78 strong prospects.
‘Being at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair and winning three Great Taste Awards, including one for innovation, is an incredible achievement for our team,’ said Neill Kelsall, of Chocolat Madagascar. ‘It motivates us to continue, and having meaningful discussions with visitors and exhibitors looking for products like ours is a great opportunity—one we couldn’t have pursued without the programme’s support.’
These businesses received support from the International Trade Centre (ITC) to prepare for the event, through the United Kingdom Trade Partnerships Programme (UKTP), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.
The businesses benefited from targeted training sessions tailored to their needs, ensuring their products met stringent UK and EU quality and safety standards, empowering them to engage with global buyers, distributors, and partners at the fair. Their presence not only showcased their product excellence but also created new opportunities for business partnerships.
A highlight of the event was a tea ceremony led by the Ceylon Artisanal Tea Association (CATA) and AMBA Estate in Sri Lanka. They impressed UK tea experts and buyers, especially in the fine tea sector with innovative, sustainable tea products such as vanilla tea rods and lemongrass blue tea — both Great Taste Awards winners.
The diversity of products, and their uniqueness, attracted strong interest from UK buyers such as Sous-Chef online distributors.
‘We’ve had valuable conversations with several buyers, including current clients, strengthening our relationships,’ said Sahan Bakmiwewa, from Plant Based Studios in Sri Lanka. ‘The fair also allowed us to meet other exhibitors and share contacts, creating a network of potential distributors and buyers. It was also a great opportunity to gain new ideas for our own products.’
The UKTP programme’s tailored support and capacity-building efforts continue to empower small businesses, helping them achieve sustainable growth through trade.
Vidéo
About the Programme
Since 2019, the United Kingdom Trade Partnerships (UKTP) Programme has aimed to boost trade from developing countries to the UK and EU by leveraging UK and EU Economic Partnership Agreements and the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme. Funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the programme collaborates with government agencies, private sector organizations, small businesses, and other stakeholders to enhance market access, provide advisory services, and strengthen business support organizations. It focuses on export-ready SMEs and complements UKTP initiatives in the Pacific.
