Quality, heritage and taste are all popular factors in food and drink, and with consumers increasingly seeking premium products for these reasons, UK-produced food and drink are gaining popularity and seeing increasing demand internationally.
Culture of innovation in cheese
From world-famous Cheddar and Stilton to award-winning Cornish Cairn, the UK produces more than 700 cheeses that combine traditional craftsmanship dating back generations with modern techniques. In fact, nearly 154,000 metric tons of British cheese were exported globally in 2021, according to UK government figures.
With such a diverse range of cheeses, a new wave of cheesemakers is innovating flavors to appeal to changing consumer tastes – with the introduction of flavors such as chilli and truffle launching thousands of new products every year. From charcoal cheddar to nettle-laced yarg, UK cheese producers are responding to the importance of taste to consumers, which continues to be the top purchase driver, according to the International Food Information Council's 2023 Food and Health Survey. In fact, taste is ranked as one of the most important drivers of food and drink decisions, with nearly nine in ten saying it has an influence on their decision to purchase certain foods and drinks, the IFIC survey revealed.
As well as innovation in flavor and taste, UK cheese producers are serious about sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, with initiatives ranging from recyclable cheeseboards to eco-friendly cheese sheds powered by solar panels. The industry's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, demonstrated by a 24% reduction over the past 25 years, is in line with growing consumer preference for environmentally friendly practices. Producers across the region are also actively contributing to promoting biodiversity and reducing the use of pesticides on their farms, and the Animal Protection Index, which ranks countries around the world for their commitments to improving animal welfare, has identified the UK as one of only four countries to achieve this rating. The highest level of luxury rating.
According to research by Deloitte, sustainability enhances trust, especially among younger groups of consumers, and trust drives purchasing behavior. Although brand quality and consistency are important to younger and older generations, “younger consumers' trust in brands is more strongly influenced by positive brand intent,” which Deloitte measured using brand humanity and transparency.
It's time for wine to shine
To combine with its commitment to delicious, high-quality cheese, the UK is one of the world's fastest expanding wine regions, with 800 commercial vineyards and over 178 wineries. The southern England region, with its unique climate and soil, has become a focal point for first-class sparkling wines, many of which have won industry awards, such as the “Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year” award from the International Wine and Spirits Competition.
As with the cheese sector, the commitment to flavor innovation also runs through the UK wine industry, contributing to a quadrupling of the area planted since 2000. In 2020, 1.4 million new vines were planted and producers produced a crop of 8.7 million bottles .
The increase in vineyard land corresponds with the growth of the sparkling wine category, which is having a moment in the United States. According to the IWSR Institute, the number of sparkling wine consumers has increased by 17%, or about 10 million people, since 2019. Now, nearly a quarter of adults drink sparkling wine, with 38% consuming it weekly, compared to 22% in 2019.
With this increase in consumption, consumers have become more curious to explore different types of sparkling wine, with 45% of wine drinkers expressing a desire to try a new sparkling wine – an increase from 38% in 2019, according to IWSR.
In the United Kingdom, the top grape varieties used in English sparkling wine include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, which together account for 60% of all vines planted in the country. Our unique growing environment, which includes a cool climate that allows for slower ripening of the grapes, creates a distinctly ripe flavor with natural freshness and orchard fruit flavors.
From the citrus flavors of award-winning English sparkling wines to the richness of Wyfe of Bath or refreshing nettle-infused Cornish Yarg, bringing sparkling wine and British cheese to your product lineup can provide a seamless pairing for consumers looking for delicious products with a strong story of intent and transparency. That they can trust.
British cheese and English sparkling wine are available in the United States. For more information about purchasing British products and working them into your operation, fill out this form with your contact information.
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