A group of Bristol firms are hoping to secure lucrative business deals by taking part in the city’s first virtual trade missions to Mexico and Chile.
Organised by the Department for International Trade (DIT) and led by Sarah Hildersley, DIT’s market specialist for Latin America in the region, the missions include briefing sessions with market experts and sector specialists and tailored one-to-one meetings. 
The aim – at a time when the coronavirus pandemic is preventing physical travel to potential export markets – is to accelerate business discussions virtually develop links and to generate sales.
The programme is worth £2,500 to each company and, without travel costs and time taken to travel to these markets, there are additional savings.
The Bristol firms taking part are Redfield-based pesticide and disinfectant smoke manufacturer Octavius Hunt, Ashton Vale-based Beyond The Bean, which creates and sources innovative ingredients such as syrups, hot chocolate and frappés – as well as blenders and barista gear – Yate-based healthcare firm Bloccs and Thornbury-based Bramley & Gage, the distiller behind the 6 O’clock Gin brand.
Representatives from the Mexico UK Business Council and British Chamber of Commerce in Chile will attend the virtual missions along with international trade advisors from DIT and Business West to give the businesses from across the South West key advice on entering the markets.
Both Mexico and Chile are seen as key growth markets for West of England firms. Total UK exports to Mexico were £2.5bn in the year to the end of March while total trade in goods and services between Chile and the UK for the year ending June 2019 was worth £2.2bn, a 10.7% increase on the same period in 2018. 
Joanne Scutcher, sales & marketing manager Octavius Hunt, who is taking part in both trade missions, said: “Contact with potential customers has been very limited and in the current climate it’s difficult to convince companies to take on a new range.
“Having the support of a trade mission and on the ground DIT advisers is extremely valuable.”
Octavius Hunt has more than 50 years’ experience in manufacturing pesticide and disinfectant smoke generators and offers its development and production expertise and resources for collaborative projects across a range of markets worldwide.
Beyond the Bean already supplies high-street chains and independent coffee shops, online retailers and coffee roasters, bars, hotels and restaurants all over the world with its core brands of SWEETBIRD, ZUMA, Bristol Syrup Company, Cosy and Blendtec.
Bloccs produces a range of self-sealable and reusable waterproof protectors for casts and dressings that allow children and adults with arm, leg, elbow and knee injuries to shower, bathe and swim, pictured.
It won a Queen’s Award for International Trade last year in recognition of its exports to Europe, Australia and the US. 
It is now hoping to work with a Mexican company to act as customs brokers for shipments to the country.
Bramley & Gage believes there is a huge potential for craft gins from the UK in Mexico and Chile as there are few artisanal gins in Latin America.
More information on the virtual trade missions can be found at https://www.businesswest.co.uk/virtual-business-forums
