An official trade mission of small food and drink firms jets off to China from Bristol Airport tomorrow morning in a bid to win business in the fast-growing country, which has a keen appetite for premium brands in the sector.
The delegation is backed by Santander, Business West, the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) and regional accountancy firm Milsted Langdon, which has two senior managers taking part.
Eleven firms are taking part in the five-day mission along with Milsted Langdon partner Chris Downing and tax director Leon Cane.
Among the firms are Stute Foods, the Bristol-based supplier of quality food and drink products, and gin producer Bramley & Gage from Thornbury.
Speaking ahead of the mission, Leon, pictured, said: “This opportunity has been a long time in the making and we are delighted that so many local businesses will be joining us on this trip, which will hopefully open up new markets for some of our region’s small and medium-sized businesses.
“It was really important for us to make sure that the mission wasn’t just a trip to meet local dignitaries, so we are delighted that we have helped the delegates to line up meetings with buyers from potential customers in China. We therefore hope to come home with some firm contracts in our hands.
“Thanks to Milsted Langdon’s membership of the MGI Worldwide Network of Accountancy Firms across the Globe we have been able to offer delegates with coordinated support from our firm in the UK as well as from Lehman Brown, our MGI counterpart which has offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Tianjin and which is hosting some of our events during the delegation.
“China is a very important market at the moment and companies across the South West are keen to learn more about how they can explore the opportunities across South East Asia.
“Brexit in particular has forced many businesses to shift their focus. By attending this mission we will seek to build upon our existing experience of working with clients both inbound to the
UK from China and outbound from the UK to China. I would like to thank Business West and the China-Britain Business Council for inviting us to join them.”
Milsted Langdon has always been keen to show that it doesn’t just help local businesses with accountancy issues but is willing to invest time and money to help them find commercial opportunities and work with them to help them to get the best out of them.
It has supported other international trips in the past and regularly offers advice on trade with China to a number of clients, thanks in particular to Leon and the rest of the team’s expertise in cross-border tax issues and the firm’s many overseas contacts.
