Grocer export survey results

Food and drink exporters expressed grave fears about the threat posed by Brexit to their business, with almost 60% seeing the UK’s exit from the European Union as a ‘major problem’.

As the very public spat between Tesco and Unilever highlighted, suppliers are being squeezed by rising costs caused by the weak pound. But does the falling value of sterling versus the dollar and euro present those looking to build international trade with an opportunity?

The Grocer surveyed 50 exporters about their hopes and fears following the Brexit vote.

More than 70% of businesses we asked expected exports to rise in the next five years (43% by a substantial amount. However, 57% of respondents view the UK’s exit from the EU as a ‘major problem’, with just 8.7% spying a ‘huge opportunity’.

More than a quarter detected an anti-UK sentiment in dealing with EU trading partners, with 17% reporting a drop in European demand for UK products.

And, worryingly for Defra secretary Andrea Leadsom, who recently revealed an action plan to boost overseas trade by £2.9bn by 2020, 58% said the government’s current approach either ‘terrified’ them or left them feeling ‘a bit gloomy’.

Click here to read the in-depth analysis examining the hopes and fears of UK exporters in the wake of Brexit from this week’s new issue of The Grocer, out Saturday 29 October.

Here are the highlights from our survey. See related files at the bottom for the full Excel spreadsheet

Do you expect your exports to increase or decrease in the next five years?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Increase substantially 42.6% 20
Increase a bit  29.8% 14
Stand still  8.5% 4
Decrease a bit  6.4% 3
Decrease substantially  12.8% 6
Don’t know 0.0% 0
answered question 47
skipped question 3

 

Which parts of the world are you focused on developing exports to?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
EU 70.2% 33
Rest of Europe 44.7% 21
Russia 14.9% 7
US 57.4% 27
Canada 51.1% 24
Central/Latin America 12.8% 6
China 46.8% 22
India 23.4% 11
Middle East 66.0% 31
Africa 21.3% 10
Australasia 48.9% 23
answered question 47
skipped question 3

 

Which parts of the world do you anticipate a fall in exports to?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
EU 55.3% 26
Rest of Europe 19.1% 9
Russia 21.3% 10
US 8.5% 4
Canada 6.4% 3
Central/Latin America 4.3% 2
China 2.1% 1
India 4.3% 2
Middle East 6.4% 3
Africa 4.3% 2
Australasia 8.5% 4
answered question 47
skipped question 3

 

How big an opportunity is Brexit to your business?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Huge opportunity 8.7% 4
Decent‎ chance 13.0% 6
No difference 8.7% 4
Minor inconvenience 13.0% 6
Major problem 56.5% 26
answered question 46
skipped question 4

 

Has there been a drop in demand for UK products in Europe?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Yes 17.4% 8
No 56.5% 26
Don’t know 26.1% 12
answered question 46
skipped question 4

 

Have you detected an anti-UK sentiment in your dealings with European trading partners/customers?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Yes 26.1% 12
No 60.9% 28
Don’t know 13.0% 6
answered question 46
skipped question 4

 

How helpful has the government been in the past in supporting your export efforts?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Very helpful 10.0% 4
Quite helpful 57.5% 23
Not helpful 5.0% 2
A bit of a hindrance actually 5.0% 2
All our success has been achieved despite the government 22.5% 9
answered question 40
skipped question 10

 

How confident are you in the approach the government is taking right now?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
Very confident  2.5% 1
Quietly optimistic  7.5% 3
Not sure  32.5% 13
A bit gloomy  32.5% 13
Terrified  25.0% 10
answered question 40
skipped question 10

 

Which of the following is your experience in dealing with the government in terms of exports?
Answer Options Response Percent Response Count
It is difficult to get hold of the right person 27.5% 11
I don’t know who the right person is 30.0% 12
There are not enough staff‎ to help 25.0% 10
The staff are not sufficiently qualified to be able to help 32.5% 13
The staff lack any commercial appreciation of how complicated they make life for a business 45.0% 18
There is a persistent failure to communicate or respond 10.0% 4
There is a general lack of accountability 32.5% 13
Inability to formally complain / appeal for common sense 15.0% 6
answered question 40
skipped question 10

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