Breaking the UK export barrier with Interreg
Food producers from Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden are joining forces to make it easier to bring high-quality New Nordic foods to UK consumers through a new cross-border export initiative.
Food producers in Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden have strong export potential, but many small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) struggle to enter the UK market. Since Brexit, exporting has become more complex and expensive, with stricter border requirements, higher logistics costs and the challenge of reaching large UK retailers and food service buyers. At the same time, there are a lot of quality products to offer, including organic, premium, specialized and “free-from” foods.
The CB-FOOD UK project helps bridge this gap by creating a shared export gateway for New Nordic food producers. Instead of entering the market alone, participating businesses will work together under a trusted “Produced in New Nordics” identity, sharing expertise, market knowledge and logistics to reduce costs and increase their visibility.
Apply for SME support now!
The project plans to support at least 80 SMEs with non-financial services, help 18 SMEs introduce new marketing or organisational innovations, and enable 28 companies to achieve sales and contracts in the UK market during and after the project. The project will reduce the practical barriers that currently prevent food producers from exporting individually, including compliance costs, fragmented logistics, weak buyer access and limited market visibility. The project is coordinated by Latvian Technological Center (Latvia) and implemented in partner countries by Kouvola Innovation Ltd. (Finland), Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Estonia), Impacthub Stockholm AB (Sweden) and Latvian Federation of Food Companies (Latvia). Contact the CB-FOOD UK office in your country to learn more about the project’s services and how your business can get involved.
Tailored support in two stages
The project has two main stages. First, food businesses will receive practical support to prepare for exporting to the UK, including guidance on packaging and labelling, pricing, regulations and logistics. Companies will also receive training and mentoring to strengthen their export readiness.
The second stage focuses on helping businesses secure real commercial opportunities. Participating companies will take part in trade fairs and business missions across the UK, host visits from UK buyers and distributors, and receive support to build lasting business relationships. The project aims to generate new partnerships, encourage businesses to adopt modern marketing and management practices, and convert business meetings into confirmed export sales. The long-term goal is to create sustainable trade links that benefit producers, business support organisations and UK food buyers alike. More info and regional contacts: https://centralbaltic.eu/project/cb-food-uk/
CB-Food UK (CB1000538) has been financed by Interreg Central Baltic Programme 2021-2027
