Insight: Sutralis- British brands continue to profit from the French market post-Brexit

A growing number of British brand owners and SMEs are seeking expert support to break into the French retail space, regardless of Brexit, according to leading export company Sutralis.

Rouen-based Sutralis, which specialises in collaborating with international brands to successfully launch in France, has been tracking opportunities and trends within the French retail sector for more than a decade. Despite initial concerns within trade and industry that the UK’s EU Referendum decision could delay British brands from embarking on export strategies, Sutralis has mapped growing interest in the French retail sector throughout 2016.

Director and founder of Sutralis, Philippe Demarest, comments: “Many fabulous opportunities exist within the retail market. The UK is an extremely important market for the French food and drink sector, and we are getting more and more enquiries from British brands keen to explore new market opportunities. Brexit has had no impact on the number of enquiries we’ve received.”

UK food and drink exports in the first half of 2016 reached £6.6 billion, up 8.7% on the first half of 2015. Behind Ireland, France is the biggest market for UK food and drink exports*, and Philippe Demarest, founder and director of Sutralis predicts this will continue into 2017. Since 2006, Sutralis has generated a turnover of more than £5.5 million for over 100 companies worldwide including the UK, Spain, Brazil, United States, Ireland and Belgium.

“We support international companies looking to expand into the French market, helping them overcome challenges that can put brands off at the first hurdle. We provide the expertise and contacts here in France, we create sales materials in French, pitch to our buyer contacts in their own language, and work for the international brand as an extension of their team,” explains Demarest. “There are significant opportunities for innovative, premium, natural, healthy and convenient products that offer a clear, unique selling point for French buyers, and we know how to open the right doors to bring British brands successfully into our market place.”

“At Sutralis, we collaborate with small businesses and brand owners, helping them to clearly identify how their brand can slot into the French market. We work together to highlight the product USP to match what French retail buyers are looking for right here, right now. Our mission is to put our clients in touch with the right sales partners, and to accompany them throughout their sales development in France.”