Brexit Proofing Your Food Business

food stand to illustrate food business and brexit impact

With so much uncertainty surrounding Brexit, it is crucial that business owners are prepared for what is likely to be a challenging change to the market. Indecisiveness seems to be at the centre of Brexit, however, it is important for businesses to take decisive action well in advance to avoid risks, unnecessary costs and disruption

As a food business owner, your responsibility to ensure safety in food will remain a legal requirement regardless of the departure of the UK from the EU. However, the leaving of the EU may endure some other changes that you need to be prepared for. 

Leverage a Globally Recognised Certification

Business owners are being warned that certification to international standards, such as BRC Certification could be crucial for those that trade with businesses outside of the UK.  By having certification, it can put a business in a better position to grow and take the opportunities of expanding into new markets. Those without certification may find it more difficult to satisfy customers that they work to the same high safety and quality standards of those businesses that are certificated.

Achieving certification gives you leverage when seeking new business, and when seeking business abroad, certification is an absolute must. A lot of businesses are able to survive on reputation alone, however, in an increasingly competitive market where reliance on reputation is not always enough, achieving a standard will provide a benchmark and stable platform for your business to grow

Making Preparations & Staying Informed

In order to give businesses time, the government have an implementation period until December 2020, this period gives businesses a form of stability, certainty and time to prepare for a new relationship with the EU after Brexit. 

For businesses that import and export goods to and from the EU, the government has recommended that in order to minimise disruption, business owners should get a UK Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number. This registration allows you to continue to import or export goods and apply for authorisations. 

It is also advised to make contact with all suppliers to find out what information they need to make the declarations for your goods, or so that you can make them yourself. If you don’t import and export products directly, it is recommended that you reach out to any agency or business you work with to ensure they are prepared. 

This being said, the uncertainty of what the Brexit Deal might be may prevent you from being able to prepare accurately. With this in mind, it is advised to try and stay informed about what is happening by looking past the headlines and instead communicate with suppliers and trade specialists regarding market information. Maintaining relevant intelligence can help to keep the margins whilst facing uncertainty, simultaneously keeping business competitive and profitable. 

Although the idea of leaving the EU may be daunting to business owners, there are many small procedures that can be implemented that can make a significant difference when it comes to keeping your business thriving during these changes.

If you have any further questions regarding changes to your business to prepare for Brexit, please submit an enquiry below or contact us on 0845 026 7745.

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