The Leeds-based, UK company, which supplies food and beverage companies, quick-service restaurants and bakeries across the EU, said it wants to improve its export efficiency and enhance its marketing across Europe despite the UK’s decision to leave the European Union.
Challenges
Graham Kingston, MD, European and Asia Pacific, Pecan Deluxe, said it exports products to continental Europe, the Middle East and Africa but it is already having to work harder to combat challenges posed by the fall in the value of the pound as the company imports 90% of raw materials.
“We are a big company trading successfully within the EU and we are determined to ensure this remains the case. We want to adapt as smoothly as possible to any changes and challenges in trading circumstances which arise from the UK’s impending departure from the EU,” he said.
“But we have to be realistic about the challenges and prepare now. All our main competitors are on the continent and we need to avoid the perception that leaving the UK leads to us being perceived as ‘an outsider’ although we have traded in Europe for decades.
“We also want to ensure we can continue to recruit people with the right skills if any eventual deal about the UK leaving the EU reduces worker migration.
“For these reasons we have engaged Chamber International to help ensure we are on our front foot and fully prepared in two years’ time.”
Kingston added Pecan Deluxe intends to use Chamber International’s whole range of services with an initial focus on improving its marketing within EU countries and export training, including any new export documentation which is required post-Brexit.
Ice cream
“Brexit will affect different companies in a variety of ways depending on their sector, products or services. However, those who start to plan now will inevitably be best placed to succeed when our exit takes effect,” said Tim Bailey, director, Chamber International.
Pecan Deluxe was founded as a retail ice cream business in Dallas, Texas, by the first generation of the family, J C Brigham, in 1950.
The business was sold in 1983 so the company could concentrate on manufacturing and supplying ice cream inclusions, such as praline nuts and sauces, where the family saw greater future potential. The US operation now has a turnover of $115m.
The company was established in the UK in 1999 and, in conjunction with its sister facility in Thailand, supplies all of Europe, the Middle and Far East and APAC (Australia-Pacific) regions with cookie dough, flavored fudges, molded chocolate shapes, sauces, cake and cookie pieces and praline nuts.
The business currently has 120 people based in Yorkshire, a turnover of around £12m, and still has members of the Brigham family on the board.