Red meat and dairy has taken centre stage at the world’s biggest food and drink showcase after UK exports hit a combined value of £2 billion in the first half of 2025.
In the first six months of this year, UK red meat exports were worth £966 million – up nearly 10% on the same period in 2024 – while the value of UK dairy exports increased 20% on the year to £1.1 billion.
The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and export businesses from the red meat and dairy sectors have this week (October 4-8) been flying the flag for quality beef, lamb, pork and dairy on the global stage at Anuga in Cologne, Germany.
Anuga is this year’s largest food and beverage trade show, providing a platform for businesses to network and to gain insights into global industry developments.
AHDB has been joined by 14 red meat export businesses at the event and has also been supporting 13 dairy export businesses to connect with existing buyers and meet new potential customers.
British meat and dairy
More than 250 delegates were also due to join AHDB for its British Red Meat Dinner on the evening of October 6.
The annual dinner coincides with Anuga, providing guests with the chance to sample dishes featuring UK red meat and dairy.
AHDB international trade development director, Jonathan Eckley, said: “Anuga provides the stage for us to shine the spotlight on our quality beef, lamb, pork and dairy produce to a global audience and build on the success of 2024 and the first half of 2025.
“Our export trade plays a major role in supporting our levy payers.
“Central to driving continued export success and adding value for our red meat sectors is connecting with people and ensuring we have a broad portfolio of markets to balance the carcase and maximise opportunities for our products around the world.
“Supporting our export businesses at major events like Anuga is a critical part of our strategic approach to helping drive UK exports, underpinned by consumer and market insight from our Market Intelligence team,” he added.
AHDB has said that its red meat pavilion has been very busy, generating an enormous amount of positive feedback from visitors.
AHDB head of international trade development for the dairy sector Lucy Randolph, said: “We were delighted to support our dairy export businesses at Anuga as part of our increased investment in delivering a new and enhanced programme of activity for the sector.
“Like our red meat sectors, the dairy pavilion has been bustling with activity with visitors eager to learn more about our world-class dairy produce.
“AHDB’s aim is to unlock the success of British agriculture and help ensure our world-class dairy produce thrives on the global stage.
“Our presence at Anuga follows a packed programme of activity in the first half of 2025 which saw the dairy sector team supporting a total of 36 UK companies at 14 events across the world,” she said,
Eckley added: “The value of red meat and dairy exports demonstrates the effectiveness of the collaborative approach between AHDB, industry and government to international trade development.”
