British food and drink is becoming more popular around the world according to research by online marketplace Alibaba.com.
The website’s research shows that there has been a 17% year on year rise in online searches for British baked goods, while whisky and beer produced in the UK are among the most searched for goods on the website.
The Department for Environmental Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said that UK exports grew to £16.1bn in 2010. The food and farming industries are now worth £85bn to the UK economy.
The surge in demand comes with the added attention placed upon British culture with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and London Olympics taking place during 2012.
“As the world’s eyes focus on our sporting and celebratory events Alibaba.com has seen dramatic upticks in online searches and enquiries from abroad for British goods,” said Molly Morgan, senior manager of corporate affairs at Alibaba.
Data showed that there was an overall 3% increase in global searches for British goods in the first quarter of the year and Ms Morgan hopes that the hype around Great Britain will provide SMEs with a very welcome boost.
