Trade Secretary urges Lincolnshire firms to broaden horizons and expand to new markets

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International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox praised Boston confectionary producer Jakemans for its recent expansion into new markets including the USA, while encouraging other businesses in the county to follow its lead.

Dr Fox visited two Lincolnshire businesses on March 2 including Jakemans in Boston and Househam Sprayers in Woodhall Spa.

In an interview with Lincolnshire Business, he said that Jakemans was the type of business that he wanted to showcase to inspire more companies around the country to do the same thing.

Dr Fox said: “This is a company that has understood the markets to look into, got the right partners to be able to export, it’s made the investments into machinery at the right time, is forward looking and risk taking and it is now reaping the benefits.

“It is exactly the sort of example that I would like to hold up and say there are many more companies around this country who could be doing the same thing.”

Dave Cole, managing director of Jakemans, said: “The new expansion into the USA has been a fantastic bit of growth for us.

“The USA is a very big market obviously and we have a very small share right now,  but we have plans to grow that and it could transform what we do here.

“Our next big area is probably going to be Latin America, so Brazil and Mexico.

“It’s a great thing for Jakemans to have such a high profile turn up on our door and listen as well as give us some helpful advice as to what’s on offer.”