Brexit boost for food and drink exports

BRITISH food and drink exports have surged by £2.3billion thanks to Brexit freedoms, analysis shows.

- BY MARTYN BROWN Political Editor

The boom has seen sales of festive favourites including chocolate, cheese and beer soar.

Chocolate exports hit £930million last year, up £90m, with sales to Poland jumping by almost 50% to £69m, according to government data.

UK cheese sales abroad climbed to £888m, up £70m on the previous year, driven by strong growth in Germany, where demand soared by more than 70% to £48m, while beers are also being guzzled globally - with exports hitting £482m.

Sales in the US have been strong - up 23% to £126m.