Peter Farquhar MD, Dorset Cereals We export to about 60 countries worldwide so it's an important part of what we do. We received a grant from the Home Grown Cereals Authority for £25,000, which provided funding for us to crack the US and Canada. We've got a pretty good chance of doing it as well because it's a three-year project so we hope to generate significant sales from it. Packaging is important as well. Our products used to have the ingredients written in 10 different languages so they could be exported easily but we have changed that so packs are much easier to read in any country. To be successful in the export market you must play to your strengths and do your homework on each individual market. We have also been working with Food from Britain, which works with companies to grow their businesses abroad. Susie Willis MD, Plum It can be challenging to move into Europe and beyond, so the trick is to decide whether it is the right thing to do at the right time and then keep it really simple. A company must not spread itself too thinly or it risks losing what it stood for in the first place. France is key for our business and we have already experimented in Canada, but we don't want to try too hard and take our eye off the ball over here. Our products are doing well enough here so there is no immediate need to expand quickly. It goes without saying, once you know the time is right you need to make sure you have done your research. I am curious about what is happening in other countries and enjoy looking at the trends that I can tap into. It is essential that you know what the market drivers are.