A crisp-making company expects exports to make up as much a fifth of its revenues after it began selling abroad earlier this year.

AMC Foods began selling its Kent Crisps brands to the Middle East and south Asia after devising an export strategy in January, which has gone from strength to strength.

It comes as the Government launches its Exporting is GREAT campaign today aimed at getting 100,000 more British companies exporting by 2020.

AMC Foods, based in Ramsgate, expects between 15% to 20% of its turnover next year to come from exports after targeting specifically the Middle Eastern and south Asian markets.

It supplies 40g packets to more than 1,200 independent outlets and pubs in the UK but decided to sell abroad as a way of expanding sales of 150g bags.

Commercial director Laura Bounds said: “Our 150g business was tiny but exports have given us a big growth.

“All our Middle East and Singapore clients want 150g bags. So now our production has picked up.

“We needed a very focused strategy as we are a very small company with small resources and few people.

“We identified key markets we thought were emerging in the snacks sector.”

"The food and drink sector is very good at exporting in Kent. Although many of them are small they are doing it exceptionally well...” - Rob Lewtas, UKTI

Of course exporting is not straightforward.

Kent Crisps had to redesign its packaging to come in line with European regulations, including displaying the production date and translating nutritional information.

Fortunately the company was due to undergo a rebrand anyway following a management buyout last year, so the revamp happened with its export ambitions in mind.

The firm also had to improve its product’s shelf life to gain access to non-European markets. Today it’s able to store products for nine months, up from 18 weeks.

“Common barriers to exporting can be concerns about finding customers overseas or how to communicate with them,” said Rob Lewtas, strategic partner manager at UK Trade & Investment (UKTI).

“Then there is the whole commercial worries about getting paid, getting paid the right amount and getting paid on time.

“What we do is eliminate one or most of those barriers.”

Mr Lewtas said exporting is not just about selling finished products.

“In Kent, exporting can be the service industries, creative industries and the knowledge-based economy.

“However, the food and drink sector is very good at exporting in Kent. Although many of them are small they are doing it exceptionally well.”

AMC Foods has found gaining access to some markets has fallen into their laps after suppliers from other countries stumbled upon them at trade shows in their chosen export markets.

Laura Bounds added: “We managed to enter some markets we weren’t expecting to. Some things we’ve quickly picked up and they’ve just happened. A lot of our export growth has been organic.”

A series of events are being held across the South East as part of Exporting is GREAT Week.

Details at www.exportingisgreat.gov.uk.