Ten food and drink manufacturers including crackers and biscuits supplier Rakusen’s have taken part in a trade mission to Singapore.

With Singapore already importing £4.7bn-worth of consumer-orientated food in 2017, the week-long mission was designed to build relationships and open up further opportunities.

Businesses that took part in the trip were: Burt’s Snacks, Crème d’Or, Eat Natural, Franklin & Sons, Millennium Group, Paramount, Rakusen’s, Somerdale, Taylors of Harrogate and Tiptree.

The businesses met some of the country’s largest supermarket chains and attended the Food & Hotel Asia Tradeshow during the trip, which was organised by Santander Corporate & Commercial, Singapore bank UOB, British Chamber of Commerce Singapore and the Department of International Trade.

Santander said meeting the needs of a diverse population and workforce meant a large share of Singapore’s food must be imported. It added that this was an opportunity for UK firms to tap into a desire for high-quality traditional British produce.

“Singapore and the wider south-east Asia market represents an excellent opportunity for dynamic UK firms to meet the high demand for quality food and drink produce,” said Richard Cuda, head of strategic alliances at Santander Corporate & Commercial.

Established in 1900 as a supplier of kosher foods to the Jewish community, Rakusen’s products now include a wide range of crackers and biscuits.