The UK will never abandon Egyptian produce due to traditional trade links, despite considerable competition from rival exporting countries and the pressures of recession, according to Charripak’s president Antoine Chaer, who is also a board member of the Egyptian British Chamber of Commerce.

Chaer told FPJ: “Our relationship with the UK is getting better and better all the time and the UK is a traditional market for us. There has been some movement towards Germany and away from the UK during the recession, but not a lot.

“Our products are giving us the chance to stay in this market as, if you maintain the consistency and quality of your product then, whatever the crisis, your custom will stay.

“The UK has always relied on us for potatoes and grapes and always will do.”