Prepare for election threats and opportunities

Food and drink manufacturers should prepare for the threats and opportunities arising from the General Election in May, according to law firm DWF.

Centre stage was the possibility of new rules covering sugar, salt and fat content, DWF’s head of food group Dominic Watkins told FoodManufacture.co.uk in this exclusive video filmed at last week’s Business Leaders’ Forum.

“Last week, we saw the Labour manifesto coming through,” he said. “What we will see from the other parties remains to be seen, but there’s obviously a lot in that on sugar, healthy eating and children’s foods particularity – that’s a threat or an opportunity depending on how you view things.”

Regardless of which party wins power in May, it was unlikely that a ‘fat tax’ would be introduced, Watkins claimed.

Retail landscape

Watch this video to find out why Watkins believed the increasingly changing retail landscape could alter the balance of power between suppliers and retailers.

Food Manufacture Group’s Business Leaders’ Forum took place last Tuesday (January 20) and was sponsored by DWF, food testing company ALcontrol Laboratories and Lloyds Bank and took place at DWF’s London office in Fenchurch Street.

The event was open to senior executives in food and drink manufacturing firms. To register for next year’s event, email Felicite.Burke@wrbm.com.

Meanwhile, look out for our photogallery of quotes from the Business Leaders’ Forum to read Watkins’ views of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.