In 2020, a report published by the Food and Drink Federation highlighted the need for better support for food and drink suppliers. While the entire industry was hit hard by the pandemic, it pointed out a glaring oversight from government: manufacturers did not receive the same level of support as the businesses they supply.
Whilst we all probably thought the worst was over following a global pandemic (save the chaos of Brexit), in reality, that was merely the beginning.
We’re now in a seemingly endless succession of crises, with the industry trying to navigate its way through with (still) little to no government support.
Little progress, little support
Key figureheads, including Professor Tim Lang of City University London, have been calling for action for years. Lang’s landmark ‘Just in Case’ report showed severe gaps in the UK’s ability to be resilient, specifically around food.
In July 2025, Defra published the UK government’s latest food strategy for England, setting out 10 priorities for the food system. One of these outcomes includes greater preparedness for supply chain shocks, disruption and the impacts of chronic risks such as climate change.
A recent IGD Resilience survey (published July 2026) has outlined industry’s thoughts on ‘progress’ so far. A resounding 100% of respondents say they do not believe government policy has strengthened food resilience over the past 12 months, and 91% say the risk to the UK food system has increased over the past 12 months.
A National Audit Office (NAO) study is underway to assess whether Defra is taking effective action to ensure the UK food supply chain is resilient to shocks and disruptions.
But if that freedom of information request is anything to go by, my guess is they’ll be some feedback for Defra incoming. I’m referring to the fact that just 20 members of 6,600 Defra staff are working on climate adaption amid a serious and ongoing heatwave and drought.
In the meantime, the noose around manufacturers’ necks is tightening as pressure mounts from each side of the supply chain.
Data from the The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) shows that between January 2020 and June 2026, input costs just for manufacturers rose by 39%. This doesn’t include labour, regulatory and finance costs.
Meanwhile, retail food prices rose at the same speed, a clear indication that producers have absorbed costs.
“Not only is the UK experiencing one of its hottest and driest summers on record, but across most of Europe heatwaves and severe droughts are impacting fruit, vegetable and grain supply,” said Dr Liliana Danila, chief economist at the FDF.
“Competition for fewer resources will in turn push up the price of ingredients for manufacturers. The UK’s food and drink manufacturers work hard to absorb costs where they can, but are already grappling with rising costs as a result of war in Ukraine and in Iran, so we expect the additional upward pressure of reduced crops will be reflected in retail prices into next year.
“With extreme weather and supply chain disruption becoming the new normal, government must focus on building resilience into the food system to help limit the impact on food manufacturers and on shoppers. This means creating the right business conditions for manufacturers to invest in their growth and ensuring that policy decisions don’t add to the cost of making food.”
How to be resilient in a VUCA world
Still, research from global supply chain and logistics consultancy, SCALA suggests that many businesses could do more; with many focusing too much on efficiency rather than resilience.
“Businesses that fail to build resilience into their supply chains now are not just risking operational setbacks; they are putting their entire commercial future at stake,” said Chris Clowes, executive director for SCALA.
But when demands and challenges are coming at producers from every direction, it can be overwhelming. What does one prioritise and is it even possible to incite change…?
This has been the prompt for this year’s Business Leaders’ Forum agenda. Designed for food and drink leaders (e.g. operational directors, technical leaders, NPD, R&D, C-suite) working for a food and/or drink manufacturer, the October 2026 event will provide delegates with actionable ideas to help strengthen resilience and business performance in a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world.
We’ll be joined by the below esteemed experts, who will be on hand to answer attendees’ questions and workshop ideas with them on how to best navigate these challenging times.
- Professor Tim Lang, one of the UK’s leading food policy experts, examining the broader risks facing the food system and what they mean for manufacturers
- Paul Geary, former Morrisons Trading Director, sharing practical perspectives on building stronger customer relationships in challenging trading conditions
- Flora Zwolinski, Lumina Intelligence, providing exclusive insight into the consumer, market and retail trends shaping the sector
Chaired by industry veteran and IFST president, Chris Gilbert-Wood, whose career includes leading roles at M&S and 2 Sisters, the forum offers delegates a unique experience to chat intimately with these experts and learn from industry peers.
It’s true, we can’t control everything, but we can control some things.
Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum is an annual event held under the Chatham House rule. Visit the website here for more information, where tickets can be purchased for the next event on 22 October 2026 in London.
