Secretary of State for International trade Liz Truss has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to securing high food standards for products coming into the country without undermining UK producers.
UK food and drink exports fell 9.7% in 2020 compared to the previous year, but opportunities to grow in overseas markets still remain, according to a new report.
Food export struggles seem more systemic for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) after the Brexit transition period’s end, sounding a note of caution despite February export statistics painting a rosier picture than January data.
The Government must recognise the impact of the hospitality sector's shutdown on its suppliers, and act urgently to support the supply chain, according to a House of Commons committee report.
It has now been just over a year since the industry had to contend with the seismic impact of COVID-19, which brought a tremendous strain upon supply chains, retailers and producers.
British food businesses face ‘outright export bans’ and ‘structural’ barriers to trade with Europe thanks to bureaucracy linked with Brexit, according to the House of Lords EU Environment sub-committee.
Salmon, beef, pork, cheese and animal feed were the top five UK food chain items exported to the EU taking the biggest percentage hit in January, with overall exports down 75.5% on January 2020.
Temperature-controlled storage specialist Magnavale has secured planning and funding to construct a fully automated multi-temperature cold store in Easton, Lincolnshire that could create up to 530 jobs once complete.
With the Government’s announcement of the creation of eight new freeports across England, customs expert and founder of the customs and training consultancy Customs Manager Arne Mielken looks at the benefits and potential dowsides for food and drink manufacturers.
Brexit has been an ‘almost unmitigated disaster’ for food and drink in Scotland, according to Fergus Ewing, the Scottish government's cabinet secretary for rural economy and tourism.
More checks for products entering the EU, relaxation on goods coming into the UK and a decline in exports to the continent has caused concern among the food and drink industry.
The UK Government must maintain high food standards for imports, rewarding countries who meet them with zero tariffs, and meet consumers' ethical expectations, the newly formed Trade & Agriculture Commission (TAC) claims.
British Meat Processors Association trade policy adviser Peter Hardwick claims the UK’s Brexit deal offers little relief for exporters to the EU from the burden of Britain becoming a third country.
Stock shortages and ‘random’ delays getting food from the EU will only get worse as new rules are phased in throughout this year, supply chain and logistics experts have warned.
Threats to industrial and critical infrastructure reach new heights as business are warned to beef up their cybersecurity in light of recent attacks by hackers in the US.
The Scottish government’s newly established seafood task force needs to take decisive action to save the industry from ‘relentless bureaucracy’ and protect jobs, urged Scotland’s fisheries minister.
Environmental impact has always been an important consideration for businesses, however the challenges of the past 12 months may have led to this having temporarily been put on hold.
UK meat businesses are considering setting up an EU base to bypass export problems, as meat processors continue to struggle to ship product to the continent, the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) claims.
As packaging demand swells, driven by an accelerated switch to online purchasing, supply chain operators should consider alternatives to paper and card to maintain the flow of materials, according to Antalis.
The newly launched Dairy Code of Conduct represents progress, but only begins the work needed to make the UK diary market fit for purpose for the whole supply chain, farmers have claimed.
The warehousing and logistics sector could soon face a ‘perfect storm’ of challenges in the next few months irrespective of Brexit, according to Schoeller Allibert UK.
MPs have pressed food and farming minister George Eustice for details on Government aid for meat and seafood firms hit by Brexit-related border delays and launched an urgent inquiry into their impact.
Hovis Best of Both has committed to increasing its support for families living in food poverty by pledging an additional 250,000 loaves to charity FareShare, matching its donation last year.
Dairy ingredients group Meadow Foods has forged a strategic partnership with Germany's Herza Schokolade enabling it to distribute Herza’s range of products to manufacturing customers in the UK.
Plant-based milk producer Sproud has announced that it has raised £4.8M from growth capital investor VGC Partners to accelerate distribution of its vegan products in core markets, including the UK.
Food manufacturers supplying the hospitality and healthcare markets have called for urgent Government support to rescue them from ‘a financial cliff edge’.
Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) Mark white has kicked off the new year with a survey to gauge how the sector is operating against the challenging backdrop of COVID-19 and Brexit.
The Scottish seafood sector hits ‘rock bottom’ as continued delays at the ports, technology failure and an increase in bureaucracy threaten to make British export undesirable to EU customers.
The biggest challenges the food industry currently faces from Brexit include delays caused by the 'impenetrability of paperwork', the shortage of vets and customs officials and dealing with the island of Ireland.
UK seafood producers are being priced out of export markets by European competition, following continued delays at EU ports and poor preparation from Government, according to Scottish food trade bodies.
Post-Brexit disruption over paperwork and procedure is hitting supplies to Northern Ireland as well as seafood exports, with the Scottish industry saying it faces a perfect storm that could cripple its international trade.
Trade organisation Logistics UK has urged the government to review traffic and welfare management for HGV drivers following border chaos over Christmas.
Food and drink industry representatives have urged the Government to launch an inquiry into continued Brexit-related disruption at UK ports as costs mount on manufacturers already negatively hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The volatility in supply and demand that characterised 2020 shows no signs of abating, driven by the continued uncertainty of COVID-19 and our messy divorce from the EU.
The red meat industry will be faced with inevitable and permanent change whatever the outcome of any Brexit negotiations, warned Hybu Cig Cymru – Meat Promotion Wales (HCC).
UK food and drink exports fell by 12.9% to £15.2bn in the first nine months of 2020, as manufacturers struggled with the coronavirus pandemic and uncertainty surrounding the end of the Brexit transition period.
The EU’s recognition of the UK’s organic control bodies has brought welcome relief for producers, but experts have warned uncertainties remain for the future of trade with the single market post 2021.
