Food industry figures across the United Kingdom have published a ‘path to recovery’ for their industry post-Covid 19.

The proposals, endorsed by over 30 UK food and drink organisations, outline steps Government and industry can take to future proof the sector, and call on the Government to address the UK’s negative balance of trade in food.

The report was coordinated by Michael Bell, executive director of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, who said: “Covid-19 has challenged the UK food and drink industry in a once in a generation way. Food manufacturers have been working harder than ever to ensure that the nation is fed – with companies having to adapt to an evolving situation at a rapid pace, responding to changes in demand and implementing social distancing measures.

"Within a short period of time, firms have re-engineered and reimagined processes, requiring a significant level of investment. Put simply, the industry has demonstrated both its ingenuity and its necessity in these unprecedented times," said Mr Bell.

“Just as the Government has taken courageous and rapid decisions to address the challenge of the pandemic, we now need to deliver a ‘pathway to recovery’ for UK food and drink. Industry stands ready to work with Government on this, and our proposals outline actions Government and industry can take to future proof the sector. In the short term we need to protect our capacity in food production, ensuring our domestic farming, processing and food service sectors are able to emerge from this crisis intact.

“In the longer term, the Government needs to reassess its policy on food and drink," he stressed. "For too long, successive governments have been content to witness continual decline in self-sufficiency in food. The strain that Covid-19 has put on the food chain has exposed the inherent weaknesses in this approach, and we now have an opportunity to reverse that trend. It will require serious investment, but the economic and societal gains would be immense. The UK currently has a trade deficit of some £24billion in food. Assuming 30% of this could be produced efficiently in the UK, a balance of trade benefit of up to £8billion could be realised.

“The UK’s food and drink industry and the wider ‘eating ecosystem’ of other sectors it supports – farming, transport and logistics, cold stores, packaging, catering, food service and retail – contributes £460billion to the national economy, employing millions of people across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The ‘path to recovery’ proposals provide the opportunity to build on that success, and deliver new gains for society across the UK as we emerge from this pandemic,” he concluded.

Signatories to the proposals were:

1. Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association (NIFDA)

2. Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS)

3. Association of Labour Providers (ALP)

4. British Coffee Association (BCA)

5. British Food Importers & Distributors Association (BIFDA)

6. British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF)

7. British Meat Processors Association (BMPA)

8. British Poultry Council (BPC)

9. British Sandwich Association (BSA)

10. British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA)

11. British Specialist Nutrition Association (BSNA)

12. British Growers Association (BGA)

13. Chilled Food Association (CFA)

14. Council Responsible for Nutrition UK (CRN UK)

15. Federation of Bakers (FoB)

16. Food and Drink Federation (FDF)

17. Federation of Wholesale Distributors (FWD)

18. Food and Drink Wales Industry Board (FDWIB)

19. Health Food Manufacturers’ Association (HMFA)

20. National Association of British and Irish Flour Millers (Nabim)

21. National Association of Cider Makers (NACM)

22. National Edible Oil Distributors’ Association (NEODA)

23. Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB)

24. Provision Trade Federation (PTF)

25. Seasoning and Spice Association (SSA)

26. Seed Crushers and Oil Processors Association (SCOPA)

27. Packaging Federation (PF)

28. UK Flavour Association (UKFA)

29. UK Tea & Infusions Association (UKTIA)

30. Ulster Farmers Union (UFU)

31. Vinegar Brewers Federation (VBF)