A new report from the Food and Drink Federation reveals that the UK food and drink manufacturing sector has grown by almost 20% over the course of a decade.
The industry now contributes £37bn to the domestic economy. The Powering Communities report shows that the sector now accounts for almost a quarter of total UK manufacturing turnover. It also provides almost half a million jobs in the UK’s 12,105 businesses.
The number of food and drink manufacturing businesses in the UK also rose 14% between 2019 and 2024.
The FDF believes that there is an untapped £14bn productivity opportunity for the sector, which it believes could be unlocked through investments in automation, digital technology and AI.
For further information, visit https://www.fdf.org.uk/fdf/resources/publications/reports/powering-communities-regional-report-2025/#:~:text=FDF’s%20Powering%20Communities%20report%20shows,17.9%25%20over%20the%20last%20decade.