A recent report titled Is the UK Food Supply Chain Broken? was unveiled at the 2024 Oxford Farming Conference which recently took place.
The report was compiled by Ged Futter, a former Asda buyer and director of The Retail Mind. The research is based on insights from over 40 interviews with businesses across various sectors including fresh produce and frozen food manufacturing.
The report points out the high-risk environment for farmers, marked by consistent oversupply and a lack of deep understanding of farm production costs and profitability.
The research identifies three key areas where retailer tactics need to be addressed: fixed price, long-term agreements; the impact of inexperienced buyers; and the audit burden. These issues, according to Futter, have drained profits from suppliers over the past decade.
For further information, visit https://www.ofc.org.uk/ofc-reports