FWD column: How resilient is the UK food system?
James Bielby, Chief Executive of Food and Drink Wholesale UK, shares one of the most thought-provoking discussions from this year’s FWD Live!
Since FWD Live! in June, the political landscape has shifted once again, with the resignation of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and the arrival of Andy Burnham at Number 10 adding to an already uncertain environment for businesses. While politics will always evolve, the challenges facing the food and drink supply chain remain constant: rising costs, global instability, climate pressures, labour shortages, cyber security threats and changing trading relationships.
These are not issues that affect just one part of the supply chain, but all of it. That was why FWD launched the Food Resilience Commission earlier this year and why I was delighted to welcome former Food Minister and Commission Chair Daniel Zeichner MP to discuss its work at this year’s conference.
The purpose of the Food Resilience Commission is to ensure the continuity of supply. FWD, together with industry experts, is examining where vulnerabilities exist and what practical steps government and businesses can take to strengthen the resilience of our supply chain.
Hot topic
Cyber security was also a hot topic at FWD Live!. While business costs remain the most immediate concern for many wholesalers, the threat of a cyber attack is creeping up the agenda of many a boardroom, and after what Paul Gerrard, Campaigns, Public Affairs & Policy Director at Co-op, shared with us about its own cyber crisis in 2025, it’s for good reason. This extended into a workshop, led by Steve Howells, Director of Threat Intelligence at Barclays, who outlined the top cyber threats businesses face in 2026 (see pages 16-22 of Wholesale News August 2026 for conference highlights).
Financial cost
The challenge is that resilience comes at a cost. Investing in cyber protection, infrastructure, contingency planning and supply chain security requires time and resources at a moment when many businesses are already under financial pressure.
Daniel Zeichner spoke candidly about the need for greater understanding within government of the complexity of the food system. One of the Commission’s objectives is to help policymakers better understand how the system operates and where support is needed.
The UK will always be part of a global food system, but ensuring resilient domestic production, efficient supply chains and strong trading relationships will be increasingly important in the years ahead.
As political priorities evolve and new challenges emerge, FWD will continue to champion the interests of wholesalers, engage with policymakers and provide members with the insight and support they need.
If there was one message from FWD Live! that stood out, it is this: resilience cannot be an afterthought – it must be built deliberately, collaboratively and continuously.
Daniel Zeichner MP Food Resilience Commission FWD column FWDLive! Government James Bielby supply chain