Urgent action needed to reduce pressure on food supply chain

The Food Resilience Commission has warned that without urgent action being taken by government, the pressure on the UK food supply chain could impact consumers

New research into the impact of this summer’s extreme weather reveals:

• 60% of food wholesalers surveyed experienced disruption, with more than a third experiencing stock shortages
• Half increased contingency or buffer stock and added vehicles, drivers or delivery shifts to keep food supplies moving and limit disruption to customers
• More than 60% said existing infrastructure and operating arrangements could not cope with another comparable summer without significant additional cost or support.

The government must take urgent action to strengthen the UK’s food security as increasingly frequent extreme weather puts pressure on food production and supply, raising concerns about availability and costs for businesses and consumers, the Food Resilience Commission has warned.

As the effects of this summer’s extreme weather are felt across the food supply chain, the Commission has warned that businesses cannot be expected to continually absorb the cost of disruption to prevent pressures further up the supply chain from reaching customers. The Commission, chaired by former Food Minister Daniel Zeichner MP and convened by Food & Drink Wholesale UK (FWD), has published four interim recommendations as part of its ongoing inquiry examining how to strengthen the resilience and long-term security of the UK’s food supply chain.

The recommendations were launched by Zeichner on 28 August 2026 at Sysco’s Reading depot, where the Commission chair saw first-hand the role wholesalers and their suppliers play in keeping food moving to businesses and communities across the country.

Months of unusually hot and dry conditions have brought the resilience of the UK’s food supply into renewed focus, raising concerns about the impact of extreme weather on production, availability and the cost of food for businesses and consumers.

The new FWD research highlights the role wholesalers have played in preventing those pressures from reaching customers. Businesses reported increasing stockholding, adapting their distribution operations and taking other measures to maintain supplies through the difficult conditions.

But protecting customers from disruption comes at a cost. The findings raise concerns about whether current levels of resilience can be maintained as extreme weather becomes more frequent, with wholesalers warning that another comparable summer would require further investment or support.

The findings come as the Food Resilience Commission warns resilience cannot depend on businesses absorbing ever greater costs each time the food system comes under pressure. While its inquiry remains ongoing, evidence gathered so far points to areas where more immediate action is needed. The Commission is continuing to seek views and evidence from businesses across the food supply chain before making its final recommendations to Government later this year.

The Commission’s four interim recommendations call on the government to:

1. Make food resilience a national security priority, embedding it more explicitly within the UK’s national security and resilience frameworks with clear cross-Government ownership and accountability.
2. Establish a permanent government-industry food resilience forum, creating a standing mechanism for businesses and government to share intelligence, map critical dependencies and strengthen contingency planning.
3. Regularly stress-test the food system against concurrent shocks, testing the UK’s preparedness for scenarios in which extreme weather, cyber attacks, geopolitical disruption and interruptions to energy, fuel, transport or trade occur simultaneously or in quick succession.
4. Help food businesses invest in resilience to extreme weather and other shocks, including measures to support investment in energy efficiency, cooling and refrigeration, cyber security, backup systems and business continuity.

The recommendations reflect evidence gathered through the Commission’s work to date, including through roundtables and an ongoing call for evidence.

Daniel Zeichner MP, Chair of the Food Resilience Commission, said: “I’m delighted to be visiting Sysco’s Reading depot as Chair of the Food Resilience Commission. Having served as Food Minister, I know just how important a resilient food supply chain is to the country, and how quickly disruption in one part of the system can have much wider consequences. The pressures facing the food sector this summer have reinforced why we need to take the resilience of our food supply chain seriously.

“Through the Commission’s evidence gathering so far, it has become clear that government has a central role to play in making sure we are prepared for those risks. Food resilience can only be truly achieved through clear ownership across Government, stronger engagement with industry, and regular testing of our preparedness for the increasingly complex combination of threats we face.

“While the Commission’s work is continuing and we will publish our final recommendations later this year, the evidence we have heard makes clear that action is needed now. That is why we have published these interim recommendations, setting out practical steps that can be taken immediately to strengthen our food security and ensure we are better prepared before disruption occurs, rather than responding once a crisis is already underway.”

James Bielby, Chief Executive Officer, Food & Drink Wholesale UK said: “This summer has shown how quickly prolonged heat and drought can put pressure on the food supply chain. Our members are already reporting disruption to supply and shortages of some products, but wholesalers have worked hard to manage those pressures and keep food moving to the shops, restaurants and public services that depend on them.

“Much of that disruption may never be visible to consumers because wholesalers are holding additional stock, adapting deliveries and taking other steps to maintain supply. But doing that comes at a cost, and many of our members are telling us that another summer like this would require significant additional expenditure or support.

“We cannot assume businesses will always be able to absorb those pressures before they reach customers. As extreme weather becomes more frequent, strengthening the resilience of the food supply chain is essential to protecting the country’s food security. The Commission’s interim recommendations set out practical steps for government and industry to plan for these risks together.”

Paul Nieduszynski, Chief Executive Officer, Sysco GB said: “We are pleased to welcome Daniel in his role as Chair of the Food Resilience Commission to our Reading depot at a particularly important time for the UK’s food supply chain.

“The visit is an opportunity to show Daniel first hand the work that goes into maintaining continuity of supply and to discuss the practical challenges businesses face in keeping food moving through increasingly difficult conditions. We welcome the Commission’s focus on strengthening the resilience of the UK’s food supply for the long term.”

The Commission will continue gathering evidence through the autumn, including through a third roundtable and its ongoing written call for evidence. Businesses and organisations from across the food supply chain are encouraged to contribute their experiences, evidence and recommendations to help shape the Commission’s final report.

The Commission will publish its final recommendations to government later this year, setting out practical measures to strengthen the resilience and long-term security of the UK food supply chain.

Daniel Zeichner MP Food Resilience Commission FWD Government James Bielby Paul Nieduszynski supply chain