July 20, 2017 Industry news
The GS1 UK grocery team recently attended the FDF Convention 2017 which looked at the big issues of the day for the food and drink industry.
We heard from inspiring speakers who gave real insight into the challenges the industry is facing, and how it can tackle the latest environmental, political and social factors.
Food manufacturing is a success story. It’s a diverse sector worth £28 billion to the UK economy. That’s about 17% of all UK manufacturing, making it larger than aerospace and automotive combined. And it’s a growing sector too – sales increased by 15& from 2010 to 2015, outperforming any other industrial sector. And SMEs have a vital role to play – with over 6,800 companies in the sector. At the FDF Convention, key facts were presented from an FDF-commissioned report by Grant Thornton, which identified three major opportunities and barriers for growth.
The big question is, ‘what will the food industry look like after Brexit?’ The food industry is mostly dealing with suppliers across Europe, and no one is currently sure what Brexit will mean for trade. The convention heard that the UK is not self-sufficient in food production – we simply can’t make all the food we need as a nation. The industry needs to be looking at more trade opportunities with other countries outside of the European Union, and whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations, there will be significant opportunities for British exporters.
The Department of Health recognised the efforts made by industry to reduce the levels of salt and sugar in foods. While the discussions have not always been easy, with both sides having different views, there has been a good level of collaboration. Food and drink manufacturers recognise their responsibility in meeting obesity challenges. And the government has acknowledged that working in partnership with the industry on a voluntary basis is the best way to tackle the issue.
The main question around industrial strategy was, ‘how can the UK food industry remain as an engine for growth within the economy, producing safe, quality food and drink for UK consumers?’ And more was spoken about how the FDF can shape and influence the government industrial strategy to drive the industry forward and to deliver a positive Brexit result.
What this means for our members
The convention and report chimed with what our 31,000+ members have been telling us this year. The resurgence in buying British brands has led to many new business start-ups across the food and drink industry. And when we asked our members about the threats and opportunities presented by Brexit, the views were cautiously optimistic.
We’re playing our part to tackle the wider issues the food industry is faced with. We work with all companies in the food and drink industry who make, transport and sell products both in the UK and abroad.
What’s clear is that GS1 standards have a vital role in helping the industry meet the challenges they’re facing. They are an enabler that help maximising productivity and ensure a frictionless movement of foods – from the farm gate through to the consumer. And GS1 standards help companies to identify, capture and share data which impacts so many aspects of business operations – internally as well as with the end consumer. Those responsible for data management work across a variety of functions and will have a different perspective on the data requirements the organisation needs.
Most importantly of all, our Digital DNA programme will help the industry and public bodies to have access to a single source of accurate product data for all brands. The potential for innovation within the industry, when given access to this data, is huge.