Speciality Food September 2025

10 @specialityfood “Unfairness and affordability” to be addressed following new farm tax report, says NFU A new report by CenTax states that reform in the family farm tax could be better targeted to protect working farms, and has proposed a number of amendments. Since last year's Budget the NFU has raised concerns regarding the ability of the current policy to remove the incentive to shelter wealth in farmland, protect family farms or generate asmuch revenue as it should – and has also stressed the burden it places on elderly farmers. NFU President TomBradshaw said, “We welcome this detailed report by CenTax which recognises that working farms will be disproportionately affected by this tax. This is not a fair and balanced approach to reformand does little to counter those who seek to shelter wealth from inheritance tax by simply investing in farmland. “There are interesting adjustments within the report that appear to mitigate the impacts on themost vulnerable in our community and enable farms to invest in the future of food productionwith greater confidence. “We think this new independent analysis presents a positive and timely opportunity ahead of the Finance Bill for fresh conversations with government and officials that would allowus all to work together to address issues of fairness and affordability within the proposals. The NFU urges government to grasp this opportunity.” British produce experiences boost thanks to foodservice The UK’s leading provider of fresh produce to the foodservice sector, Fresh Direct, has reported a jump in British sales as an increasing number of operators look to support domestic producers. The business has experienced an almost 10% boost in sales of British- sourced produce in the past 12 months, with some categories seeing an increase of more than a quarter, and says that the increase is due to the rise of premiumisation. British berries and homegrown producers such as Isle of Wight tomatoes are experiencing particularly strong sales, as are businesses such as Grow Up Farms which are utilising innovative farming methods. Andy Pembroke, managing director of Fresh Direct, said, “For the past three years, we have been running a campaign to encourage customers to increase the amount of British produce on the menu. As well as reflecting consumer demand, it supports British farmers and, best of all, capitalises on the fantastic seasonal quality of UK produce. We continue to provide more options to meet increasing customer demand by constantly adding new British produce lines.” It’s vital that the British food industry recognises the differences between biological supply shocks and longer- term environmental decline for future success, say Katy Gallagher, head of consumer products and Anisha Hebbar, senior consultant at 4C Associates. The tripling of cocoa costs and 20% surge in UK egg prices as a result of biological supply shocks caused a tide of concern for brands, retailers and consumers, but these experts state that there are ways to build resilience: 1. Reassess high-dependency ingredients: Don’t just focus on cost. Consider the long-termavailability and sustainability of critical inputs and commodities. Identify inputs fromyour supply chain with high-risk dependencies (e.g. climate- related) and evaluate potential alternatives. 2. Enhance forecasting and risk modelling: Invest in advanced forecasting, whether it be through adopting new tools or leveraging existing systems tomanage volatility. With internal alignment across supply chain, procurement and operations, organisations can act faster andmore cohesively when disruptions occur. 3. Balance supplier diversification: A broad supplier base reduces exposure - but resilience also comes from strong supplier relationships. Trusted suppliers are more likely to flag risks early or prioritise your business in times of constraint. It’s not about putting fewer eggs in one basket, but choosing the right basket. 4. Rethink product or recipe strategy: Resilience alsomeans reviewing product formulation and core inputs. Are there ways to reduce reliance on at-risk ingredients through reformulation or innovation? This requires collaboration across R&D, procurement, and commercial teams and a shift from reactive cost control measures to longer-termplanning. “The era of predictable supply chains is fading. The biological shocks and environmental pressures are no longer rare events but features of a new, more volatile landscape. The greatest risk lies in inaction, as consumer trust and brand loyalty don't wait for supply chains to recover. Waiting to react is no longer a viable strategy.” “The era of predictable supply chains is fading”