Earlier this week the government launched its long-awaited food strategy, outlining its ambitious hopes for the future of the UK’s entire food sector and the steps which need to be taken to deliver on those goals.
Sarah Bradbury, chief executive at the Institute of Grocery Distribution, reveals what went on behind the scenes as the IGD played a key part in helping the government set out its vision for a thriving food system.
How important are the 10 outcomes set out for the UK food industry?
The 10 outcomes are foundational. They represent the first time government has clearly articulated a cross-departmental vision for a thriving food system that is healthier, more sustainable, and economically resilient.
The Defra team has worked to align the different needs of various government depts, including DHSC and DWP. These outcomes were shaped by months of discussion with over 400 organisations, academics, NGOs and citizens across the food sector. Defra teamed up with IGD to run multi-stakeholder workshops with over 150 organisations. These provide a unifying framework to align action across departments and sectors bringing multiple perspectives and voices, together encompassing complex industry topics.
How were the 10 goals identified?
Defra led the overall strategy, and worked with the BRC, NFU, FDF and UKHospitality (known collectively as the F4), the Food Strategy Advisory Board, academia and citizens to develop ideas. IGD also worked with Defra to bring together stakeholders from across the agri-food supply chain (academia, agriculture, retail, manufacturing, NGOs and civil society) through a series of workshops in London, Birmingham and Leeds.
These sessions explored the four pillars of the strategy: economic growth, health, nature and environment, and food security. The 10 outcomes from the report were informed by this collaborative process.
How does the Food Strategy Advisory Board operate?
The Food Strategy Advisory Board is a trusted space for collaboration and conversation, with joint co-secretariat from IGD and Defra. The FSAB brings together a wide range of voices, including retailers, manufacturers, farmers, NGOs and academics, and has played a vital role in shaping the strategy.
It has met monthly since March, and all of the minutes are published online so people can see the discussions for themselves. It hasn’t always been seamless, but that’s a strength: the FSAB is where difficult conversations happen constructively, and where outcomes and actions can be forged through evidence and shared purpose.
Inevitably, because the NHS 10-year plan was coming, some of those early meetings were focused on health so that DHSC and Defra could join up their thinking. We are looking forward to the FSAB continuing to support this cross-government collaboration as it dives deeper into the other food strategy pillars in the coming months. The FSAB is just one part of the engagement and discussion – both the F4 and citizen work are also critical inputs.
Has the strategy focused on health and regulation rather than growth?
The Good Food Cycle more broadly encompasses all four food strategy priorities. While health is rightly a priority, the strategy also champions economic growth, innovation, and food security. The workshops revealed strong support for making healthy and sustainable food the default, but not at the expense of growth. The outcomes reflect that balance, supporting both public health and a thriving food economy.
What are the biggest obstacles now that we’ve reached this stage?
Delivery. The ambition is clear, but the routes to achieving them will require sustained co-ordination, investment and accountability, developing consistent metrics, long-term policy stability, and better integration across government.
The subjects are huge. How will they be achieved in a timeframe that makes it acceptable?
The Good Food Cycle is a generational strategy, it also needs to align with the other important pieces of work, like the land use framework, planning reform and the circular economy. The workshops surfaced practical steps, like simplifying planning restrictions and scaling food education, which can be delivered in the near term while laying the groundwork for systemic change.
When will more specific targets and metrics be set?
Defra is working towards a publication in spring 2026, which will be the next major milestone. Each of the outcomes will need to have clear metrics and frameworks. The importance of shared metrics will ensure that the industry can track progress.
How will the FSAB and outcomes framework dovetail with the NHS 10-year plan and ideas such as mandatory reporting?
There’s strong alignment. The Good Food Cycle supports the NHS’s shift from treatment to prevention. DHSC will also work with the Food Strategy Advisory Board on how to sequence the introduction of mandatory targets.
How worried are you that other things will derail the strategy – economic pressures, geopolitics, farming disputes?
They could, but that’s why this strategy matters. Food security, health, and sustainability are not optional extras – they’re essential to national resilience. The Good Food Cycle embeds these priorities into the heart of government planning.
Are we seeing the cross-government commitment and joined-up policy that was promised?
We’re seeing progress, but change is hard. The 10-year NHS strategy with DHSC working closely with the Food Strategy Advisory Board on how to sequence the introduction of mandatory targets is a good example. As work progresses, FSAB is going to include representation from multiple departments to make sure that cross-government working continues.
Any other key thoughts?
The Good Food Cycle is a milestone, but it’s just the beginning. IGD’s role is to convene, connect, and catalyse. We’re proud to have brought together such a broad coalition to shape this strategy and we’ll continue to support delivery by sharing insights, fostering collaboration, and championing the voices of those working to build a better food system.
Sarah Bradbury is the CEO at the Institute of Grocery Distribution
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