Eight years after it was hailed as “a historic game-changer” in the government’s relationship with the food industry, ministers have confirmed the Food and Drink Sector Council has been shelved.
Whilst it was announced in November 2017, the council met for the first time in January 2018. It was billed as a new partnership with government to boost productivity and make the industry more resilient, sustainable and competitive.
It was intended to bring a focus on boosting skills, agricultural productivity and improving the nation’s nutrition amid emerging proposals to establish a sector deal, as secured by other industries such as offshore wind, tourism and aerospace, which has never materialised.
The government has now for the first time admitted the FDSC is officially “on pause” and has not met since its last coming together in October 2024.
The sector council’s website states there are “currently no planned meetings”.
Food strategy
In February, The Grocer revealed there was speculation over the future of the council, as it emerged ministers were looking to recruit leading industry figures for the expert panel overseeing its new food strategy.
At the time sources said the council risked being seen as “surplus to requirements”.
However, the developments are a far cry from the high expectations when the council was first launched
Comprised of leading industry figures from agriculture, manufacturing, retail, logistics and hospitality sectors, its original lineup included the likes of Stobart Group chairman Iain Ferguson; Gavin Darby, ex-CEO of Premier Foods; Leendert Den Hollander, the then vice president and GM Great Britain of Coca-Cola; and Ian Wright, who was chief executive of the FDF.
Speaking after its launch, Wright said: “Recognising that food and drink is a matter of national security, the creation of a Food and Drink Sector Council is a game-changer for the £112bn farm-to-fork supply chain.”
The council was responsible for launching projects on the future of food and sustainability, with talks on the future of food, sustainability and a large body of work on the industry workforce.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “This ambitious partnership between government and industry will secure the UK’s position as a global leader in sustainable, affordable and high-quality food and drink.”
More recently the council was chaired by ministers for food security Daniel Zeichner and Tim Smith, former chief executive of the FSA and ex-Tesco quality director, now chairman at Cranswick.
Smith was among those named on the new food strategy board.
At the latest sector council meeting in October, Smith and Zeichner announced it faced a change in direction which would see it “focus on providing a small number of clear outputs in support of the government’s missions and priorities”. It was also announced, as revealed by The Grocer, that it would be stripped of its advisory role for the Food Data Transparency Partnership (FDTP).
One source told The Grocer the launch of the government’s food strategy and its new overseeing panel meant the “writing was on the wall” for the council, although Labour has yet to commit to a permanent long-term role for the new body.
In April The Grocer revealed Defra was also launching a Citizens Advisory Council to complement the industry group, with ministers said to be keen to focus on having “the peoples’ voice” as a bigger part of its food and drink strategy.
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