A major new study offers valuable insights into the current issues and potential strategic solutions to the current and future challenges facing food and drink supply chains in London and other major population centres across the UK.
The report shows that, with the population of the UK’s cities growing at an unprecedented rate, an urban logistics crisis is looming which, if not addressed now, could even lead to a shortage of essential food supplies on the shelves of grocery retailers and at other food outlets.
Commissioned by the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) and delivered by research consultants Global 78, Feeding London 2030 has been hailed by industry leaders and Transport for London as a timely and valuable source of data for food producers, logistics services providers, retailers, caterers and many more.
“Things are becoming stretched across London’s food and drink supply chains and current logistics thinking is no longer fit for purpose” the report’s lead author, Andrew Morgan warns.
He continues: “New trends in the way food and drink products are bought and consumed – added to the capital’s changing population profile and a transport infrastructure that is already creaking – are bringing significant challenges to food and drink manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, caterers and logistics companies.
“Supplying food and drink that is both safe and delivered on time to London’s retail and food service outlets at an appropriate cost will become increasingly difficult unless steps are taken to address the issues highlighted in the report.”
“For too long the food and drink industry and its logistics partners have been overly reactive in their approach to meeting changing consumer demands. This report provides the opportunity to identify and assess future trends and so give stakeholders the chance to ‘get on the front foot’.”
Some of the issues examined in detail in Feeding London 2030 include:
• The impact of the increasingly congested urban environment;
• New consumer demand profiles for food and drink;
• Current trends in delivery frequencies, times and volumes;
• Changes in the grocery retail sector that impact on supply chains;
• The significance of the hospitality and food service (HaFS) sector;
• Maintenance of food hygiene and food safety through the supply chain;
• The logistical pressures associated with food waste and other waste streams.
Peter Ward, UKWA’s chief executive officer, commented: “Feeding London 2030 examines the issues that the logistics community, grocery retailers, caterers, food and drink manufacturers and distributors, waste management companies, government agencies and industrial property agents must address as they strive to develop solutions to the city logistics challenges that lie ahead. It provides essential intelligence for successful forward planning.”
Feeding London 2030 is a 100-page document that features original charts, graphs and other visual illustrations that support the text.
The report is available from UKWA priced at £790.00 for non-UKWA member companies and £395.00 for UKWA members. Email Sue Knief – [email protected] – for details or visit www.ukwa.org.uk
ENDS
Editors’ notes: About The United Kingdom Warehousing Association
With over 600 member companies, the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) is the UK’s only trade association dedicated to serving the vitally important warehousing and logistics sector. Established in 1944, the Association’s members control nearly 100 million square feet of warehousing space from nearly 1300 locations across the UK. Although originally established as a trade body for the third party warehousing sector, the Association now embraces all companies that operate a warehousing or distribution facility. Membership is not restricted to those companies based within the borders of the United Kingdom.
Association Contact:
Peter Ward
Chief Executive Officer, UKWA
Tel: 0207 636 8856
Email: [email protected]
www.ukwa.org.uk
@UKWarehouse
Media Contact:
Lloyd Arkill
Arkill Matthews Allen Ltd
Tel: 01923 777897
Email: [email protected]
@amaprlatest
www.amapr.com
