Food Industry Giants Set to Provide Insight on Supply Chain Equity
Source: The DairyNews
Unilever, Arla, and Kraft Heinz are among the industry leaders slated to present evidence on fairness within the food supply chain as they appear before the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (EFRA) committee next week.
The EFRA committee's upcoming session, scheduled for Tuesday, marks its third evidence gathering effort focusing on fairness in the food supply chain. Aimed at exploring the impact of inflation on suppliers' and manufacturers' costs, the session seeks to dissect the intricate interplay between food production costs, retail prices, and the broader market dynamics.
MPs leading the inquiry will delve into various aspects, including the effects of inflation on the food supply chain, the potential beneficiaries of increased prices, and the prevalence of 'shrinkflation' practices. The latter involves downsizing food items by manufacturers while maintaining the same retail price.
Of particular interest to the committee are questions surrounding equitable dealings between processors and producers, especially within the pig and dairy sectors. MPs are anticipated to scrutinize the level of competition among processors, assessing whether producers have sufficient options available to them.
Additionally, the session will scrutinize the structural relationships between food producers, manufacturers, and retailers, with an eye towards identifying potential areas for improvement.
Furthermore, the committee aims to assess the role of manufacturers in promoting both affordability and health in food products. Key executives from industry heavyweights, including Bas Padberg of Arla Foods, Sarah Arrowsmith of Associated British Foods, Dominic Hawkins of Kraft Heinz, and Marc Woodward of Unilever, will face questioning during the session.
Earlier engagements by EFRA this year saw farming leaders urging the government to ensure that supermarkets acknowledge farm input inflation and offer fairer prices, reflecting the ongoing efforts to address equity concerns within the food supply chain.
MPs leading the inquiry will delve into various aspects, including the effects of inflation on the food supply chain, the potential beneficiaries of increased prices, and the prevalence of 'shrinkflation' practices. The latter involves downsizing food items by manufacturers while maintaining the same retail price.
Of particular interest to the committee are questions surrounding equitable dealings between processors and producers, especially within the pig and dairy sectors. MPs are anticipated to scrutinize the level of competition among processors, assessing whether producers have sufficient options available to them.
Additionally, the session will scrutinize the structural relationships between food producers, manufacturers, and retailers, with an eye towards identifying potential areas for improvement.
Furthermore, the committee aims to assess the role of manufacturers in promoting both affordability and health in food products. Key executives from industry heavyweights, including Bas Padberg of Arla Foods, Sarah Arrowsmith of Associated British Foods, Dominic Hawkins of Kraft Heinz, and Marc Woodward of Unilever, will face questioning during the session.
Earlier engagements by EFRA this year saw farming leaders urging the government to ensure that supermarkets acknowledge farm input inflation and offer fairer prices, reflecting the ongoing efforts to address equity concerns within the food supply chain.
