National Food Strategy

The UK Government’s National Food Strategy is aimed at future-proofing Britain’s food system against rising global challenges, by tackling food security, fortifying supply chains, and driving sustainability.

For this mission to succeed, it is essential that the critical role of warehousing should be recognised. Our sector is the unsung hero of Britain’s food industry, underpinning the entire supply chain, ensuring fresh produce and frozen goods remain at optimal temperatures, protecting food from spoilage, and maintaining the flow of goods to retailers and consumers alike.

Warehousing is also a key battleground in the fight against climate change. With food transport and storage accounting for 20 percent of global food emissions, decisive action is needed. A recent parliamentary report on food security underscores this urgency, highlighting the need to balance increased demand for cold storage with low-emission refrigeration solutions. Simple yet effective measures, such as adjusting frozen food storage temperatures from minus 18°C to minus 15°C or transitioning to electrically powered refrigeration units on trucks, could significantly cut carbon without jeopardising safety standards.

Warehousing has a golden opportunity to lead the UK’s food sector towards a more sustainable future through solar power too. Temperature-controlled storage is vital but energy-intensive. But the UK Warehouse Association’s landmark 2022 report revealed the game-changing potential of rooftop solar panels to cut UK carbon emissions by millions of tonnes and save billions in electricity costs. Beyond cost savings, this shift would enhance the resilience of our energy supply, positioning warehousing as a net producer of green electricity.

While third-party logistics providers manage most UK warehousing, supermarkets and major food manufacturers also run vast storage operations. However, these businesses often don’t see themselves as warehouse operators, despite warehousing being the linchpin of their supply chain success.

So last month, UKWA made a strategic move to exhibit at Foodex, the UK’s premier food industry exhibition, engaging directly with food manufacturers and retailers. Our UKWA Advice Clinic, ‘Make Your Warehouse Work for You,’ provided practical guidance on cost-saving, efficiency-boosting, and sustainability-driven warehousing strategies. The message was clear: excellence in warehouse management isn’t just an operational necessity, it’s a competitive advantage.

Optimising warehousing requires more than just infrastructure—it demands expertise. That’s why UKWA is driving industry-wide upskilling. Our Warehouse Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification is not just aimed at third-party logistics providers (3PLs); it is also ideal for manufacturers and retailers managing their own storage. By investing in learning about best practices, innovation, and smart logistics technology, we can elevate the entire sector to world-class standards.

The OECD highlights that food systems worldwide face a “triple challenge”: to provide food security and nutrition for a growing population, to contribute to the livelihoods of millions of people working along the food supply chain, and to do so in an environmentally sustainable way. Here in the UK, the warehousing sector is ready to deliver. Now it’s time for both Government and industry to recognise warehousing as a cornerstone of our National Food Strategy

Clare Bottle

UKWA, CEOThe post National Food Strategy first appeared on Warehouse & Logistics News.