The EFRA Committee will tomorrow take evidence from major food processors and manufacturers including Unilever, Arla and Kraft Heinz, as it holds the third evidence session exploring 'fairness in the food supply chain'.
· Watch Parliament TV: Fairness in the food supply chain
· Inquiry: Fairness in the food supply chain
· Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee
Tuesday’s session will give MPs the opportunity to examine the impact of inflation on suppliers’ and manufacturers’ costs, and will explore how food production costs, food prices and retail prices interact.
Committee members will investigate how inflation has affected the food supply chain, whether certain links are benefiting from increased prices, and how far companies are employing the practice of ‘shrinkflation’ - where food items are downsized by manufacturers while being sold for the same price.
MPs are likely to question witnesses on whether there is fair dealing between processors and producers, particularly in the pig and dairy sectors, and are likely to ask whether there is sufficient competition between processors to allow producers a variety of options.
The Committee will probe whether the structural relationships between food producers, manufacturers, and retailers could be improved.
The session will also examine manufacturers’ role in promoting affordable and healthy food, questioning whether manufacturers are being proactive in promoting the purchase of healthier products.
Dr Neil Hudson MP said:
"Getting food from farm to fork effectively, is absolutely critical to keeping the nation moving.
"I'm sure I don't need to reinforce to consumers how important it is to secure our food supply chain following the immense market volatility of the pandemic, war in Ukraine and disrupted shipping lanes in the Red Sea.
"Put simply, this Inquiry will help us improve Government policy to safeguard supply chains and help the British public when they reach the checkout."
Witnesses:
Tuesday 19 March in Committee room 6, Palace of Westminster
At 2.30pm
- Peter Dawson, Policy & Sustainability Director, Dairy UK
- Rod Addy, Director General, Provision Trade Federation
- Robert Sheasby, Chief Executive, The Agricultural Industries Confederation
At 3.30pm
- Bas Padberg, UK Managing Director, Arla Foods
- Sarah Arrowsmith, Chief Executive, Associated British Foods
- Dominic Hawkins, UK Head of Supply Chain, Kraft Heinz
- Marc Woodward, UK and Ireland Head, Unilever
