Most food companies ‘yet to recover’ from supply chain disruptions

Most food companies are still reeling under supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and are “yet to recover”, reveals a recent survey.

According to a report by Sodexo, 85 percent of food supply chain heads said the pandemic has caused long-term damage to their supply chain, from which they are “yet to recover”.

As a result of the conflict in Ukraine, Covid-related labour shortages and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, there has been unprecedented pressure on supply chains that has led to food buyers in the UK’s biggest companies reporting a 60 percent increase in food waste over the last six months. 

35 percent of respondents warned they will be forced to continue increasing their prices due to the difficulties in managing their supply chain, with 32 percent believing their supply chain will not return to optimum efficiency for a full year.

Some 44 percent revealed they are impacted by labour shortages and 38 percent claim they are impacted by freight challenges in their supply chain.

“The first step towards cutting food waste is tracking and monitoring,” reports quoted Sodexo UK and Ireland director of corporate responsibility Claire Atkins-Morris said.

“More broadly, we urge the government to take a holistic approach to all areas which will determine the success of net zero policy making, including food waste, carbon reduction and supply chain resilience.”

The report comes as Sodexo partnered with WRAP last year in support of the first ever Food Waste Action Week.

WRAP’s head of policy and insights, Keith James, added: “Every business can make a difference by instigating the Target-Measure-Act approach, but not all have the flexibility to adopt strategies quickly with competing pressures.

“That is why WRAP published new Scope 3 protocols for measuring GHG emissions linked to the food we make, sell and eat.”