Sainsbury’s has pledged its support for the Good Food Bill, joining calls for government and industry to work together on a long-term strategy to strengthen the resilience of the UK food system.
The retailer announced its backing for the proposed legislation on Thursday (16 July), saying the Bill would help create a more resilient food system capable of withstanding challenges such as extreme weather, geopolitical disruption and rising food insecurity, while improving access to affordable, nutritious food.
The move comes as recent heatwaves across Europe have intensified concerns about the resilience of food supply chains and the impact of climate change on agriculture.
Sainsbury’s said it has already taken steps to support the food system, including committing £5 billion earlier this year to long-term partnerships with British and Irish suppliers. It believes the Good Food Bill would build on these efforts by setting clearer objectives to help protect farmers from climate-related shocks and inflationary pressures.
Simon Roberts, chief executive of Sainsbury’s, said: “Recent weeks have shown just how much pressure our food system is under. We need a more resilient food system that attracts investment, backs British farmers and helps keep affordable, nutritious food on tables across the nation.
“Food and farming should be at the heart of government policy, helping to build a stronger and more resilient future. That’s why we’ve signed the Good Food Bill. Through working together to drive the change we need across government, industry and communities, we can make sure everyone has access to good food for years to come.”
The Good Food Bill, launched in February with the backing of more than 100 organisations from the business, health, food, farming, investment, academic and charity sectors, calls for a statutory framework to transform the UK's food system and improve its long-term resilience.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, welcomed Sainsbury’s support.
“Decades without a coherent plan for food policy has left the UK food system dangerously exposed to external shocks far beyond our borders,” she said.
“What we need now is a Good Food Bill that sets out a long-term statutory framework for building public health and national and household resilience — one that holds successive governments to account and protects citizens, businesses and farmers alike.
“It is great to see Sainsbury’s supporting this call. We urge other businesses to do the same, and for government to take decisive action on food.”
Sainsbury’s also highlighted the Bill’s focus on improving access to nutritious food, noting that millions of children are expected to face holiday hunger during the summer break when free school meals are unavailable.
The supermarket said it is investing more than £8 million alongside Comic Relief in Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programmes to help address the issue, but argued that a coordinated national framework, as proposed by the Good Food Bill, is needed to provide lasting support for families experiencing food insecurity.