UK food industry: unsung success story?

The UK Food and Drink Federation (FDF) this week announced a new awards scheme to promote the food and drink manufacturing industry's commitment to the community.

The Food and Drink Federation Community Partnership Awards aim to provide a showcase for the sector's activities in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility and community action, to recognise activities which demonstrate the food and drink manufacturing industry's understanding of, and commitment to, the communities in which it operates, and to establish best practice.

FDF​ president Peter Blackburn said:

"These awards have grown out of the idea that the food and drink manufacturing sector is an unsung success story. The UK food and drink manufacturing industry is absolutely vital to the well being of this country. As a sector we employ almost half a million people and we employ them all over the UK. We provide over 40,000 jobs in the chilled food sector alone - largely in rural areas. We are among the biggest customers for other industry sectors - advertising, transport, packaging - to name but three. We make up almost nine billion of UK PLC's exports and we are an innovative, technologically advanced industry with the best food safety and hygiene record around.​

This all adds up to an industry, which sees itself - rightly - as a vital partner in the community. All over the UK our companies - and the people in them - are working hard to play their part in their communities."​

The FDF statement comes at the same time as the International Monetary Fund told UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown that he should consider putting VAT on food to offset any increase in public spending. A further challenge for the food industry.