United Kingdom: Food Processing Ingredients

Food and drink production is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. UK consumers demand products containing a wide range of ingredients, some of which cannot be sourced entirely in the UK. The country, therefore, relies on imports to fulfill this demand. Health and wellbeing are key trends driving the market as the demand for plant-based and natural products increase. In 2020, UK consumers spent $11.3 billion on ethical food and drink, a sign that consumers shop with a conscience. Many opportunities therefore exist in all sectors of the ingredients market. UK industry standards tend to focus on strict animal welfare, high technical specifications, traceability, and very competitive pricing. U.S. companies should be aware of new regulations relating to plastic packaging and foods that are high in fat, salt, and sugar that may be introduced later in 2022. Products affected by these changes could see increased taxes and restrictions on the promotion and marketing of products.