Thanks to supermarkets, you’d never believe we descended from ancient lines of hunter-gatherers. The apparent simplicity of the modern food supply chain is, however, fraught with challenges. The difficulties are now just hidden behind ‘two-for-one’ special offers. In this article, we’re going to take a look at the complex path your food travels before it lands in your fridge, the difficulties involved and how important logistics is in the whole process.
The farm: where it all begins
No matter how romantically you may picture it, farming is a highly scientific process, designed to maximise efficiency while keeping crops and animals healthy. ‘Red sky at night’ may have been the cutting-edge of farming insight once upon a time. Today, farmers use advanced techniques to monitor soil quality, optimise water usage and protect their plants from pests. With their livestock cared for in accordance with strict animal welfare standards, farming is as tech-driven and carefully regulated as any industry you care to mention.
Processing: preparing for transport
Once the produce is harvested, livestock slaughtered or milk collected, food must be prepared for its onward journey. Processing plants clean, pasteurise, ferment and package food – often cooking or freezing it to extend its shelf life. At this stage, traceability systems are often put in place to track food through each step of its journey.
Transport: moving goods from farm to market
Once processed and packaged, food embarks on the next leg of its trip – transportation. Logistics companies work diligently to move food rapidly from farms and processing plants to distributors and markets. These highly coordinated efforts typically involve multiple modes of transportation – including lorries, trains, ships and planes – depending on the destination and type of food being transported. During this process, logistics companies have to adhere to strict regulations, particularly for perishable goods like meat, seafood and dairy, which must be kept at specific temperatures to avoid spoilage.
Storage: keeping things cool
At distribution centres, food is stored in climate-controlled environments to maintain its freshness. Refrigeration and freezing units help extend the shelf life of perishable items, while dry goods are stored in temperature and humidity-controlled warehouses. During storage, logistics companies regularly inspect food quality and monitor facility conditions to make sure no product is compromised.
Distribution: the last mile
The final stage before food reaches your fridge is its distribution to retail outlets. This is often referred to as the “last mile” in logistics and can be one of the most challenging stages of the process. Factors such as traffic delays and poor road conditions can all potentially impact delivery times, meaning logistics companies need to optimise routes and schedules to keep food deliveries quick and reliable.
The supermarket: bringing it all together
At your local supermarket, fresh produce, dairy and meat products are arranged on shelves, freezers and refrigerators, ready for you to bring home. It’s a constant stream of activity, with supermarkets relying on regular deliveries to keep their shelves stocked, especially for highly perishable items like fruit and vegetables. Using modern technologies, retailers keep track of inventory levels in real-time, allowing them to keep enough stock to meet customer demand without over-ordering and risking food waste.
Disruptions in the supply chain
Unfortunately, the grocery supply chain is highly susceptible to a range of disruptions that can impact food availability and pricing. Weather events like droughts, floods and storms can devastate crops and reduce agricultural output – and also damage essential delivery infrastructure like roads and bridges. Problems such as port worker strikes, fuel shortages and facility closures further complicate the process, often resulting in shortages and empty supermarket shelves.
Labour shortages
With the UK currently experiencing a severe shortage of lorry drivers (as well as warehouse staff and farm workers), it can be a major challenge getting food to your fridge even if the weather is good. Worker shortages can slow down or even halt various stages of the supply chain, leading to reduced product availability and an increased strain on the entire system.
Geopolitical events
Much of the food on UK supermarket shelves comes from abroad. As a result, trade embargoes, political instabilities and wars can play havoc with your Saturday morning shopping trip. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, for example, has dramatically impacted the global supply of wheat and other agricultural products. When you add disruptions as a result of product recalls (due to contamination or labelling issues), natural disasters (like earthquakes and hurricanes) and the increasingly pervasive threat of cyberattacks, it can sometimes seem like a wonder that your box of cornflakes makes it to your kitchen table at all.
Harvest Season in the UK: Seasonal Foods
While global food supply chains may be vulnerable to disruption, the UK’s domestic harvest season brings a variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables throughout the year. In January and February, the UK produces apples, pears and a variety of vegetables like beetroot and Brussels sprouts. By March, rhubarb and spring greens become available, continuing into April with new potatoes and spinach. Summer brings blackberries, tomatoes and sweetcorn, along with a mixture of berries, plums, apples and butternut squash – while winter adds cranberries and red cabbage to the mix.
That said, food consumption patterns have changed significantly over the years. People now take advanced agricultural techniques and global trade for granted and expect seasonal foods all year round. For instance, modern transportation and refrigeration allow us to purchase strawberries in winter or apples in summer. However, this constant availability comes with substantial environmental and economic costs.
The problems farmers face
UK farmers are currently grappling with major financial setbacks due to severe weather and market conditions. In 2024, the estimated revenue loss from key arable crops will be nearly £889 million. This has been worsened by one of the wettest winters on record, which disrupted the sowing of both winter and spring crops.
Income from crucial crops has declined dramatically: winter wheat by 26.5%, winter barley by 33.1% and oilseed rape by 37.6%, leading to a total £1.12 billion loss in revenue. Despite an increase in spring crop production (such as a 26.8% rise in spring barley and a 22.7% rise in oats), these gains won’t offset winter crop losses.
Overall, the UK faces a 19% decline in revenue from key crops, with the economic impact heightened by reduced yields and delayed sowing. This situation is compounded by a broader cost-of-living crisis, with inflation remaining a concern despite some recent improvements. As disheartening as the domestic agricultural situation may be, recent government support aims to address these issues and bolster the UK farming sector.
Helping out on the farm
At the Farm to Fork Summit in May 2024, the Government announced a comprehensive support package designed to heighten domestic food production. This includes a new blueprint for growing the UK fruit and vegetable sector which aims to increase production and attract investment in the £4 billion industry. Major initiatives include increasing funding for horticulture to £80 million, simplifying planning processes for glasshouse construction and investing £75 million in internal drainage boards to recover from recent storms.
Additional measures will focus on improving fairness in the supply chain with new regulations for fresh produce and egg sectors, increasing funding for automation to reduce labour dependence and supporting mental health in the industry. The creation of a Commissioner for the Tenant Farming Sector aims to secure fair practices between landlords and tenants, further stabilising the sector.
To discuss how accessing a nationwide managed partner network can support your operation during harvest season, get in touch.