The Future of Food Chains

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

CONTENTS

The world we live in is changing at a rapid pace, with global communities facing a climate emergency, a cost-of-living crisis, and a rapidly growing burden on the health sector. Food is at the forefront of these challenges, and directly related or attributable to all. Food chains are one of the most complex supply chain types, handling vast variety of products all with varying characteristics sell by dates and safety regulations and volatile demand profiles owed to restless and evolving consumer preferences. Real estate plays a critical role in facilitating structural changes in food chains, and through this report we hope to educate, challenge and broaden the thinking of decision makers within the real estate sector.

1

Introduction

4

2

The Growing Issue of Food Security

6

3

Understanding the Current Food Chain in the UK 10

4

Dietary Change: Health and Sustainability

20

5

Food Production: Re-shoring the UK’s Food Supply 26

6

Supply and Storage: Reshaping Food Chains

40

7

Consumption

52

8

A Vison for Our Cities

64

3

FUTURE OF FOOD CHAIN |