How was 2025 for businesses across the food & drink sector, and what is at the forefront as we move into 2026?

We’ve reached that time of year again where we launch our food & drink sector survey and seek answers to our questions by listening to businesses leaders, from across the UK.   

The uncontrollable aspects of global geopolitical challenges continue, and the global food and drink supply chain remains deeply impacted.

Challenges have continued across the UK in the previous 12 months, with nothing more impactful to business than 2025’s National Insurance Contributions and National Minimum Wage changes creating a massive shock and negative impact to employee numbers. 

Business owners have been confronted with new packaging legislation, Extended Producer Responsibility, (EPR) making producers responsible for the full cost of collecting, recycling, and disposing of the packaging they put on the market, shifting costs from taxpayers to businesses to encourage more sustainable designs. The Deposit Return Scheme (DRS,) also follows soon for all UK drinks producers.  Finally, the increasing focus on our health and well-being highlighted by the arrival of HFSS legislation, the UK-wide ban on advertising of food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar.  It does feel like one substantial hurdle after the next for business!  

My colleagues and I spend a lot of time with our clients, and other industry stakeholders, and I continue to be struck by the determination, passion, and innovation in food & drink businesses across the country. And let’s not forget the quality of produce, which many of the population may take for granted and often gets overlooked, set against the backdrop of rising costs and less disposable income.

What is the Johnston Carmichael annual Food & Drink Survey?

Our survey looks back on 2025 and takes a cross-sector look at the industry. This year, our survey and the report launch debate that will follow is supported by Natwest Group and RBS.

It is an opportunity for business owners, leaders and senior directors to share their experiences and highlight what their businesses went through in 2025 and are going through as we move into 2026. Providing a chance to comment on the good and the bad, against several key topics.

Why do we do it?

With 500 food & drink clients across the UK, we offer advice and support across several service lines, with businesses of all sizes, from small start-ups to large corporates. As advisers, we are focused on understanding the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

The better we understand the current state of play, then the deeper our insight and more effective we can be, bringing solutions to our clients, and when appropriate, to raise in national forums (including with governments.)

Despite the challenges of 2025, there will have been success for many. So, where businesses have succeeded, we would like to celebrate and help demonstrate the innovation at play.  

Why should businesses complete it?

A cross sector and cross-country response will help us establish both the financial and operational state of the industry. Every business who completes the survey will be given a copy of the final report, which will contain analysis and commentary from our food & drink network of experts.

We also hope individuals and businesses will take some comfort from completing the survey and reading about the experiences of their peers during the past 12 months and the general outlook for 2026.

In April we will have a panel debate with RBS where we will strip back the survey results and have an open conversation, discuss key aspects, and look to the future. We hope to see you there.

Complete the survey here 

Save the Date – Our Food & Drink Industry Debate to launch our survey report will take place on 1 April with RBS and held at their HQ at Gogaburn, Edinburgh. More details to follow – email foodanddrink@jcca.co.uk if you’d like to attend.