Need some quick facts about the food and grocery industry? Here we offer you some headline facts, figures and analysis.
 

The economic and social impact of the food and grocery industry, farming and foodservice

• Shoppers have a lot of choice – they may obtain food and drink from 350,000 dedicated outlets in the UK (90,500 shops and 259,000 foodservice locations)
   
• The total UK food industry provides more than 3.1m jobs – 14% of UK employment
   
• Last year, food and drink accounted for 15% of UK manufacturing output, up 3% over the last ten years and making it the largest manufacturing sector
   
• UK food exports are worth £16.9bn annually, up 15% year-on-year, accounting for 7% of UK goods exported
   
• Nearly three-quarters (71%) of the UK’s countryside is in agricultural production – modern management techniques seek to balance the needs of farming with environmental protection
   
• UK farming has become more energy efficient and more input efficient over the last ten years

IGD and Farming
IGD's Sustainability resource
 

Achievements in nutrition, diet and health

• 30,000 tonnes of saturated fat were removed from products between 2005 and 2008
   
• Voluntary action by the food industry has been directly responsible for the drop in average consumer intakes of trans fats by more than half, to 1% of food energy
• UK shoppers have the highest level of nutrition knowledge in Europe - more than 80% are able to identify healthier options using labelling systems

IGD and Nutrition
 

Creating a sustainable supply chain, reducing waste, emitting less carbon

• More than 500,000 tonnes of food waste was prevented in 2006 by finding alternative uses for food by-products
   
• There is now zero growth in grocery packaging, despite a growth in the population and rising sales. A real decline is expected this year
   
• By working together, the food and grocery industry has taken 163m HGV miles off UK roads compared to 2007

Packaging & Waste information resource
ECR UK

For more information on the food and grocery, visit our extensive industry factsheet resource.