Insights & analysis

Industry at a Glance
State of Industry Report
Trade Snapshot
Economic Insights

Industry insights & analysis at your fingertips

FDF publishes regular economic analysis and insights highlighting the strength of UK food and drink manufacturing and opportunities to drive growth and productivity improvements.

The industry at a glance

All publications

food production quality inspection in factory

Industry at a Glance

The food and drink industry is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector, and forms part of a diverse and complex supply chain. Read on for an outline of key industry data, highlighting the economic impact of the sector and achievements across diet & health and environmental sustainability.

Facts & stats

Powering Communities across the UK

The UK’s food and drink manufacturing sector is a cornerstone of our national economy and a vital part of communities across every region of the country. This report showcases the contribution of the sector to every region and nation of the UK, pulling together statistics and case studies which demonstrate the industry’s impact.

Regional Report

State of Industry report

State of Industry report: Q1 2026

Business confidence among food manufacturers dropped to -64% in Q1 2026, the lowest level since the energy crisis following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Energy price rises, caused by global supply chain disruption, are set to push up production costs – with 82% of manufacturers expecting to raise prices as a result.

Looking ahead, the outlook confidence score for the next quarter remains deeply negative at -51%. The sector is calling on the government to support energy costs and minimise regulatory burdens to help ease the strain on businesses.

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Trade Snapshot

Trade Snapshot H1 2025

Our H1 2025 trade snapshot shows an uplift in food trade, with export volumes up 7.2% in the first half of 2025, compared with 2024, but exports remain over a tenth (13%) below 2023 levels.

Read the report