Brexit food price increases could push millions more into food poverty

Mark Jones, partner at Gordons and an expert in the food and drink supply chain, has been quoted in national press including The Mirror warning of food price increases once the Brexit transition period ends.

There are concerns about the impact of Brexit on food prices, whether a deal is agreed or not, and Mark warns that it could push millions more into food poverty.

He said: “The Government has sleep walked into this and consumers are about to be blindsided. Food businesses are not up to speed on what declarations have to be made and what tariffs have to be paid. Worse still, the UK will be applying to tariffs to food products imported or processed in the EU.

“We import around 26% of our food from the EU and so if there is no tariff free deal on food, consumers will get a very unwelcome Christmas gift from the government – a rise in food prices in 2021. Right now, the average person in the UK spends around 8.2% of their annual income on food, which is the third lowest in the world. If that number creeps up to 10%, the average person will be spending an additional £490 on food per year, or approximately £40 per month. With around 8.4m people in food poverty in the UK, a no-deal Brexit could push millions more into food poverty.”

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