On 17th May Martin Collison from the UK Food Valley team joined a debate on the future of the food industry in the Midlands hosted by Insider Media, with participants from across the industry.

The food and drink sector is worth £32bn per year in the Midlands alone, yet it gets neither the recognition nor support it deserves. That was the view of business owners and advisers who took part in Insider’s Food and Drink Roundtable. 

They called for a bigger focus on the importance of food security to the economy and more funding for innovative businesses. 

Business owners also complained about the lack of a level playing field in food standards, with UK-based producers subject to stricter regulations than overseas suppliers who export into this country. 

Other topics discussed included when to absorb or pass on cost increases, investing in technology and retaining staff. 

The report on the Roundtable and key insights from businesses and participants is available here.