DATA

Food and beverage( F & B) manufacturers across the UK are operating in an increasingly complex and demanding environment. Rising costs, shifting consumer expectations and a tightening regulatory landscape are creating pressure on performance. In 2025, UK food manufacturers experienced an average production cost increase of 4.4 percent, climbing to 5.3 percent for smaller businesses. At the same time, 33 percent of companies identified changing consumer preferences as a major investment consideration, while over a quarter( 30 percent) saying the same of regulatory and legislative change.