From whisky exports powering the economy to the plant-based alternatives filling our fridges, the UK's food and drink industry is a dynamic £133.6 billion powerhouse shaping what we eat and how we live.
Key Takeaways
- The UK food and drink manufacturing sector contributed £38.2 billion to Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022
- Total turnover of the UK food and drink industry reached £133.6 billion in 2022
- Food and drink manufacturing accounts for 18% of total UK manufacturing GVA
- Food and drink sector supports 3.9 million jobs contributing 7.8% to UK employment
- Food and drink manufacturing employs 476,000 people directly in the UK in 2022
- 29% of UK manufacturing workforce is in food and drink sector
- UK food and drink exports reached £23.2 billion in 2022
- Food and drink exports grew 8.4% year-on-year to £23 billion in 2022
- EU remains top destination for 58% of UK food and drink exports
- UK households consume 85kg of fruit and veg per person annually 2022
- Average UK adult drinks 2.2 litres of soft drinks weekly 2022
- 62% of UK consumers buy plant-based alternatives weekly 2023
- UK produces 60% of food consumed domestically by volume 2022
- Food manufacturing output increased 1.8% in Q4 2022
- 7,500 food and drink manufacturing businesses in UK 2022
The UK food and drink industry is a massive economic engine with significant domestic production and global exports.
Consumer Trends and Consumption
1UK households consume 85kg of fruit and veg per person annually 2022
Verified2Average UK adult drinks 2.2 litres of soft drinks weekly 2022
Verified362% of UK consumers buy plant-based alternatives weekly 2023
Verified4UK meat consumption per capita 75.5kg annually down 5% since 2015
Directional528% growth in low/no alcohol beer consumption 2022-2023
Single source645% of UK shoppers prioritize sustainability in food purchases 2023
Verified7Ready meals consumption up 15% post-pandemic to 2.5kg per person monthly
Verified873% of UK consumers snack between meals daily 2023
Verified9Organic food purchases by 19 million UK consumers annually 2022
Directional1035% increase in functional food consumption for health benefits 2022
Single source11UK average sugar intake 63g daily exceeding WHO 50g recommendation
Verified1256% of consumers prefer local produce in supermarkets 2023
Verified13Plant-based milk sales up 20% to 15% market share 2023
Verified1441% of Gen Z avoid meat for environmental reasons 2023
Directional15Home cooking frequency up 22% since 2020 lockdown
Single source1668% check nutrition labels before purchase 2023
Verified17Ethnic cuisine consumption 25% higher among under-35s 2022
Verified1852% of households buy premium products despite inflation 2023
Verified19Alcohol-free drink consumption doubled since 2018 to 12% market
Directional2077% of consumers influenced by health claims on packaging
Single source21Fish consumption per capita 12.3kg annually down from 15kg in 2000
Verified2230% rise in at-home coffee consumption post-COVID 2023
Verified2364% prefer own-label products for value 2023
Verified24Dairy-free cheese sales up 45% in 2022
DirectionalConsumer Trends and Consumption Interpretation
The British palate is in a fascinating tug-of-war, earnestly piling kale onto the plate while guiltily washing down a ready meal with a fizzy drink, all the while eyeing the plant-based milk and checking the sugar content on the label.
Employment and Labor
1Food and drink sector supports 3.9 million jobs contributing 7.8% to UK employment
Verified2Food and drink manufacturing employs 476,000 people directly in the UK in 2022
Verified329% of UK manufacturing workforce is in food and drink sector
Verified4Average salary in UK food manufacturing is £31,200 annually in 2022
Directional562,000 vacancies in UK hospitality and foodservice in 2023
Single source640% of food and drink manufacturers reported skills shortages in 2023
Verified7Women make up 41% of the UK food manufacturing workforce
Verified8BAME employees represent 14% in UK food manufacturing
Verified925% of food manufacturing roles filled by EU nationals post-Brexit adjusted
Directional10Apprenticeships in food and drink manufacturing reached 5,200 starts in 2021/22
Single source11Turnover per employee in UK food manufacturing £242,000 in 2022
Verified1215% increase in food manufacturing employment since 2010
Verified13UK hospitality sector employs 3.5 million people, 10% of workforce
Verified1470,000 job losses in UK foodservice due to COVID-19 by 2021
Directional1548% of food manufacturers investing in training programs in 2023
Single source16Youth employment (16-24) in food manufacturing 8.5% of workforce
Verified17Disability employment rate in food sector 12% above national average
Verified18Part-time workers 28% of food manufacturing staff
Verified19Zero-hour contracts in hospitality foodservice 8% of staff in 2022
Directional2035% of food manufacturers report labor shortages as top challenge 2023
Single source21Average tenure in food manufacturing 8.2 years
Verified2222,000 new jobs created in food manufacturing 2021-2022
Verified23Female managers in food sector 32% in 2022
Verified24Overtime worked by 25% of food production workers weekly
Directional25Training spend per employee £850 annually in food manufacturing
Single sourceEmployment and Labor Interpretation
For a sector that literally puts food on every table, the UK's food and drink industry is itself a hearty but unbalanced meal: it's a massive employer with surprising loyalty and a growing appetite, yet it's critically understaffed, underpaid, and wrestling with a recipe that needs more skilled hands, diversity in leadership, and fewer empty plates.
Market Size and Economic Contribution
1The UK food and drink manufacturing sector contributed £38.2 billion to Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2022
Verified2Total turnover of the UK food and drink industry reached £133.6 billion in 2022
Verified3Food and drink manufacturing accounts for 18% of total UK manufacturing GVA
Verified4The grocery market value in the UK was £215.1 billion for the 52 weeks ending 25 June 2023
Directional5Online grocery sales accounted for 11.3% of total grocery market share in the UK in 2023
Single source6The UK soft drinks market was valued at £13.8 billion in 2022
Verified7UK confectionery market revenue stood at £5.2 billion in 2022
Verified8The UK dairy market generated £11.4 billion in revenue in 2022
Verified9Packaged food market in the UK reached £90.5 billion in 2022
Directional10UK meat market revenue was £18.7 billion in 2022
Single source11Bakery products market in the UK valued at £6.8 billion in 2022
Verified12UK foodservice market size was £22.4 billion in 2022 pre-COVID recovery levels
Verified13The premium grocery segment grew by 9.2% in the UK in 2023
Verified14UK ambient food market revenue hit £15.3 billion in 2022
Directional15Chilled food market in the UK was £25.1 billion in 2022
Single source16Frozen food sector revenue reached £10.2 billion in the UK in 2022
Verified17UK snack food market valued at £4.9 billion in 2022
Verified18The plant-based food market in the UK grew to £1.1 billion in 2022
Verified19UK ready meals market was worth £3.4 billion in 2022
Directional20Organic food sales in the UK reached £3.2 billion in 2022
Single source21UK craft beer market size estimated at £1.5 billion in 2022
Verified22Non-alcoholic drinks market in UK valued at £2.8 billion in 2022
Verified23UK pet food market revenue was £3.6 billion in 2022
Verified24Functional food market in UK reached £1.2 billion in 2022
Directional25UK sauces and condiments market £2.9 billion in 2022
Single source26Breakfast cereals market in UK £1.8 billion revenue 2022
Verified27UK edible oils market valued at £1.4 billion in 2022
Verified28Infant food market in UK £0.9 billion in 2022
Verified29UK food manufacturing output index rose 2.1% in 2022
DirectionalMarket Size and Economic Contribution Interpretation
While the British stiff upper lip may be famous, these figures prove our national mouth is decidedly and profitably open, from the £38.2 billion backbone of manufacturing to the £3.4 billion in ready meals that keep it from actually having to cook.
Production and Manufacturing
1UK produces 60% of food consumed domestically by volume 2022
Verified2Food manufacturing output increased 1.8% in Q4 2022
Verified37,500 food and drink manufacturing businesses in UK 2022
Verified490% of UK bread produced domestically daily 12 million loaves
Directional5UK milk production 14.8 billion litres annually 2022
Single source6Pigmeat production 920,000 tonnes in UK 2022
Verified7Poultry meat output 2.1 million tonnes 2022 record high
Verified8Beef and veal production 870,000 tonnes in 2022
Verified9UK wheat production 13.9 million tonnes 2022 harvest
Directional104,200 dairy processing plants in UK processing 100% domestic milk
Single source11Beer production 4.2 billion litres annually pre-2022 declines
Verified1298% of UK pasta made domestically 2022
Verified13Chocolate manufacturing output £4.5 billion turnover 2022
Verified1475% of UK soft drinks produced locally 15 billion litres annually
Directional15Bakery sector produces 11 billion loaves/packs annually
Single source16UK potato production 5.6 million tonnes 2022
Verified1785% self-sufficiency in cereals production 2022
Verified1870% of fruit juice produced from UK concentrate
Verified193,000 new food products launched annually by manufacturers
Directional20Energy use in food manufacturing 25 TWh annually 2022
Single source21Water usage 300 million cubic metres in food processing 2022
Verified2250% of manufacturers adopted automation lines by 2023
Verified23R&D spend £1.1 billion in food and drink sector 2022
Verified24Waste generation 4.5 million tonnes food manufacturing 2022
Directional2565% of production energy from renewables target by 2030 progress 20% 2022
Single sourceProduction and Manufacturing Interpretation
The UK food and drink industry, while impressively churning out enough bread and beans to keep the nation mostly self-sufficient, must now balance its manufacturing muscle with a growing appetite for efficiency and sustainability.
Trade Exports Imports
1UK food and drink exports reached £23.2 billion in 2022
Verified2Food and drink exports grew 8.4% year-on-year to £23 billion in 2022
Verified3EU remains top destination for 58% of UK food and drink exports
Verified4US is the largest non-EU market for UK food exports at £1.1 billion in 2022
Directional5China imports £700 million of UK food and drink annually 2022
Single source6UK food imports totaled £48.6 billion in 2022
Verified7Fruit and vegetables make up 25% of UK food imports value £12.1 billion 2022
Verified8Meat imports to UK £7.8 billion in 2022 mainly from EU
Verified9Cheese imports £1.2 billion annually, 70% from EU in 2022
Directional10UK exported £4.9 billion in beverages in 2022 led by Scotch whisky
Single source11Scotch whisky exports £5.1 billion representing 22% of total food drink exports 2022
Verified12Dairy exports from UK £1.4 billion in 2022 to 140 countries
Verified13Pork exports £0.6 billion down due to African Swine Fever impacts 2022
Verified14Fish and seafood exports £0.9 billion mainly to EU France Netherlands 2022
Directional15UK imports 90% of its coffee and 50% of tea consumed domestically 2022
Single source16Chocolate exports £0.8 billion to 130 countries in 2022
Verified17Post-Brexit non-tariff barriers affect 40% of EU exports volume
Verified18UK food trade deficit widened to £25.4 billion in 2022
Verified19Ambient grocery exports grew 12% to £2.1 billion in 2022
Directional20Chilled and fresh exports £6.3 billion facing logistics challenges 2022
Single source2175% of UK food exporters report increased costs post-Ukraine war 2023
Verified22India imports £150 million UK food drink mainly biscuits confectionery 2022
Verified23UAE top Middle East market £400 million UK food imports 2022
Verified24Japan post-trade deal imports £250 million UK products 2022
Directional2552% of businesses export to single market EU dependent
Single sourceTrade Exports Imports Interpretation
Despite raising a glass of £5.1 billion Scotch to our growing global sales, we're still eating our way to a £25.4 billion trade deficit, proving that while the world craves our whisky and cheese, we simply can't resist their avocados and coffee.
Sources & References
- Reference 1FDFfdf.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 2KANTARkantar.comVisit source
- Reference 3STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 4SOILASSOCIATIONsoilassociation.orgVisit source
- Reference 5ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 6UKHOSPITALITYukhospitality.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 7GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 8BHFbhf.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 9DEFRAdefra.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 10SCOTCH-WHISKYscotch-whisky.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 11AHDBahdb.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 12MINTELmintel.comVisit source
- Reference 13BIRAbira.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 14BREWERSbrewers.orgVisit source
- Reference 15BRITISHSOFTDRINKbritishsoftdrink.comVisit source