Business Leaders Forum looks at Brexit, the National Minimum Wage and Jamie Oliver's service to the food industry.
The UK's referendum on EU membership hung over the Food Manufacture Group's 2016 Business Leaders' Forum in London. The CEO of manufacturer Greencore presented four reasons why Brexit would be bad for the British food industry. A vote to leave, he argued, would make access to raw materials more difficult, jeopardise the availability of labour from other EU countries, weaken stirling (leading to capital flight and higher interest rates), and would probably trigger another referendum in Scotland, which the Nationalists would be likely to win.
In other presentations, the President of the National Farmers Union warned that the National Living Wage, which comes into force in April, and will entitle workers over the age of 25 to a minimum of £7.20 an hour, would place a heavy burden small-scale food enterprises, especially the horticulture sector. Meanwhile, TV chef and sugar tax champion Jamie Oliver recevied the thanks of the food manufacturing sector, for drawing attention to the part it can play in improving the nation's diet. Find information on Jamie Oliver's and Sustain's Children's Health Fund here.
Published Friday 12 February 2016
Sustain: Sustain The alliance for better food and farming advocates food and agriculture policies and practices that enhance the health and welfare of people and animals, improve the working and living environment, enrich society and culture and promote equity.
