‘More could be done’ to tackle food inflation, says FDF boss
Chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Karen Betts said that whilst the Government’s continued energy support is welcome and will help to contain food price inflation, more could be done to help keep costs down for households.
Betts said that support including “urgently simplifying current and prospective regulation” could be implemented to help reduce costs.
This comes as the ONS inflation data for December showed food and drink price inflation continuing to rise, whilst headline inflation slowed for a second month in a row in December, down to 10.5%.
The rate of inflation eased to 10.5%, down from a 41-year high of 11.1% recorded in October 2022. Meanwhile, food and drink inflation rose for the seventh consecutive month to 16.9%.
Betts said that the in rise inflation continues to be driven by the aftermath of the disruption cause by Covid-19, the war in Ukraine and poor harvests as a result of extreme weather conditions last year – including widespread drought across Europe.
She explained: “The increased costs of ingredients, energy, packaging and the movement of goods in and out of the UK alongside the relative weakness of the pound have only made the situation worse for UK manufacturers.”
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