New attitudes in the food industry

摘要

The food industries are facing new challenges. Firstly consumer lifestyles and demands have changed. Secondly, the recession has decreased profitability, impacting on research and development spend. Another major factor has been growth of a small number of large retailers and their interest in the products that they wish to retail. Whereas in certain other European countries industry has been well supported by research institutes and universities, in the UK this has been limited but recently enhanced by initiatives arising from Technology Foresight. Development of groups of producers has produced a stronger more knowledgeable commercial body facilitating systematic product development. Such changes give grounds for optimism for the future of the food industries.