Reflections on Food Brexit 2018

Erica Sheward, VP Business Development, reflects on the Food Brexit 2018 conference, held at the beginning of November in London.

As the date that the UK leaves the EU looms ever nearer, there seems to be less clarity about the final deal and exactly what it will mean for the food and drink sector. 

What is clear is that the diverse wants and needs of the food sector as a whole, are unlikely to be universally satisfied. The sectoral approach taken by government to addressing food industry Brexit concerns has resulted in many sectors feeling as though they have been completely overlooked. This came through strongly at Food Brexit 2018 where representatives from every sector of the food industry from farming and agriculture to fisheries, hospitality and food service came together to share their knowledge and understanding and voice their collective concerns.

The list of challenges faced by the food industry is as eclectic as it is extensive and the window of opportunity for food and drink businesses to find solutions in the face of such uncertainty grows increasingly short. 

Here at Leatherhead we are preparing too, to ensure that as the details of any final deal play out through transition. We remain at the cutting edge as the trusted, independent source of regulatory advice. Rest assured, deal or no deal we will be able to continue to advise you on what you need to do, as well as being able to host and facilitate forums for discussion and debate, in the run up to March 2019. 

Please drop me an email at [email protected] if you’d like to discuss the potential implications of Brexit on your company.