FEEDING LONDON IN 2030: Ground-breaking report from UKWA to be unveiled

The United Kingdom Warehousing Association is to unveil key findings of a landmark study, commissioned to explore future issues affecting food industry logistics in London.

UKWA CEO Peter Ward explains, “Food security is a matter of increasing international concern and cities like London are also facing increased food distribution challenges, driven by rising population levels, changing lifestyles, shopping and eating patterns and diverse cultures, which all adds to stress on the urban infrastructure.”

He continues, “UKWA commissioned this extremely important research on behalf of our members, and all those in the wider logistics community, in order to understand the facts, highlight current trends and demonstrate to policy makers and influencers in government the future requirements for investment in our industry. We have already identified a growing dearth of appropriately located warehousing and distribution property, and without serious consideration being given to forward plans for urban distribution, we could be facing crisis in the years ahead.”  

The modern food industry is a highly complex global business. Food and drink suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and logistics service providers will all face new scenarios and compliance with impending legislation affecting urban delivery arrangements.

FEEDING LONDON IN 2030 is a 100-page Research Report, undertaken by Andrew Morgan and the Global 78 team on behalf of UKWA. Drawing on the wide range of available knowledge and opinion from stakeholders, it investigates the options for future survival and considers how best to succeed in feeding London over the years to come.

The report includes:

• A review of London’s demographics and its expected future population growth
• Information about London’s food and drink demand profiles and expected trends
• Hard facts on where the city’s population is currently fed and watered, at home, at work, during leisure time and ‘on the move’
• A quantified description of the role of the food and drink logistics sector, including a review of current physical distribution operations and property infrastructure provision
• An assessment of future logistical challenges presented by an increasing population; lifestyle changes; new food and drink demand profiles; legislation on delivery restrictions and the London pollution controls; extreme infrastructure pressure and much more.

Peter Ward concludes, “The UKWA Research Report will provide essential facts and valuable insights for all those involved with feeding London, both now and up to 2030 in a single document. We believe that as well as providing a valuable resource for scenario planning  it sounds an important wake-up call for policy-makers and practitioners alike.”