As nominations open for the next Prime Minister, food supply chain leaders have written an open letter to candidates setting out a five-point plan for a more resilient and affordable food system.

The NFU, British Retail Consortium, Food and Drink Federation and UKHospitality are jointly calling for action on five priorities: delivering value for the public, well-negotiated EU realignment, planning reform, securing workers, and investment and growth.

The food and drink industry, from farm to fork, is worth more than £153 billion and supports over four million jobs — one in nine in the UK. The organisations argue that swift action in these areas would strengthen long-term food security and protect the UK's 29 million households from future food shocks.

NFU President Tom Bradshaw said farmers need certainty on workforce, regulation and planning to invest in infrastructure such as poultry sheds, manure storage and reservoirs, calling on the incoming Prime Minister to back the plan.

Andrew Opie of the British Retail Consortium said government should remove barriers around costs, planning and EU friction to help build a more resilient system for consumers and the economy.

Karen Betts of the Food and Drink Federation said the sector, which contributes £42 billion to the economy and employs over half a million people, wants government support to incentivise investment in technology, skills and R&D, adding that food and drink has too often been overlooked.

Kate Nicholls of UKHospitality said the next Prime Minister must support the food supply chain by cutting the tax burden and red tape to help businesses across the sector grow.