Forwarding, Freight News, Logistics


Shift in food habits cooks up a supply chain conundrum

[ May 21, 2026   //   ]

A fundamental shift in how the UK eats is reshaping the food supply chain  and logistics, says Dave Hands, managing director of Coleshill-based LTS Global Solutions.

The forwarder has seen a significant rise in enquiries from food ingredient suppliers and manufacturers, driven by a growing consumer preference for cooking from scratch and a renewed focus on fresh, wholesome foods.

Once dominated by shelf-ready convenience products, the UK food landscape is changing. Consumers are increasingly scrutinising what goes into their meals — favouring ingredients, cleaner labels, and foods perceived as more natural and nutritionally beneficial and this is having a profound upstream impact.

As more consumers opt to cook from scratch, retailers and manufacturers are rebalancing their portfolios — placing greater emphasis on functional – everything from plant-based proteins and wholefood staples to specialist components such as natural colourings and health-focused fibres. At the same time, demand is growing for fortified and functional ingredients that support immunity, nutrition, and overall wellbeing.

The UK specialty food ingredients sector, valued at approximately $9.26 billion in 2024, is forecast to reach $14.75 billion by 2033, reflecting steady long-term growth and sustained demand for ingredient innovation.

But while the consumer trend may appear simple — cook more, eat better — the supply chain behind it is anything but, says Hands.

He says: “Unlike finished goods, ingredient supply chains often bring with them complexity with multi-origin sourcing, tighter handling requirements, and significantly higher expectations around traceability and compliance.”

Enquiries received by LTS over the past 12 months have increasingly centred on the storage and distribution of ingredients rather than ambient, shelf-ready products. This includes requirements for controlled environments, batch-level traceability, and flexible distribution models capable of supporting fluctuating demand.

LTS Global Solutions is equipped to manage this complexity at scale, and has increased capacity by 17,000 pallet spaces. The facility is designed to support a wide range of food-grade storage requirements, enabling the business to handle both specialist, small-batch ingredient flows and high-volume wholesale operations.

This flexibility is becoming critical as ingredient portfolios expand and customer requirements increase. Whether supporting a niche supplier with highly specific handling needs or a large-scale manufacturer requiring consistent throughput, LTS is able to tailor its approach accordingly.

This shift is elevating the role of logistics. Performance expectations are rising sharply with greater demands for on-time, in full (OTIF) delivery targets and inventory accuracy requirements. For ingredient-driven supply chains — where delays can halt production — there is little room for error.

At the same time, regulatory scrutiny is intensifying. Food safety, provenance, and compliance is critical, particularly as supply chains extend across borders. Recent UK trade agreements have opened new sourcing opportunities but introduced additional complexity around customs processes, documentation, and rules of origin.

Accreditation is therefore a key differentiator. LTS Global Solutions’ BRCGS certification provides independently verified assurance across food safety, storage, and distribution — offering customers confidence in the integrity and compliance of their supply chain operations.

According toHands, the shift reflects a transformation in food supply chains. He says: “Over the past year, we’ve seen a significant shift in the nature of enquiries coming into the business. There is a marked move away from finished, shelf-ready goods towards ingredients — and that’s being driven directly by how consumers are choosing to eat.

“Cooking from scratch, healthier choices, and greater awareness of what goes into food — these trends are reshaping demand at every level of the supply chain.

“But ingredient logistics is inherently more complex. You’re dealing with more SKUs, stricter handling requirements, and greater expectations around traceability and service performance. Traditional logistics models weren’t built for that level of detail or flexibility.

“What businesses are now looking for is an integrated partner — one that can manage everything from international freight and customs clearance through to warehousing, inventory control, and final distribution, all within a single, transparent system.

“Crucially, they also need a partner that can flex with them — whether that’s supporting a niche ingredient line or scaling up to meet wholesale demand. That’s where we see real value being added.”

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