Recently, members of the BCP team had the privilege of attending the FWD Business Lunch, joining wholesalers, suppliers and policymakers to discuss how the sector can strengthen its resilience in the years ahead.
It was an inspiring afternoon and a great opportunity to hear perspectives from across the industry as businesses continue navigating an increasingly complex landscape.
A Sector Focused on Resilience
One of the themes that came through clearly was the role wholesale plays within the wider food system.
In her keynote, Baroness Minette Batters spoke about the importance of the “farm to fork” connection and the vital role wholesalers play in linking British food production to customers across the country. As the sector faces ongoing political, economic and supply chain pressures, strengthening that connection will only become more important.
Insights from IGD highlighted how the past few years have reshaped the commercial landscape for food and drink supply chains. Resilience now centres on two fundamentals: price and availability.
One point stood out in particular. Sustainable profitability is essential. Without it, businesses cannot invest in infrastructure, sourcing resilience or decarbonisation across the supply chain.
Leadership and Adaptability
One of the most memorable sessions came from Alan Chambers MBE, who shared leadership lessons from his expedition to the North Pole.
His story of navigating extreme conditions and “negative drift”, where teams can be pushed backwards despite their efforts, offered a powerful reminder of the realities many organisations face today. His message was simple: control the controllables, stay adaptable and work with the right people around you.
For BCP, events like the FWD Business Lunch are always valuable because they bring together different parts of the industry to share ideas and experiences.
It was a privilege to be there and great to reconnect with so many peers who are focused on strengthening the future of the wholesale sector.