Food Manufacture State of the Industry Survey 2016

25% of survey complete.

Dear Reader,

Food Manufacture is running its annual survey of readers to gauge their views about the current state of the food and drink manufacturing industry and identify the issues that are causing most concern.

I would be grateful if you would take a few moments to complete the questionnaire. As a small incentive for answering our three minute survey, all named entries will automatically be entered in a prize draw to win £100 of Amazon vouchers.

We will communicate the name of the lucky winner in the July 2016 issue of Food Manufacture as well as on www.foodmanufacture.co.uk. However, I would like to reassure you of the anonymity of your response. No mention will be made of either you or your company in the published results. We are solely looking for general trends that are of interest to our readership.

Thank you for your assistance

Rick Pendrous
Editor

Survey prize draw terms and conditions

Question Title

* 1. Market Conditions

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Don't Know
I am more positive about the future of my company now than a year ago	I am more positive about the future of my company now than a year ago Strongly Agree	I am more positive about the future of my company now than a year ago Agree	I am more positive about the future of my company now than a year ago Disagree	I am more positive about the future of my company now than a year ago Strongly Disagree	I am more positive about the future of my company now than a year ago Don't Know
I expect my company’s profit margins to improve over the next year	I expect my company’s profit margins to improve over the next year Strongly Agree	I expect my company’s profit margins to improve over the next year Agree	I expect my company’s profit margins to improve over the next year Disagree	I expect my company’s profit margins to improve over the next year Strongly Disagree	I expect my company’s profit margins to improve over the next year Don't Know
Lack of access to finance has had a detrimental effect on my business this year	Lack of access to finance has had a detrimental effect on my business this year Strongly Agree	Lack of access to finance has had a detrimental effect on my business this year Agree	Lack of access to finance has had a detrimental effect on my business this year Disagree	Lack of access to finance has had a detrimental effect on my business this year Strongly Disagree	Lack of access to finance has had a detrimental effect on my business this year Don't Know
I see a long-term future for the UK food manufacturing industry	I see a long-term future for the UK food manufacturing industry Strongly Agree	I see a long-term future for the UK food manufacturing industry Agree	I see a long-term future for the UK food manufacturing industry Disagree	I see a long-term future for the UK food manufacturing industry Strongly Disagree	I see a long-term future for the UK food manufacturing industry Don't Know
I expect consumer spending to go up over the coming year	I expect consumer spending to go up over the coming year Strongly Agree	I expect consumer spending to go up over the coming year Agree	I expect consumer spending to go up over the coming year Disagree	I expect consumer spending to go up over the coming year Strongly Disagree	I expect consumer spending to go up over the coming year Don't Know
A vote to leave the EU on June 23 will be bad for my business	A vote to leave the EU on June 23 will be bad for my business Strongly Agree	A vote to leave the EU on June 23 will be bad for my business Agree	A vote to leave the EU on June 23 will be bad for my business Disagree	A vote to leave the EU on June 23 will be bad for my business Strongly Disagree	A vote to leave the EU on June 23 will be bad for my business Don't Know
I am also wary that 'Brexit' may lead to Scottish independence, which could be bad for my business	I am also wary that 'Brexit' may lead to Scottish independence, which could be bad for my business Strongly Agree	I am also wary that 'Brexit' may lead to Scottish independence, which could be bad for my business Agree	I am also wary that 'Brexit' may lead to Scottish independence, which could be bad for my business Disagree	I am also wary that 'Brexit' may lead to Scottish independence, which could be bad for my business Strongly Disagree	I am also wary that 'Brexit' may lead to Scottish independence, which could be bad for my business Don't Know

Question Title

* 2. Trading Relationships

	Strongly Agree	Agree	Disagree	Strongly Disagree	Don't Know
Retail range reduction has negatively affected my business	Retail range reduction has negatively affected my business Strongly Agree	Retail range reduction has negatively affected my business Agree	Retail range reduction has negatively affected my business Disagree	Retail range reduction has negatively affected my business Strongly Disagree	Retail range reduction has negatively affected my business Don't Know
Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to cut into resources devoted to new product development and innovation	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to cut into resources devoted to new product development and innovation Strongly Agree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to cut into resources devoted to new product development and innovation Agree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to cut into resources devoted to new product development and innovation Disagree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to cut into resources devoted to new product development and innovation Strongly Disagree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to cut into resources devoted to new product development and innovation Don't Know
Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to commoditise branded products through excessive promotional activity	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to commoditise branded products through excessive promotional activity Strongly Agree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to commoditise branded products through excessive promotional activity Agree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to commoditise branded products through excessive promotional activity Disagree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to commoditise branded products through excessive promotional activity Strongly Disagree	Pricing pressure from retailers is threatening to commoditise branded products through excessive promotional activity Don't Know
My export business has grown in the past year	My export business has grown in the past year Strongly Agree	My export business has grown in the past year Agree	My export business has grown in the past year Disagree	My export business has grown in the past year Strongly Disagree	My export business has grown in the past year Don't Know
My customers are taking longer to pay bills this year than last year	My customers are taking longer to pay bills this year than last year Strongly Agree	My customers are taking longer to pay bills this year than last year Agree	My customers are taking longer to pay bills this year than last year Disagree	My customers are taking longer to pay bills this year than last year Strongly Disagree	My customers are taking longer to pay bills this year than last year Don't Know
I would be happy to share information with the FSA's Food Crime Unit about incidences of food fraud	I would be happy to share information with the FSA's Food Crime Unit about incidences of food fraud Strongly Agree	I would be happy to share information with the FSA's Food Crime Unit about incidences of food fraud Agree	I would be happy to share information with the FSA's Food Crime Unit about incidences of food fraud Disagree	I would be happy to share information with the FSA's Food Crime Unit about incidences of food fraud Strongly Disagree	I would be happy to share information with the FSA's Food Crime Unit about incidences of food fraud Don't Know
The powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon should be extended to cover food and drink manufacturers as well as retailers	The powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon should be extended to cover food and drink manufacturers as well as retailers Strongly Agree	The powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon should be extended to cover food and drink manufacturers as well as retailers Agree	The powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon should be extended to cover food and drink manufacturers as well as retailers Disagree	The powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon should be extended to cover food and drink manufacturers as well as retailers Strongly Disagree	The powers of the Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon should be extended to cover food and drink manufacturers as well as retailers Don't Know
Raw material prices will cause increasing headaches for us in the coming year	Raw material prices will cause increasing headaches for us in the coming year Strongly Agree	Raw material prices will cause increasing headaches for us in the coming year Agree	Raw material prices will cause increasing headaches for us in the coming year Disagree	Raw material prices will cause increasing headaches for us in the coming year Strongly Disagree	Raw material prices will cause increasing headaches for us in the coming year Don't Know
I expect my company to do more business with caterers this year	I expect my company to do more business with caterers this year Strongly Agree	I expect my company to do more business with caterers this year Agree	I expect my company to do more business with caterers this year Disagree	I expect my company to do more business with caterers this year Strongly Disagree	I expect my company to do more business with caterers this year Don't Know
Supermarket price wars are preventing me from passing on cost increases to my customers	Supermarket price wars are preventing me from passing on cost increases to my customers Strongly Agree	Supermarket price wars are preventing me from passing on cost increases to my customers Agree	Supermarket price wars are preventing me from passing on cost increases to my customers Disagree	Supermarket price wars are preventing me from passing on cost increases to my customers Strongly Disagree	Supermarket price wars are preventing me from passing on cost increases to my customers Don't Know
The continued growth of limited assortment discounters has had a positive impact on my business	The continued growth of limited assortment discounters has had a positive impact on my business Strongly Agree	The continued growth of limited assortment discounters has had a positive impact on my business Agree	The continued growth of limited assortment discounters has had a positive impact on my business Disagree	The continued growth of limited assortment discounters has had a positive impact on my business Strongly Disagree	The continued growth of limited assortment discounters has had a positive impact on my business Don't Know
I detect a shift in the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers – in manufacturers' power	I detect a shift in the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers – in manufacturers' power Strongly Agree	I detect a shift in the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers – in manufacturers' power Agree	I detect a shift in the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers – in manufacturers' power Disagree	I detect a shift in the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers – in manufacturers' power Strongly Disagree	I detect a shift in the balance of power between manufacturers and retailers – in manufacturers' power Don't Know