Viewpoint Special: What the 2026 Budget means for the food industry

Drawing on economic analysis and ShopperVista insight, the report finds that the Budget offers targeted relief but limited respite from business-cost pressures. Support for households is more likely to protect grocery budgets than deliver a significant boost to demand, leaving affordability central to the outlook for food and drink businesses.

Download this Viewpoint report for:

• The economic outlook behind the Budget, including the OBR’s forecasts for growth, inflation, employment and household incomes, and their implications for food businesses.

• An assessment of the Budget measures affecting business costs, covering the National Living Wage, business rates, fuel duty and relevant tax changes.

• Insight into the implications for household finances, including how support with essential costs could affect spending power across different income groups.

• A view of shopper confidence and demand, drawing on ShopperVista insight to explore pressures on grocery budgets and the prospects for a recovery in spending.

• Analysis of inflation risks beyond the Budget, including how energy markets, geopolitical disruption and adverse weather could affect sourcing, pricing and margins.

• Practical considerations for retailers, manufacturers and suppliers, from maintaining affordable options and assessing costs by site and activity to testing pricing scenarios and prioritising investment with measurable returns