With the announcement of a general election, the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) outlines its wants and needs from a new government.

Rupert Ashby, chief executive of the BFFF, said: “Our industry has a key role to play in tackling several of the key challenges that will be on the new government’s agenda. Easing the cost of living crisis, for example, encouraging healthier lifestyles, and meeting the UK’s environmental targets.

“We’re keen to see the new administration take action to support the industry in achieving these aims, and we’ve laid out the key priorities. They include reforming tax policies to make frozen foods more affordable, sustainable and accessible; investing in innovation; cutting red tape; developing a skilled workforce and improving public perception of frozen food.”

Here is the nine-point manifesto for a new government from the BFFF’s perspective:

Frozen Food Industry Manifesto

1. Promote frozen food as a healthy, convenient, affordable, and sustainable choice through public education campaigns, countering the perception that frozen is inferior to fresh.
2. Recognise and promote the role frozen food has in reducing food waste – which is responsible for 10% of UK greenhouse gas emissions – thanks to manufacturing efficiencies and products staying ‘fresher’ for longer in the freezer.
3. Streamline regulations around food labelling and packaging to reduce complexity and costs for frozen food manufacturers and ultimately the consumer.
4. Revisit the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) scheme to account for the low availability of food-grade recycled plastic content packaging, sourcing of which places an unfair burden on food manufacturers when striving to meet recycling targets.
5. Offer incentives for researching and developing innovative freezing technologies to further improve the consumer experience and extend shelf life.
6. Ensure that guidance and legislation allow for storage temperature changes across the supply chain to enhance the frozen food industry’s sustainability credentials.
7. Provide tax incentives and subsidies for companies investing in energy-efficient freezing and refrigeration equipment. This would help the industry reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs.
8. Streamline importing and exporting processes and reduce the administrative and financial burden for businesses. Ensure sufficient infrastructure and resources are in place to support traders.
9. Invest in workforce training programs and apprenticeships and revise the Shortage Occupation List to include seasonal workers, which could help ease labour shortages in the food supply chain by increasing the supply of overseas workers.