The UK food and drink industry is operating in an increasingly global context and to stay competitive it must be constantly innovating. The FDF provides a hub where innovative ideas can come alive. Whether the driver is health and wellness, sustainability or something else, the FDF can be central to your ambitions.

hands holding a tablet

Innovation Gateway

Innovation support from across the UK that enables you and your business to get connected with the organisations and people best placed to help you.

factory line

Automation and manufacturing technology

Automation is likely to be a key development in food manufacturing as part of the need to increase efficiency and productivity.

innovation

Funding and Grants

The FDF maintains close ties to funding bodies, as well as researchers and businesses with specialist knowledge in various innovation areas.

Latest updates

Final stakeholder clinics for IETF £185m competition – 9th and 16th April

Phase 3 three of the current IETF funding round is open until Friday 19th April. The competition will provide grant funding towards the costs of feasibility and engineering studies, energy efficiency deployment projects and deep decarbonisation deployment projects. To find out more, view the applicant guidance and make an application for funding, please visit the competition page.

If you have any questions on your application, you can speak to Government colleagues directly via one of the stakeholder clinics. These are run on a weekly basis, with the final ones taking place on 9th and 16th April. To attend, please visit the registration site.

Hallam AIMday “Healthy and Sustainable Food” 27th June 2024

Sheffield Hallam University’s National Centre for Excellence in Food Engineering will host AIMday Healthy and Sustainable Food on 27th June 2024 at Sheffield’s Olympic Legacy Park.

This event is an opportunity for companies to discuss a problem or challenge with Hallam's academic experts in a structured one-hour workshop.

You can apply here and submit a challenge question by 9th April to take part in this fantastic, free and innovative event!

If you have any queries, please come back to Bryony or Amanda.

Innovation news

Speech: Karen Betts’ opening remarks at the FDF Investment Summit

Karen Betts opened the inaugural FDF Food and Drink Investment Summit by highlighting the £14bn growth opportunity for UK food and drink manufacturing.

Read more

Unlocking investment key to solving food and drink manufacturing’s £14bn productivity gap, new research finds

New research has revealed that there’s an untapped £14bn growth opportunity for the UK’s food and drink manufacturing industry.

Read more

All news

Receive updates on this topic

Want to keep up to date on this topic?

You can receive email updates on this topic by registering for an FDF account. 

You can edit your preferences so that you receive updates on the topics and the type of information you are interested in. 

Register / Log in

Interested in becoming a member?

FDF members have access to a range of benefits to grow, protect and strengthen their business.

Gain an advantage, join FDF today.

 

Check to see if your company is already a member

How we can help your business

Report: Feeding the Future: Working together to build the National Food Strategy

08 October 2021

The Food and Drink Sector Council offers food chain solutions as part of the industry’s contribution to the UK Government’s forthcoming National Food Strategy.

Read more