The diversity of the UK food market: Reflections on present and future trends

The story of the marketing of food in the UK is a fascinating one. The growth of the large multiples, the difficulties of retailer/supplier relationships, the development of fresh foods — all these are significant features. In this article, Barrie Clarke pinpoints some interesting new features which are currently emerging: food trade development in which volume growth is no longer the sole overriding objective; unease at the “site auctions” to which major groups must submit themselves; and the realisation on the part of manufacturers that retailers have assumed “creative control” of the marketing process. This is a slightly edited version of a paper originally presented by Barrie Clarke entitled “Future trends in food retailing”, at the School of Agriculture Conference in Aberdeen, which took place late last year.