The Age of Reckoning for Food Supply Chains

This issue is fully dedicated to a simplified abstract of my final keynote at BRCGS Connect 2025, addressing today’s global challenges for our industry (but not only!).

You will also find video snippets of the live talk, reflections about the role of modern lawyers, and news from our social feeds.

Intro

We’re going to take a quick journey through the many factors currently impacting and shaping global supply chains. We live in turbulent times and must face a new reality, adapting to the dramatic changes we’ve witnessed in recent years.

So, why me? … why not? You Brits got that one.

Because in our companies, we deal with product compliance — especially labeling and food safety — every single day. However, we also have the privilege of observing different needs and positions across the supply chain. We assist retailers, manufacturers, and online players from very diverse countries, so we have a clear perception of the main issues.

Another reason I feel I can offer valuable insights is that one of my not-so-hidden missions since founding my business in 2012 has been to communicate a simple concept to food executives and board members: compliance is not a cost, it’s a leveraged investment in your company’s future. Compliance not only protects against major damages and backlashes — especially if you’re exposed to public scrutiny — but it can also help you gain competitive advantages.

Let’s talk about sustainability. As we already discussed, yes, sustainability comes at a cost. Consumers want it, but they are not so willing/able to pay for it. Any investment comes with an initial cost, but some of them are smart investments in your positioning and can anticipate future trends.

Global Trends in the Food System

Let’s look at some other global trends. We’ve seen a series of major shocks impacting supply chains. The first of these, in what we might call the post-COVID era, was COVID itself.