IFE London 2026
UK food-to-go boom driven by convenience and service
Insights from IFE London highlight evolving consumption patterns. Italy accounts for just 6% of UK agri-food imports. Corte Parma accelerates export strategy.
Scenario
The UK agri-food market is showing a growing preference for convenient, single-portion and ready-to-eat solutions. This is according to an analysis by Corte Parma – Amoretti, among the exhibitors at the International Food & Drink Event (IFE), the country’s leading industry trade show, which brought together more than 25,000 professionals from March 30 to April 1 at London’s Exhibition Centre.
Participation in the event allowed the Parma-based company – which exports 75% of its production across Europe – to gather direct insights from buyers and local operators, confirming the strengthening role of food-to-go within UK consumption habits.
The UK’s highly structured retail system prioritises high-service products and enables rapid commercial scalability, supported by a strong concentration of major players such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Marks & Spencer.
The United Kingdom produces around 65% of the food it consumes, resulting in a significant reliance on imports and exposure to global supply chain dynamics. Within this framework, Italy still holds a limited position, accounting for approximately 6% of agri-food supplies, behind the Netherlands (12%), Ireland and France (9%), Belgium (8%) and Germany (7%), leaving considerable room for growth.
“The UK market is one of the most advanced yet complex among developed economies in the agri-food sector,” said Egidio Amoretti, President and CEO of Corte Parma – Amoretti. “On one hand, it features a sophisticated distribution system and strong demand for service-driven products; on the other, post-Brexit dynamics have increased complexity and costs across supply chains, making supplier reliability more critical than ever.”
Consumer behaviour is largely shaped by structural factors such as time availability, retail organisation and ease of product access, all of which favour fast and convenient food solutions.
“Despite growing awareness of healthier eating models, actual consumer behaviour remains strongly oriented towards convenience,” added Marco Tanzi, Sales Director of Corte Parma – Amoretti. “In this context, we are seeing significant growth in ready-to-eat and premium snacking solutions, which meet the demand for immediacy and open new opportunities for Italian food products.”
