Chief executives representing more than 60 percent of the UK grocery market have warned that extreme weather events and wildfires are placing the nation’s food supply at risk. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, leaders from major supermarkets—including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and the Co-op—called for urgent government action to strengthen food security and reduce reliance on imports.

The letter, coordinated by the charity The Food Foundation and signed by over 100 stakeholders across the food sector, outlines the need for a legally binding framework to improve national food and nutrition security. Signatories also include food manufacturers such as Danone and Greencore, alongside charities including Barnardo’s, Amnesty International UK, and WWF-UK. Investment firms, farming organisations like the Soil Association, and health groups such as the World Cancer Research Fund further support the initiative.

The call comes amid escalating concerns over the impact of climate change on agriculture both domestically and internationally. Recent wildfires in Europe, coupled with droughts, floods, and heatwaves, have intensified the unpredictability of global food production and disrupted supply chains. These factors are exerting pressure on UK farmers while threatening key import sources of fruits and vegetables.

Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, described the current food system as “dangerously exposed to shocks far beyond our borders,” emphasizing the need for a “long-term framework” to enhance resilience. She highlighted recent trends of rising food prices and growing dietary inequalities, noting that the cost gap between healthy and less healthy foods has widened to its largest measure in over ten years. At the same time, many farmers are facing economic hardships.

The letter proposes a Good Food Bill incorporating legally enforceable targets aimed at reducing childhood obesity and household food insecurity. It calls for the government to establish an official reference diet to guide coordinated policy across departments including health, education, farming, planning, environment, and trade. Additionally, it urges the creation of five-year Good Food Action plans detailing how these targets will be achieved, empowerment of local leadership, and the establishment of independent oversight to publicly report annual progress.

Tesco UK Chief Executive Ashwin Prasad said the proposed legislation could provide the accountability and long-term commitment necessary to enact significant change. Sainsbury’s CEO Simon Roberts pointed to the recent declaration of drought across half of England—following record low rainfall and high temperatures—as evidence of the mounting pressure on the food system. Roberts stressed the need to build a more resilient food supply chain that supports British farmers, attracts investment, and helps maintain affordable, nutritious food for consumers.

The joint appeal highlights the urgency for government policies to prioritize food security and sustainability amid growing climate challenges and fluctuating international markets.