Donate
Support us in the fight for a better food system.
Press release – Supermarket dominance must end to achieve gov’s food strategy, as new data shows half of Brits back worker-owned food shops
Supermarkets near monopoly will cause the government’s food strategy to fail on its public health, cost of living and climate ambitions.
Supermarkets now control more than 96% of British grocery sales [1]. But this near monopoly will cause the government’s food strategy to fail on its public health, cost of living and climate ambitions, according to new reports published today [30 September, 2025] by charity Foodrise revealing more than half (54%) of Brits favour a cooperative or employee-ownership model.
Despite their popularity and convenience, the actions of profit-driven supermarkets continue to harm the health of communities and livelihoods of British farmers – while contributing to food waste, climate breakdown, species extinction and jeopardising UK food security.
Foodrise is calling for major reform to the country’s food retail environment and government investment in alternative food networks. This includes government recognition that the current ownership structures of UK supermarkets cannot achieve the aims of its food strategy; and the urgent need to establish regional food hubs to supply shops, fruit and vegetable prescriptions, and business rate relief for independent sustainable food start ups.
Foodrise’s new YouGov polling shows widespread public support for member or employee-owned supermarkets, with more than half (54%) who think the best way for supermarkets to be run is by cooperatives rather than the state (3%) or private companies (16%).
While 65% think that a yearly salary of £1 million for the CEO of a large supermarket chain is too high, Tesco CEO Ken Murphy’s pay more than doubled in 2024 to £9.9million. Meanwhile, the survey also revealed more Brits prioritised saving money (33%) than buying healthy food (15%). This is in the context of rocketing food prices, with the Office for National Statistics’ latest inflation figures showing food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose by 5.1% in the year to August.
Published in July, the government’s food strategy – its plan to reshape the country’s food system – states that it is relying on industry and the private sector to drive the transition to a food system that will provide healthy, sustainable and affordable food for communities across Britain.
But the ownership structures of supermarkets make them structurally bound to maximise profit above customer health, the planet or food security. An example of this is the higher pricing found at “express” shops, mostly sited in low-income communities.
Additionally, there was some strong criticism of supermarkets as almost half (45%) of Brits think they do a bad job of both promoting local food products and helping people to cut down on food waste. Currently local food isn’t widely available with more than 80% of fruit and almost 50% of vegetables imported [2], while an estimated 40% of all food produced globally is wasted.
Carina Millstone, Executive Director at Foodrise, said: “Our food and farming is controlled by 10 profit-hungry supermarkets, with devastating consequence for public health, British farmers and for our planet. But our new data shows widespread public support for a different way forward courtesy of worker-owned food shops, which could help improve the nation’s health, while protecting the environment and making sure farmers get a better deal.
“We need to see urgent government action to fulfil the promises laid out in its food strategy by compelling supermarkets to change their practices, while working longer term to dismantle their control of the country’s food sector. Ministers are deluded if they think these big businesses are going to drive the change required for a healthy, sustainable food system without regulation forcing their hands.”
Supermarkets are bad for British farmers, health and climate
Supermarkets are also bad for British farmers. That’s why Foodrise is calling for proper regulation to stop supermarkets selling below cost and ensure farmers and suppliers are paid fairly. Shockingly, farmers earn three times more from alternative routes to market compared to selling to supermarkets.
But a better retail sector in the UK is already demonstrating what is possible with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cooperative and community-owned grocery businesses working to create fairer and healthier food environments. For example, supermarket alternatives have been shown to improve diets by increasing fruit and veg uptake.
Yet this sector remains under-recognised and under-supported by national and local policy, despite the potential for independent food retail to deliver systemic change.
Julia Kirby-Smith, Executive Director at Better Food Traders, said: “The intersecting nature of food is both a challenge and a huge opportunity for the government. Rebuilding an independent food retail sector can help tackle multiple issues, including boosting our high streets and local jobs, building pride in our local communities, fair pay for farmers, access to healthier food, and a more sustainable food system.
“Collaboration between different parts of the food system offers a powerful way to achieve change across social, health and environmental issues. Too often, government support focuses on just the production side or just the public health side. We need to put a new emphasis on supporting independent food retail, building stronger local supply chains and unlocking better access to healthy, locally-grown food for all.”
References
[1] https://market.worldpanelbynumerator.com/grocery-market-share/great-britain
