From Ireland’s agricultural growth to supply chain AI and future skills, the strongest insight was that progress relies on people and organisations pulling in the same direction.
At IGD Future of the UK Food System 2026 in London on 21 October, four colleagues from The Billington Group heard a clear message: growth in food and agriculture depends on people and organisations working together around practical, commercially grounded plans. The Group was represented by Gary Blake, CEO; Jon Wragg, Non-Executive Director; Holly Haggarty, Group People Manager; and Rosanna Carr, Business Projects Manager.
Jon Wragg saw the wider value of that collaboration. Food and agriculture can benefit the economy and our communities when stakeholders align behind clear, simple objectives.
That need for collaboration was just as clear in discussions about supply chains. Producers, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and retailers all have a role in making them more efficient and sustainable, supported by reliable data that can be shared. Speakers also discussed AI as more than a technology decision: its value depends on improving processes and bringing people with you.
The market itself is changing too. Discussions on GLP-1 medicines and a growing focus on health highlighted how consumer needs may shift, and the opportunities for businesses that respond to what people want from food.
Skills and recruitment stood out to Holly Haggarty. She was particularly interested in “coopetition”: organisations sharing ideas and expertise for mutual benefit. Examples from Bord Bia and Fairtrade showed how this approach can help the sector tackle shared challenges.
By the end of the day, Holly had new contacts and, as she put it, a notebook full of ideas. She hopes to build on them to create an even better colleague experience and continue attracting brilliant talent to the Group.
For The Billington Group, attending events like this is an opportunity to bring fresh perspectives back to our businesses and people. The insights shared at IGD will help inform ongoing conversations about how we build resilience, respond to changing demand, support the workforce of the future and unlock growth across food and agriculture.
The day was a reminder that a stronger food system will depend on collaboration and clear plans grounded in commercial reality. By learning from others across the industry and sharing knowledge across our Group, we can keep developing our businesses and our people for the future.
