UK meat imports rose to £5bn in 2025, fuelling concerns over Britain’s reliance on overseas food supply chains, according to new HMRC data obtained by Co-op.

The convenience retailer said meat imports increased 15 per cent year on year, exposing the UK to greater risk from climate change, geopolitical shocks and disruption across global supply chains.

Poultry was the most imported protein category, worth almost £2bn, with Poland and the Netherlands accounting for the largest share of imports. However, poultry imports from Thailand rose by nearly 50 per cent year on year, underlining its growing presence in the UK food system.

Co-op, which says it only sells and uses 100 per cent British meat and poultry, warned that Britain’s increasing reliance on imported meat leaves the domestic food supply more vulnerable to overseas shocks.

The retailer said the ongoing disruption linked to the Iran conflict had highlighted the fragility of the international supply chains underpinning the UK food system, particularly as pressure builds around energy, fertiliser and transport costs.

It comes as food policy experts warn the UK is not prepared for the scale of shocks that could threaten national food security.

Co-op is now calling for greater government support for agricultural co-operatives, arguing that the model could help strengthen British farming, improve resilience and reduce exposure to volatile global markets.

The retailer is backing new Co-operative Party proposals designed to help farmers form, grow and scale co-operatives as part of the government’s upcoming 25-year farming roadmap.

The policy paper sets out a three-pillar plan for ministers to champion, enable and scale agricultural co-operation across the food system, with the aim of improving market power, reducing costs and supporting collective investment in infrastructure, innovation and sustainability.

Recent estimates suggest there are 526 agricultural co-operatives in the UK, generating more than £9bn in income.

Co-op said the model could help farmers manage volatility by sharing costs, spreading risk, building rural skills and strengthening supply chain partnerships.

Matt O’Hagan, technical director at ESG Drysdale, a co-operative business, said: “Our East of Scotland Growers Cooperative dates back to 1987 and brings together 20 member growers across a wide geographical spread.

“Being grower owned creates genuine alignment between farmers, the land and the route to market. Working collaboratively over the long term, the cooperative model supports responsible land stewardship, investment in sustainable farming practices, and the ability to adapt to environmental and climate challenges.

“The structure gives farmers a real voice in how their produce is sold and valued, building trust, stability, and long-term confidence. That alignment allows us to plan effectively, maintain quality and manage the volatility that continues to challenge the wider sector. It’s a proven, sustainable model that brings clear benefits to the UK food system.”

Co-op director of public affairs and campaigns Paul Gerrard said supply chain resilience had become an urgent issue for the UK food sector.

“The issue of supply chain resilience is upon us now and there is a clear and demonstrable benefit to the co-operative business model in agriculture,” he said.

“An expansion of agricultural co-operation is both an economic opportunity and a political imperative: it directly addresses the need for a more secure and sustainable food system, one less exposed to the volatility of global markets, and the instability in a rapidly changing world.

“As the largest consumer co-operative in the UK, we are clear how the model naturally lends itself to sharing costs and spreading risk, which will make the day-to-day fundamentals of farming more efficient.

“The untapped potential of agricultural co-operatives is an opportunity to strengthen our food system and deliver a better deal for British farming.”

Co-op Party leader Joe Fortune added: “Co-operation is a form of strategic resilience.

“In a world where fertiliser supplies can be disrupted and energy costs can spike overnight, the ability to coordinate, adapt and invest collectively becomes a matter of national strategic importance.

“Government has the opportunity to unleash growth in this sector and use it to help secure our supply chains for the future.”

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