- 60% of UK food and drink businesses close within their first year, and 80% within five – resilience now critical
- Sector faces rising costs, fragile margins, and ongoing supply chain disruption, leaving insolvency risk high
- 60% of UK food and drink businesses close within their first year, and 80% within five – resilience now critical
- Programme will support founders and finance leaders of scale-up businesses (£500k+ turnover) with practical tools to protect in a challenging market and plan for growth
- Food and drink supply chain underpins nearly one in five jobs and £813m in exports – essential to rural and international trade
- Launching in early 2026, the Accelerator follows Atradius data showing UK SMEs lost 76% of their cash reserves to business risks in the past year
Atradius has announced the launch of a new four-week Food & Drink Accelerator Programme, designed to help food and drink SMEs navigate rising costs, fragile margins and persistent supply chain disruption.
The Atradius Food & Drink Accelerator will equip founders and finance leaders with the tools, insights and strategies needed to manage volatility, protect cash flow and build long-term resilience in one of the UK’s most challenged sectors.
Despite its size and significance, the food and drink industry continues to face some of the highest business failure rates in the UK, with 60% of firms closing within a year and 80% within five[1]. Many are still operating reactively – without the foresight or financial tools to anticipate challenges before they hit.
The sector is a cornerstone of the UK economies, employing almost 230,000 people – and supporting £813 million in annual food and drink exports[2].
Registrations of interest are now open, and the accelerator will focus on scale-up businesses with a turnover of £500,000 and above, providing a blend of expert-led sessions, tools, and peer support.
Over four weeks, participants will explore:
- Supply chain resilience and cash flow: identifying supply chain vulnerabilities, diversifying suppliers and optimising working capital
- Export resilience: managing regulatory compliance, foreign market exposure, and currency risk
- Late payment risk: identifying high-risk customers, setting effective credit policies, and enforcing payment terms
- Economic pressures and market trends: analysing current costs, consumer shifts, and sector trends to identify risk and opportunity
- Each module blends strategic insight helping business leaders strengthen their operations and make informed financial decisions that drive stability and growth.
James Napier, Senior Underwriter – Food and Agriculture, at Atradius UK. “The food and drink sector is under significant strain, but it also has enormous potential for innovation and growth. The Atradius Food & Drink Accelerator can help business leaders take control of their risk management, strengthen cash flow, and plan ahead with confidence.”
The launch follows Atradius’ Resilience Gap Report, which found that business risks have cost UK SMEs 76% of their emergency cash reserves in the past 12 months, underlining the need for practical resilience-building support across all sectors.
To register or learn more about the Atradius Food & Drink Accelerator, visit https://atradius.co.uk/food-and-drink-accelerator
[1] Restaurant Failure Rate Statistics UK – Closure Rates & Industry Challenges
[2] Global profile of Welsh food and drink industry on an upward trajectory – Financial Times – Partner Content by Welsh Government
About Atradius
Atradius is a global provider of credit insurance, bond and surety, collections and information services, with a strategic presence in over 50 countries. The products offered by Atradius protect companies around the world against the default risks associated with selling goods and services on credit. Atradius is a member of Grupo Catalana Occidente (GCO.MC), one of the largest insurers in Spain and one of the largest credit insurers in the world. You can find more information online at https://www.atradius.co.uk