“Brussels Sprouts and Border Disputes” The Bitter Aftertaste of Brexit for Food Trade

Let’s talk about the culinary equivalent of a fridge argument with your ex… yep, the EU - UK trade deal. Five years on from Brexit, and it turns out the divorce wasn’t quite as “oven-ready” as advertised. The roast is still in the oven, the gravy’s lumpy, and nobody can agree on who’s doing the washing up. And in the middle of it all? Our food and drink industry, nervously eyeing the pantry.

Let’s dig into the juicy bits of this latest spat, and what it means for those of us trying to keep shelves stocked, pints poured, and bacon sandwiches Brexit-proof.

The Beef? It’s Over Rules. (And Beef.)

There was a recent showdown in Brussels that wasn’t exactly a dinner party. The EU and UK sat down to “review progress” on the 2020 Trade and Cooperation Agreement and let’s just say it wasn’t all croissants and kumbaya. The EU is unhappy with the UK’s “unilateral” delays to full border checks on EU food and plant products. Meanwhile, UK officials are starting to realise that frictionless trade doesn’t come with a discount code.

The crux? While the UK is slowly rolling out new checks on EU goods, the EU has had theirs in place since day one. That’s created a bit of a fridge imbalance, UK exporters to the EU are getting grilled, while EU exporters into the UK are still being served à la carte.

Understandably, British producers aren’t thrilled with this one way buffet.

Why Should You Care… Besides the Obvious Risk to Your Cheese Board?

Because this isn’t just a political bunfight. It’s got real consequences for supply chains, supermarket prices, and your local deli’s ability to stock that glorious Comté.

Here’s what’s simmering beneath the surface:

Disrupted Supply Chains – More checks mean more delays. Fresh produce? Not a fan of sitting in limbo at border control.

Rising Costs – New admin means more red tape, more paperwork, and higher costs, especially for SMEs already operating on thin margins.

Trade Imbalance – UK exports of food and drink to the EU fell by 27% between 2020 and 2023. That’s not a dip… that’s a nosedive into a dry soufflé.

The Recipe for Resolution? Mutual Trust (and Maybe a Shared Cheese Platter)

The EU wants full implementation of the agreed border checks. The UK wants “smarter” arrangements that don’t hammer small businesses. Both sides are making valid points, yet both seem to be talking past each other like bickering chefs in too small a kitchen.

From my vantage point, what we really need is a bit of diplomacy. Think food safety alignment, digital certification, and reduced duplication. If we can agree that a British Stilton and a French Brie both deserve a place on the cheeseboard, we can surely work out how to trade them without 42 forms and a sniffer dog.

So What’s the Takeaway?

If you're in the food or ingredients industry, here’s your menu of action points:

Plan for Complexity – Assume more checks are coming, not fewer. Build in buffer time and factor in the cost of new certification.

Support Your SMEs – Larger players can swallow the admin costs. Smaller producers? Not so much. Help them navigate the new rules or risk losing some of your most innovative suppliers.

Look for Digital Solutions – Border paperwork doesn’t need to be medieval. Invest in smart tech that helps you stay compliant and competitive.

Push for Clarity – Engage with industry bodies lobbying for more consistent, predictable rules. Nobody wins if half the supply chain’s playing "whack a mole" with regulations.

People on the Move: The Hidden Ingredient in the Trade Drama

Let’s lift the lid on another simmering pot, the talent market.

While policymakers argue over pallets and protocols, there’s a growing demand for people who can actually navigate this cross border complexity. If you’re in executive search or recruitment, you’ll know exactly what I mean… supply chain leads, trade compliance managers, food safety specialists, and export control experts are suddenly the hot dish on the buffet.

Here's why this matters:

Leadership in Logistics Is Heating Up Brexit is a long term operational challenge. It’s fuelling demand for executives who can handle regulatory friction, redesign sourcing strategies, and keep goods moving across increasingly complicated borders.

Compliance Is Now a Competitive Advantage In a world where paperwork equals power, companies are actively recruiting leaders who understand sanitary and phytosanitary controls, traceability systems, and EU - UK dual compliance

A More Global Mindset Required The trade friction with the EU is prompting businesses to look further afield to Asia, the Middle East, and North America. That means hiring leaders with global procurement experience and a knack for building resilient, multi-region supply chains.

Soft Skills Are Getting Harder to Ignore We need cool heads, adaptable thinkers, and strong communicators who can lead teams through constant change. The new food leaders need to be part strategist, part diplomat, part crisis negotiator.

Clients need more than CVs, they need advisors who can decode what this regulatory soup means for their future talent map. That includes looking outside the sector for adjacent skills, rethinking role requirements, and helping boards future-proof their leadership teams.

Closing Thoughts from Yours Truly

Brexit was always going to leave a few food fights on the table. But five years on, it’s time we stopped lobbing bread rolls and started setting the table for real solutions. The EU and UK can still cook up something better, less sour grapes, more shared success.

Until then, keep your supply chain nimble, your paperwork tidy, and your cheeseboards well stocked.

If you are looking for leaders who can navigate these rocky roads, get in touch!

Yours in carbs and customs codes,

Mike Meyrick