dss+ London 2025: Future-Proofing the Food & Beverage Industry
The Food & Beverage (F&B) industry is undergoing a profound transformation, shaped by a convergence of global megatrends: climate change, supply chain volatility, digital disruption, evolving consumer expectations, and increasing regulatory scrutiny. These forces are not only accelerating the pace of change but also redefining what it means to be resilient, competitive, and sustainable in today’s market.
Against this backdrop, the dss+ London event on 30 June 2025 convened senior leaders and transformation experts to explore how F&B organisations can respond to these challenges with agility, foresight, and purpose. The event served as a platform for candid dialogue, cross-sector learning, and the exchange of pragmatic strategies for operational transformation.
Discussions throughout the day highlighted a shared recognition: traditional models of optimisation—focused narrowly on cost, quality, and service—are no longer sufficient. Instead, organisations must embrace a broader, more integrated approach that includes resilience, sustainability, digital enablement, and a profound shift towards cultural transformation, particularly in safety and operational excellence.
Emphasis was placed on effective execution and implementation in operations, ensuring that strategies translate into measurable impact on the ground.
Participants explored how resilience must be embedded not only in supply chains but also in governance, leadership, and workforce capabilities. The importance of trust, curiosity, and simplification emerged as recurring themes – underscoring that transformation is as much about people and mindset as it is about systems and tools.
Technology was discussed not as a silver bullet, but as an enabler of change. Speakers and panellists emphasised the need for clean data, user trust, and cultural readiness to unlock the full potential of digital tools. The conversation also addressed the tension between innovation and adoption, and the need to balance global standards with local autonomy.
The event concluded with a strong sense of shared purpose: To build F&B organisations that are not only fit for today’s challenges but also equipped to shape a more sustainable, resilient, and human-centred future.
Key outputs from the event included:
- A call to reframe resilience as a proactive, strategic capability – not a reactive measure.
- The need to align digital transformation with cultural change and governance structures.
- Recognition that sustainability and safety must be treated as enduring values, not shifting priorities.
- The importance of empowering teams at all levels to lead and sustain change.
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