which researchers Mahroof and Sivarajah explain in The Conversation has serious implications for legitimate businesses and is causing many of the shortages that consumers are increasingly seeing on supermarket shelves. The British Standards Institution recently reported that 22% of thefts from trucks and warehouses last year involved food and drink. The stolen products were then redistributed into illegitimate supply chains and resold within days. This is up from 17% in 2022, as the black market in food continues to grow .
There are many reasons why people resort to the black market for food: it is often a choice dictated by those who are severely affected by the rising cost of living. Furthermore, buyers may justify this practice by believing that they are not the ones stealing directly from the shops. However, this trade has serious implications for businesses, contributing to tax evasion and compromising the integrity of the supply chain.
The rise of black market food has coincided with industry email list the rising cost of living and increased consumer demand for lower prices. Many households in the UK are now faced with a choice between heating and food. Although inflation is close to the government’s target of 2%, the cost of living continues to rise from already high levels. As a result, many people are opting to buy food at lower prices, even if it is from the black market, which is illegal. These purchases often take place on the street or online, with platforms such as Facebook and Instagram becoming very popular for food trading.
Data reveals a 380% increase in road thefts from HGVs, demonstrating just how vulnerable the UK’s end-to-end food supply chains can be.
And anti-shoplifting tags on food products like meat and cheese are also increasing. Retailers obviously have to pay for this. Putting a £50 tag on a £5 item increases operating budgets, which will ultimately be passed on to the consumer.