The Institute of Grocery Distribution hosted its “Feeding Britain’s Future”, bringing together senior leaders from across the UK food and drink industry to address the growing challenge of youth unemployment and the sector’s responsibility in creating pathways into work.
At the event, the UK CEO of Tesco, Ashwin Prasad, highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action between government, businesses, and industry bodies to support young people entering the labour market.
He warned that without sustained and collective effort, there is a risk of a generation becoming increasingly disconnected from the world of work. He emphasised that the retail and grocery sector must play a leading role in reversing this trend by creating meaningful opportunities and accessible entry points into employment.
Prasad stressed that businesses have both a responsibility and a long-term interest in investing in young people. He noted that developing future talent is essential not only for addressing social challenges but also for ensuring the industry’s resilience, skills development, and capacity to grow in the years ahead.
He added that supporting youth employment is a shared priority across the sector, requiring collaboration, structured training programmes, and stronger partnerships to help young people take their first steps onto the career ladder.
The discussions at the IGD event reflected a broader industry consensus that tackling youth unemployment will require sustained commitment and practical action, with retailers playing a central role in building future workforce capability.