45% of Food Firms Cite Safety Risks, Confidence in Risk Management Drops to 62%
WTW•45% of global food and beverage companies now rank safety and health as their top risk, rising from 29% in 2024, with confidence in risk management slipping to 62% from 75% last year. Meanwhile, 52% of firms target value-for-money products and 83% formalize business continuity plans.
1. Survey Overview
A global survey of 450 senior risk management executives in the food, beverage and agriculture sector conducted in February and March 2026 reveals mounting concerns and shifting priorities. Participants span leading producers and processors in Europe, North America, Asia and Latin America, providing a comprehensive view of emerging industry risks.
2. Major Risk Shifts
Food safety and health risks have surged to 45% of respondents, up from 29% in 2024, while supply chain worries climbed to 44%. Confidence in existing risk management capabilities fell to 62%, ESG risk remains a priority for 84%, and 52% of companies are developing value-for-money product lines to offset cost pressures, alongside an 83% adoption rate of formal continuity plans.
3. Impact on WTW
The heightened complexity and volatility in the food and beverage sector is expected to drive demand for advanced risk transfer, mitigation strategies and consultancy services. WTW’s advisory and analytics offerings are well positioned to capture this opportunity as companies seek board-level support and sophisticated tools to strengthen resilience and manage exposures more effectively.
