It’s no secret that the food industry has experienced a strange and unpredictable year. From panic buying and empty shelves to the rise of takeaway-only dining, businesses have had to pivot fast. From one extreme to the other, food businesses have had to respond quickly to the changes. While some have struggled to keep up, those with the right tech, like a fully integrated ERP system, have stayed ahead of the curve.

Every time we sit down with a new food company, we ask the same question: What’s driving you up the wall right now? And without fail, someone says “spreadsheets.”

With the Christmas holidays dissipating into a distant memory, the overindulgence and drinking in excess are starting to trigger in the consciousness of the nation. And the food industry? It’s already two steps ahead, and the two biggest campaigns that lead the new year are ‘Dry January’ and ‘Veganuary’.

Inflation isn’t just a buzzword; it's a harsh reality for UK food and drink manufacturers and distributors. In June 2025, food prices surged by 3.7% year-on-year—the fastest rate since March 2024, driven by climate-hit harvests, higher labour, energy, and packaging costs (The Guardian). 

Food manufacturing and distribution isn’t just about making, processing, and delivering delicious food and getting it out the door. It’s about managing inventory, ensuring compliance and food safety, optimising supply chains, and keeping consumers happy, to name a few.
 
Without a centralised system to handle all these complexities, food businesses can lose revenue, waste staff time and resources, and struggle to grow. As competition increases and technology evolves, many food and beverage companies turn to ERP (enterprise resource planning) software, especially systems designed for the food industry like Dynamics Food (powered by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central).

Managing the switch from B2B to B2C with e-commerce won’t come naturally to most food manufacturers and distributors. So, what obstacles do you have to overcome and how can a Microsoft Dynamics 365 food ERP software help?