OPINION: Brexit really does mean Brexit

Theresa May, the UK Prime Minister, has now outlined what leaving the European Union will mean.

Last June the British electorate were asked to choose whether the country should remain a member of, or leave, the European Union. As we found out on 24 June the majority vote was that the UK should leave.

Mrs May has now spelt out that the vote to leave the EU really does mean leave. There will be many conversations about how the separation will work that will fill the negotiations over the next couple of years.

These will be in the hands of the Government and civil servants, but for UK consumers an important question is how will this affect the food and other products they buy.

Do you know how international your supply chain is? You may not personally buy from the farmers in Spain or the wine makers in France and Italy, but I am sure that you stock a wide range of produce that is sourced from the EU.

Action no. 1: Audit your current range of fruit and vegetables to discover how international your produce range is.

Action no. 2: Ask your suppliers what plans they are constructing to avoid disruption to supplies after the UK leaves the EU.

It might seem early in the process to start asking these questions, but as we have already seen in the seven months that have elapsed since the Referendum, the next two years will pass remarkably quickly.

The suppliers in your supply chain may have already started their planning and when you ask these important questions you could find a comforting answer. On the other hand you may have a supplier who can’t give you a satisfactory answer and your interest may well prompt them to do something about it.

Whatever you discover with the opportunities that more free trade will provide, I would expect your supply chain to look even more international in five years’ time than it does today.