Leafr Consultant Masterclass - Building resilience into food supply chains

​Disruption to food supply chains is no longer occasional.

​From extreme weather, drought and fire to geopolitics, trade policy, and conflict, shocks now affect food systems at every level. Organisations that continue to operate through disruption do so because they have deliberately built supply chain resilience.

​In this masterclass, Alan Hayes draws on decades of experience across the entire food system to show how to evaluate and build resilience in food supply chains. His work spans food manufacturing, agriculture and primary production, food retail, food service, and industry bodies, with roles including senior leadership at IGD, advisory work with Defra as a member of the UK Food Security Review Expert Group, and strategic roles with major food businesses including Samworth Brothers and leading food manufacturers and brands.

​Alan brings a rare combination of commercial, technical, sustainability, policy, and market insight. He works across procurement, supply chain, operations, sustainability and climate, agronomy, resilience, and economics, helping organisations understand where their supply chains are exposed, how disruption is likely to emerge, and what practical decisions strengthen resilience over time.

​This session focuses on pragmatic evaluation, horizon scanning, and decision-making under uncertainty, for those responsible for keeping food supply chains functioning when conditions change.