"One Squeeze Too Far": FPC And Delifresh Call On Britain's Chefs To Sign The UK-EU Reset Petition

The Fresh Produce Consortium has joined forces with Delifresh to launch a nationwide petition urging Britain's chefs, restaurateurs and foodservice operators to reject a proposed border plan that would add EU-style SPS charges to fresh produce imported from beyond Europe.

The message from the kitchen pass to Westminster is simple: don't squeeze the ingredients British hospitality depends on.

Every day, thousands of kitchens across the UK build menus around ingredients that don't grow here including citrus, mangoes, blueberries, sweet potatoes, peppers.  All sourced from outside the EU and delivered fresh, reliably and affordably thanks to a supply chain that has worked for years.

That supply chain is now under threat.

The UK-EU Reset, as currently proposed, would impose new EU-style sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) border checks on Rest of World fresh produce — the same produce that makes up roughly half of everything Britain imports from beyond Europe. FPC's analysis puts the added cost at more than £300 million a year, despite the UK already running a proven, science-based, risk-led inspection regime that achieves 99.5% compliance across some 120,000 consignments annually. No extra safety. Just extra cost — and it's chefs and operators who would feel it first, through pricier ingredients, tighter margins and harder choices about what stays on the menu.

That's why FPC has teamed up with Delifresh, a leading fresh produce supplier deeply embedded in kitchens across the country, to put the petition directly in front of the people who will be most affected: the chefs themselves.

Why this partnership matters

Delifresh knows what's at stake because it sits exactly where policy meets the pass — supplying the fruit, veg and specialist ingredients that independent restaurants, hotels, pubs and contract caterers rely on every service. Its "One Squeeze Too Far" campaign creative, landing across social media and in kitchens this week, makes the point vividly: squeeze the supply chain too hard, and it's chefs, their businesses and ultimately their customers who feel the pressure.

"Chefs don't often get asked for their view on trade policy, but this is exactly the moment they should be heard," Nigel Jenney, Chief Executive of the Fresh Produce Consortium".

Delifresh's reach into kitchens up and down the country means we can put the facts directly in front of the people who'll be hit hardest by this — and give them a fast, simple way to say so."

Robert Ramsden of Delifresh added: "Our customers tell us every day how much they value being able to source the ingredients their menus depend on, at a fair price. This petition is about protecting that — and we're proud to put our reach behind it."

What signing actually means for the industry

Every signature adds to the weight of evidence FPC is putting in front of Government. It tells decision-makers, in unmistakable numbers, that this isn't an abstract trade issue — it's a cost that lands on real kitchens, real menus and real jobs. The petition has already gathered strong momentum since launch, with signatures flowing in from independent restaurants, hotels, contract caterers and hospitality groups across the country — and every one strengthens the case.

Signing takes moments: no jargon, no lengthy forms, just a handful of quick questions about your kitchen and the impact this change would have on it. Chefs can add their name and business if they want their support to count publicly once the campaign reaches its next milestone, or sign anonymously — the choice, and the chef's data, stays firmly in their hands.

Add your voice

If you run a kitchen, source produce, or simply care about keeping Britain's plates diverse and affordably stocked, this is the moment to say so.

Sign the Petition

Together, chefs and the fresh produce industry can make sure this "Reset" doesn't come at the cost of what's on the menu.