Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether her Department has made a comparative assessment of (a) food price inflation and (b) trends in the level of profits of (i) major UK food and drink retailers and (ii) major food and drink manufacturers over the last five years.

Defra does not actively monitor the profits of food retailers and manufacturers. Defra relies on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for monthly food price inflation statistics, which stood at 18.2% for food and non-alcoholic beverages in the year to February 2023.