U.S. trade policies are changing faster than supply chains can handle, putting economic pressure on the food and beverage industry, experts told The Food Institute. And there’s no end in sight.
Tariff shifts are adding new pressure points for food industry leaders as equipment duty cuts collide with volatile packaging and import costs, tightening forecasting, inflation exposure, and risk across supply chains.
Tariff rulings are throwing U.S. supply chains into flux, with courts, Congress, and the White House reshaping which duties stand, as well as which may be refunded. Food and beverage leaders now face a volatile import landscape that demands documentation, contract reviews, and constant vigilance.
Food makers are bracing for another wave of inflation as tariffs, supply disruptions, and ingredient shortages push companies like McCormick, Hershey, and Conagra to raise prices. Executives warn this is only the opening act, with broader increases likely as cost pressures ripple through the industry.
