Brexit Survey: nearly one-third of voters would consider relocating their companies outside of the UK

Over 55% of the respondents in the FeedNavigator survey did not see a more robust livestock production system arising out of the UK exit.

Nevertheless, around 26% of pollsters disagreed with that outlook – they do foresee dairy, pig and poultry farming benefiting significantly from Brexit.

Those not swinging either way on this subject, the ‘don’t knows’ were high enough - at 19% of survey respondents.

Meanwhile, some 40% of our pollsters said they would not consider relocating their companies outside the UK, but, interestingly, 30% of respondents indicated they were ready to debate that possibility and another 30% were undecided.

Business impact ​

Over half of the feed businesses polled – 54% - agreed food prices in the UK would increase post Brexit, and, even more effusive in their response on that, were 27% of survey respondents who said they strongly agreed that such a spike would occur.

There was again an obvious voting pattern in terms of the bureaucratic implications of the EU referendum for UK industry – about 41% of respondents disagreed and 22% strongly disagreed that it would mean less red tape for their businesses.

However, it was definitely more of a photo finish on the question of whether the UK’s vote to leave the EU-28 would have an overall negative effect on feed companies or agribusiness related industry. Just over 29% and nearly 12% of respondents agreed and strongly agreed respectively Brexit would be detrimental for business.

On the other hand, some 24% of participants were more optimistic about the fall-out, they disagreed there would be a negative effect on industry. Endorsing that view even more robustly, nearly 18% strongly disagreed with the more pessimistic outlook for UK agribusiness post Brexit.

In terms of whether the UK will see new markets opening up for British goods on the exit from the EU, our pollsters would seem somewhat skeptical about such a future trading scenario, at this early stage, at least. About 29% disagreed and 25% strongly disagreed with that outlook. 

But just under 22% of respondents agreed that Brexit would result in such trading opportunities for the UK, and a minority, some 6% of our pollsters, strongly agreed new markets would open up for UK exports.

Supply Chain ​

It came down to the wire in terms of how our respondents saw the implications for their supply chain post Brexit. Those voters who agreed and strongly agreed there would be supply disruptions because of the UK exit edged it at around 43.1% of respondents. The combined total of voters who said they disagreed and strongly disagreed with the statement was 41.1%. 

But it was roundly evident where the voting trend lay on the statement that Brexit would mean a flood of cheap imports entering the UK – a little over 41% of survey participants disagreed that would occur, with nearly 8% strong disagreeing it would be a likely result.

Legislation and standards ​

And again, in a more clear-cut fashion, 42% of those polled agreed the UK will continue to apply EU feed, food and beverage legislation with 23% in strong agreement about such an outcome for the regulatory landscape post Brexit.

Nearly 52% of voters disagreed the vote to leave the EU would result in watered down food safety standards.

In combining totals of agreed and strongly agreed, 40% of respondents feel Brexit will mean their businesses will face significant EU tariffs. The votes of those on the opposing side, the respondents who disagreed and strongly disagreed such an event would come to pass, reached 30% when the two totals were amalgamated.

Investment and employment ​

A high percentage of pollsters disagreed Brexit would result in lower sales volumes for their company – 40% disagreed and nearly 8% strongly disagreed this would be the case.

But it was still a close run race with 25% of participants in agreement that sales volumes in their businesses would decline and some 14% of voters strongly agreeing there would be a downside of that nature for their businesses.

We got a mixed bag reaction to the question about likely redundancies in a post Brexit landscape – 31% agreed job cuts would be an inevitable negative outcome in the short-term, and 4% of pollsters strongly agreed their companies would have to make employees redundant. 

On the contrary, 29% and nearly 10% of respondents disagreed and strongly disagreed respectively that such drastic measures would be necessary. The ‘don’t knows’ were significantly high on this topic, coming in at 27% of voters. 

In terms of there being difficulties in the sourcing of unskilled labor post Brexit, when combining the totals of those who disagreed and strongly disagreed, their point of view blatantly won out – some 60% of pollsters did not see such restrictions on that kind of hiring arising as a result of the EU exit.