Uneven progress on gender balance threatens to deepen food industry productivity crisis
A clear divide is emerging in the food industry, with uneven progress on gender balance across organisations threatening to undermine efforts to boost recruitment and attract talent, according to new research from Meat Business Women.
The 2026 Gender Representation Report reveals that while some organisations are making measurable progress on gender balance, others are standing still, creating a gap that is threatening to compound the productivity crisis. Laura Ryan, Global Chair of Meat Business Women said:
“The report found that women make up 46% of the workforce in leading organisations, compared to just 26% in lagging businesses, showing a 20 percentage point difference.”
This divide is visible at six out of seven career ladder stages. At entry level, women represent 47% of the workforce in leading organisations compared to 26% in lagging ones. At first-line manager level, the gap remains significant, with 40% women in leading organisations versus 25% in lagging.
Laura added: “This sustained gap is reducing the industry’s future leadership pipeline, limiting the progression of women into senior roles, and reducing the diversity of talent available at the top. This is no longer simply an industry-wide challenge, but increasingly a reflection of individual leadership choices.”
“We can see that organisations that are making the most progress treat gender balance as a commercial priority rather than just a HR initiative. They measure representation and progression and act on the data, strengthen early career pipelines, particularly at the first leadership step, and embed flexibility in practice rather than policy alone. Conversely, the data shows that those that are not taking deliberate action risk falling behind on capability, culture and competitiveness.”
Businesses signed up to the Food Business Charter and partners of Meat Business Women outperform non-participants across four out of the seven career stages, including the critical transition into leadership.
Richard Wood, Director of Meat, Fish & Poultry Eggs & Dairy, Tesco said: “As a leading retailer, we know that building a resilient, future-ready supply chain depends on the strength and diversity of the people within it.
“A more balanced workforce is closely linked to capability, resilience and long-term performance, and we’re seeing that suppliers taking structured, deliberate action are better positioned for the future.
“That’s why we work closely with our suppliers to measure progress, set clear ambitions and provide practical tools to support change. As a Founding Signatory of the Food Business Charter, we’re proud to partner with Meat Business Women to help accelerate progress across the industry.”
Karen O’Connor, General Manager Meat, Deli, Seafood & Convenience at Coles said:
“At Coles, we’re continually working to ensure we build a diverse and inclusive working environment, and continue to take action to improve gender equity and representation as well as the support of women across the business. In FY25, 42.7% of our leadership population are women.
“What this report makes clear is that progress on gender balance is closely linked to how effectively organisations are building their talent pipelines. Suppliers creating environments where people can see a path to progress are better positioned to retain skills and develop future leaders, which is critical to long-term capability.
“For Coles, that reinforces the importance of supporting a supply base that is investing in its people, and working with partners like Meat Business Women to help share best practice and accelerate progress at scale.”
To meet the Food Business Charter’s ambition of 40% female representation by 2035, the report highlights the need for consistent, measurable progress. In practical terms, this requires the equivalent of a 0.6% annual increase in women entering and staying in the workforce, alongside action to ensure women progress at the same rate as men.
Closing this gap will require sustained, industry-wide action and a clear commitment from leadership to turn insight into measurable change.
Laura Ryan, Global Chair of Meat Business Women said:
“Women currently represent around a third of our workforce, highlighting a clear opportunity to strengthen representation across the industry. The opportunity sits early in the pipeline, particularly at the first move into leadership, where organisations taking deliberate action are already building stronger and more balanced pipelines.
“The evidence is clear: progress is driven by leadership. When leaders are intentional about how people progress and apply practical, measurable strategies day to day, we see real change. Those who fail to act risk leaving talent and value on the table, while those who move forward strengthen performance, productivity and growth.”
