The lorry driver shortage has brought into sharp relief the inefficiencies in the food chain. Lorries belonging to different members of the cartel flying up and down the motorways in opposite directions, hauling identical loaves of bread and pints of milk. HGV’s are 2% of road traffic and emit 22% of road emissions. A radical solution is required.
I have identified a block of land just off the A50 at Uttoxeter, on which a mega distribution centre should be built. One hub from which all of England’s food can be distributed. Lorries reaching 90% of the population of England within 3 hours. No need for 8 companies retailing 90% of the food as we have now. They would just get in each others way, literally and figuratively. Just one business feeding the nation, unhindered by competition, that's what's needed.
To ensure similar efficiencies on the supply side, a series of food processing plants will be built along the length of the A50. A dairy at Stoke to process all of the milk. Cheshire to be home to the autumn calving herd, Shropshire the spring calving. Minimal milk miles; no need for any dairy cows further afield. In the early years there will be some inefficiencies due to the number of individual herds in each county, but over time a logical rationalization will ensure a small handful of mega herds.
And so on. A red meat abattoir at Knutsford. White meat at Foston. A bakery in Markfield. Fruit and veg packhouse at Kegworth. In each instance all of the nations requirements being met from one plant, thus ensuring minimal lorry movements to get the produce to Uttoxeter. As with milk, each sector will quickly rationalize to the point where only a small number of businesses are required to be the primary producers for each plant.
No need, then, for food production in the hinterland. Anything not close enough to the a50 to feed the nation, it can be rewilded.
Yes ?
I have identified a block of land just off the A50 at Uttoxeter, on which a mega distribution centre should be built. One hub from which all of England’s food can be distributed. Lorries reaching 90% of the population of England within 3 hours. No need for 8 companies retailing 90% of the food as we have now. They would just get in each others way, literally and figuratively. Just one business feeding the nation, unhindered by competition, that's what's needed.
To ensure similar efficiencies on the supply side, a series of food processing plants will be built along the length of the A50. A dairy at Stoke to process all of the milk. Cheshire to be home to the autumn calving herd, Shropshire the spring calving. Minimal milk miles; no need for any dairy cows further afield. In the early years there will be some inefficiencies due to the number of individual herds in each county, but over time a logical rationalization will ensure a small handful of mega herds.
And so on. A red meat abattoir at Knutsford. White meat at Foston. A bakery in Markfield. Fruit and veg packhouse at Kegworth. In each instance all of the nations requirements being met from one plant, thus ensuring minimal lorry movements to get the produce to Uttoxeter. As with milk, each sector will quickly rationalize to the point where only a small number of businesses are required to be the primary producers for each plant.
No need, then, for food production in the hinterland. Anything not close enough to the a50 to feed the nation, it can be rewilded.
Yes ?