Few products are as iconic in the United Kingdom as the potato. From golden fries to creamy mash, potatoes are a staple in the national diet. To meet demand, the country relies heavily on its former partners in the European Union and is even the largest consumer of frozen fries. Meanwhile, the national potato industry still bears the scars of Brexit.
Not long ago, the UK's potato area covered over 150.000 hectares. That figure has now dropped to under 100.000 hectares. Increasingly erratic weather is making it harder for farmers to make a profit from their crops. A range of factors influences the country's potato acreage, which seeks to balance risk and return.
Market developments
After Brexit, a major labor shortage arose, forcing many small businesses—especially those growing early potatoes—to permanently close. Many growers simply couldn't find enough workers to harvest the potatoes. British growers have seen the market for table potatoes change rapidly over the past two decades. Supermarkets are contracting directly with the largest growers and demanding daily deliveries of fresh, top-quality potatoes.
Official area figures for 2025 are not yet available. Since the demise of the government agency AHDB Potato, it has become extremely difficult to obtain reliable data and market information. According to industry insiders, the area will increase by 2,5% this year. This represents a slight rebound compared to 2024, when the area reached a low of 100.000 hectares. A small increase of 2.500 hectares is still a very low figure and a far cry from the level of one or two decades ago. Nevertheless, it represents a break from the gradual decline of the past twelve years.
High demand, low supply
Ironically, demand for processed potato products is growing while the British potato area is shrinking. French fries, chips, and mashed potatoes continue to sell well. Imports of frozen products reached a historic high in March of this year. At the end of May, the UK signed a new agreement with the EU on imports and exports. Potatoes were not explicitly mentioned, but more relaxed controls will facilitate trade. Most phytosanitary checks on plant products to and from the UK and the EU will be abolished. This is particularly good news for seed potatoes. Strict regulations have made exporting British seed potatoes virtually impossible since 2021.
Despite the regulations, EU exports of seed potatoes to the UK rose last year to 9.259 tons, a 9,5% increase. British exports fell by 8,4% to just over 100.000 tons. Over a five-year period, seed potato imports have more than doubled, meaning that more and more growers—especially in Scotland—have stopped producing them.
Industry takes a hit after Brexit
McCain and Lamb Weston are the two largest potato processors in the UK. Their total annual French fry production is around 440.000 tons. These companies benefit from healthy demand, but development lags behind that on the European mainland. Large multinationals prefer to focus their investments on new and modern factories on the continent rather than on the British Isles.
Export figures show that the British potato industry has barely benefited from Brexit. French fry imports have increased by more than 2019% since 25. Last year, nearly 870.000 tons of fries were imported from the EU to the UK. A 54% increase compared to 2023! This is partly due to high demand, but also to a poor harvest in the country. An estimated 4,5 million tons of potatoes were harvested in the UK last year, almost a fifth less than the previous year. In 2019, production was still 5,51 million tons.
The only category in the UK that grew between 2019 and 2024 was dried goods and starches, which increased by 130% to 9.673 tons. Imports of chips from the EU also rose sharply, while exports fell by 65%.
Support for growers
Earlier this year, McCain made headlines in the UK when the Canadian company announced it would set aside £30 million (€34,8 million) to support its growers over the next three years. McCain Foods is the largest buyer of British potatoes and the largest processor in the country. The company works with around 250 growers, who are struggling due to changing weather conditions and rising production costs. Another key focus is regenerative potato farming, a trend visible in several European countries.
Smaller family businesses traditionally relied heavily on demand from fish and chip shops. These are typical of the British market, but their numbers have been declining for years. From a peak of 35.000 shops, an estimated 10.500 now remain, with more disappearing every day. The sector estimates that another 5.000 shops will close, and a third are at risk of bankruptcy due to low margins and rising costs. The prices of fish, potatoes, flour, and frying oil have risen sharply in recent years. Inflation, higher wages, and energy bills are also weighing on profits.
Numbers in a row
The future of the British potato
Despite recent challenges, there is reason for cautious optimism. Consumers are not abandoning their fries and chips, giving the processing industry a solid foundation to build on. This demand is currently being met primarily by exporting countries such as Belgium, France, and the Netherlands, which continue to benefit. The British industry is focusing primarily on supporting local growers and adopting different cultivation methods for domestic potatoes.