AI in Food Manufacturing 

A new report from Barclays Corporate Banking, produced in partnership with Food Manufacture, offers a timely snapshot of how AI is really being used across UK and Ireland food and drink manufacturing. Based on a survey of 100 senior decision makers carried out in April 2026, the research moves past the hype to show where adoption genuinely stands today. 

The headline finding is that momentum is building, but for most manufacturers, adoption is still at an early stage. Investment intent is rising and the barriers to entry are coming down, with AI use cases shifting from experimentation towards practical, operational deployment. 

What is holding the sector back is familiar territory: fragmented data, forecasting difficulty and general operational complexity. The report’s more interesting argument is that these same barriers are exactly where AI is best placed to add value, turning long standing pain points into starting points for transformation. 

Tom Horton, Head of Manufacturing, Transport and Logistics at Barclays Corporate Banking, summed it up well: the opportunity now is to convert these challenges into springboards for innovation and growth. 

Where the value is showing up 

The research points to predictive maintenance and demand forecasting as among the most valuable use cases already in play, with further gains identified in sustainability and working capital. Rather than treating AI as a single project, the report frames it as a connected capability, one that links operational performance, financial efficiency and sustainability together. 

Workforce readiness is another consistent theme. As manufacturers move from exploration to implementation, the report highlights three practical questions worth asking internally: 

• Where does AI adoption genuinely stand across our own operations? 

• What capabilities does our team need to build to adopt AI at scale? 

• Where should investment be prioritised for the best return? 

Why this matters for manufacturers 

For food and drink businesses navigating rising costs and increasing supply chain complexity, the report’s message is that a targeted, incremental approach can unlock value quickly and build confidence for broader change. Manufacturers who act early are best placed to convert that early momentum into a lasting competitive advantage. 

Read the full report, AI in Food Manufacturing: An Emerging Future, here: 

Download the Barclays report (PDF)