AFGC welcomes National Freight Strategy as critical step for resilient food and grocery supply chains

21 August 2025

The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s refreshed National Freight and Supply Chain Strategy and accompanying National Action Plan, recognising it as a vital step toward strengthening Australia’s supply chain resilience and supporting the nation’s largest manufacturing sector.

AFGC CEO Colm Maguire said the strategy reflects a timely and necessary commitment to improving the infrastructure and systems underpinning the food and grocery manufacturing sector.

“Australia’s food and grocery industry depends on reliable, efficient and resilient freight networks to keep shelves stocked and households supplied with essential goods,” Mr Maguire said.

“We welcome the Federal Government’s renewed focus on freight productivity and resilience. The strategy’s emphasis on coordinated national action and investment in critical infrastructure is a strong signal that the government understands the central role supply chains play in Australia’s economic and social wellbeing and how crippling the heightened number of disruptions have been in recent years.”

“From regional food processors to major manufacturers, our members rely on seamless logistics to deliver perishable and non-perishable goods across vast distances. This strategy provides a framework to address long-standing challenges and shift the dial meaningfully on productivity for our sector.”

The AFGC has long advocated for a national approach to freight, infrastructure and logistics, highlighting the sector’s vulnerability to natural disasters, labour shortages, and rising freight costs. The AFGC supports the strategy’s commitment to developing a Freight Resilience Plan and a Freight Infrastructure Investment Framework, both of which are expected to deliver tangible benefits for food and grocery manufacturers.

Mr Maguire added that the AFGC looks forward to working closely with government and industry partners to implement the strategy and ensure that the needs of the food and grocery sector are front and centre in future planning.

Effective and efficient supply chains are a key pillar of the AFGC’s Productivity Playbook.

Media contact: media@afgc.org.au