Suddenly everyone is talking about how close the UK food system runs to the edge. That worry about empty shelves and fragile supply chains also shines a light on the companies that keep food cold, moving and secure. For investors this is a moment to reassess which stocks might benefit from fresh attention on resilience. This article walks through three UK stocks that could be directly exposed to the latest news shock.
The stocks covered below are just a starting sample, since the full screen surfaced 8 more companies with equally interesting roles in UK food logistics and infrastructure that are not covered in this article.
To identify and analyze the highest conviction plays in this space, head straight into the UK Food Supply Chain Resilience Infrastructure screener.
Clarkson (LSE:CKN)
Clarkson is a London based shipping services group that helps move cargoes by sea worldwide, including food and agricultural products that the UK relies on. Most of its revenue comes from its Broking arm at about £564 million, with smaller but meaningful contributions from Financial (£79 million), Support (£75 million) and Research (£29 million). The company is valued at roughly £1.6b, putting it firmly in mid cap territory on the UK market.
Investors watching UK food supply resilience may want Clarkson on their radar because it connects directly into the seaborne routes that keep supermarket shelves stocked. The company combines a sizeable broking operation, specialist research data and a Support division that handles port agency and project logistics, which can matter when regulators and retailers focus more on resilience and backup routes. There are some clear trade offs to weigh, including an unstable dividend track record and reliance on external borrowing, alongside a P/E that carries a premium to many shipping peers. The recent half year numbers in August 2026 and the leadership reshuffle around the new CFO suggest a business in active transition. The central question is whether that positions Clarkson to benefit if regulators and importers start paying up for resilience.
Clarkson’s premium P/E and evolving leadership could be masking a much bigger story in food trade resilience. Get the context on its broking strength, debt reliance and dividend track record in the 3 key rewards and 1 important warning sign
Supermarket Income REIT (LSE:SUPR)
Supermarket Income REIT owns the bricks and mortar that keep food flowing, with a portfolio of omnichannel grocery stores and related assets that are a direct part of the UK’s food retail infrastructure. The trust earns about £108 million from investments in supermarket property assets, largely tied to UK grocery operators, and had its portfolio valued at £2.1b at the end of 2025. With a market cap of about £1.1b, it is a mid sized FTSE 250 REIT focused on long, inflation linked leases to major supermarket tenants.
If you care about UK food resilience, Supermarket Income REIT is one to study because it owns the stores and distribution linked assets that supermarket operators need to keep food available both in store and online. Rents are inflation linked and described by management as highly affordable for tenants, which can help in a world where energy and labour costs bite, yet investors still get a high headline yield that depends on reliable cash flow and disciplined refinancing. The recent £445 million refinancing that pushes maturities out to 2028 and the £100 million equity raise to fund nine new grocery assets show a company leaning into this theme. However, they also increase the importance of understanding leverage, dividend cover and how much of the portfolio truly sits on critical grocery routes rather than just convenient retail parks.
Supermarket Income REIT’s inflation linked rents and extended debt maturities could be masking a much bigger story about cash flow resilience. Get the full picture in the Supermarket Income REIT financial health report
James Fisher and Sons (LSE:FSJ)
James Fisher and Sons is a £219 million UK based marine services company whose port and coastal shipping operations help keep seaborne trade, including food imports, moving reliably. It earns most of its revenue from Energy at about £159 million and Maritime Transport at £147 million, with Defence adding £89 million and a small inter segment adjustment. That mix gives James Fisher and Sons exposure to critical marine logistics while remaining a diversified engineering and services group rather than a pure play food supply stock.
Investors looking at UK food supply resilience may find James Fisher and Sons interesting because it combines essential port side and coastal shipping services with a business that is still in recovery mode. Management is pushing a turnaround focused on higher margin work and tighter capital allocation, yet the company remains reliant on external borrowing and has only recently moved its leverage into what it calls an acceptable range. With the stock screened as inexpensive on sales and there is discussion of future dividend reinstatement once earnings are more predictable. The real question is how much of that potential re rating is already in the price and how much is still up for grabs.
James Fisher and Sons looks like a turnaround story that the market has not fully priced in yet. To see how its marine recovery plan, leverage profile and potential dividend restart all fit together, go through the analysis report for James Fisher and Sons
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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