Four in five Britons are worried that the ongoing conflict with Iran will drive up food prices, according to a new poll by Opinium. The survey of 2,000 people found that 80% are concerned about rising grocery costs, while 73% expect the conflict to push up prices of other products. The findings come as retailers warn that the government is running out of time to cut energy costs for the sector.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has already sent oil and gas prices soaring, caused a crisis in the global fertiliser industry, and made shipping more expensive. The effects have been felt most acutely in manufacturing and chemicals, but the food sector is now under pressure. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced support for energy-intensive businesses in April, but faces fresh calls to extend help to retailers.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), said the war is 'driving up costs across the supply chain' and urged ministers to remove non-commodity energy costs for retailers. 'Other governments are already acting,' she added, citing Germany's reduction of electricity costs for businesses. 'The UK should be moving in the same direction.'
The Bank of England forecasts food inflation could reach 7% by the end of the year due to higher fertiliser, energy, and transport costs. Official data shows food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 3.7% in the year to March 2026, up from 3.3% the previous month. Supermarket bosses met Reeves in early April to discuss the impact, with Sainsbury's CEO Simon Roberts calling energy price limits 'the single biggest thing the government should do to keep prices down.'
Dickinson warned that 'every cost government chooses not to address is a cost that will find its way into someone's shopping basket.' A government spokesperson said they are 'acting to protect people from any potential increases in food prices' and have suspended select food tariffs.
