Survey finds food companies prioritize resilience amid supply chain volatility

Lineage, Inc. says food and beverage companies are prioritizing resilience and technology investments as they navigate growing geopolitical and market uncertainty.

The company’s Cold Chain Insights Survey, based on responses from 1,000 decision-makers across North America, found supply chain leaders are increasingly focused on data, automation and closer collaboration with logistics partners heading into 2026.

“Supply chain leaders are operating in an environment where volatility is the norm, not the exception,” said Greg Lehmkuhl, president and CEO of Lineage. “As companies navigate 2026, the focus is on making faster, better-informed decisions, using flexibility, insight and technology to keep operations running reliably.”

The survey found tariffs, regulation and political shifts are the top factors shaping supply chain decisions, with 73 per cent of respondents expecting tariffs to continue negatively affecting finances in 2026. More than half said tariff impacts on 2025 costs were higher than expected.

At the same time, demand remains strong, with 72 per cent reporting increased demand for refrigerated and frozen foods.

Lineage said technology adoption is closely tied to resilience efforts, with 60 per cent of respondents ranking data and artificial intelligence among the top forces transforming operations. Companies are investing in transportation optimization, real-time visibility, AI-driven decision-making and warehouse automation.

The survey found early returns on AI investments are largely meeting expectations, with 24 per cent of respondents exceeding return-on-investment targets and most others reporting results in line with projections.

The report also found companies are increasingly turning to third-party logistics providers to improve supply chain resilience, citing flexible storage capacity and better access to data and analytics as key priorities.