The Food Industry Alliance includes Independent Food Distributors Australia (IFDA), The National Farmers' Federation (NFF), Australian Meat Industry Council, (AMIC), Master Grocers Australia (MGA) and the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS).

The Alliance either represents, or supplies food to, over 156,000 businesses with almost
one million employees with a combined revenue of $220 billion.

"We need our food supply chains to be firing on all cylinders if we are to ensure food remains on the shelves and available in many of the nation's food venues without disruption," said chief executive officer of IFDA, Richard Forbes.

"Food security is key in these uncertain times, so we need to work together, across all industry sectors, and with government, hand in glove, to overcome the many significant domestic and global challenges the food supply chain faces."

The Food Industry Alliance represents organisations across the supply chain from farmers, processors, suppliers, and distributors, through to small to medium retailers.

The Alliance's aim is to also highlight the national contribution that family and privately-owned independent food businesses make to the Australian economy.

CEO of MGA, Jos De Bruin, said: "To fix the current issues within the supply chain all those operating within it need to be recognised and consulted, not just a select few.

"This includes the massive contribution of independent, family-based food businesses in Australia, who provide billions of tonnes of food annually into the domestic market alone. This includes local grocers and independent retail butchers, independent supermarkets, convenience stores, through to those that supply cafes, restaurants, hotels, and clubs in the $57 billion food service consumer market," De Bruin said.

The Alliance also represents those that provide food to institutional facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, schools, childcare centres, military bases, and prisons.

Acting CEO of the NFF, Ash Salardini, said: "Customers rely on a wide supply chain of providers to get their groceries and meals, which includes independents, major supermarkets as well as smaller retailers and hospitality providers. Australian farmers need all these pathways to be working effectively so we can get our produce to consumers affordably and reliably."