That’s not so - were it the case, food would be more expensive in more populous countries, and this is demonstrably not the case. If anything, a larger consumer base allows greater economies of scale.

This is a supply side issue, a labour issue, a border issue, and a stagnant economy issue. Productivity in the U.K. flatlined years ago, with the 2008 recession, and what is being experienced there remains the after effects of the bungled policy decisions at the time.