The message came from Bidfood chief executive Andrew Selley when he addressed more than 200 senior foodservice people at the Arena Savoy Lecture last night.

“We just don’t know what is going to happen or what the terms of any settlement will look like.

“But we do know that there will be changes and, as the old Darwinian adage goes, ‘it’s not survival of the fittest or the strongest, but those best able to adapt’.

“For me uncertainty creates business opportunities and the companies that will come out of this best will be those that are flexible enough to innovate and change.”

Earlier in the evening an Arena panel discussion also tackled issues around the UK’s departure from the EU, with Bob Silk, relationship director of the hospitality and leisure team at Barclays, saying that he very much doubted that two years would be long enough to complete the process.

“But we will cut a deal, because I believe there will be big pressure from powerful lobbies like the German car manufacturers to make sure that happens.”

Food industry lawyer and consultant Sebastian Calnan, with EMW Law, offered reassurance that the large number of EU nationals already working in the hospitality industry would be allowed to stay.

“I think it is inevitable,” he said.

Jason Myers, chief executive of restaurant group Busaba Eathai, warned that the continued growth of the UK hospitality industry would mean that 450,000 new people would be needed. This number would be in addition to those required to take the places of those leaving as part of the regular staff turnover.

“That’s not going to come from our own resources, which is why we’re lobbying for two-year visas. I think we can drive home the message that it could take up to 10 years to replace overseas recruitment with home-grown talent, so we need some common sense measures to help in the meantime.”