WE'RE PLEASED TO BRING YOU JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR FOOD & DRINK RETAIL AND SUPPLY STORIES RECENTLY COVERED BY THE GROCER.
AHDB appoints Arla’s Graham Wilkinson as CEO
Wilkinson will replace the outgoing Tim Rycroft as CEO of the levy board in the new year. Read more>>
World Steak Challenge: Australia claims World’s Best Steak title
Australian producer Jack’s Creek took home the top award. Read more>>
Farm shops urged to protect themselves from rising crime
NFU Mutual and the Farm Retail Association issue advice following increase in retail crime. Read more>>
Booths ditching self-service checkouts to boost customer experience
”We’re not great fans of self-checkouts,” Booths managing director Nigel Murray told The Grocer. Read more>>
Red Tractor halts rollout of new environmental framework
The move followed the announcement of a review by the NFU into the governance of Red Tractor. Read more>>
FSA under fire for ‘misleading’ post-Brexit precision breeding proposals
A post-Brexit bill changed the way genetically edited organisms in food and feed goods are regulated. Read more>>
Government U-turns on mandatory reporting again
New environment secretary Steve Barclay announced the decision just days after taking over from Thérèse Coffey in last week’s cabinet reshuffle. Read more>>
Trade bodies warn over impact of wage rises
The government has confirmed the NLW will rise by 9.8% from £10.42 to £11.44 per hour in April. Read more>>
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall fronts appeal on food waste legal challenge
He said the volume of food going to waste and lack of accountability was “a scandal, especially when so many people are going hungry”. Read more>>
Christmas turkey prices up despite bountiful supply
Retail consultant Richard Harrow said turkey prices are ’still all over the place’ and expects competition to intensify. Read more>>
Packaging ban for fruit & veg on the cards
The Grocer has learnt that Wrap will present plans to ministers in the spring for EU-style restrictions covering many household fruit & veg items. Read more>>
Manufacturers call for measures to shake up Apprenticeship Levy and attract labour
A group of trade bodies has published a ‘manifesto for growth’ that it said proposed measures necessary to close the gap on the UK’s economic rivals. Read more>>
Growers warn of potato crop damage and soaring prices
The spot price of potatoes ‘is currently at least double what you would expect at this time of year’. Read more>>
Seasonal worker interest group forms to advocate for migrant workers
The group has been launched to provide the opportunity for policymakers, industry and key stakeholders to better understand the experiences of workers. Read more>>
UK cheese exporters face millions in losses without Canada trade dispute resolution
Artisan cheesemakers can currently export to Canada under a temporary agreement implemented post-Brexit. Read more>>
Berry growers still experiencing ‘disconnect’ from retailers
Retailers are enjoying rising sales of berries, but are failing to pay prices that keep pace with rising production costs, growers have argued. Read more>>
King’s Speech live animal exports ban hailed as ‘historic’ achievement
The government has committed to enforcing a stricter legislation on exports of live animals. Read more>>
Food safety at ‘critical risk’ from staffing crisis, warns FSA
The future of the UK’s food safety is being put at risk from “critical” shortages of frontline enforcement staff. Read more>>
Court action over ministers’ failure to cut meat and dairy consumption
Feedback claims the government had a duty to adopt measures to reduce meat and dairy production and consumption in its Food Strategy published in June 2022. Read more>>
Horticulture sector needs urgent safeguards, reports House of Lords committee
The committee today published a report into the state of the sector, which revealed it was under-prioritised and underappreciated by policymakers. Read more>>
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