WE'RE PLEASED TO BRING YOU JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR FOOD & DRINK RETAIL AND SUPPLY STORIES RECENTLY COVERED BY THE GROCER.
TikTok Shop targets challenger brands in B2B campaign
The ‘Be Iconic on TikTok Shop’ campaign aims to drive growth among SMEs. Read more>>
Borough Market appoints new CEO
Alistair Maddox has 20 years’ experience running other market locations in the capital. Read more>>
Two-thirds of hospitality businesses operating at only 85% capacity
It comes as 84,000 hospitality jobs have been lost since the budget, which has added a £3.4bn annual cost on the sector. Read more>>
UK inflation accelerates amid higher food prices
Food and drink prices have risen 4.2% compared with a year ago, their fastest rate in 18 months. Read more>>
Cranswick ‘horrified’ at historic pig abuse footage
The meat supplier said the footage was ‘historically recorded’ and it has since taken action to ensure high welfare standards are enforced. Read more>>
Food companies urged to ditch meat as report warns of bioversity ‘catastrophe’
The Food Foundation says food production focused on animal-sourced foods is having a ‘catastrophic’ impact on biodiversity and nature. Read more>>
IHT reform largely protects family farms but could be better targeted: new report
A new report by the Centre for Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) has stated the reform could be better targeted to protect working farms. Read more>>
Food companies to begin tests on greenhouse gas footprinting
The ‘LED4Food’ programme will introduce common methodology to allow rival carbon footprinting systems to work in harmony. Read more>>
Labour shortage threatens food security, Arla warns
The dairy giant has said that urgent action is needed to meet the scale of the challenge. Read more>>
Food safety fears as dozens of supermarkets fail essential hygiene checks
Six supermarkets received the lowest possible score of zero, meaning urgent improvement is required. Read more>>
Drought now a ‘nationally significant incident’ with food supply impacted
Five areas are officially in drought, with six more experiencing prolonged dry weather following the driest six months to July since 1976. Read more>>
Higher food sales ‘barely touching the sides’ of extra labour costs
Rising food inflation meant increased spending was more due to higher prices than rising demand. Read more>>
UK companies cut back on hiring over tax and labour costs
The Bank of England is watching the jobs market closely as it weighs up further rate cuts. Read more>>
Food safety at risk as cross-border lorry stowaway numbers rise
Instances of so-called clandestine infiltration within the haulage sector rocketed in 2024, according to new research. Read more>>
Bumper apple harvest with sweeter fruit expected after sunny spring
The latest predictions from British Apples & Pears have shown the overall apple crop is looking good and likely to be a little up on 2024. Read more>>
UK food industry faces ‘ticking workforce timebomb’, IGD warns
Labour shortages and skills gaps are creating significant workforce challenges for the UK food and drink industry. Read more>>
More support for farmers urged as climate change threatens food supply
The caution comes as analysis revealed that £3bn worth of UK food, including rice, tea and mangoes, is imported from 20 countries experiencing high levels of displacement. Read more>>
‘Constant battle’ to maintain NI food availability to continue for three years
Supermarkets are increasingly concerned checks are ‘leading to reduced availability of some SKUs’ shipped over from the mainland. Read more>>
Policy changes making recruitment ‘very difficult’ for meat sector
Last month the government changed the rules so all workers coming into the UK on the Skilled Worker visa had to be at RQF 6 (graduate level). Read more>>
Food & drink SMEs hail government crackdown on late payers
The government’s plan will mean a shift to enforced 60-day maximum payment terms when paying SME suppliers, reducing to a 45-day maximum after five year. Read more>>
Fruit & veg supply critically threatened by climate breakdown in key growing regions
Temperatures are expected to rise by 16% on average across the top 10 fresh produce exporters to the UK by 2050. Read more>>
UK pork producers secure £19m export win to Mexico
A new zero tariff agreement with Mexico created a ‘new pathway for additional opportunities in the Mexican market’, worth at least £19m over the next five years, Defra said. Read more>>
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