WE'RE PLEASED TO BRING YOU JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR FOOD & DRINK RETAIL AND SUPPLY STORIES RECENTLY COVERED BY THE GROCER.
Hotel Chocolat to relaunch free sampling in shops after Covid cancellation
Hotel Chocolat stopped offering free samples to customers during the Covid-19 pandemic. Read more>>
Cook plans rollout of 15 vending machines for frozen ready meals
The B Corp business said it had an ambitious plan for rollout across office spaces, residential schemes, hospitals, travel hubs and educational institutions. Read more>>
Waitrose plans to play up supplier relationships with social media push
Waitrose has sought to emphasise its sourcing credentials in response to the cost of living crisis. Read more>>
Belazu unveils Mediterranean-inspired makeover for ingredients and condiments
Its labels’ have been given a sleeker, contemporary look with stylish typography and more white space. Read more>>
Fever-Tree makes cocktail mixer debut with three-strong range
Margarita, Mojito and Espresso Martini were ‘crafted to take the fuss out of making cocktails at home’, it said. Read more>>
Earth & Wheat to distribute wider range of surplus food
Start-up founded on redistribution of ’wonky’ bread has announced plans to offer a broader grocery range. Read more>>
Salad shortages fuels surprise jump in inflation as food prices soar 18%
Food price inflation has hit a 45-year high of 18% amid shortages of fruit and vegetables, according to the latest data out this morning. Read more>>
The Old Cheese Room recalls lines due to presence of listeria
The cheese manufacturer has had to recall the 1kg Baronet Soft Cheese, its 200g Baby Baronet Soft Cheese and its 270g Mini Baronet Soft Cheese. Read more>>
Food too cheap to sustain UK production, AHDB chair warns
Nicholas Saphir has said the food sector needs to ‘recognise the elephant in the room’ and reform pricing strategies to increase farmer returns. Read more>>
Health tsar Henry Dimbleby quits slamming ‘shocking’ obesity
Dimbleby accused ministers of abandoning its plans for health after the departure of former PM Boris Johnson. Read more>>
Further dismay for growers as they continue to be omitted from energy support scheme
NFU president Minette Batters said she was at her ’wit’s end’ with the government following its budget announcement. Read more>>
Shortages of fruit & veg linger despite end to restrictions
The traditional big four has had lower than normal levels on core tomato, cucumber and pepper lines following significant shortages last month, analysis of Assosia data has revealed. Read more>>
Defra boss accept shortfalls with seasonal worker calculations
Gill Laishley, deputy director of food and rural affairs, said the government department was ‘trying to establish a better evidence-based system’. Read more>>
Livestock bodies raise further doubts over meat data linking consumption to deaths
AHDB, the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers and the British Meat Processors Association have called on The Lancet to withdraw the data in question. Read more>>
Milk processors cite oversupply as they slash farmgate prices
The price cuts come amid an ‘uncertain’ economic outlook, according to processors. Read more>>
