WE'RE PLEASED TO BRING YOU JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR FOOD & DRINK RETAIL AND SUPPLY STORIES RECENTLY COVERED BY THE GROCER.
UK and EU reach deals on fishing quotas and food & drink exports
London and Brussels have agreed to extend fishing quotas for 12 years while reducing rules on food trade. Read more>>
Soil Association threatens withdrawal from salmon sector
The charity, which sets standards for certified organic salmon, has said significant reforms are needed on salmon farms. Read more>>
Environmental and farming groups call for support as dry weather takes hold
Some farms have seen as little as 20ml of rain over March and April, which is putting crops under strain and limiting grass growth for livestock. Read more>>
Access to skilled labour still dominant issue for UK fishing fleet
The 2024 Employment in the UK Fishing Fleet Report has revealed less than a quarter of skippers and vessel owners rated access to skilled labour ‘good’ or ‘very good’. Read more>>
Booths turns to garlic bread to cut down food waste
Booths’ trial takes inspiration from a method commonly deployed by high street bakeries, most notably Gail’s, which regularly repurposes unsold items into new products. Read more>>
Cranswick ‘disappointed’ at shocking animal welfare abuse footage
An undercover exposé showed newborn piglets being swung by their legs and slammed against concrete. Read more>>
Dairy giants failing to cut methane emissions, data reveals
The assessment from the non-profit Changing Markets Foundation revealed most dairy companies lack clear methane-related targets. Read more>>
Labour immigration reforms will pose ‘significant challenges’ to food industry
The proposals could widen talent shortages and up costs for employers in the sector. Read more>>
NFU director general Terry Jones to step down next year after a decade in post
Terry Jones was described as a ‘superb leader’ by NFU president Tom Bradshaw. Read more>>
Avian flu mandatory housing measures lifted as risk declines
The measures were introduced across various UK counties to prevent the spread of bird flu. Read more>>
Defra u-turns over controversial SFI closure following ‘error’
The government has apologised over information given to applicants of the subsidy scheme who missed out before it was abruptly closed in March. Read more>>
Sainsbury’s accused of ‘ripping off’ butter brand in copycat row
The retailer has been slammed by Sublime Butter after launching ‘carbon copy’ own label flavoured butters, which followed abandoned talks with the brand last year. Read more>>
Egg packers prosecuted for switching best before dates
The prosecutions, which took place between January and March 2025, involved multiple offences under egg marketing regulations, the government said. Read more>>
John Lewis kicks off new hospitality push with Jamie Oliver café
The retailer plans to add five new cafés and restaurants in 2025 after opening its first Jamie Oliver cookery school. Read more>>
UK’s top supermarkets ‘failing against own environmental pledges’
Campaigners claim supermarkets frequently set sustainability-related targets but fail to achieve them or show progress. Read more>>
Iceland abandons cage-free egg commitment, citing cost of living crisis
Iceland’s scrapping of its commitment has been criticised by animal charity The Humane League. Read more>>
UK borders ‘not secure’, claim MPs, as minister grilled over illegal meat imports
The Efra committee held a series of evidence hearings looking into the state of the UK’s borders post-Brexit. Read more>>
Reciprocal trade tariffs will force UK small businesses to quit US market, data shows
Importers are concerned about the impact of reciprocal tariffs on US goods as increased costs wreak havoc for British exporters. Read more>>
Food Standards Agency’s National Food Crime Unit gains investigatory powers
The NFCU’s new powers, under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, will enable the unit’s investigators to apply for and execute search warrants for the first time. Read more>>
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