WE'RE PLEASED TO BRING YOU JUST SOME OF THE MAJOR FOOD & DRINK RETAIL AND SUPPLY STORIES RECENTLY COVERED BY THE GROCER.
Seasonal Worker Scheme confirmed for 2026
Defra has confirmed there will be 41,000 visas for horticulture workers and 1,900 for poultry workers next year. Read more>>
British strawberries available at Christmas for the first time
The Summer Berry Company has become the first to grow British strawberries at a commercial scale all year round, providing strawberries into retailers 365 days a year. Read more>>
Covent Garden Market Authority appoints new general manager
The new hire has more than 20 years of experience in property operations, sustainability, and strategic transformation. Read more>>
Whole Foods Market to open new store in Westminster
It comes eight months after the Amazon-owned premium organic supermarket opened its first UK store in over a decade. Read more>>
Tesco launches farmer data programme and calls for national framework
The retailer has launched an extension of its environmental data baselining programme to help lamb and beef farmers capture soil, water and nature data at scale for the first time. Read more>>
New plastic tax raid plotted as Reeves looks to plug budget black hole
Sources say they expect the UK’s plastic packaging tax to be one of those in the Chancellor’s crosshairs in the budget. Read more>>
Growers brace for disaster without proper winter rainfall
Grower groups have called for urgent action from the government as the Environment Agency warned England will experience worse levels of drought next year should this winter be drier than normal. Read more>>
Chippindale Foods launches bird flu insurance with NFU Mutual
Part of the Myton Food Group, the North Yorkshire-based brand will cover egg producers for 180 days of business interruption. Read more>>
Fairer Family Farming campaign launched to challenge IHT changes
The grassroots movement has said the tax changes threaten the future of Britain’s farming communities. Read more>>
Sole farming voice on national food strategy body steps down
Sam Godfrey is a pig farming veteran whose family sold its business to Cranswick in 2023. Read more>>
‘Landmark’ Precision Breeding Act comes into force in England
Following a six-month implementation period, the act makes the country the first in Europe to enable the development of precision-bred-plants. Read more>>
World Steak Challenge: Ireland claims World’s Best Steak title
Ireland and Australia were again the titans of this year’s contest, but a 32-day aged Irish angus striploin earned the accolade. Read more>>
Food sector confidence plummets to lowest levels since Covid
Research released by the Food & Drink Federation shows a confidence score of –60 among its members. Read more>>
AHDB appoints CEO to lead levy board following Graham Wilkinson departure
AHDB’s new CEO is a chartered accountant with several years of executive experience. Read more>>
NFU Stop the Family Farm Tax campaign sees over 12,000 letters sent to MPs
The public letter campaign, which has a target of 15,000 letters, has seen 551 MPs contacted within just 12 days of its launch. Read more>>
Bird flu: growing industry calls for UK-wide housing order
British Poultry Council joins call from British Free Range Egg Producers Association for governments in Wales and Scotland to align with England’s housing order. Read more>>
‘Urgent’ plan for UK fish and seafood to be created
The APPG on Fisheries has taken on the task of developing a National Fisheries Action Plan to create and deliver what it dubbed an ‘urgently needed roadmap’. Read more>>
Agriculture has been undervalued for too long: Minette Batters
Speaking after submitting her farm profitability review findings to Defra, Batters warned there needed to be more cohesion and greater value given to agriculture. Read more>>
‘Bombshell’ papers reveal experts’ doubts over review denying nitrites cancer link
Minutes from a closed session of the agency’s Committee on Toxicity reveal its members raised concerns over why animal studies were excluded from a review. Read more>>
Horsegate tsar brands FSA ‘pale imitation’ of safe regulator
Position paper says conduct of the regulator risks undermining public trust in its ability to protect food safety. Read more>>
UK not prepared for high-risk animal disease outbreaks, MPs warn
Focus on illnesses such as bird flu and outdated working practices meant Defra and APHA were underprepared for high-risk diseases, warned MPs. Read more>>
Horticulture faces massive annual energy cost surge
The financial shock could trigger widespread business failures and drive up food prices for millions of consumers, grower groups have warned. Read more>>
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