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 2025
The scheme will provide a total of 43,000 seasonal worker visas for horticulture and 2,000 for poultry next year. Read more>>
Veganuary founder launches anti-RSPCA Assured campaign
The ads, which shows a picture of a pig with the tagline ‘Don’t Trust the RSPCA Assured Label’, will be displayed in 2,750 Tube carriages. Read more>>
Gourmet delivery service Farmyard Frozen hits ‘game-changing’ crowd raise
Farmyard Frozen is targeting ’cash-rich, time-poor foodies’ with its restaurant-style meals. Read more>>
Government legalises carrying chickens by legs despite welfare concerns
The ‘shocking’ decision represents the first dilution of animal welfare practices since Brexit and has been criticised by animal rights campaigners. Read more>>
Violence means almost 40% of retail workers want to quit jobs
Nearly half (48%) said they did not get enough support from their employer to deal with the current levels of violence, threats and abuse. Read more>>
Supermarket beef prices set to rise next year due to tight supply
AHDB is forecasting a 3% drop in UK prime cattle slaughter numbers for 2025, in response to falls in subsidy payments and general profitability issues. Read more>>
NFU boss hits out at government’s food sector ‘policy paralysis’
Farmers were growing increasingly frustrated at a lack of concrete policies on a raft of major issues, warned Tom Bradshaw. Read more>>
RSPCA contributes evidence to Court of Appeal on ‘frankenchickens’
Fast-growing chickens make up about 90% of chicken sold in supermarkets and experience health and welfare issues. Read more>>
More than 600 charities call for Reeves to salvage £15m farmgate food waste fund
The charities said the fund could go towards providing up to 67 million meals a year to people in need but would go to waste without government support. Read more>>
Brexit red tape and climate change pushing UK self-sufficiency to ‘critical low’ levels
A City Harvest report points to Brexit costs and extreme weather as the main threats to the UK’s food self-sufficiency. Read more>>
Wrap calls for government ban on fruit & veg plastic packaging
Calls for a ban come as voluntary reduction plans have floundered. Read more>>
More than half of UK grocery products packaged in unnecessary plastic, research claims
The analysis by packaging giant DS Smith found 51% of food and drink items in UK supermarkets were packaged in unnecessary plastic. Read more>>
Campaign groups call for stronger legislation for farmed fish
A survey showed 85% of people polled in the UK believe the welfare of fish should be protected to the same or greater extent as other farmed animals. Read more>>
Charity urges more support for migrant workers in Employment Rights Bill
FLEX said the newly announced bill must urgently address immigration restrictions that put migrants with restrictive visas at high risk of exploitation. Read more>>
Organic bounces back from cost-of-living crisis with growth exceeding non-organic
Data from NIQ revealed the organic food and drink market grew 6.4% in the year to 24 August, compared with non-organic’s 5.4%. Read more>>
Brexit border requirements on EU food imports delayed once more
New safety and security certificates were supposed to be introduced at the end of October as part of the Border Target Operating Model. Read more>>
Salmon stocks in England lowest on record
According to the Atlantic Salmon Stock Assessment for 2023, 90% of principal salmon rivers in England are “at risk” or “probably at risk”. Read more>>
Illegal meat import concerns grow as Defra slashes border team budget
Industry leaders have recently met with Defra’s new director general for food, biosecurity & trade to raise concerns over illegal meat entering the UK. Read more>>
Scottish farm once owned by Robert Burns aiming to take on ‘big dairy’
Mossgiel Farm has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise £300k to build a state-of-the-art, zero-waste dairy facility. Read more>>
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