top of page
Food Inflation Rises To 2.9% As Retailers Urge Budget Action
Food inflation accelerated to 2.9% in October, prompting retailers to call for action in today’s Budget to prevent mounting business costs feeding through to shoppers. The latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) figures show annual food inflation rose from 2.5% in September, exceeding the three-month average of 2.7%. The data covers prices collected between 1 and 7 October. Fresh food inflation remained unchanged at 2.6%, slightly below its three-month average of 2.7%. The inc
Aphid Outbreak Leaves 30 Million Lettuces Unharvested As Losses Exceed £10 Million
An estimated 30 million lettuce heads went unharvested in September as severe aphid infestations caused losses exceeding £10 million, according to the British Leafy Salads Association (BLSA). Some businesses were left with up to 85% of production unmarketable, the association told Farmers Guardian, following a second consecutive season of record infestations. Growers reported between 300,000 and 400,000 currant-lettuce aphids (*Nasonovia ribisnigri*) per hectare during August
FairFruit Cuts Shipment Admin With Digital Tracking Platform
FairFruit Belgium says a centralised logistics platform is helping it spend less time chasing shipment updates and give customers clearer information about their deliveries. The business began working with logistics provider Shypple in 2025, bringing shipment tracking, documentation and delivery coordination into one place. According to a report by FreshPlaza, the change has reduced the telephone calls and emails previously needed to establish where containers were and when t
FEATURED
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
Burnham’s Consumer Champion Credentials Face The Shopping Basket Test
Tomorrow’s Budget must deliver tangible help for households — and Chancellor John Healey’s first Budget must show that affordable food sits at the heart of the Government’s economic plans. If Andy Burnham wants to be seen as the consumers’ champion, tomorrow’s Budget presents a defining opportunity. The Prime Minister’s ambitions will be judged by something considerably more familiar than Treasury forecasts: what people can afford at the checkout. On Wednesday 28 October, Cha
Drought Threatens Vegetable Supplies As Growers Look Ahead To 2027
Water shortages are putting next year’s vegetable production under pressure, with some farmers considering smaller planting areas as uncertainty over irrigation supplies continues. The Environment Agency has warned that exceptionally low reservoir levels and below-normal river flows could prevent growers from replenishing water stores over winter, affecting availability for the 2027 irrigation season. Its report covering 9–15 October showed England’s reservoir storage stood a
Mango Supply Squeeze Could Create New Opportunities In UK Market
Expected falls in mango production in Ecuador and Peru could tighten UK supplies this winter, while creating opportunities for other supplying countries. According to Fresh Produce Journal, Robert Ybarra, chief executive of US wholesaler Chico Produce, forecasts Ecuadorian production could fall by approximately 50 per cent compared with last year. Early estimates suggest Peru could record a reduction of 30 per cent or more. Disruption is anticipated between November 2026 and
Cyber Threat Puts Supermarket Supply Chains Under Scrutiny
Supermarkets have held talks with Defra over growing concerns about cyberattacks on Britain’s food supply chains, as the government encourages households to prepare for three days of disruption. The discussions highlight vulnerabilities extending beyond websites and payment systems to the equipment that keeps food supplies moving and products refrigerated. According to The Grocer, Defra permanent secretary Paul Kissack told the Public Accounts Committee that an attack on Fren
French Vegetable Prices Surge As Heatwaves Drive Fresh Food Inflation
Prices for a category of fresh vegetables including tomatoes and courgettes rose by 35.8% in France in the year to September 2026, as fresh food inflation accelerated. Figures from France’s national statistics institute, Insee, show annual inflation for fresh food reached 9.5%, up from 5.9% in August and 3.8% in July. The institute identified summer heatwaves as a factor behind the increases. Other fresh vegetables, including carrots, turnips, garlic, onions and leeks, increa
Morrisons Gives Fresh Produce A Monstrous Halloween Makeover
Morrisons is putting fruit and vegetables at the heart of its Halloween advertising with a campaign transforming Market Street produce into spooky characters. Created by Leo UK, ‘Market Street Monsters’ uses still-life photography to turn avocados into ‘Monster Eyes’ and carrots into ‘Zombie Fingers’. A red pepper features as ‘Screams’, advertised at 70p each. The outdoor campaign runs across the UK for two weeks until 31 October, combining seasonal imagery with prominent pri
SUBSCRIBE TO US FOR FREE
AND NEVER MISS A STORY
bottom of page