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Burnham’s Cost-Of-Living Pledge Puts Fresh Produce Trade And Affordability In Focus
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to help households with the cost of living while taking a cautious approach to the public finances, as the fresh produce sector seeks assurances that future tax and trade decisions will not add further costs to Britain’s food supply chains. Speaking during a visit to Kyiv, Burnham acknowledged the “challenging nature of the financial outlook” and said the Government would approach its decisions “prudently and carefully”. He stopped sho
Aldi on Course for 108.5 Million British Stems as Late-Summer Demand Peaks
Aldi has reported an increase in demand for its British-grown flowers as the season hits its late-summer peak, according to a report published by Insider Media on 20 August. The discounter has already sold more than 100 million British-grown stems in 2026, with demand up 10 per cent, and expects to reach 108.5 million by the end of the year, according to figures reported in the Daily Express on 23 August. Sales of its Truly British bouquet, which retails at £5.99, are up 51 p
Fresh Direct Celebrates 60 Years of Serving Britain’s Chefs
Fresh Direct is celebrating 60 years in the fresh produce industry, marking its transformation from a small Oxfordshire greengrocer into a major national supplier to Britain’s foodservice sector. Founded in 1966, the business now supplies thousands of chefs working across restaurants, hotels, pubs, education, healthcare and leisure. Its growth has been underpinned by six decades of fresh produce sourcing, culinary expertise and service to the hospitality industry. Over the ye
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Pak Choi At 1.1km: Inside The World's Deepest Farm
More than 1,000 metres beneath the North Yorkshire coast, in a science facility better known for hunting dark matter, researchers are cutting pak choi and lettuce from vertical growing towers. The world's deepest underground farm has been established at Boulby mine near Saltburn, a working operation run by ICL-UK and the world's only commercial producer of polyhalite, the fertiliser. The farm is a partnership between the University of Sheffield and Farm Urban, and its purpose
London's Largest Rooftop Solar Array Switches On At New Spitalfields
New Spitalfields Market has completed what the City of London Corporation says is London's largest rooftop solar installation by capacity, in a roughly £1m investment aimed at cutting energy costs and emissions at the round-the-clock wholesale site. The array comprises 2,730 solar panels with a total capacity of 1.4 megawatt-peak, installed by Vital Energi at the Walthamstow market in east London. It is expected to generate approximately 1.27 gigawatt-hours of electricity a y
Up To 100 Boxes A Day As Mango Season Peaks In Yorkshire
Mango season is delivering one of the biggest seasonal trading periods of the year for South Asian retailers across Yorkshire, with supermarkets in Leeds and Bradford shifting produce by the box rather than the piece and roadside vans operating alongside them. At Abu Bakr supermarket in Leeds, sales assistant Javed estimates the store was selling 60 to 100 boxes a day at the peak of the season, with some customers taking two or three boxes at a time and returning every other
UK’s Import Reliance Risks Fresh Produce Supply Shocks And Price Hikes
The government is being urged to invest in a major expansion of UK horticulture as heavy reliance on imported fruits and vegetables is leaving the country increasingly exposed to climate-driven supply disruptions and potentially higher prices, according to The Food Foundation. A new report from the organisation, titled ‘Farming for 5-a-day: how resilient is the UK’s supply of fruit, veg and beans in a changing climate’, warns that the UK is importing healthy staple foods from
Waitrose Issues ‘Vital Rally Cry’ For Food System Transformation
Waitrose is calling for transformation across the food system with the launch of a two-part YouTube series that explores regenerative agriculture and the retailer’s work with farmers to build a more resilient, nature-friendly food supply. Image: Waitrose Created in collaboration with National Geographic CreativeWorks, the series was filmed at Waitrose’s own farm, Leckford Estate, in Hampshire and aims to raise awareness of the challenges facing global agriculture as well as t
Wholesaler JR Holland Enters New Digital Chapter Following GrubMarket Acquisition
North East England and Scotland fresh produce and foodservice distributor JR Holland has been acquired by US food tech company GrubMarket in a move that will bring new technology, resources, and industry connections to the long-established business. Image: JR Holland The acquisition marks GrubMarket’s first entry into the UK and provides JR Holland with access to the San Francisco-based company’s suite of proprietary AI-powered technology solutions designed specifically for f
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