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UK-EU Reset Unlikely To Cut Food Prices, Warns Industry
Plans by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lower food prices through closer alignment with EU rules are being met with skepticism across the food and drink sector, with businesses warning the proposals may have little immediate impact – and could even increase costs in some areas. Speaking during a recent campaign visit, Starmer argued that aligning the UK with European Union (EU) sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules will “make trade easier so there are less burdens for busine
Sainsbury’s CEO Calls For Energy Support To Halt Rising Food Bills
Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts has urged the government to extend energy bill support to the food sector, warning that rising industry costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East risk pushing food prices higher. Image: Sainsbury's Roberts said the most effective step ministers could take to limit further inflation would be to prevent energy costs from rising faster for growers, manufacturers, and retailers. “The single biggest thing the government could do to
UK Packaging Pact Expands Scope To All Materials
A new industry-wide initiative aimed at transforming the UK’s entire packaging system has been launched, bringing together 100 organisations in a 10-year collaborative programme to drive progress on sustainability and circularity. Image: WRAP The UK Packaging Pact, led by WRAP, expands on the previous UK Plastics Pact to cover all packaging materials, including glass, paper, metal, and bio-based materials, according to a press release from the environmental NGO. The Pact was
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Sarah-Jayne Gratton
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
Sarah-Jayne Gratton
Growers Sound Alarm Over Prices And Import Reliance
Supermarket fruit and vegetable prices could rise by more than 25% due to the Middle East conflict, with industry sources warning that some UK greenhouse growers may have to import produce to fulfil orders as they struggle with rising energy costs. Trade representatives say items such as tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and some imported fruit are among the products most likely to be affected first by soaring energy, fuel, and transport costs. Supermarkets are said to be calcul
UK-EU Reset Risks British Food Being Dumped
The UK’s proposed EU reset could lead to volumes of British food, including fresh produce, being excluded from sale and thrown away, as growers grapple with stricter pesticide rules aligned with the European Union. The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned that food grown using crop protection products not approved under EU regulations may no longer be marketable once new sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules take effect, potentially from next year. Under the planned ag
Co-op Leads Switch To 100% British Strawberries
Co-op is once again the first UK retailer to move to 100% British strawberries this season, with homegrown fruit arriving in stores this week ahead of St George’s Day and a broader seasonal rollout to follow. The convenience retailer said in a press release that the move marks the fourth year in a row that it has led the market on British strawberries, underlining its support for domestic growers and seasonal produce. Co-op said it began selling British strawberries on 16 Ma
DP World Unveils Groundbreaking Carbon Inset Scheme At Southampton Port
DP World has launched a new carbon inset scheme at its Southampton terminal, allowing customers to claim a share of emissions reductions generated at the port towards their own supply chain targets for the first time. The new Container Terminal Inset Certificates are created through emissions reductions at Southampton, where the use of biofuels, such as HVO, port-wide electrification and the generation of renewable electricity has resulted in significant carbon savings. These
Tomato Shortages Threaten To Turn ‘Cost Of Living’ Into ‘Cost Of Eating’ Crisis
A fresh warning over tomato supplies has exposed a stark reality facing the UK food chain, with rising costs and fragile supply lines combining to push prices higher and availability under pressure. Industry voices are cautioning that what may appear as a simple shortage on supermarket shelves is, in fact, a symptom of deeper structural challenges—ones that could soon be reflected more sharply in consumers’ weekly shop. At the heart of the issue is the cost of production. Tom
Local Food Future Brightens As Oxfordshire Project Sparks Market Garden Revival
A not-for-profit initiative in Oxfordshire is helping to reshape local food supply chains, with growing momentum behind calls for more market gardens to meet rising demand for locally produced fruit and vegetables. OxFarmToFork, led by Good Food Oxfordshire, has revealed that less than 1% of produce grown in the county is currently consumed locally – highlighting a significant opportunity for expansion. Since launching in 2023, the project has built what its 2025 impact repor
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