Government plans to align the UK more closely with European Union rules are facing growing criticism from across the fresh produce sector, with warnings that the proposed “reset” could create new risks rather than deliver the promised benefits. Ministers are preparing legislation that would allow the UK to adopt evolving EU single market rules—particularly across food, farming and environmental standards—through a system of “dynamic alignment”. Crucially, this could be implem

The UK’s temperature-controlled supply chains are facing mounting pressure as a sharp escalation in fuel costs threatens the viability of transporting perishable goods, medicines and other essential products. In a timely and hard-hitting analysis for Van Fleet World , Rupert Gatty, Chief Executive of CoolKit, sets out the growing risks facing the cold chain, drawing on his extensive experience at the forefront of refrigerated transport and last-mile delivery. Gatty highlights

Supermarkets are increasingly embracing so-called “ugly” fruit and vegetables as part of a growing effort to help shoppers navigate ongoing grocery price pressures, while simultaneously tackling long-standing inefficiencies in the fresh produce supply chain. Traditionally, retailers have enforced strict cosmetic standards, rejecting large volumes of perfectly edible produce simply because of superficial imperfections such as unusual shapes, scars or size variations. This prac