Frozen food retailer Iceland has come under scrutiny after new figures suggested it increased prices faster than almost every other major UK supermarket earlier this year, despite its chairman's high-profile role advising the government on the cost of living. According to Worldpanel data reported by The Telegraph, Iceland's prices rose by 5.8% during the four weeks to 19 April. That represented the second-highest rate of supermarket inflation in the UK and was significantly a

The price difference between organic and non-organic food is continuing to narrow, offering fresh opportunities for retailers and suppliers seeking to grow demand for sustainably produced food. New analysis highlighted by The Grocer shows that while organic products still command a premium over their conventional counterparts, the gap has reduced significantly in recent years as supermarkets expand ranges and work to improve affordability for consumers. The trend reflects a w

Greece is set to bring in up to 5,000 seasonal farm workers from Egypt as it seeks to address persistent labour shortages that are affecting agricultural production across the country. The move activates a bilateral agreement between Greece and Egypt that was signed in 2022 but has only recently begun to be implemented at scale. Under the scheme, Egyptian nationals will be able to take up legal seasonal employment in Greek agriculture, helping growers fill vacancies that dome

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing warnings that efforts to deepen the UK’s trading relationship with the European Union could bring fresh costs, added bureaucracy and renewed pressure on food prices, as concerns continue to mount across the fresh produce supply chain. According to reporting by the Daily Express, critics have warned that elements of the Government’s proposed UK-EU “reset” risk increasing regulatory burdens and pushing additional costs onto busi

A seven-year-old boy with ambitions of owning farmland and running his own farm shop one day is proving that a passion for agriculture can begin remarkably early. Archie Morris, who is not from a farming family, has already set his sights firmly on a future in the industry and is determined to make his dream a reality. According to a feature published by Farmers Guardian, Archie has become captivated by farming despite having no direct family connection to the sector. His lon

The global food system has faced no shortage of shocks in recent years. From the pandemic and the war in Ukraine to extreme weather events and mounting geopolitical tensions, supply chains have repeatedly been tested. Yet according to a new analysis by Reuters journalist Mike Scott, the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz may prove to be one of the most significant agricultural wake-up calls yet. While much of the public attention has focused on oil and energy markets,

The government has appointed former Marks & Spencer chief executive Marc Bolland to help tackle the UK's growing number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET), amid warnings that the country risks creating a “lost generation” without urgent intervention. Bolland, who also previously led Morrisons and held senior roles at Heineken, has been appointed Lead Non-Executive Director at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). His role will focus

For a while, Europe’s foodtech sector felt unstoppable. Money flooded into vertical farming, alternative proteins, rapid grocery delivery platforms and futuristic food concepts that promised to revolutionise the way the world eats. Investors competed to back the next unicorn. Startups chased growth at speed. And for a time, simply being part of the “future of food” conversation was often enough to attract serious funding. But reality has a habit of catching up with hype. Over

Asda has announced a major partnership with Ocado Group as it looks to strengthen and modernise its online grocery operation across the UK. The agreement will see Asda adopt Ocado’s Smart Platform (OSP), with the technology set to be rolled out across the retailer’s stores and dark stores from 2027. The move is designed to replace and upgrade Asda’s existing ecommerce infrastructure, supporting the supermarket’s growing online business. Asda currently fulfils more than 700,00

As pressure grows on the food industry to deliver healthier diets, a new debate is gaining momentum across the farming and fresh produce sectors: should growers be focusing not just on yield, appearance and shelf life, but on the nutritional value of the food they produce? A recent article by Wicked Leeks, reveals that the concept, known as nutrient density, is attracting increasing attention from researchers, growers and food businesses who believe the future of farming may

Waitrose has announced a new £20 million investment aimed at reducing the cost of everyday grocery essentials, including a range of fresh produce lines, as retailers continue to respond to ongoing pressure on household budgets. Image: John Lewis Partnership The latest round of price reductions covers more than 160 own-brand products, with prices falling by an average of 12%. Key fresh produce categories feature prominently in the move, including onions, mini apples, baby spin

Aldi has unveiled more than £5 billion in long-term agreements with British suppliers as the supermarket ramps up its support for UK-grown fresh produce and strengthens relationships with growers facing mounting economic and climate pressures. The retailer said the multi-year agreements, which cover fresh produce alongside dairy and meat, are designed to give farmers and growers greater confidence to invest in future production and build more resilient supply chains. Aldi is

British cut flower growers are celebrating a major milestone after the introduction of a dedicated Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for flower farming businesses, announced during last week’s Chelsea Flower Show. The move means cut flower growers can now be identified separately from other agricultural and horticultural businesses in official government data — a development that industry leaders say could have significant long-term benefits for the sector. Indust

Fresh produce took centre stage at this year’s FarmFest event, where growers and suppliers showcased the strength, quality and innovation of the UK horticulture sector to thousands of visitors. Among the highlights was a visit from television presenter and food personality Matt Tebbutt, who stopped by the British Tomatoes stand to meet grower Simon Conway and learn more about the sector’s work. The event provided a platform for the fresh produce industry to connect directly w

The UK’s food and supply chains are dangerously underprepared for major global shocks including war, pandemics and climate disruption, according to a stark new report that raises fresh concerns over the nation’s long-term food security. The warning comes from the National Preparedness Commission, which claims Britain is far more vulnerable than many European neighbours due to limited strategic stockpiling, weak resilience planning and heavy dependence on international supply

India’s famous Alphonso mango industry is facing one of its toughest seasons in decades, with growers in Maharashtra reporting catastrophic crop losses linked to extreme weather and export disruption. The Alphonso mango — widely regarded as the “king of mangoes” — has seen production collapse by as much as 85-90 per cent in some growing regions, according to a government-backed survey in Devgad, one of Maharashtra’s leading production areas. Farmers say erratic weather condit

European apple and pear stocks remain stubbornly high as growers and suppliers across the continent continue to battle weak demand, mounting costs and increased market competition heading into the Southern Hemisphere transition period. Image: Worldwide Fruit According to comments from Worldwide Fruit published by FreshPlaza, UK apple and pear stocks are reducing broadly in line with expectations ahead of increased imports from the Southern Hemisphere during the summer months.

Food prices could rise further after ministers confirmed they will press ahead with the controversial Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) packaging tax regime, despite growing pressure from businesses already battling mounting inflation and global supply chain disruption. Industry leaders had hoped the Government would reconsider the policy amid increasing concern over rising supermarket prices and the wider cost-of-living pressures facing consumers. However, officials at

The future of British farming is increasingly being shaped by one critical question: can long-term supermarket contracts finally provide the security growers and producers desperately need? A growing number of retailers are now exploring longer-term supply agreements with farmers in a bid to create greater stability across the food supply chain, particularly as UK agriculture continues to battle rising production costs, labour shortages, climate pressures and volatile global

Morrisons is reshaping parts of its convenience store estate as the supermarket continues to invest in a stronger, more sustainable long-term retail strategy. The Bradford-based retailer has confirmed plans to close a number of its underperforming Morrisons Daily convenience stores over the coming months following a review of sites that have remained unprofitable for several years. Importantly, Morrisons stressed that the affected stores represent only a small proportion of i