Britain’s food and drink industry has warned that government plans to tighten healthy food rules could increase costs, reduce investment and pull a wider range of everyday products into restrictions designed to tackle obesity. According to the Financial Times, businesses are pushing back against proposed changes to the UK’s Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM), the scoring system used to decide which foods and drinks are classed as “less healthy” for the purposes of advertising and

Scottish berry growers are heading into what could be a standout season after a wet and chilly start to the year helped create promising growing conditions in Angus. Agronomist Alix Stuart from Angus Soft Fruits (STV) Growers at Angus Soft Fruits say the cooler weather has given crops a strong start, with picking now well under way and expected to continue through to October. The business is hoping settled conditions over the coming weeks will allow fruit to develop the best

Ministers have been accused of complacency over the resilience of the UK’s food supply chain, as the cold storage and logistics sector warned that disruption from fuel shortages, cyber attacks, extreme weather and border delays could threaten vital food flows into the country. According to a report by Joanna Partridge in The Guardian, the Cold Chain Federation (CCF), which represents businesses involved in storing and transporting temperature-sensitive food and pharmaceutical

Booths has unveiled a refreshed brand identity as the Preston-headquartered retailer looks to put its food credentials, family heritage and Northern roots firmly centre stage. The UK’s oldest family grocer, founded in 1847, has introduced a new look designed to better reflect the qualities that have shaped the business for generations: high-quality food and drink, strong regional supplier relationships and a deep connection with the communities it serves. The refreshed identi

Andalucia is stepping up efforts to strengthen its position in the UK fresh produce market, after organising a major trade mission in London designed to bring Spanish fruit and vegetable suppliers closer to British importers, distributors and buying centres. The initiative, led by Andalucía TRADE, the public business agency of the Junta de Andalucía, brought together six Andalusian fruit and vegetable companies with 25 UK importers and major purchasing centres in the agri-foo

Amazon has taken another significant step into the UK grocery market by enabling customers in parts of London to add fresh fruits and vegetables alongside other perishable foods to their same-day delivery orders. Image: Amazon The move allows shoppers to combine fresh produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, bread, eggs, and frozen foods with millions of non-food products in a single basket, with delivery taking place within hours. Initially available in selected Central and

Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has launched an international network to connect stakeholders across the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) sector and improve the exchange and application of knowledge worldwide. Image: WUR HortINspire brings together growers, technology providers, researchers, advisers, government organisations and other industry participants involved in protected cultivation across the globe. The network is aimed at both organisations seeking ex

New research suggests that many British consumers remain unaware of the breadth of fruit and vegetables that can be successfully grown in the UK, highlighting an opportunity for fresh produce growers and retailers to strengthen provenance messaging and drive demand for domestic produce. Commissioned by Aldi, the survey of 2,000 UK adults reportedly found that half of respondents did not realise that vegetables such as aubergines, courgettes, and peppers can be grown commercia

The UK’s food supply chain is vulnerable to disruption with increasing risks to food security, public health, and economic resilience unless the cold chain industry receives greater recognition and protection from the government, according to a new white paper from the Cold Chain Federation (CCF). The organisation is calling for the cold chain to be designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), reflecting its “essential role” in storing and transporting more than hal

UK potato exports to the Canary Islands are set to resume following the successful eradication of Colorado potato beetle at a time when the industry faces growing pressure due to rising costs and weakening grower confidence. The resumption of exports is expected to provide a significant boost for UK potato growers and traders, restoring access to an important market that relies heavily on imported potatoes. The National Farmers Union (NFU) said it welcomed the lifting of man

Birds Eye owner Nomad Foods has announced a £2.2 million investment in a new potato waffle production line at its Lowestoft manufacturing facility, boosting capacity for one of the UK's best-known potato products. The investment forms part of the company's wider long-term productivity programme, launched last year to improve efficiency, competitiveness and scale across its manufacturing network. According to Nomad Foods, the new production line will increase annual potato waf

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