Following a successful pilot, retailer Asda is expanding its school engagement programme to help more young people develop career skills, discover retail employment opportunities, and make a positive impact in their communities. Image: Asda The second year of the programme is increasing both in size and scope with the aim of building key employability and problem-solving skills across primary, secondary, and college student year groups. Students will be taught leadership skil

More than 60 employers, including retailers and foodservice operators, are joining forces with the government to stem the rising tide of ill-health that is pushing people out of work, holding back growth, and costing UK businesses £85 billion each year. The joint effort is designed to reshape how health issues and disabilities are managed in the workplace, with the aim of developing a voluntary certified standard by 2029.  The partnership will drive action to “prevent ill-hea

England must prepare for an ongoing drought in 2026, unless there is significant rainfall this autumn and winter, and further water shortages in the future due to climate change, warns The National Drought Group. Despite recent rainfall, a large part of the country remains in drought as winter approaches following the driest spring in 132 years and the hottest summer since records began in 1884, as declared by the Met Office. Currently, some 41% of England’s reservoirs are le

FPC Fresh Awards 2025 winner Aldi plans to open 16 new supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas as part of the discount retailer’s rapid expansion to bring its successful model to further towns and cities across the UK. Image: Aldi The new store locations, which span the nation from Scotland to London, are expected to open their doors between Thursday 6 November and Friday 12 December. The five-week opening schedule forms part of Aldi’s ambitious £650 million commitment for 20

The fresh produce industry is bracing for potential cost pressures after Chancellor Rachel Reeves signalled that tax rises are likely as the government works to restore fiscal stability. Reeves has made clear that difficult fiscal decisions lie ahead, stating the era of low taxation may be drawing to a close as public finances face increased strain. Why this matters for fresh produce The fresh produce supply chain is already facing sustained cost challenges, including labour

Big data has quietly become one of the most powerful forces reshaping British agriculture. We are no longer talking about a future vision of farms run by algorithms and artificial intelligence. Across the UK, that future is already here, humming away in field sensors, satellite feeds, machinery telematics, herd-monitoring collars and cloud analytics dashboards. And, while the technology itself may feel complex at times, its purpose is refreshingly down-to-earth: Helping farme

Morrisons has unveiled its Christmas campaign with a spotlight firmly on the growers, farmers and food producers who bring its festive offering to life. Rather than leaning on the traditional mince pie close-ups and glittering table spreads, the retailer’s new 90-second advert champions the year-round effort of the people behind its produce. Titled Making More of Christmas, the film follows British farmers, bakers, fishermen and food makers across the seasons as they prepare

Over half of British farmers have considered leaving the industry within the past year, according to a major new survey that paints a stark picture of confidence across UK agriculture. The inaugural “Farmdex” report , published by McCain UK and Ireland, reveals that 51 percent of farmers have seriously contemplated quitting, while 74 percent hold a negative outlook for the future of the sector. Producers cite a combination of escalating financial strain, volatile weather cond

US fresh-produce giant Taylor Farms has acquired Natures Way Foods, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of fresh prepared salads and meals, in a move that strengthens its presence in the British and European fresh-convenience market. Image: NWF California-based Taylor Farms, a family-owned business and major producer of salads, vegetable blends and meal kits, announced the deal at the start of November. The company said the acquisition aligns with its mission to deliver fresh,

A van carrying 6,080kg (13,404lbs) of tomatoes has been taken off the road by police after they discovered it was almost double the maximum legal weight. Image: Cambridgeshire Police Cambridgeshire Police stopped vehicles on the A16 between Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire as part of day-long Operation Chambers which aimed to tackle rural crime. Police said the driver of the van did not have a licence or insurance and a £200 fixed penalty notice was issued. Sgt Tom Nuttall sai

The UK’s glasshouse salad-vegetable producers are warning of an “existential threat” as energy costs loom large, following the announcement of a 94% increase in electricity network charges scheduled for April 2026. Representatives from the protected-horticulture sector say the looming hike places enormous pressure on an industry already operating on very tight margins. The uplift in network charges threatens to drive some operators to the brink of collapse and could have kno

UK horticulture will face a tighter labour market in 2026 after DEFRA confirmed a reduction of 2,000 visas under the Seasonal Worker Scheme for the horticulture sector. The department has set the allocation at 41,000 visas for horticulture workers in 2026 , down from 43,000 in 2025. The cut has prompted concern among growers and industry bodies, who warn that labour pressures will intensify ahead of key harvesting windows for fruit, vegetables and ornamental plants. Labour sh

A leading German organic vegetable producer has co-developed an autonomous laser-weeding robot in response to rising labour costs and growing difficulty sourcing seasonal workers. The technology, now nearing commercial rollout, reflects a significant step forward in non-chemical weed control solutions for high-value horticulture. Westhof Bio Group, based in Dithmarschen, Schleswig-Holstein, manages approximately 1,200 hectares of organic vegetable crops and employs around 150

Sales of Halloween-related purchases are rising across UK retailers, farms, and entertainment venues, providing a longer selling period for pumpkins and greater overall marketing opportunities as consumers beyond children embrace the spooky season. As Halloween cements itself as a key occasion for UK consumers, the shopping season is extending well beyond the traditional two-week run-up to the holiday.  By the beginning of October, over one million supermarket shoppers had pu

The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) has set out its Scottish Environmental Horticulture Manifesto, recommending practical actions that could unlock a £5.1bn economic opportunity for a greener, healthier, and more prosperous country by 2030. Image: HTA – L-R Stan Green, Carolyn Spray (Pentland Plants), Katie Neenan Unveiling the manifesto to members at Pentland Plants near Edinburgh this week, HTA said its proposals would foster greener jobs, healthier, more resilient c

Saga Robotics has concluded its biggest operational season so far in the United States and the United Kingdom, utilising Thorvald robots across 20% of the UK tabletop strawberry market in 2025 and cementing plans to expand further next year.  Image: Saga Robotics Across both countries, the autonomous Thorvald platform for grapevine and strawberries tripled its operational distance compared with the year before; operating 150 robots at 97% uptime which accrued over 200,000 aut

Businesses operating in the gig economy and those hiring zero-hours workers are set to face stricter regulations under new UK government measures aimed at tackling illegal employment. Through the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill , the government will expand its enforcement of right-to-work checks to verify the legal work status of gig economy and zero-hours workers, including those hired as couriers and contractors in the food delivery and warehousing sectors. The

A stark number of independent street food traders in the UK lack confidence in the future after nearly 9 in 10 businesses raise prices, 71% reduce staff hours, and almost a third cut jobs entirely, according to a new survey. Conducted by hospitality organisation KERB , the poll of over 100 UK street food traders found that only 1% see a strong, viable future ahead for the sector as it grapples with rising costs. KERB says the system is stacked against the very businesses that

The premium retailer has launched partnerships with Soil Association Exchange and Regenified to give UK farmers and fresh produce growers the tools, data, and verification to produce food in ways that restore and protect the environment.  Waitrose aims to have all its UK farms using regenerative practices by 2030, and the retailer has committed to reaching net zero across its UK farms by 2035. The new collaborations with Soil Association Exchange , a farm-measurement tool, an

Retail buyers and major chain­sellers are raising the alarm over escalating input costs in the horticulture sector — a situation that threatens stability across the entire fresh produce aisle. Retailers are now reporting increased pressure from their supply chain partners in the UK horticulture sector, with significant cost inflation affecting growers — and by extension, the retailers themselves. A recent article in Horticulture Week notes that the rising burden from energy