As the UK government prepares for the forthcoming Autumn Budget, the economic legacy of Brexit is resurfacing in fiscal policy discussions – reviving what many had hoped was a closed chapter. Officials briefed on the forthcoming Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast say the independent body will attribute a pending downgrade in UK productivity to a combination of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic. The OBR is expected to lower its trend productivity assumption by abou

The UK government has announced an important update to the Seasonal Worker Scheme that will make it easier for horticultural businesses to retain skilled seasonal staff across multiple crop cycles. From 11 November 2025, seasonal workers will be able to spend up to six months in the UK within any 10-month period, allowing them to return earlier than was previously permitted. The change shortens the mandatory gap between visits, improving flexibility for both workers and emplo

‘Resource Efficiency in Horticulture’ will be firmly on the agenda next month when a major one-day conference takes place.   Held at The East Malling Trust (EMT), the high-profile event will bring together some of the leading minds in academia, business and policy on November 6 th  to discuss how the UK can advance sustainability in the edible horticulture sector.   An exciting cohort of industry experts and early career professionals have already signed up to attend and will

Rapid and urgent action on food is needed if the UK is to avoid enforced change, including reducing reliance on imported food and increasing domestic fruit and vegetable production by helping growers adapt to climate change, according to a new report.  The Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050  calls for “radical transformation” at a scale and pace not seen since the Second World War, which must be led by “decisive and coordinated action” from the government. Withou

As demands rises for greener supply chains and low-emission targets intensify, a first-of-its-kind logistics corridor combining real-world freight operations with digital intelligence is being created in the UK by Heriot-Watt University and partners. In shaping the future of freight transport, the initiative is designed to position the UK as a testbed for sustainable logistics by demonstrating that cleaner logistics are faster, cheaper, and more resilient.  The project involv

Country brand  essential  COSTA RICA has launched a campaign across multiple Amazon touchpoints in the UK, Spain, and Germany to highlight the Central American country’s sustainable production of pineapples, bananas, cassava, and coffee. Launched this week, ‘The Natural Choice’ drive is designed to position Costa Rica’s signature agricultural exports in key European markets as premium quality, ethical, and sustainable products that align with European consumers’ growing inter

Over the next five years discount retailer Lidl GB will double its investment in the British food and farming industry, strengthening its commitment to backing domestic suppliers, including fresh produce, and supporting long-term sustainable growth across the sector.  The landmark £30 billion (bn) pledge represents a 100% increase on the supermarket operator’s original commitment of £15bn announced in 2019 , which Lidl said it surpassed by an additional £6bn in 2024. The new

A survey of 5,000 British adults shows the importance that hospitality venues have in our everyday lives and bringing people together, with 67% of respondents agreeing that eating and drinking out is as important to their social lives as it was a year ago.   The new research , from Zonal, in partnership with CGA by NIQ and UKHospitality, underscores the deep social, emotional and economic role played by UK pubs, bars, and restaurants in their communities. Two thirds of respon

International packaging provider IFCO has been recognised for its outstanding commitment to supporting the UK fresh produce industry through the group’s circular pooling system for reusable packaging containers (RPCs).  Image: IFCO L-R: Laurence Jones, Jampro (award sponsor), and the IFCO UK team: Sam Mead,

Fresh produce businesses are bracing for continued cost pressures as the UK is forecast to experience the highest inflation among G7 economies this year and next, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest World Economic Outlook. As reported by The Guardian , the report predicts that UK inflation will average 3.4% in 2025, up from the IMF’s earlier forecast of 3.2%, before easing slightly to 2.5% in 2026. The figures suggest that growers, importers, and suppl

Global fruit supplier Fyffes has launched a sweeping in-store brand activation campaign with Morrisons, targeting bananas and pineapples across 488 stores nationwide. Image courtesy of Fyffes The campaign marks one of the most significant joint marketing efforts between Fyffes and a UK retailer to date. It aims to drive brand visibility and impulse purchase among Morrisons shoppers—bringing Fyffes’ signature fruits to centre stage in one of the country’s top supermarket chain

Veg Power, the not-for-profit alliance on a mission to make healthy and sustainable eating easier, has announced a new collaboration with Sakata, Barfoots and Waitrose to launch “Better with Butternut” — a campaign designed to inspire families across the UK to cook with one of autumn’s most versatile and nutritious vegetables. Image courtesy of Veg Power Timed to coincide with the peak of the British butternut harvest (mid-October through to the end of the month), the campaig

The UK is facing a new cyber-storm. In the 12 months up to August 2025, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) handled 429 cyber incidents, representing a rise of around 50 per cent on the previous year. Roughly half were classed as “nationally significant”, with 18 deemed “highly significant” due to their widespread impact. High-profile victims have included major retail and manufacturing names, and the broader warning from the NCSC is clear: no supply chain is immune –

Aphids attacking lettuce fields in England are showing distinct regional patterns that could redefine how growers manage one of the nation’s key salad crops, according to new research. The currant-lettuce aphid (Nasonovia ribisnigri)—a long-standing scourge of outdoor lettuce production—has been found to divide its populations between the east and west of England. The finding comes from a comprehensive analysis using data from the Rothamsted National Insect Survey and the Uni

A new industry-backed report warns that Britain’s tree nurseries require stronger support if the country is to meet its climate, biodiversity and greening ambitions. The report by the Woodland Trust, the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), the National Trust and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) , underscores the indispensable role that nurseries play — from supplying high-quality, disease-free stock to sustaining biodiversity and improving public wellbeing. It arg

The City of London Corporation has officially abandoned its long-term plan to relocate Smithfield meat market and Billingsgate fish market to Dagenham Dock, opting instead to end its role as landlord and compensate traders to vacate their existing sites. When first announced in April 2019, the plan to co-locate Smithfield, Billingsgate and New Spitalfields onto 42 acres at Dagenham Dock was hailed as a forward-looking move. Catherine McGuinness, then chair of the City’s polic

Morrisons has unveiled a new rapid-delivery offering designed to bring fresh groceries to customers in as little as 60 minutes. The service, dubbed Morrisons Now, is being launched initially across 420 UK stores, with a phased rollout to complete by the end of October. Under the new scheme, customers can order up to 30 items with a minimum spend of £15. A delivery fee of £4.50 applies, and items are delivered by courier bike or car. Orders are placed via the Morrisons website

Stringent controls on imported citrus are due to be readopted as the UK prepares to realign with European Union (EU) animal and plant...

The FPC Fresh Awards Multiple Fruit & Veg Retailer of the Year, Aldi, is rolling out dedicated reduction zones across its 1,060 stores —...

Britain’s food and grocery sector has launched a blistering critique of the government, accusing ministers of adding to the...