Positioning fruit and vegetable sections at supermarket entrances increases sales and may improve women's diet quality, according a new study funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Published in the journal PLOS Medicine , the research found that when fresh produce was moved to a more prominent position near entrances, stores sold more fruit and vegetables. In total, around 2,525 additional portions of fruit and veg were sold per store, per week

Sainsbury's has unveiled a £5bn multi-year investment to expand long-term partnerships with more than 2,500 British and Irish farms, in a move designed to strengthen supply chain resilience and support future food production. The retailer said the expanded programme will see long-term agreements underpin the supply of 3.1 million tonnes of its own-brand fresh food by 2027, spanning key categories including fresh produce, dairy, meat and poultry. By the end of 2026, Sainsbury’

British Berry Growers has announced the appointment of Ali Capper as its new chair, with onboarding set to begin in July 2026 ahead of formally taking up the role in November. Capper will succeed Nick Marston, who confirmed earlier this year that he intends to step down following a period of leadership at the organisation. She brings extensive experience in fresh produce leadership and industry advocacy, having served as executive chair of British Apples & Pears Limited for t

Morrisons has cut the price of key British-grown vegetables to as little as 4p in the run-up to Easter, as retailers step up efforts to support shoppers facing ongoing cost pressures. Image: Morrisons The supermarket is offering 1kg bags of carrots, 500g packs of parsnips and whole swedes for just 4p each, alongside its ‘Best British White All Rounder Potatoes’, which have been reduced to £1 for 2kg. The promotion is running from 30 March through to Easter Sunday, with the re

M&S has become the first UK retailer to launch its much-anticipated Jersey Royal potatoes, thanks to its longstanding 10-year relationship with the Le Maistre family. The family has been farming the soil on Jersey since 1841 and is led by sixth-generation farmer Philip Le Maistre, who works alongside son Phil Jnr and brother Peter, as well as a team of local experts. Despite one of the wettest and more challenging planting seasons on record, the team’s potatoes have this week

Discount retailer Lidl has been named the first-ever recipient of the Best British Apple Launch Award, a new accolade recognising retailers that champion UK-grown apples at the start of the domestic season. The award has been introduced by British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) to highlight and encourage strong retail support for British apples during the crucial early weeks of the season. Lidl secured the inaugural title following its seasonal apple launch, with judges recog

Volunteers and community workers are turning neglected patches of grass into thriving food-growing spaces in East Sussex to feed local communities. At Wellsbourne Community Garden in Whitehawk, Brighton, new planting beds are being prepared from unloved grass scrubland to grow crops including tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, carrots and beans throughout the year. The produce will be shared with the Whitehawk Family Hub, while residents are also encouraged to help themselv

England’s water levels have largely recovered from the 2025 drought after four months of above‑average rainfall but rapid swings between drought and flooding will become more common under climate change, warns the Environment Agency. The drought risk for 2026 is currently low but the EA said a “flash drought” is still possible if there is a sudden spell of very low rainfall and hot temperatures similar to 2022. Furthermore, as the UK’s climate changes, the EA expects more fr

The UK food-to-go market is forecast to reach just under £25bn in 2026, growing faster than the wider eating-out sector, and driven by higher spend per visit rather than more customers, finds a new report. Market value for the grab-and-go business is expected to increase by 3.4% to £24.9bn in 2026, according to the latest Lumina Intelligence UK Food to Go Market Report 2026. The projected expansion is supported by rising office attendance, travel flows, and solid consumer de

M&S is embarking on a major digital transformation by rolling out AI tools to 11,000 store leaders and office-based workers in a bid to reshape how teams run stores, analyse data, and serve customers day to day. Image: M&S The retailer has purchased 11,000 Microsoft 365 Copilot licences for every store manager and all Store Support Centre colleagues. The aim is to free up staff from time-consuming tasks in order to focus on serving customers, improving availability, and suppo

Prolonged conflict in the Middle East could cause UK food inflation to more than double to 8% by June, piling further costs onto households already stretched by rising living expenses, warns IGD. The new forecast of surging food prices by summer is a worst-case scenario if disruption to global energy markets continues, the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) said. According to IGD’s latest projections, food inflation, now at 3.6%, could “briefly reach over 8% by June 202

UK food production could face severe strain within a few years as critical systems head for collapse, according to a government report that calls for “transformational change” to rebuild resilience. In a stark warning for UK food security, the report, produced by Defra in 2024 but only recently brought to light, concludes there is “a realistic possibility” that by 2030 the UK’s food system, as well as water supplies and natural ecosystems, could be at “strategic risk of catas

A next-generation glasshouse, insectary, and horticultural research facility capable of growing a million plants a year has been announced by the John Innes Centre and The Sainsbury Laboratory following a £5 million donation from the Garfield Weston Foundation. Image: The Sainsbury Laboratory Dubbed ‘Technology Platform 1’ (TP1), the new 4,500 m² state-of-the-art research facility will enable scientists to study crop performance under realistic, reproducible conditions. The

Shoppers across the UK could face higher prices on everyday groceries under the Government’s proposed Brexit “reset”, with fresh concerns that new trading arrangements may add costs back into the food supply chain. Analysis of the plans suggests that, while ministers have pledged to reduce red tape and ease trade with the EU, the reality for food imports could be far more complex — and potentially more expensive. The proposals centre on closer alignment with EU rules in area