Marks & Spencer is accelerating the expansion of its food business, opening three new stores over this week and next as it looks to grow its share of the family weekly shop. The retailer has already opened a 15,000 sq ft fresh market-style food store at Hatfield Oldings Corner, alongside a 16,000 sq ft site in Luton Bramingham. A third store, measuring 18,600 sq ft, is due to open in Farnham next Wednesday. The three openings will create more than 200 jobs and add to the more

Foodservice giant Brakes is taking its offering directly to customers, launching a nationwide roadshow designed to bring fresh produce, innovation and menu inspiration to the heart of the UK hospitality sector. The business is rolling out a series of “food expo” events across the country, bringing together chefs, suppliers and its specialist sister companies to showcase products, trends and practical solutions for operators. The initiative will see Brakes’ development chefs w

BerryWorld, part of the world’s second largest berry group, AgroBerries — is proud to announce a pioneering partnership in the berry industry with professional padel player Delfi Brea, who will serve as the company’s brand ambassador for 2026. Born in Buenos Aires in 1999, Delfi is one of the most outstanding talents in professional padel. At just 17, she moved to Spain to pursue her dream of competing at the highest level, leaving behind her home country to train and play on

The National Farmers' Union has warned that food prices in the UK are likely to go up as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. NFU president Tom Bradshaw told the BBC that the price of cucumbers and tomatoes could rise over the next six weeks, with the cost of other crops and milk increasing in the next three to six months. Iran's continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has led to higher costs for fuel and fertiliser, both crucial elements of food production. The is

A Scottish wholesale food supplier has collapsed into liquidation, resulting in the loss of 71 jobs and exposing debts of more than £5 million. Enterprise Foods Limited, which traded as Localist, has ceased trading after efforts to refinance and restructure the business proved unsuccessful. The company, based in East Kilbride, had operated for more than three decades, supplying thousands of products to retailers across Scotland and beyond. Liquidators were appointed following

The University of Essex has secured national recognition for its pioneering agricultural robotics, with its Sustainable smArt Robotic Agriculture initiative winning Best Research Project (Industry Collaboration) at the AI & Robotics Research Awards 2026. The accolade marks a significant milestone for the university’s robotics team , whose prototype harvesting system—first unveiled in October 2024—has been described as a potential “game changer” for labour-intensive fresh prod

Escalating costs due to the Middle East conflict are starting to ripple through the UK’s fresh produce supply chain, with British berry and topfruit growers warning of increasing financial pressure in the run up to the key summer season. The British Berry Growers Association (BBGA) said instability around the Strait of Hormuz – a key global trade corridor – is pushing up input costs such as fuel and fertiliser. The warning is echoed by British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) w

BerryWorld has unveiled a campaign to position berries as a natural, nutrient-dense, and convenient health solution, backed by a new report into the consumer habits and health concerns shaping shopper behaviour in 2026. Image: BerryWorld Titled ‘Big 6 for 2026’, the research identifies health marketing opportunities for berry businesses by exploring this year’s most important consumer health priorities. The insight then aligns these trends – immunity, hydration, gut health,

Fen Peas has come together with the Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) and Dyson Farming Research to launch a farmer-led research project to test and update plant population recommendations for vining peas destined for the frozen food market. Image: PGRO Supported by Defra’s ADOPT fund, the initiative will work directly with growers to reevaluate optimum plant populations for vining peas under real-world farm conditions. The aim is to bring outdated crop man

UK households are reducing their fruit and vegetable purchases as food prices rise and food insecurity creeps up once again due to the Iran war, further exposing the country's food system vulnerability to global conflicts. Over the last 30 days, more than half (53%) of food insecure households in the UK reduced their fruit purchases, while 40% cut back on vegetables, according a new food insecurity survey from The Food Foundation. Even for those not food insecure, in the la

The government has published its first Land Use Framework setting out how England’s limited land should be used more efficiently to balance food production, housing, nature and climate goals, using a national spatial map and new modelling tools. Over the coming decades Defra’s new plan is designed to safeguard food production while bolstering resilience to climate change and global shocks but industry bodies say questions remain for the future of food and farming. The long-aw

Syngenta has announced a major new investment in agricultural bioscience, unveiling plans for a £100 million research centre at its Berkshire base in the UK that will focus on next-generation, sustainable solutions for farming. Image: Syngenta The Biological Sciences Technology and Research centre (BioSTaR) will be built at Syngenta’s existing Jealott’s Hill R&D site, already the UK’s largest facility dedicated to agricultural technology research. Syngenta said in a press re

Warnings that the UK could face food-related unrest may sound dramatic, but a growing number of experts believe the country’s food system is far more fragile than many consumers realise. In a stark assessment of Britain’s food security, analysts argue that a combination of economic pressure, global instability and structural weaknesses in the supply chain could create the conditions for serious disruption — and potentially civil unrest. The warning comes as the UK continues t

A legal challenge to the UK Government’s proposed inheritance tax changes affecting farms has begun in the High Court, with claimants arguing that ministers acted unlawfully in the way the reforms were introduced. The case centres on planned changes to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR), which currently help protect family farms and businesses from large inheritance tax bills when assets are passed down between generations. The judicial revi

Tesco has become the first UK supermarket to trial replacing traditional product barcodes with next-generation QR codes, signalling a potential shift in how groceries are labelled, tracked and scanned in stores. The retailer is currently testing the new system on a limited number of own-brand lines, including fresh produce and meat, in selected stores in the south of England. The pilot forms part of a collaboration with standards body GS1 UK and a group of supplier partners.

Behind every box of berries on a supermarket shelf… Every perfectly ripened avocado on a restaurant plate… Every bouquet brightening a shop window… There is an extraordinary supply chain at work. From growers nurturing crops in glasshouses to wholesalers moving product before dawn, from logistics teams keeping freight moving across borders to florists creating displays that stop customers in their tracks — the fresh produce and floriculture industries run on an army of dedica

There was a moment, not that long ago, when vertical farming seemed unstoppable. Venture capital was flowing, futuristic indoor farms were appearing in city warehouses, and the promise was intoxicating: year-round food production, minimal land use, and a climate-resilient answer to feeding a growing population. Then reality arrived! A number of high-profile vertical farming businesses struggled under the weight of energy costs, scaling challenges and difficult economics. For

The UK’s largest food and farm assurance scheme, Red Tractor, has announced the appointment of Paul McLaughlin as its new Chief Executive, marking a significant leadership transition for the organisation that underpins trust in British food production. McLaughlin will take up the role on 5 May, succeeding outgoing CEO Jim Moseley, who confirmed last year that he would retire in April 2026 after nearly a decade leading the scheme. Red Tractor is the UK’s most recognised farm a

UK fruit and vegetable growers have warned that supermarket shelves could face shortages if escalating energy and transport costs linked to the conflict involving Iran make production uneconomic. Industry groups say rising wholesale gas prices, alongside higher fuel and input costs, are creating mounting pressure for glasshouse and field growers across the country, with some producers now considering ending their growing season early. Lee Stiles, secretary of the Lea Valley G

Mother’s Day flower sales in the UK have surged by 67%, highlighting both the enduring popularity of traditional gifts and the rapidly growing influence of artificial intelligence in shaping how consumers shop. New data released by payments technology company Checkout.com shows that flowers remain one of the most sought-after purchases during the Mother’s Day period. However, the way those gifts are being selected and purchased is evolving quickly as AI tools become increasi