Christmas has long been viewed as a reliable economic accelerator for the UK, lifting retail sales, advertising spend, employment and hospitality activity during the final quarter of the year. However, evidence increasingly suggests that the festive period no longer provides the same concentrated economic uplift it once did. The Financial Times has reported that shifts in consumer behaviour, combined with structural changes across retail, media and employment markets, mean

Fyffes’ consumer banana brand Trudi’s® is delivering strong category growth across Europe, with particularly notable gains in the UK and Norway, reinforcing the growing appetite for purpose-led fresh produce brands. Image courtesy of Fyffes Launched to bring added value and differentiation to the banana category, Trudi’s has performed ahead of market averages in several key retail channels. In Norway, listings with Coop Norway have delivered robust results, with Trudi’s banan

The UK government has rounded off 2025 with a concerted drive to strengthen national cyber security, introducing landmark legislation and reinforcing resilience across critical sectors — a move underscored by recent cyber incidents that have rippled through the grocery supply chain. In November, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill was formally introduced to Parliament. The Bill expands the existing Network and Information Systems Regulations, setting tougher standards for

Hospitality businesses across England are facing a significant increase in business rates, with new analysis showing the average venue is set to pay an additional £32,700 over the next three years. The figures, based on updated property valuations, indicate that despite targeted support measures such as a reduced hospitality multiplier and transitional relief, most pubs, restaurants, hotels and leisure venues will still experience sharp rises in their annual bills. Under curr

Tesco has said it has supplied more than 10.8 million portions of fruit and vegetables eaten by UK pupils during the first year of its Fruit & Veg for Schools programme, backed by the British Nutrition Foundation. Image courtesy of Tesco According to the retailer, 94% of teachers reported improved behaviour from kids who took part in the scheme, including sharper focus and more energy in the classroom, with an average increase in consumption of 7.4% (the equivalent of 15 days

The UK should pursue a deeper trading relationship with the European Union as the most effective way to stimulate economic growth, Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said, raising fresh questions over the government’s longer-term approach to post-Brexit trade. Speaking in a wide-ranging interview , Streeting described the UK’s current level of taxation as “uncomfortable” and argued that Britain had taken a “massive economic hit” since leaving the EU, particularly as a result

Retail prices for Brussels sprouts in the UK have fallen below 2019 levels, highlighting a sharp drop in consumer demand for the traditional festive vegetable, according to a report published in the Financial Times . Growers say consumption has declined significantly, even during the key Christmas trading period when sprouts would normally enjoy peak sales. “We don’t grow many these days . . . they don’t sell like they used to,” explained Mark Abraham, manager of Crossways Fa

The UK fresh produce sector is set to benefit from a new supply opportunity following the launch of a pilot export of apple mangoes from Kenya to the United Kingdom. Image: Kenya Airways The inaugural consignment marks the first time the distinctive apple mango variety has been shipped to the UK on a trial basis, with the move designed to test market readiness and logistics while assessing long-term commercial potential. Apple mangoes, which are known for their sweet flavour,

Britain’s largest vertical farming operator, GrowUp Farms Limited, has been bought out of administration through a pre-packaged sale arranged by its former chief executive, sources including The Grocer have reported. Image: GrowUp Farms The parent company, GrowUp Group Ltd, entered administration on 16 December after appointing insolvency specialists Interpath to find a way forward for the business amid mounting financial pressures. Marcus Whately, who led the business for si

The government has launched a new board, including representatives from the horticulture and fresh produce sectors, that aims to put growers at the heart of UK food policy in an initial response to 57 report recommendations laid out by ex-NFU president Baroness Minette Batters. With UK businesses struggling and domestic food security hanging in the balance, the Farming and Food Partnership Board aims to drive growth, productivity, and profitability through greater supply chai

Lincolnshire grower G H Hoyles has harvested what is believed to be the world’s most northern commercial olive crop, marking a bold, successful example in adapting agriculture to a changing climate in the UK.  Image: The English Olive Co. The Hoyles family has been farming conventional crops in the Lincolnshire Fens for over 250 years, producing potatoes, peas, wheat, sugar beet, and mustard for local co-operatives and supermarkets.  Now that warmer weather has made it viable

With no replacement programme in the pipeline, Defra Farming Minister Dame Angela Eagle has confirmed the legacy EU programme in England will cease at the end of this month after only reaching a “minority of growers”. Despite some estimates reportedly suggesting that up to 50% of the UK’s fresh produce supply was produced under the support scheme, legislation passed in July 2023 permanently closes the so-called legacy EU programme on 31 December 2025. Although still committed

The cost of food remains stubbornly high in the UK although inflation has dropped to its lowest level for eight months on the back of easing prices for food, alcohol, and clothing. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell to 3.2% in the 12 months to November, down from 3.6%, according to new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) . With inflation now seen to have peaked, the figure marks the lowest level since March and a bigger fall than the 3.5% than economists an

DP World and Thames Freeport have started construction on ‘The Hive’, a new multi-million innovation and wellbeing hub located at London Gateway Logistics Park that will provide a central facility for skills, community connection, and collaboration across the Thames Freeport area. Image: DP World Opening in March 2026, The Hive will be a 29,000 sq. ft. centre featuring flexible meeting rooms, a dedicated training and innovation centre, a state-of-the-art gym, two sports pitch

The expansion of high-speed broadband across rural Britain is set to gather further momentum in 2026, as a combination of government-backed infrastructure programmes and private sector investment continues to close the long-standing digital divide between urban and rural communities. By the end of 2026, the majority of UK premises are expected to be able to access gigabit-capable broadband , with rural areas increasingly benefiting from full-fibre deployment, fixed wireless a

If you’ve ever filled your plate with tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens and lentils and thought “this feels good for me,” you’re not alone — and science backs you up. A large body of research on Mediterranean-style eating shows that diets rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and healthy oils are consistently linked with a lower risk of developing certain cancers, especially when compared with diets high in processed foods and red meat. The Mediterranean diet

M&S has partnered with Suffolk-based Home Farm Nacton, based on the historic Orwell Park Estate, to bring customers across the UK new variety celebration potatoes for the festive season. Available in over 200 M&S stores nationwide from this week, celebration potatoes have a distinctive skin pattern and buttery golden flesh to deliver a rich, nutty flavour perfect for roasting, boiling or for salads. Home Farm Nacton grows 26 different types of produce, including celebration p

One in five households in the UK placed at least one online grocery order in recent months, according to new data reported by The Grocer , underlining how digital food shopping continues to embed itself into everyday consumer behaviour. The figures highlight the growing appeal of online grocery shopping, driven primarily by convenience, time-saving benefits and the availability of promotions. Younger shoppers, in particular, are increasingly comfortable using apps and digital

If 2025 was the year diners discovered artisanal grazing boards and social media couldn’t get enough of ‘girl dinner’ spreads and stacked charcuterie facts, then 2026 looks set to elevate that laid-back feast into something much bigger: Fresh Produce Grazing — where fresh fruit, vibrant veg, pulses and artisan produce take centre stage on grazing bars and tables everywhere. This isn’t just about Instagram-worthy displays any more. It’s about culinary trend cycles colliding wi

Fyffes has published its 2024 Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Report, marking the fourth consecutive year the company has reported on its approach to responsible business practices across its global operations and supply chain. Image courtesy of Fyffes Released to coincide with World Human Rights Day on 12 December, the report outlines progress made during 2024, alongside the challenges and priorities facing the business as it continues to embed human rights and