DP World has revealed that it has helped customers reduce more than 160,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions across UK supply chains in less than three years, highlighting the growing role of ports and logistics providers in supporting supply chain decarbonisation. Image: DP World The global operator said in a press release that “major milestones” have been achieved through a combination of increased rail freight usage, lower-carbon road trucking, and the expansion of carbon inset cr

A new industry-led project aims to help UK soft fruit growers tackle labour pressures and improve operational efficiency through the use of collaborative logistics robots, or ‘cobots’. Known as FLEXBOT (Building a Flexible, Extensible Cobot Platform for Farmers), the initiative brings together agricultural robotics specialist Antobot, Dogtooth Technologies, the University of Surrey, and the UK Agri-Tech Centre. The project, which will be trialled with three British fruit fa

UK retailers have purchased a record volume of British apples during the first nine months of the 2025/26 season as more grocers respond to the continued growth in shopper appetite for domestically-produced fruit. Image: BAPL New figures released by British Apples & Pears Limited (BAPL) show that supermarkets bought 138,823 tonnes of British apples between September 2025 and May 2026. This is the highest volume recorded during the same nine-month period over the past four sea

Morocco has posted record mandarin exports to the UK for the second consecutive year, continuing to rapidly expand its market presence and increasing pressure on Spain’s traditional dominance in the category. Recent trade data analysed by EastFruit indicates that Moroccan mandarin exports to the UK rose to 71,600 tonnes between October 2025 and April 2026, garnering more than £60 million in sales. The total represents a rise of nearly 20% compared with the previous season, m

As part of a long-term strategy to build resilience, Cornish potato producer Pengelly Farms has significantly increased its packing efficiency and reduced reliance on manual labour by integrating automated case assembly and sealing equipment from Endoline Automation. Image: Pengelly Farms The family-run business, established in 1967, grows premium salad potatoes across 1,200 acres in West Cornwall, and supplies approximately 16,500 tonnes of produce annually to retailers, who

Ten years on from the Brexit referendum, Britain has an opportunity to do something far more useful than relitigate the past: it can finally make the right decisions for the future of its food security. For the UK fresh produce industry, the anniversary should not be treated as a political milestone, but as a practical moment of reckoning. The question is no longer whether Brexit happened, or whether people were right or wrong to support it. The real question is whether the G

Leading UK chefs are backing Andy Burnham’s potential bid to become Prime Minister, amid renewed calls for urgent tax relief for Britain’s hard-pressed hospitality sector. According to FoodBible, the former Manchester Mayor has signalled that he could seek to replace Sir Keir Starmer following the Prime Minister’s resignation announcement on June 22. Burnham’s position on hospitality VAT has placed him firmly on the radar of chefs and restaurateurs, many of whom are calling f

Aldi and Iceland are among the latest major food businesses to pledge action to help double UK bean consumption by 2028. The retailers have joined The Food Foundation and Veg Power’s Bang in Some Beans campaign, which aims to make beans, pulses and legumes a bigger part of everyday diets across the UK. The campaign is backed by The National Lottery Community Fund and promotes beans as an affordable, sustainable and nutritious food source, rich in protein, fibre and micronutri

Keir Starmer’s decision to step down as Prime Minister has opened the door to what farming and fresh produce leaders hope will be a meaningful reset in government thinking on food security, rural business and Britain’s global supply chains. Starmer announced on Monday, 22 June, that he intends to resign as both Prime Minister and Labour leader, less than two years after entering Downing Street following Labour’s general election victory in July 2024. His departure has immedia

Ocado is searching for a successor to long-serving chief executive and co-founder Tim Steiner in a move that could mark the end of one of the most recognisable leadership eras in British grocery and retail technology. Steiner, who co-founded Ocado in 2000, has led the business for more than 25 years, taking it from an online grocery start-up to a listed technology group best known for its automated warehouse systems and online fulfilment platforms. According to the Financial

A new commercial-scale pilot involving LiVA Biotechnology, Dyson Farming and a leading UK retailer could help British strawberry growers protect premium fruit quality, reduce waste and preserve returns through the supply chain. LiVA Biotechnology and Dyson Farming have announced the next stage of their collaboration following a structured trial programme carried out during winter 2025–26. The trials tested LiVA’s prebiotic bio-protection technology across Dyson Farming’s prem

Scottish producers are set to receive fresh support to increase the use of locally produced food and drink across public sector settings, including schools, hospitals and government offices. First Minister John Swinney announced the creation of a new Public Sector Food Procurement Taskforce during a speech to the Quality Meat Scotland breakfast at the Royal Highland Show. The taskforce has been established to identify and tackle the barriers that currently make it harder for

DP World has welcomed two of Europe’s largest quay cranes to Southampton in a major £60 million investment designed to boost capacity, improve efficiency and future-proof operations at one of the UK’s biggest container ports. Image: DP World The two cranes, which arrived at DP World Southampton on 19 June 2026, each weigh more than 2,000 tonnes and stand almost 150 metres high — more than 50 metres taller than Big Ben. They arrived fully constructed by sea and are expected to

One of New Covent Garden Market’s most respected fresh produce figures has retired after more than 50 years in the trade. Image: NCGM Robert “Bob” King, a long-standing buyer at Le Marché, has brought the curtain down on a remarkable career spanning family wholesale, retail, restaurant supply and some of the most demanding corners of the UK hospitality market. Bob became a familiar and trusted face to generations of wholesalers, buyers, chefs and suppliers, building his caree

UK raspberry growers are reporting one of the sweetest crops in recent years, with fruit recording significantly higher-than-average sugar levels following a cool spring and warm conditions during May. According to industry figures, this season’s fruit tastes up to 50% sweeter than normal; registering Brix readings of 11 to 12, compared with a typical average of around eight. Berry producers Angus Soft Fruits and WB Chambers are hailing “very special” fruit and a “vintage yea

Today is the final day to enter the FPC Fresh Awards 2026. At midnight tonight, Friday 19 June, entries will close for what remains the most prestigious celebration of excellence across the fresh produce, floriculture and horticulture industries. Every year, businesses, teams and individuals from throughout the supply chain use the Fresh Awards as an opportunity to showcase their achievements, celebrate their people and gain valuable recognition from industry peers. From grow

Families with children will need to find an additional £203 for food and drink spending this year as food inflation in the UK is set to remain a challenge for consumers and the food industry for several more years, warns IGD. New analysis from the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) suggests that next year UK shoppers will face a further £207 increase in grocery bills, compared with current expenditure levels, even though the anticipated peak in food inflation is now lowe

Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to offer British-grown samphire all year round thanks to a partnership with grower Westlands to advance controlled-environment production, marking a significant development for the speciality vegetable category. Image: Waitrose The retailer said in a press release that the move “completely transforms” the availability of samphire, traditionally a highly seasonal product with a short summer harvest window. The launch also ties into

The 2026 British blueberry season is underway, with growers reporting exceptional crop quality and record gains in consumer demand for the UK’s fastest-growing fruit category. Hall Hunter Partnership, one of the country’s leading soft fruit producers, expects its biggest and most successful season this year, as it expands production in line with surging demand for healthy, homegrown blues. With consumer appetite continuing to gain pace, the business has made significant inves

UK supermarkets are set to benefit from increased processing capacity and enhanced supply chain resilience following a £10 million funding package secured by leading domestic vegetable grower-packer ESG Drysdale. The Scottish business has obtained the investment from Royal Bank of Scotland to accelerate the next phase of its expansion, including the development of new production facilities and upgrades across its operations. Already a major supplier of brassicas and root vege