The UK and EU have confirmed a new summit in Brussels on 22 July to discuss the next stage of the long-promised post-Brexit “reset” — but for Britain’s fresh produce industry, the real test is no longer whether politicians can agree warmer words. It is whether they can protect the food supply chain that keeps the nation fed. According to The Guardian, the summit has been delayed several times amid difficult talks over a youth mobility scheme, with discussions now expected to

The countdown is on. Entries for the FPC Fresh Awards 26 close this Friday, 19 June, and businesses across the fresh produce, flower and plant supply chain are being urged not to miss their chance to step into the spotlight. Recognised as the Oscars of the fresh produce and floriculture industry, the Fresh Awards celebrate the people, businesses, teams and innovations driving excellence across one of the UK’s most vital sectors. At a time when the industry continues to face r

The fresh produce aisle is undergoing a quiet but significant shift, as a new wave of brands looks to bring more excitement, identity and differentiation to a category long dominated by own-label ranges. According to The Grocer, fruit and veg has historically been shaped by supermarket own-label products and a highly competitive pricing culture, with value often taking centre stage. But that familiar model is beginning to evolve, as suppliers and emerging brands seek to prove

Climate change is on course to make fresh fruit and vegetables unaffordable for many households within the next two decades, according to new research warning that the cost of eating healthily could rise sharply as extreme weather hits global and domestic supply chains. A report by the Autonomy Institute suggests that fruit and vegetable prices could rise by around 170% by 2050, with the climate crisis becoming an increasingly powerful driver of fresh produce inflation. The f

Cabbage is being given a fresh moment in the spotlight as Veg Power looks to encourage more people across the UK to embrace seasonal vegetables. According to HortWeek, the not-for-profit organisation has announced a new push under the banner “The cabbage renaissance starts now”, as part of its wider mission to get the UK eating more vegetables, fruit and beans. The move comes as Veg Power continues to promote the benefits of seasonal eating, arguing that domestically produced

Football's coming home and so is a healthy match-day snack. Morrisons is bringing a juicy twist to the summer's football celebrations by giving away completely free oranges to kids. Image: Morrisons Corporate In a nostalgic nod to the classic grassroots football tradition of orange slices at half-time, children visiting English or Scottish Morrisons stores can score a free orange on England and Scotland match days throughout the group stages. The fruity freebie officially kic

Fresho has acquired Nation Wilcox in a move that creates what the company says is the UK’s leading software platform for food wholesalers. The deal brings together Fresho’s global order management platform for fresh food wholesalers with Nation Wilcox, a long-established ERP software provider serving food suppliers across the UK. The combined business now has a customer base of more than 400 businesses and handles over £2 billion in annual gross merchandise value across the U

Aldi shoppers are set for a sweeter taste of summer as the retailer switches to 100% British-grown fresh raspberries across all UK stores. British-grown raspberries began arriving in Aldi stores from 27 May, marking the supermarket’s seasonal move to fully British fresh raspberries following the start of the domestic raspberry season. Aldi’s berry suppliers are forecasting an especially strong crop this year, with raspberries expected to be both sweeter and larger than usual.

Climate change is “on course to make fresh fruit and vegetables unaffordable” within the next two decades, becoming the dominant force behind rising produce prices in the UK, according to stark new research. The report from The Autonomy Institute, titled ‘The Price of 5 a Day’, projects that increasing heatwave intensity will significantly raise the cost of both imported and domestically produced fresh produce, placing greater pressure on consumers, retailers, and food manufa

With skills development, succession planning and talent attraction continuing to be key priorities across the food and farming sectors, MorePeople is hosting a dedicated young professionals networking and career development event in Lincolnshire later this month. Image: MorePeople The latest Young People in Food & Farming (YPFF) event will bring together professionals under the age of 35 from across the industry on 25 June at Roythornes Solicitors in Spalding. The informal p

The National Farming Union (NFU) has unveiled a Fertiliser Resilience Plan, urging both government and industry to take immediate action to protect UK food production as farmers face “incredibly tough” decisions over the 2027 growing season. Image: NFU | Alamy The plan comes as farming businesses continue to grapple with rising production costs linked to ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted trade routes, increased pressure on agricultural supply chains, a

Sainsbury’s has announced a strengthened health strategy centred on increasing fruit, vegetable, and fibre consumption across the UK, setting a new ambition to add thousands of tonnes of fibre and millions of additional portions of fruit and vegetables to customers’ diets by 2030. Image: Sainsbury's The initiative forms part of a broader effort by the retailer to make healthy food more accessible and affordable for families, while encouraging shoppers to return to what it des

British Berry Growers has launched a campaign to extend junk food advertising restrictions to outdoor media and promote healthier eating options as new research finds 91% of children are exposed to unhealthy food messaging on the school run. Image: British Berry Growers The trade association is calling on the government to close a policy “loophole”, saying the current limitations – on advertising foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) on television before 9pm and through pa

New Covent Garden Market has undergone a striking transformation, with London’s historic fresh produce hub moving firmly into the premium end of the market, according to the Financial Times. The publication reports that the Nine Elms market, once under pressure from supermarket dominance and, at its lowest point in the 1980s, associated with produce rejected by major retailers, has reinvented itself as a supplier of top-grade fruit and vegetables for Michelin-starred restaura

Lidl GB has announced a £500 million commitment to British berry sourcing, in a move designed to give UK growers greater certainty amid rising costs, labour pressures and increasingly unpredictable weather. The supermarket said the figure reflects the value of sourcing contracts with British-based berry suppliers over the next five years. The longer-term agreements are intended to help growers plan production, invest in their businesses and scale up home-grown volumes. Lidl s

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from the back office to the beating heart of the UK grocery market, reshaping how retailers predict demand, manage fresh food, personalise offers and compete in an increasingly price-sensitive sector. For years, AI in food retail was talked about largely in terms of futuristic stores, automated checkouts and frictionless shopping. Today, its most significant impact is more practical and far more powerful: helping grocers make better d

The UK’s net zero economy is now worth around £105 billion a year and supports 1.1 million full-time equivalent jobs, according to new research from CBI Economics — underlining the growing commercial importance of sustainability across British business. For the fresh produce industry, the findings are a timely reminder that the transition to lower-carbon operations is no longer a fringe environmental issue. It is fast becoming a mainstream economic driver, shaping investment

Britain’s food and drink industry has warned that government plans to tighten healthy food rules could increase costs, reduce investment and pull a wider range of everyday products into restrictions designed to tackle obesity. According to the Financial Times, businesses are pushing back against proposed changes to the UK’s Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM), the scoring system used to decide which foods and drinks are classed as “less healthy” for the purposes of advertising and