Sourcing news
Migrant labour crisis sees 15% fall in soft fruit production
It follows a 63% drop in applications for seasonal positions last year, says British Summer Fruits
Almond ingredient-sourcing app launched alongside Fact drinks Subscription
The Almond app uses a code printed on packaging that consumers can scan to learn the source of ingredients
Leading tea brands back scheme to improve Assam pickers’ lives
The Ethical Tea Partnership has kicked off its Women, Children and Families in Assam Commitment in partnership with UNICEF, covering 200 estates
FSA trials blockchain for meat inspection audits Subscription
The regulator launched a pilot two months ago with IBM
National Food Crime Unit wins funding for 'upgrade' Subscription
The FSA unit will see its headcount grow from 22 to 82 and will become fully operational, with full investigatory powers, from next March
Waitrose and M&S sign up to 'ghost gear' fisheries initiative
World Animal Protection initiative aims to reduce the 640,000 tonnes of gear discarded in the oceans every year
What do US-style feedlots mean for British beef? Subscription
Does the existence of a dozen industrial-scale beef finishing units in England undermine Britain’s grass-fed image?
Tesco blames shortages of fresh chicken on packaging problems
Shoppers have been reporting difficulties locating fresh chicken
Tulip CEO Steve Francis steps down
Francis was credited with turning the pork supplier around and bringing it back into profitability by parent Danish Crown
Efra warns of Brexit threat to smaller fruit & veg suppliers
Smaller horticulture businesses could suffer if EU support mechanisms for farmers are not replicated, The Committee warns
Sainsbury's-Asda merger could hurt competition, warns NFU Subscription
In a letter to the CMA, the union warned the merger could have a ‘negative effect’ on smaller suppliers
ABP Food Group ploughs £17m investment into Perth beef plant Subscription
Cash injection will allow plant to ‘become one of the most modern facilities of its kind in the UK’
Tulip to cut 150 jobs in Bodmin as production levels fall
It comes as Young’s Seafood also confirms plans to close its Annan factory
Tesco to slash supplier numbers in next phase of Reset Subscription
The move will see Tesco conduct a sweeping review of its entire supplier base over the next two years
Foodservice companies urged to improve seafood sourcing Subscription
Only a small percentage of foodservice companies had signed up to the Sustainable Seafood Coalition, said its secretariat
Supermeat & Fish Awards: entry deadline extended
The awards will be part of The Grocer’s programme of events for the first time this year
Arla to end cheese production in Wales
Up to 154 jobs could be lost as part of a strategic review of its cheesemaking division
Ornua Foods bounces back into black with £7.1m profit Subscription
The dairy co-op saw total revenue hit £319m for the year to 30 December, up 11.6% on the previous year
Dovecote Park to launch new beef and venison brand Subscription
The Waitrose own label beef supplier is launching The Juicy Meat Co this autumn in a bid to target new audiences
AHDB set to launch £1m Cheeky Beef campaign Subscription
Marketing push will launch later this month and target time-short households with a range of 30-minute or less recipes
Traidcraft report reveals ‘appalling’ tea worker conditions
Traidcraft has called on big tea brands to be transparent about which Assam tea estates they buy from
Meat suppliers' trade body AIMS resigns from Red Tractor board Subscription
Rift follows disagreement over future direction of Red Tractor, and lack of focus on eating quality by the scheme
Pork co-op Danish Crown posts 'satisfactory' results Subscription
Tulip’s Danish owner increased operating profits before special items by 1.5% year on year to 1,041 million DKK in the first half of the year
CMA launches probe into proposed Arla-Yeo tie-up Subscription
The CMA said it was considering whether the merger would result in a ‘substantial lessening of competition’
Pig sector successfully reduces antibiotic use by another 28% Subscription
The pig industry has hailed the reduction in usage, which has fallen by more than 50% since 2016
insight
Coupe and Burnley take a battering – but will the CMA take notice? Subscription
The pair suffered the mother of all grillings at the hands of MPs today, but it remains to be seen what impact the hearing will have on the deal’s competition clearance
CO2 crisis explained: Causes, drivers and the impact on food & drink
Shortages in food-grade carbon dioxide are causing havoc for the UK food & drink industry. Here, we explain what’s behind the shortages - and why they’re having such a big impact on the industry
Hisbe: a brave new model for food retailers in Brighton Video Subscription
The city centre store has been reducing plastic and tackling food waste since long before it was fashionable
What to make of Microsoft, Google and Amazon's grocery moves
As the world’s leading tech giants, Google and Amazon both bring an unprecedented level of in-depth consumer access, says Lawrence Hutter of Alvarez & Marsal
Get your work processes right to ensure the highest quality thinking
Efficient and reflective processes will help your team function at its best, says Insight Traction’s Jeremy Garlick
John Barnes takes a tonguing in Just Eat ad Video Subscription
World Cup-sponsoring brands have, as you’d expect, been making the most of their exclusive deals
CO2 shortages: how suppliers and supermarkets are reacting Subscription
Our roundup of how major suppliers, retailers and industry associations are responding to shortages of food-grade CO2
Michael Gove must remember the ‘f’ in Defra
Perceptions of Gove may have changed, but it’s not all been plain sailing, says Fresh Foods Editor Kevin White
Fmcg careers need fresh job descriptions to attract the best talent
Many other industries now offer what only fmcg did 25 years ago, so the best have better choices, warns David Sables of Sentinel Management Consultants
Tesco and Booker are moving smartly with Chef Central pilots
There seems a lot more to Chef Central than what was billed as a predominantly B2B offering aimed at caterers, says chief reporter Ian Quinn
Grocer Gold Awards 2018: all the winners revealed
Aldi, Budweiser, MuscleFood and Spoon Guru among winners as disruptors and innovators dominate The Grocer Gold Awards
Adjudicator role changes could cause clash with retailers
Many senior sources are adamant it would be a “massive change of scope” and a “departure too far”
10 new products launching for the World Cup
Burton’s Biscuits Minis packs to get ‘100 calories’ overhaul
Leading tea brands back scheme to improve Assam pickers’ lives
Sainsbury's investigates Fairtrade flower picker pay claims
Gato & Co increases pack sizes but not prices
Apprentice winner's Sweets in the City makes official debut
Bidfood cuts sugar in 27 lines in efforts to meet PHE targets
Kiddylicious makes debut in South Africa and Central America
Cotton price hiked by slowing production
Red Bull makes posh mixers play with Organics quartet
Industry leaders to challenge ban on 'junk food' promotions 
Lucozade Zero is the Love Island hero
Addo pulls 59 pastry SKUs over metal contamination fear
Brands must get their World Cup marketing timing right
Hotel Chocolat claims win over Waitrose 'copycat' bars
UK market ‘attractive’ says expanding Dutch online firm 
After flexitarianism, here comes 'reducetarianism'. But will it stick? 
Tenderstem broccoli inspires seven-inch song of praise
