Saputo pulls low-calorie Cathedral City 82 cheddar variant
It said relatively low demand and a combination of production complications and range rationalisations led it to withdraw the cheese
Industry bosses hit back at claims meat factories are ‘virus breeding grounds’
Earlier this week Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said it was investigating the theory that the ‘cold and damp’ conditions at meat plants may make them ‘predisposed’ to coronavirus outbreaks
Suppliers uneasy about one-metre social distancing rule change
In a survey by the FDF this week, 71% of suppliers felt employees would be concerned a move to one metre would ‘not be a safe environment’ for food production
Supermarkets and suppliers plan closer Christmas collaboration
Supermarkets are increasingly keen to better understand their supply chains and pay more attention to risk management
Redwigwam rolls out in-store troubleshooting app for supermarket suppliers
Redwigwam matches suppliers with one of its 130,000 workers, with the relevant skills and in a nearby location
Suppliers report fall in fines for ‘drop and drive’ deliveries
Findings from a group of 20 suppliers show a 90% fall in the sums being deducted for delivery errors
Wholesalers urge suppliers to extend best-before dates to prevent food waste
Ambient is the latest category to be in danger of going to waste as the hospitality industry remains shuttered
Number of suppliers experiencing GSCOP-related issues continues to fall
The percentage of suppliers claiming to have been affected by a code-related issue has fallen for the seventh consecutive year
Blue Skies warns of rise in imported fruit prices as airlines stop passenger services
Importers are grappling with the coronavirus’ impact on global supply chains
Delistings have hit a third of suppliers since crisis hit UK
Asked if any retailer had behaved in a way contrary to GSCOP in the past five weeks, 31% of the 40 suppliers to respond said yes
Coronavirus: Arla and 2 Sisters pledge food to NHS staff and vulnerable people
The food manufacturers will donate food to hospitals and charities across the UK
Oppo launches DTC service with free tubs for neighbours
All of the profits from sales will be donated to NHS Charities Together
Food suppliers fear factories could be ‘paralysed’ by face mask recommendation
Companies say a global shortage of the equipment would make it impossible for workplaces to remain open if the advice is changed
Graham’s expands DTC delivery amid coronavirus convenience demand
However, the company has endured production difficulties as a result of panic-buying and lockdown measures
Moy Park turns test kitchen into meals on wheels production line
The NPD kitchen at the poultry giant’s Craigavon site in Northern Ireland is now creating 1,000 meals a week
PHE slammed for delay issuing safety guidance for factory staff
Current regulations are too vague and misinformation is adding to anxiety say industry leaders
Government intervention boosts wholesale and convenience stock levels
The shake-up followed crisis talks between members of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors and the government
Industry leaders call for mass coronavirus testing of food sector workers
It has emerged online delivery company Ocado had privately ordered 100,000 Covid-19 testing kits for staff
Christine Tacon calls for retailers to help suppliers facing cashflow problems
Tacon has always previously refused to give any guidance on payment terms, because the issue is not covered in GSCOP
Coronavirus: DTC meal kit businesses report record demand
DTC recipe kit providers have been forced to turn down new customers as they grapple with ‘unprecedented’ levels of demand
Unilever offers €500m relief to suppliers and customers, donates hygiene products
The consumer goods giant will give early payments to the most vulnerable small and medium-sized suppliers
Coronavirus: JD Wetherspoon boss asks suppliers for payment moratorium
One industry source at a major booze supplier called the move “absolutely shocking”
Food & drink businesses urge clarity on reducing staff to ‘bare essentials’
The Food & Drink Federation told The Grocer its understanding was the guidance applied to all manufacturers
Tesco to pay small suppliers within five days to battle cashflow crisis
The supermarket giant said it would shorten the period of payment terms from 14 to five days, “with immediate effect”
Italian food producers stockpile in UK over coronavirus fears
If factories start to close due to the outbreak, a potential shortage of Italian ingredients will add concern to businesses
GS1 to expand ProductDNA database to smaller suppliers
The ProductDNA database has previously been limited to large suppliers
Trewithen Dairy owner Cornish Farm's sales surge by more than a third
Cornish Farm Dairy has seen sales boosted 34.6% due in part to two major ‘long-term’ retail milk contracts
Christine Tacon launches final supplier survey before stepping down as GCA
Tacon said there has been a huge improvement in retailer behaviour across the board since she took up the role eight years
Supermarkets and suppliers agree to simplified recycling label system
The simplified system will tell consumers to either ‘recycle’ or ‘don’t recycle’ products
Lynas Foodservice demands cut in payments to suppliers
A letter seen by The Grocer said the deductions would commence from this month
Tesco accused of ‘reverting to type’ with supplier tactics
Tesco has been involved in a series of settlement wrangles with suppliers in the run-up to the financial year end
Hike in GSCOP breaches cast doubt over self-regulation
The number of alleged breaches of GSCOP has more than doubled in the past year
B&M agrees to limit forensic auditing of its suppliers
It joins Waitrose and Ocado which The Grocer revealed in June were signing up to the agreement
Food and drink companies slam government over no-deal Brexit spending
Some companies forked out up to £5m, according to a survey of its members by the FDF
Sainsbury’s signs up to ProductDNA supplier information platform
The supermarket’s first ProductDNA pilot will begin in early 2020 with a small number of branded suppliers
No-deal worries linger as pre-Christmas election is confirmed
Defra and DExEU are urging suppliers to keep preparing for the possibility of a no-deal
Asda brings forward recycled plastic target and tells suppliers: speed up
CEO Roger Burnley has urged suppliers to come forward with new ideas for reduced, reusable or recycled plastic solutions
Suppliers have ‘no clue’ about retailers’ no-deal Brexit plans
Survey finds none of 45 suppliers feltretailers had been clear about their no deal Brexit plans
Henderson Wholesale pushes local with listings for artisan producers
Henderson Wholesale said more than 75% of its fresh food came from local farmers, growers and producers
OC&C Top 150 reveals fall in food and drink growth and profits
Profit margins have declined across the UK as the industry prepares for Brexit
OC&C Global 50: the five top performing fmcg companies of 2019
The OC&C Global 50 enjoyed their best overall performance in five years – within this group the report has picked out four ‘performance champions’ that drove particularly stellar growth last year
OC&C Global 50 report 2020: ready for the storm
The biggest fmcg players were in great shape heading into the coronavirus. And many are ideally positioned to thrive in the ‘new normal’
opinion
Why the new Groceries Code Adjudicator might be just what the industry needs
Mr White will need to be sensitive to grocery’s grey areas, but an experienced arbitrator could be just what is needed
How Unilever is adapting to the new normal – and how fmcg can follow suit
Unilever is a bellwether for consumer staples – so its first-half results next month should tell us how the sector has been affected by Covid-19, says Barclays’ Warren Ackerman
What’s ‘reasonable’ when it comes to making a complaint under GSCOP?
Sentinel Management Consultants CEO David Sables offers three practical and applicable learnings from the recent Co-op investigation