RSPCA Assured reports soaring accreditations and recognition
The scheme has seen a 52% increase in products carrying the label since 2016
Lockdown Liquor eyes retail listings with addition of commercial director
Business launched in April 2020 as an initiative to raise funds for NHS charities
Bio&Me appoints chief operating officer as it readies for growth
Gut health challenger brand Bio&Me has appointed Mark Isaacson as COO as it prepares to scale the business and launch new products
City snapshot: Profits evaporate at Vimto owner Nichols in face of Covid crisis
Vimto maker Nichols has experienced a dramatic slump in sales and profits as it faced the “unequalled challenges” presented by the Covid pandemic. Plus, fierce competition keeps food inflation in check, according to the latest BRC-Nielsen shop price index for February. There are also trading updates from DS Smith and Smiths News.
Seafood supplier Sco-Fro netted by Japan’s Nishimoto Co
Established in 1975 by founder and chairman Stanley Bernard, Sco-Fro is one the UK’s largest importers of own-label noodles and frozen sushi and surimi.
Farmison appoints KPMG to explore investment options
The Yorkshire-headquartered meat delivery firm is targeting sales of £100m with ambitious plans to continue disrupting the ind
Lindt sweetens global decline with rising UK sales
A strong performance in the UK helped Lindt offset declines across the world as the coronavirus pandemic disrupted several areas of the Swiss confectionery giant’s business.
Müller teams up with sprint star Asher-Smith for new yoghurt line
Müller Corner Creations by Dina Asher-Smith will go on sale in a six-pack format in Asda and Morrisons from March
Morrisons snaps up Cornish seafood supplier Falfish
The business has a longstanding trading relationship with Morrisons dating back more than 16 years
Morrisons slammed for not going far enough on chicken welfare
It will launch a range that meets the standards of the Better Chicken Commitment, but is not signing the commitment
Sainsbury’s asks suppliers for pricing talks after Aldi Price Match move
Sainsbury’s introduced its Aldi Price Match – a pledge to match the discounter on 250 lines – in mid-February
Tetra Pak hails sustainability breakthrough with recycled polymers
Tetra Pak has become the first food and beverage packaging company to be awarded the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials Advanced Products certification
Morrisons to launch new high-welfare chicken range
The ‘affordable’ range will meet the criteria of the Better Chicken Commitment, said Morrisons
Belton Farm to bring back Red Fox TV ad
The push runs on Channel 4 for the next four weeks
Jammie Dodgers maker Burton’s Biscuits set to be put on sale
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which bought Burton’s in 2013, has hired advisors at Stamford Partners to run the process.
Giles Brook backs eco cleaning challenger Neat with six-figure investment
Neat has eliminated single-use plastics by producing plant-based cleaning concentrates in small glass containers and refillable aluminium spray bottles
Asda urges suppliers to publish emissions targets by end of next year
Asda also announced new targets for its own Scope 3 emissions, covering inherent CO2 emmisions
Seafish announces domestic catch marketing campaign
The activity forms the latest part of the public body’s 20-year Love Seafood campaign
Waitrose to extend beef production at its Leckford Estate farm
The move means the retailer will be able to source some of its beef directly from its own farm
Heck to make debut in cooked meats with cocktail sausage duo
It comes as the supplier posted a 10.5% increase in turnover for the year to 31 July 2020
Food and drink companies running out of stock as hauliers refuse to enter UK
Drivers have been reluctant to enter the UK since last year, but importers claim this has worsened since 1 January
Food and drink companies set new target on carbon emissions
The FDF said the new ambition “better reflected” current UK and international goals
City snapshot: Record year for Reckitt Benckiser as Covid fuels demand for Dettol
A strong end to the year has helped Reckitt Benckiser register double-digit growth in 2020 as consumers turned to Dettol, Lysol and other hygiene brands to keep coronavirus at bay. Plus, EG Group strengthen board with new non-exec appointment, and Glanbia profits slump as Covid take toll on performance nutrition division.
Industry appeal launched to raise awareness of #GroceryAidDay
In the past year, applications for financial support have increased by 55% and the number of helpline calls has risen by 74%
Nestlé expands DTC portfolio with acquisition of SimplyCook
The deal follows the takeover of Mindful Chef in November last year as the Swiss food giant moved to increase its exposure to the flourishing direct-to-consumer market
Medina and Freshways confirm merger talks underway
The milk processors said they were discussing whether a potential merger could create the basis for ‘a viable long-term business’
Major salmonella outbreak in frozen chicken traced to Poland
The FSA says almost 500 cases of the bug have been linked to the contaminated products since the start of 2020
Former Kerry Foods exec Liam Burke becomes MD of Noble Foods consumer arm
Burke is the latest Kerry executive to cross over to Noble after its appointment of Duncan Everett as CEO last year
Suppliers urged to ‘be flexible’ as wholesalers face cash crisis
A growing number of wholesalers are failing to meet suppliers’ 90-day payment terms, as a result of a cashflow crisis brought about by the latest lockdown
Industry’s salt reduction programme prevents 200,000 heart disease cases, study says
However, researchers warn the recent stalling of progress on salt reduction is endangering the potential for further health gains
Arla sounds alarm over rise in costs due to rising feed costs
It comes amid tight global supplies of cereals, with Arla warning the cost of production could rise by 6%
Onion and leek sales soar in latest Covid-19 lockdown
Volume sales increases were primarily attributed to the lockdown-related trend of scratch-cooking
Mash Direct sees Irish listings boom amid Brexit border chaos
Eight of the Northern Irish grower’s prepared veg lines went on sale across M&S’s 18 stores in the Republic of Ireland last week
Cheese suppliers warn of EU export ‘Russian roulette’
A cheese shipment by Neal’s Yard was delayed by a week earlier this month because another company had incorrectly filled its paperwork
Cheeky Panda cleans up with £2m fundraising
Eco toilet paper supplier The Cheeky Panda is raising £2m on Seedrs secondary market to help meet investor demand after a year of rapid growth.
Nomad Foods reveals strong finish to 2020 as frozen gets Covid boost
In a trading update issued ahead of its annual results next week, the Birds Eye owner revealed organic revenues jumped by 9.5% in the final three months of 2020 as the Uk entered lockdown once more.
Ohso Chocolate sells 75% stake in sweet investment deal
Under the umbrella of S-Ventures, Ohso will look to develop the product range, continue to grow its existing product lines and consider partnering opportunities with other major brands to use its technology.
Cranswick joins Amazon-led ‘net zero by 2040’ climate pledge
The pork giant said it aims to become the world’s most sustainable meat business
Müller Milk & Ingredients hires ex-Twinings boss Liam McNamara
He will take on the role of commercial director in May, tasked with driving the processor’s own label-focused strategy
Study shows cattle methane emissions can be reduced by 40%
A multiyear study by red meat giant ABP Food Group has shown it is possible to reduce methane emissions from cattle
Top Products Survey 2020: How Food Came Home
We teamed up with Nielsen to review the performance of the leading brands, and own label, in 108 categories, from alcoholic drinks to tobacco, via condoms, bleach, ready meals and, of course, toilet paper
Weetabix + Beanz: how the explosive social media campaign unfolded
How did Weetabix set about breaking the internet? Was it planned – or just a stroke of social media magic?
opinion
When did UK retail lose the plot and run out of ideas?
Food retailing done well brings excitement and sparks discussion, says Ged Futter, director of The Retail Mind
How Mark White’s legal background will influence his work with GSCOP
The new GCA seeks to understand the causes of retailer-supplier friction, not just the symptoms, says David Sables, CEO of Sentinel Management Consultants
Mark White: Suppliers can use ‘Tell the GCA’ to report retailer issues anonymously
‘Tell the GCA’ will offer a straightforward way for suppliers to report an issue in total confidence, says GCA Mark White