It’s been another busy week on The Grocer!

On Monday we broke the news that the DHSC is to go ahead with plans to change the Nutrient Profiling Model. We’ve been flagging that there was a strong possibility this would happen since November, but the starting gun has now been fired, with plans to introduce the new definition to determine what constitutes a HFSS product in this parliament.

It’s a hugely contentious decision. PepsiCo’s UK&I GM Jason Richards urged the government “not to change the regulatory goalposts” for HFSS foods, as PepsiCo announced it had exceeded its target for half of its snack sales to come from “healthier choices” by the end of 2025. An impressive 59% of sales now come from ‘better-for-you’ lines, it reported.

But it’s not just companies like PepsiCo, who’ve spent millions reformulating to meet the NPM, that are denouncing the move. In my leader I argue that the nutrient profiling model is at odds with the latest scientific consensus, consumer sentiment and retailer and supplier actions in its slavish focus on fat, salt and sugar. 

At the start of the week we also investigated a story suggesting that James Watt was set for a dramatic comeback at BrewDog. As a sign of how much it has lost its way, BrewDog announced this week it was mothballing its spirits arm, but whether Watt, the former ‘darling’/‘enfant terrible’ of the craft brewing scene, will return, how it might be done, and whether his comeback would solve BrewDog’s problems is the subject of this excellent read by drinks editor James Beeson.

Retailer news

On the retailer side, there have been a number of notable developments. Tesco announced plans to cut another 400 jobs from its in-store bakeries. Asda was forced to admit it had underpaid 53,000 workers for sickness and holiday pay last year due to ongoing issues with its ‘Project Future’ IT switchover. It’s the second time Asda’s new HR system has shortchanged staff.

We also worked with SpendMapper to report on the Christmas sales of the variety discounters. It shows the ones doing really badly – Poundland, Poundstretcher and The Original Factory Shop – are all PE-owned.

There is one good news story to report, though: Sainsbury’s threw down the gauntlet to rivals in unveiling an above-inflation 5% pay rise for colleagues. That’s double the increase Aldi announced a couple of weeks ago.

Fresh produce

As I predicted, supermarkets are none too happy with soy traders over their plans to withdraw from the Amazon Soy Moratorium. Under the umbrella of the Retail Soy Group, leading supermarkets are now threatening to cut ties with Cargill, Bunge, ADM, Louis Dreyfus and Cofco as they weigh up “future sourcing decisions”.

UK farmers are also facing into a potential £800m loss from new EU pesticide rules, as a result of an SPS deal on plant protection products that’s in the works.

In our Focus on Eggs we also investigate growing concerns among farmers over the import of cheap Ukrainian cage eggs, and the threat it represents to the UK’s cage-free commitments. This was supposed to be a temporary deal, but it’s been extended by a further two years by the government.

There’s also a fascinating report on the slump in meat sales. As we report, the average Brit ate 848g of meat per week at home in 2024 – the lowest amount since records began in 1974. That’s not exactly surprising given the soaring cost of beef, and as we report supply is expected to stay tight as farmer confidence falters. But there’s an irony, isn’t there, in the cost of living, rather than health or sustainability concerns, driving down meat sales?

Caffeine boost?

And finally this week’s cover feature delves into the fast-growing new market for caffeine pouches. The tabs are placed under one’s lip in identical fashion to nicotine pouches, and deliver a short, sharp blast of energy. It’s a potentially exciting new niche to complement energy drinks, but campaigners are warning of growing teen usage and concern over the association with nicotine pouches.

Anyway, there’s loads more brilliant stories in this week’s issue. And even more on thegrocer.co.uk. But those are some of my faves. And we would love to know your thoughts on our coverage. Or is there anything we’ve missed? We’re all ears! Get in touch via LinkedIn or adam.leyland@thegrocer.co.uk.

Topics