It’s been another busy week on The Grocer.

The start of the week was all about analysing the fallout from the whirlwind romance between JD.com and Sainsbury’s over the weekend. Our piece makes the point that even after pulling out of the deal to buy Argos it doesn’t mean that JD won’t come back to the negotiating table. It’s a cracking read. Who knows, it might even buy Sainsbury’s lock stock and barrel? It can certainly afford it. Meanwhile, we exclusively revealed JD’s recruitment blitz, tapping up talent from the UK grocery scene for the imminent launch of its new Joybuy grocery division. 

There’s been a tonne of inflation news this week, with the latest ONS figures showing food price inflation at an 18-month high. Both the BRC and FDF have chimed in with depressing predictions for its continued rise. We’ve explored seven reasons – and unlike UK consumers we’ve concluded this is one trend where US president Donald Trump is not really to blame. In fact the finger points closer to home, with senior industry sources suggesting that as much as 80% of the current food price inflation is linked to new government taxes. And it’s startling to see that for suppliers almost 75% of the extra costs are coming from the new packaging tax.

This week’s issue is a bit of a cookery show special. With TV cooking shows engulfed by scandal, losing viewers or being axed altogether, it’s been said that TV cooking shows are dead. Personally I’ve been enjoying the new Jamie Oliver series. But we’ve explored how the nation’s food lovers are increasingly turning to online chefs and influencers for their culinary inspiration. And as we show the shift is being felt in terms of how retailers and suppliers are allocating their advertising and sponsorship spend. You can also answer our poll here on the future of TV cooking shows. Plus we have an exclusive interview with Nadiya Hussain. She’s been axed by the BBC but she’s come out swinging in more ways than one.

There’s been more goings than comings in the last week. Technology editor George Nott has written a great piece on Will Shu’s time at Deliveroo after he stepped down this week. Deliveroo’s first bike courier, co-founder and CEO of 13 years, Shu announced his departure on Thursday. Having grown the company from scratch in a fiercely competitive market, he weathered what was dubbed “the worst IPO in London’s history” and led Deliveroo to sustained profitability. What now for the man behind a £2.9bn “British success story”?

Another founder leaving story this week is the departure of Jerry from Ben & Jerry’s. I’m not sure just how much anyone cares that the multimillionaire founder of the ice cream brand, who sold his business to Unilever almost 30 years ago, has thrown in the towel but clearly there’s a limit to Unilever’s conscious consumerism.

Finally in my leader this week I’ve written about the sad demise of Urban Legend, the non-HFSS doughnut brand. Is it a self-fulfilling prophecy or a cautionary tale? I’ll let you decide. But as ever I hope my thoughts stimulate some healthy debate.

As ever let me know what you think via LinkedIn or email me at adam.leyland@thegrocer.co.uk.

And there’s lots more to read in this week’s issue, in the links below, plus other breaking news on our website, of course.

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