It’s been another busy week on The Grocer, dominated of course by the budget. Our comprehensive coverage has included a round-up report, including a fascinating piece on the business rates debacle as well as details of the soft drinks brands that dodged the latest tax clampdown. And while milkshake suppliers are relieved that lactose has not been included in the calculations, there’s fury among plant-based rivals over the “market advantage” this offers dairy players. We also interviewed farmers at their illegal protest on Wednesday. It’s fair to say they’re not happy. And I’ve weighed in on the budget in my leader, arguing that it’s thin gruel.

As everyone digests the implications of the budget, today has also seen Asda announce its latest results, with Allan Leighton insisting that the turnaround is working, despite the continued sales slump and the recent Fitch ratings downgrade.

One of the key highlights of this week’s magazine is our cover story on what it’s really like to work in a supermarket at Christmas. It can be easy to assume that it’s all Santa hats, Christmas tunes and jovial customers during the festive period, but our research tells a more worrying story. Features editor Dene Mullen has combined exclusive research of supermarket workers with anonymous interviews to a darker reality, in which abuse and shopper attitudes towards staff have gotten worse, perks have slowly been eroded, stores and warehouses are described as “pandemonium” and workers don’t even bother to ask for time off to spend with their families because they know they’ll be given short shrift. It’s a harrowing read at times, but a crucial one – so, this Christmas, let’s all try to treat our retail workers with the respect and kindness they deserve.

And it’s not just shop floor workers who face abuse, as our review of a film about the hard lives endured by delivery app riders shows.

This was obviously a good week to be burying news. But we’ve dug them all up!

Like the shock go-ahead to the FSA’s supermarket food safety shake-up. The controversial plans to strip local councils of oversight for food safety in supermarkets and other large food businesses, in favour of a national system based on data from the big retailers will mean there’s no longer a public record of food safety, despite the fact that dozens of supermarkets failed essential hygiene checks as The Grocer revealed earlier this year.

And if you weren’t paying attention you wouldn’t have noticed the retailers and suppliers missing from the updated Plastics Pact 2, even though some were hastily added after the announcement.

Another hidden story concerns the use of cocoa beans from deforested areas in Liberia potentially making their way into the supply chains of some of the world’s bestselling chocolates.

We’ve also explored the impact of Kroger’s devastating decision to mothball three of its Ocado CFCs.

And while we’re struggling to stand up reports that Unilever is selling its Marmite, Bovril and Colman’s mustard brands, we have established the likely buyer of its snack brand Graze.

Of course there’s loads of other 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.

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