Support blind shoppers
A blind shopper should never have to abandon a trip because the only help available is someone unfamiliar with the store. The recent mystery shop is hard to read but it makes a simple point. Accessibility is decided at the shelf, not in a mission statement.
The test is choice. Our polling shows most people aim to shop independently, with only a small minority relying on staff. More than half have had to ask for help and over a third feel uncomfortable doing so. Help should never feel like a burden.
Physical fixes still matter. Keep aisles clear, make staffed checkouts easy to access and say totals aloud. Wayfinding principles are well established.
Digital solutions can also unlock independence at scale. More than four in five shoppers we surveyed say information on pack is difficult or impossible to read. When an on-pack QR code links to accessible product data, a phone can read ingredients and allergens aloud.
The ask is simple. Co-design stores with people with sight loss. Train colleagues to offer help and know when to step back. Set a standard for QR placement on front of pack. With the right standards, supermarkets can make every shop simpler, safer and accessible.
Iain Walker, industry engagement director, GS1 UK
Sustainability in seafood
Princes has achieved 100% Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification across all UK Princes-branded tuna. It’s a milestone we’re proud of – but it is not a claim of perfection.
One of the biggest risks to seafood sustainability today is the belief that only flawless solutions or specific fishing gears are sustainable. If we wait for the perfect system, we risk stalling the real, measurable progress already within reach.
Our journey to full MSC certification has required long-term investment and a pragmatic understanding of global sourcing realities. Securing certified volumes in a complex, international tuna market is not straightforward. It demands patience and resilience.
Sustainability challenges remain for the industry. Many ESG considerations – human rights, food waste, and carbon, as examples – vary significantly by fishing method. The MSC standard can’t be held accountable for all these factors and criticism of the MSC for issues outside of its remit is unfair.
If we want healthier oceans and sustainable, affordable food systems, we must reward improvement and sustained commitment. Progress, not purity, is what ultimately delivers change.
David McDiarmid, corporate relations director, Princes Group
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