Food and drink producers on Thursday warned that a carbon dioxide shortage threatens to halt production and disrupt supply chains across Britain, prompting the UK government to say it was “working to find a solution” to the problem. (The Financial Times £)
First drinks producers were warning about beer - now chicken could also be at risk due to dwindling carbon dioxide (CO2) stocks. The British Poultry Council has called on the government and gas producers for help after beer, fizzy drinks and meat producers all warned of possible shortages caused by a lack of the gas. (Sky News)
Dutch brewer Heineken will take a minority stake in Beavertown Brewery to give the London-based craft beer maker the £40m it needs to build a new brewery and visitor site (The Guardian). Heineken has gobbled up a slice of London’s Beavertown Brewery in the latest move by a large brewer to tap into rising consumer interest in craft beers. The Dutch company’s investment in a minority stake “gives Beavertown the £40m …funding injection” needed to sharply increase its output, the craft brewer said (The Financial Times £). Heineken’s purchase, for an undisclosed sum, marks its latest attempt to get a foothold in the craft beer market. Last year it bought a minority stake in Brixton Brewery. (The Daily Mail)
The second biggest shareholder of Premier Foods has said it will vote against the re-election of Gavin Darby as chief executive of the group that makes Mr Kipling cakes and Ambrosia custard. (The Times £)
Young’s Seafood has lost a £30m contract with the supermarket chain Asda. A spokesperson for the Grimsby-based firm said it was disappointing news but Asda remained an important customer. (The BBC)
The European Union has introduced retaliatory tariffs on US goods as a top official launched a fresh attack on President Donald Trump’s trade policy. The duties on €2.8bn (£2.4bn) worth of US goods came into force on Friday. (The BBC)
The supreme court ruled on Thursday that states can require online retailers to collect sales tax from customers, overturning an pre-internet ruling that had allowed many internet businesses to avoid paying the duties. (The Guardian)
Kroger posted upbeat quarterly earnings and lifted the lower end of its earnings outlook, prompting investors to cheer the grocer, which is investing in its online business to fend off competition from Amazon. (The Financial Times £)
Cake Box is handing investors a slice of its burgeoning retail business through a £43m London listing. The fresh cream cakes retailer is floating 41% of the business on London’s junior market in a move that will hand founders Sukh Chamdal and Pardip Dass a near £17m payday. (The Telegraph)
French retailer Groupe Casino is teaming with consumer group L’Oréal to launch a beauty and wellbeing store concept in Paris, illustrating how retailers are seeking new ways of attracting consumers to shops in the face of growing competition from online. (The Financial Times £)
Bonds issued by Walmart to fund its acquisition of Indian ecommerce company Flipkart contain controversial provisions that could be used to withhold compensation to investors if the deal is delayed. (The Financial Times £)
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