latest news
Reckitt Benckiser restructures as sales decline again Subscription
Reckitt Benckiser revealed today it was restructuring the group into two distinct divisions as consumer healthcare and hygiene giant trimmed its full-year forecasts again as trading continued to be challenging.
Motor Fuel Group rolls out disabled driver refuelling app Subscription
Sainsbury’s became the first supermarket to adopt the technology at its 300 filling stations last week…
FWD hits bursary target to fund more women in wholesale Subscription
The Fellowship Fund provides part-funding for external career development, training and studying
Ocado launches Amazon-style product subscription service Subscription
Using the Ocado Regulars feature, customers can choose a product they would like to be added to their basket regularly
Pret to donate unsold food from new London university stores
The Pret Foundation Trust has re-distributed more than three million items of food to UK hostels and shelters
Hippeas bags $10m backing from US investor scale expansion Subscription
Chickpea snack maker Hippeas has secured $10m (£7.6m) from specialist US food and drink investment firm CAVU Venture Partners to accelerate its global expansion and turn the brand into a household name.
Shell installs first electric vehicle fast-charging stations
The points will be available at forecourts in Holloway, Whyteleafe, and Derby…
Campylobacter levels fall as supermarkets make progress Subscription
Some 54% of 3,980 chicken samples taken from August 2016 to July 2017 tested positive for campylobacter, down from 73.2% in 2014/15
Birds Eye to back Inspirations revamp with major ad push Subscription
The multichannel push will be its longest continuous ad campaign to date
Grayling call for UK to grow more is 'tripe' Subscription
Growers have warned suggestion UK could increase food production in event of a hard Brexit would face several challenges
Amazon doubles number of brands available via Dash buttons
The most popular Dash button brand is Finish, followed by Tassimo, Ariel and Duracell…
Sainsbury's to cut 2,000 jobs across stores and head office Subscription
Sainsbury’s has launched a 45-day consultation on what it branded a “difficult decision”
BrewDog targets £10m in new 'Equity for Punks' funding drive Subscription
A successful bid would make BrewDog “the biggest crowdfunded business of all time”, it claimed…
Media Bites 18 October: Sainsbury's, Kantar/Nielsen, Danone, P&G, inflation Subscription
News that Sainsbury’s is to cut 2,000 jobs across the UK makes all the papers this morning.
Mary Berry’s brand unveils its first condiments Subscription
Redcurrant & Mint, Horseradish and Hollandaise are set to make their debut this week in Tesco
CIty snapshot: Hilton Food Group nets fish supplier Seachill for £81m Subscription
Red meat packer Hilton Food Group has completed an £81m deal for Seachill to expand its presence to the supply of fish. Plus, Reckitt reduces full-year outlook as sales fall in Q3, with plans to split the business into two new divisions; and Conviviality appoints new CFO.
P&H would need to "restructure" if it lost Tesco contract Subscription
The delivered wholesaler made the admission during a hearing with the Competition & Markets Authority
Soaring inflation adds £273m to business rates bill Subscription
The Retail Prices Index has rapidly increased from 2% last September
Alpro adds More Fruit, No Added Sugars variant to big pots Subscription
The soya-based yoghurt alternative contains only sugar that occurs naturally from the mango chunks flavouring it
Mr Kipling makes its New Zealand supermarket debut Subscription
Everyday cakes from Mr Kipling and Cadbury are rolling into Progressive’s 184 Countdown stores
Arla launches Protein Milk containing 30% more than standard
Range joins dairy co-op’s Protein range, which also includes yoghurt, milkshake and cottage cheese SKUs
Müller sales near £2bn but Dairy Crest integration hits profits Subscription
Müller’s group revenues grew by £647m to more than £1.9bn, according to its latest accounts
Icelandic dairy co-op MS Iceland's skyr makes debut in Aldi Subscription
MS Iceland has expanded its Ísey Skyr brand offering in the UK with a new mango-flavoured variant
Rising grocery prices to slow early next year Video Subscription
Kantar Worldpanel predicts supermarket price rises will peak later this year
Innis & Gunn makeover marks return to barrel aged beers
The brewer is rolling out new 330ml bottles across its core range of beers from the middle of this month…
Media Bites 17 October: Tesco, Lidl, Carrefour Subscription
Tesco is looking to pay down as much as £700m of its debt as the retailer tries to strengthen its balance sheet and regain its investment grade status.
City snapshot: Danone beats expectations on baby food and water demand in China Video Subscription
Soaring sales of baby food and water in China helped Danone comfortably beat expectations in the third quarter, but the dairy division of the global giant continued to struggle. Plus, inflation drives sales in the supermarkets but volumes slow, according to the latest Nielsen and Kantar market share data.
Jamie Oliver restaurant sugar tax worked say researchers Subscription
Adding a 10p levy to sugar-sweetened beverages was associated with an 11% decline in sales per customer
Kraft Heinz unveils second phase of £8m soups ad campaign Subscription
Targeted at under-35s, the £4m push makes its TV debut today (16 October)
The Co-op adds swathe of wine SKUs in data-inspired refresh Subscription
Stores will be clustered with an “affluence overlay” to determine what is important to consumers…
Forecourt stores account for more than £4bn in sales says ACS Subscription
Association of Convenience Stores’ latest Forecourt Report reveals revenue streams
Galen Levi joins Select & Save as trading director Subscription
It comes just one week after the group announced former One Stop boss Andrew King as its new MD
Sugar beet harvester M&J Haulage collapses Subscription
Lincolnshire sugar beet harvester M&J Haulage has called in administrators from KPMG, with operations suspended and all 24 staff sent home.
Apprenticeship Levy blamed for decline in new starters
Last August, the BRC said it supported the levy’s aims and “wanted it to succeed”…
Lidl UK plans to open biggest RDC yet in Peterborough Subscription
The 754,000 sq ft depot will be the discounter’s 15th UK RDC and will create up to 500 new jobs for the area
insight
The first cut isn’t always the deepest. Sometimes it’s the following ones that prove fatal Subscription
The latest news of job cuts at Sainsbury’s was perhaps to be expected after similar announcements from Tesco and Asda, but will they really deliver cost savings for the mults?
Jacopo Cordero di Vonzo, Remeo Gelato, on sailing and mice
They put us into groups and asked us to create stories around irrelevant products. It was very strange…
Asda gets into the Halloween spirit with dance party Video
Asda is once again the UK mult that makes the most effort for Halloween
Restaurant takes a stand on smartphones
A restaurant in Singapore is seeking to encourage real conversation by introducing smartphone lockers…
Round pound deadline provides Pat with an opportunity
Few will be more accustomed than your Pat to the PR fripperies of my competitors…
Take mental health seriously: employee care goes beyond HR
World Mental Health Day occurs annually on 10 October. This year the pledge was centred on mental health in the workplace
Retailers must take more of a lead on waste
Sir, Each week sees new stories demonstrating the effect food waste is having on people and the planet…
Time to shape up? How food & drink to go can get healthier Video
All hail the mighty salad! Once a humble side dish, salad is increasingly taking centre stage in meals eaten on the go, where it’s the fastest-growing meal type. Read on to find out who’s eating what and where, how the coffee shops are cashing in and whether Japanese-style bento boxes have what it takes to return the sector to volume growth.
Technology can enable a seamless service flow
Changing consumer behaviour is proving the catalyst for a plethora of intriguing partnerships…
The Co-op isn’t ailing. But it needs to stretch its wings Subscription
A casual observer of today’s grocery market share figures from Kantar would conclude that the Co-op is struggling
Peperami and 'Beefsy' unveil meaty art exhibition
Do you like art? Do you like beef? Then you’ll probably like Peperami’s new exhibition!
Tunnock's Terry takes a trip to space
The Glasgow Science Centre last week sent ‘Terry’ – a Tunnock’s Teacake – into space
How food to go will tackle EU worker exodus Subscription
In lieu of clarity from the government, businesses are formulating a backup plan
Sainsbury's expands one-hour Chop Chop service across central London Subscription
Express delivery will now be available to more than 1.7 million customers in zones one and two
FSA probe finds widespread addition of undeclared sugar in coconut water
2 Sisters boss Ranjit Singh summoned by Commons Committee
Chris Dee switches to 'brand incubator' role with Manílife
Pret a Manger trials free water stations at veggie stores
10 packaging innovations of 2017
Medina Dairy MD Mike Sheldon leaves to return to consultancy
Peter Kay packs in the laughs in Warburtons 'period drama'
Convibo one-hour service becomes Homerun and targets Amazon
Compass launches mental health awareness campaign
Aldi and Iceland commit to accepting old pound coin until end of month
Urgent action is needed to protect coconut water's success
The Co-op adds swathe of wine SKUs in data-inspired refresh
Trolley posters 'deliver 15% sales boost for brands'
Grocery suppliers must take urgent action on diversity
Tesco trials extended booze range in 'new approach' to online
Winners of Top New Talent awards 2017 chosen
Warburtons debuts ‘Pride & Breadjudice’ ad starring Peter Kay
Plain packaging: who's next?
Tesco CEO hails supplier waste agreement a 'pivotal moment'
Tetley moves into squash aisle with functional range
