Niamh Leonard-Bedwell
Niamh is The Grocer’s fmcg editor, overseeing our coverage of NPD across food and household brands – spanning everything from confectionery and crisps to cleaning products. She reports on shopper trends, inflation, marketing campaigns and appointments within the sector.
Prior to joining The Grocer as food & drink reporter in 2021, Niamh wrote about emerging wellness trends for Holland & Barrett’s customer magazine, Healthy. She started her career at nutrition magazine Healthy Food Guide.
Contact info
- Tel:
- 01293 610 292
- Email:
- n.leonard-bedwell@thegrocer.co.uk
Analysis and FeaturesPlastic to paper: the next phase of the packaging revolution
Brands are debuting paper alternatives to plastic-based crisp packets, margarine tubs and sweet wrappers. But these innovations come with their own technical and cost implications. So how much progress are brands making and is a wider rollout imminent?
NewsHeinz and Mattel join forces to launch limited-edition Barbiecue sauce
The vegan, bright pink sauce is coloured with beetroot extract
NewsBlue Dragon relaunches sweet chilli cooking sauce as condiment
A reformulated version of the sauce, which is ‘slightly thicker’ than the original, will hit shelves later this month
NewsChocolate brand Cox & Co to launch paper flow-wrapped bars
The packaging innovation is the result of 18 months’ development
NewsMcCain completes Strong Roots acquisition, targeting global growth
McCain acquired a minority stake in the Dublin-based business in 2021
NewsPeckham bakery Flake Bake wins Aldi listing for Jamaican beef patty
‘We’ve worked so hard for the last 10 years and this feels like the ultimate dream,’ said co-owner Mike Williams
NewsGinsters adds Breakfast Roll and Butter Chicken Bake to its lineup
‘These tasty new flavours will bring excitement to anyone looking for new, exciting and delicious snacks,’ it claimed
Analysis and FeaturesWhat are British Muslim shoppers buying from the supermarkets?
From dates to vermicelli noodles and Rubicon, here are the grocery items being added to Muslim shoppers’ baskets, according to supermarket buyers
NewsPrinces Group names Simon Harrison CEO as Cameron Mackintosh leaves
Harrison was appointed as deputy managing director for Princes in June last year
NewsPladis appoints Sephora’s Steve Lesnard as president of Godiva
Lesnard would ‘grow and sustain Godiva’s position and expertise in the premium chocolate category’, said Pladis
NewsAngel Delight expands ice cream range with duo of handheld sticks
‘We expect this launch to engage loyal fans and bring newcomers to the brand,’ Angel Delight said
NewsDTC startups in spat over Dragons’ Den April Fool’s ‘spoof’
The ads posted by ready meal brand Simmer, which ran on TikTok and Facebook, had been removed by the time of writing
NewsLittle Dish appoints Sophie Giddings as marketing director
Giddings has joined the business, effective immediately, from her previous role as marketing director for Lily’s Kitchen
NewsPepsiCo introduces paper outer for Snack a Jacks multipacks
It follows PepsiCo’s introduction of a paper outer for Walkers Baked in 2023
NewsSurya Foods launches Greek-style mezze brand Trophi into Asda
The frozen range spans pastry snacks, gyros meal kits and kebabs
NewsPerkier reformulates snack bars and redesigns their packaging
The brand has increased the proportion of nuts and protein crispies in its snack bars to make them ‘crunchier and chewier’
NewsWeetabix launches £10m campaign to stem volume declines
The TV advert will air between Emmerdale and ITV News tonight (2 April)
NewsMagnum recalls Classic ice creams over fears they may contain metal
Several batches of Magnum multipacks were deemed unsafe to eat following safety checks
NewsNestlé backs Orkney shop owner’s Easter egg raffle in aid of RNLI
Nestlé will match donations to the raffle up to the value of £10,000