If, like me, you’re a ‘foodie’, this Bank Holiday weekend issue of The Grocer, dedicated in large part to speciality and fine foods, is about to brighten your mood.

We look at the positive influence of the internet, with Ocado creating a ‘virtual’ farm shop in conjunction with Daylesford, and The London Fine meat Company launching a new online delivery service.

There’s a great article on a new kind of festival where the music plays second fiddle to food and drink. We preview the Specialist and Fine Food Fair. And we’ve covered off the flowering of the British Street Food scene.

This coverage isn’t sentimental or indulgent. We look at the commercialisation of farmers markets. And there’s lots of rather painful coverage of organic’s continuing issues, including a thought-provoking Saturday Essay from Ella’s Kitchen boss Paul Lindley, detailed examination of the supermarkets’ commitment to the category and analysis to identify solutions.

What the myriad features and news stories show is that the specialist and fine food sector is a microcosm of the wider grocery economy. It’s not plain sailing out there. Even the UK’s fastest-growing organic brand, Ella’s Kitchen, is deeply concerned at the level of promotion. Daylesford’s turnaround is slower than expected.

But the stories you’ll read are a testament to man’s resilience, ingenuity and intelligence. They are also a reminder of the fact that, whatever the weather, food and drink is a good place to be. It’s not easy out there, as The Co-op Group will attest this week.

But as this week’s results from Heinz prove, in this sector, success can also be seized from the most dismal-looking jaws.

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