Author: Dave Antrobus

Whole Foods Market is actively seeking mission-led brands to join their retailer lineup.The Supplier Pitching Event on November 7 aims to spotlight innovative brands.Applications opened on October 1 with notifications for successful brands by October 21.Whole Foods is particularly focused on local, emerging, and early-stage innovators.The event aligns with Whole Foods’ commitment to quality standards and innovation.Whole Foods Market has announced a significant new initiative aimed at bringing fresh, innovative, and mission-driven brands to its store shelves. As part of this endeavour, they are hosting a ‘Supplier Pitching Event’ on November 7, designed to highlight the best new names in…

M&S has commenced a substantial recruitment drive to fill over 11,000 customer assistant roles for the festive season.The recruitment effort features flexible working patterns and aims to hire more staff than the previous year.A significant focus is on enhancing customer service during the busy holiday period in M&S stores.The recruitment process begins on 9 October with new employees joining from mid-November.This initiative includes roles supporting M&S’s newly launched Christmas Food to Order service.M&S has started an extensive recruitment campaign to employ over 11,000 customer assistants to manage increased demand during the Christmas period. This move represents a substantial increase compared…

Mondelez has strategically acquired a minority stake in Urban Legend, a brand that offers healthier doughnuts.Urban Legend was founded in 2021 and focuses on reduced fat, salt, or sugar products.The brand aims to transform the bakery sector through innovation and compliance with health guidelines.Mondelez sees potential in fresh bakery opportunities, leveraging its R&D strengths.England football star Harry Kane previously invested in Urban Legend for its healthier treat options.Mondelez has strategically acquired a minority stake in the bakery brand Urban Legend, known for its healthier doughnut offerings. This move represents a significant foray for Mondelez into the fresh bakery sector through…

Iceland is taking a significant step in addressing food waste by expanding its ‘mystery bag’ scheme.Initially piloted in September, the scheme will now include more Iceland stores by the end of October.The initiative involves selling £2 mystery bags of groceries nearing their ‘use-by’ date, valued at £10.The project is part of Iceland’s wider efforts with food redistributor Olio to curb food waste.Leading UK grocers, including Iceland, advocate for government-mandated food waste reporting.In an effort to curb food waste, Iceland is expanding its ‘mystery bag’ initiative, initially launched in September. What began as a trial in four Iceland stores and one…

Ella’s Kitchen partners with the Eevie climate app to enhance its sustainability efforts.The partnership aims to promote eco-friendly practices among Ella’s Kitchen employees.Eevie app offers climate challenges and rewards for sustainable employee behaviour.The initiative will support the ’30 x 30′ campaign with the RSPB to expand grass and wildflower meadows.Ella’s Kitchen targets a 28% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030.Ella’s Kitchen has forged a strategic partnership with the Eevie climate app, an initiative reflecting their deep commitment to sustainability. This collaboration is designed to inspire employees to adopt environmentally friendly behaviours and is an integral part of their broader…

Mothercare suspends share trading on AIM market after missing its audited results deadline amidst refinancing talks.The suspension is effective from 1 October and follows a missed deadline for publishing audited results.Mothercare is near finalising a refinancing deal with its current lender, potentially reducing debt and cash financing costs.The company plans to publish its delayed audited accounts soon, expecting results in line with previous guidance.Challenges in the Middle East market, accounting for 41% of sales, persist into the new financial year.Mothercare has announced the temporary suspension of trading in its shares, effective 1 October, due to missing the deadline to publish…

Asda launches a new initiative aimed at developing career skills among students, focusing on sustainability and diversity.The programme targets primary, secondary, and college students, encouraging participation from disadvantaged backgrounds.Students engage with real-world projects like sustainability and vegan product development, mentored by Asda professionals.The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, addressing food waste and inclusivity.Asda hopes to inspire interest in food industry careers while addressing planet-critical issues.Asda has introduced a comprehensive school engagement initiative designed to equip students with essential career skills in the food industry. This programme spans primary, secondary, and college educational levels, focusing on a…

In September, food inflation rose notably due to adverse harvest conditions.The increase in inflation was driven by rising costs of sugary products and cooking oils.Fresh food inflation also experienced an upsurge, whereas ambient food inflation saw a slight decline.Overall shop price deflation reached its lowest since August 2021, benefiting price-conscious consumers.Retail experts caution that geopolitical issues and regulatory costs could reverse the easing trend.Food inflation experienced an increase to 2.3% in September, rising from 2% in August. This surge is attributed mainly to inadequate harvests in crucial producing areas, leading to higher prices for items such as sugary products and…

Major UK food businesses are urging the government for tighter food regulations.Tesco, Iceland, and Nomad Foods want mandatory profit reporting on unhealthy food sales.They propose legislation roadmaps to encourage healthier eating habits.Government’s ‘stop-start’ legislative approach challenges retailers.New calls come after junk food ad restrictions were announced.In a significant move, major UK food retailers and investors, including Tesco, Iceland, and Nomad Foods, have jointly called upon the government to enforce stricter food industry regulations to combat poor diets. They argue for mandatory reporting of profits derived from sales of products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS), as reported by the…

Asda, a leading UK supermarket, encountered a technical issue with its tills, leading to delayed openings.Certain Asda stores across the UK experienced disruptions due to malfunctioning checkouts, postponing their normal operating hours.Frustrations were voiced online, with customers expressing dissatisfaction over inability to complete their shopping.An Asda representative confirmed the issue, stating it has been resolved and apologising for customer inconvenience.This incident occurs amidst Asda’s significant technological upgrades and systems implementations.Asda, a prominent player in the UK supermarket industry, recently faced a technical issue with its checkout systems, which resulted in some outlets opening later than scheduled. This disruption was initially…