Markets news from Fresh Produce Journal
Essential stories, analysis and research from UK’s fresh produce markets, with a focus on retail, wholesale, marketing, and consumers.
Consumers buying less food to counter inflation
New government data has found over half of Brits are buying less food as rising prices top list of consumer concerns
Tesco to sell Cotton Candy-branded grapes year round
Retailer secures world first as it partners exclusively with Bloom Fresh to launch grape brand in UK
British public want stronger government action on food, new poll suggests
Vast majority of respondents favour government reform to UK food system in new poll, which also reveals support for healthy food and fair prices for farmers
‘Place fruit and veg more prominently’, MPs urge
MPs should be ‘more courageous’ in challenging junk food lobbying in a new wide-ranging report outlining how to tackle obesity endemic
Tesco brings back free fruit for kids this summer
Free apples for children at over 800 Tesco stores this will help tackle hunger during the school holidays
Sainsbury’s signs Good Food Bill, calling for food system resilience
Retailer joins over 100 businesses urging cross-industry and government action to strengthen UK’s food system
New grading and drone tech helping British blueberry sector to ‘premiumise’
Drone technology, AI-enabled optical grading and precision agriculture are allowing UK growers to deliver higher-quality fruit as sales continue to climb
Store Check: M&S Food, Godalming
Fruitnet visits Marks & Spencer’s biggest standalone food store, the first to feature a softer design and other important innovations
New Covent Garden Market exceeds £1bn turnover
Combined turnover of the market’s 130 wholesalers has passed a billion for the first time, as tenant occupancies and rent recalibration help market landlord Covent Garden Market Authority achieve profit increase
Extreme weather conditions causing UK red cabbage shortage
Hot weather and lack of rainfall has affected red cabbage production, with short supply set to continue for coming weeks
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Retailers must lead the way on circular packaging, says Tesco
Empowering consumers to recycle and implementing reuse and re-fill systems must be retailer-led, according to Britain’s biggest grocer
South African citrus industry prepares for less flexibility in UK exports
The citrus industry in South Africa is preparing for reduced market access and more checks on exports to the UK under planned realigment with EU and new SPS agreement
Comment: Fresh produce sector must get juicier with its marketing claims
Harvey Choat, MD of comms agency Nexus, makes the case for a cross-industry campaign on the health benefits of fruit and veg, new legislation on health claims, and bolder marketing ideas to challenge the FMCG giants
Dutch fresh produce sector agrees labour deal
GroentenFruit Huis concludes collective agreement, including salary increases, with FNV, CNV, and RMU Werknemers unions
New scheme to help growers prove green credentials of coir
A new scheme from coir producer Botanicoir is designed to improve transparency in the substrate supply chain and help growers with sustainability reporting for retailer or certification schemes
Ava Monet raspberries launch across Aldi’s Scotland stores
Variety from Angus Soft Fruits breeding programme praised for standout flavour, consistent quality and large size
Morrisons expands Myton Food Group overseas with new division
New international sourcing arm Myton International will connect manufacturers with the UK retail and foodservice markets across fresh produce, frozen and ambient
UK-Switzerland FTA to benefit British veg exporters
Broad bean, pea and carrot exports among set to gain from a wide range of new tariff-free access to highly-protected Swiss market
Tesco and M&S bosses to chair Industry Expert Groups in UK Packaging Pact
UK Packaging Pact appoints five new industry leaders to head focus groups as part of pact to transform UK packaging system
Comment: Banana industry should not restrict itself to conventional breeding
Agricultural scientist Professor James Dale considers why gene editing may be the only sensible option to develop a new banana variety with effective disease resistance