Grocery sector news updates
France leads the way in reusable packaging for grocery
Reusable packaging has reached “industrial scale” in France, as more than 370 products across 345 supermarkets join the Loop reuse platform. The Loop model has been piloted in multiple markets, including the UK, US, Canada and Japan, but it is… Read More
Farmfoods’ poultry promise proves flaky
Some 140,000 hens will remain caged following Farmfoods’ decision to drop a commitment to go cage-free. The budget food chain is the only UK supermarket to make such a U-turn, according to The Humane League, a campaign group. “Farmfoods has… Read More
CMA throws weight behind supply chain watchdog
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) has been effective in ensuring fair trading relationships between big supermarkets and their suppliers, according to the body that recommended its creation. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the GCA, which was established in… Read More
Lidl to highlight ‘planetary health’ products in stores
Lidl has launched a new customer-facing health mark signposting products that support a sustainable diet. The ‘Live Well’ bean logo will be displayed on packaging to highlight food that meets strict nutrition and sustainability criteria developed in partnership with experts… Read More
Retailers demand urgent action on deforestation law
Supermarkets are urging the UK Government to ban illegal deforestation in food supply chains or risk creating trade barriers with the EU. In an open letter to ministers, members of the Retail Soy Group including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Aldi said… Read More
US study shows consumers how to keep clean of pesticides
Bananas and cauliflower have joined this year’s ‘clean fifteen’, while blackberries and potatoes have ended up on the ‘dirty dozen’ list, with worrying levels of chemical residues. The Shopper’s Guide, produced annually by US NGO the Environmental Working Group, assesses… Read More
Commitment on caged chickens traps Iceland
Supermarket Iceland has been dubbed “the UK’s worst supermarket for caging hens” as it faces failure in a commitment to go cage-free before the end of the year. Nearly a decade ago, all major UK supermarkets pledged to go cage-free… Read More
Popular snacks are stacked with sugar and salt
Campaigners have urged suppliers of crisps, nuts and popcorn to improve the nutritional profile of their products after research found the vast majority would fail to meet new advertising rules. Researchers from Action on Salt and Sugar, based at Queen… Read More
Waitrose farmers to measure biodiversity in real time
Waitrose is rolling out new technology that will allow it to gather real-time data on the environmental health of its farms. The supermarket chain has partnered with digital mapping tool, Land App, to measure progress on over 60 key sustainability… Read More
Lidl cuts cartoons and colours from packaging on unhealthy products
Lidl is to ditch all packaging designs deemed “attractive to children” from its least healthy own-brand products by the middle of the year. The supermarket announced that any product deemed as least healthy according to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO)… Read More