Grocery sector news updates

  • Waitrose farmers to measure biodiversity in real time

    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 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

  • Progress on pesticides in most major supermarket chains

    Progress on pesticides in most major supermarket chains

    The UK’s ten largest supermarkets continue to use neonicotinoids and other highly bee-toxic pesticides in their global supply chains, according to new research.  PAN UK ranked supermarkets on six areas aimed at tackling harmful pesticides. These included the support offered… Read More

  • GFI keeps glass half full as plant-based sales struggle

    GFI keeps glass half full as plant-based sales struggle

    The slowdown in the UK’s plant-based market is showing signs of levelling off, according to new research published by the Good Food Institute (GFI). Using Circana data, GFI showed that consumers in the UK are buying fewer plant-based foods, with… Read More

  • More food retailers must set 60% plant protein targets, say NGOs

    More food retailers must set 60% plant protein targets, say NGOs

    ProVeg International, WWF, and the Green Protein Alliance have called on food retailers to set targets to help “rebalance” food sales towards plant-based foods.  The NGOs want companies to align their targets with the ‘planetary health diet’. The split between plant-based… Read More

  • New campaign calls for an end to “farmwashing”

    New campaign calls for an end to “farmwashing”

    A group of British farmers, led by organic produce supplier Riverfood, has launched a stinging attack on supermarkets that use ‘fake’ farm names to brand products. “We have to ask ourselves why it is that supermarkets are making such a… Read More

  • Grocers to be rated on own hygiene data

    Grocers to be rated on own hygiene data

    Supermarkets will be allowed to use data from their own audits to demonstrate compliance with food hygiene standards under new plans drawn up by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The Grocer reported that the FSA will shortly put forward proposals that would… Read More

  • Tesco commits to crustacean welfare

    Tesco commits to crustacean welfare

    Tesco has won praise for taking a leadership role on the welfare of crustaceans including lobsters and prawns after it made a series of new welfare commitments. The retail giant this month published a farmed decapod crustacean welfare policy, a group… Read More

  • Retailers push for UK deforestation law

    Retailers push for UK deforestation law

    Major UK supermarkets have called on the new government to move swiftly to introduce legislation ensuring key food commodities are not linked to illegal deforestation. Using powers under the Environment Act 2021, the previous Conservative government was in the process… Read More

  • Temperature turned up in Morrisons’ freezers to help cut emissions

    Temperature turned up in Morrisons’ freezers to help cut emissions

    Morrisons has this month turned the freezers up in 10 of its stores. The change from -18°C to -15°C saves a significant amount of energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions, but with “no impact on food safety”, the supermarket chain… Read More