Grocery sector news updates

Three of the UK’s leading supermarkets have invested in a new programme which supports Brazilian soya farmers who commit to zero deforestation. Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have invested US$11m in the Responsible Commodities Facility (RCF), a new system of financial…

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has set out plans to allow edible insects to remain on the market while they go through the novel foods authorisation process to assess their safety.  The plans, detailed in a public consultation, represent a “major…

Campaigners are calling for a new approach to how animals are fed after a new report claimed that 40% of the UK’s most productive agricultural land is used to grow food for farm animals instead of people. WWF called for…

Five of the world’s biggest food and drink companies are being urged to tackle their impact on plastic pollution by switching from single-use to refillable and reusable packaging. The call came from a coalition of over 400 global organisations, including…

The UK government has been urged to ban all unnecessary uses of so-called ‘forever chemicals’ amid warnings over their impact on health and the environment. In a letter to Defra ministers, a group of 30 civil society organisations said the entire group…

As many as 60% of small- and medium-sized hospitality businesses (SMEs) are failing to use a recycling service despite a large majority saying sustainability is important to them. Research from waste management company Biffa found that cost and a lack…

Companies pioneering new approaches in fish feed and carbon footprinting are among those that will receive £150,000 in funding to scale up their innovations. This week Tesco and WWF announced the five start-ups that have won funding under their new…

Condiment king Heinz reckons a new paper bottle for its sauces can help it meet its net-zero targets. The carbon footprint of the packaging is “materially less than glass and plastic on a bottle-by-bottle basis” the company said in a statement.…

Restrictions on multibuy deals and advertising of foods high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) are to be delayed for a year, the government has confirmed. Ministers blamed the “unprecedented global economic situation”.  Shelving the plans would give industry more…

Pioneering start-ups in areas such as insect feed and low-carbon fertilisers are to receive funding from Tesco to fast-track sustainability innovations in the food supply chain. The supermarket giant has launched a new accelerator programme in partnership with WWF which…