Good news for retailers: Lower-income families saw significant rise in income in February
The lowest-earning British families saw a growth in disposable income in February for the first time in two and a half years. However, that positive development, revealed in Asda’s monthly Income Tracker, was tempered by this news: Those families still don’t have enough cash to make ends meet. They are still short £68 every month […]
Chic Onix oranges slice their way into British supermarkets and onto consumer cocktails
The unusual-looking Onix orange has been released by AMFRESH company Genesis Fresh and is finding its ways onto displays in British supermarkets, including Tesco and Marks and Spencer. The striped dark-red Onix was discovered in Spain and is being marketed strategically as a cocktail mixer. Take one look at its stunning skin and its two-tone […]
Across the pond, companies struggling to get shoppers to purchase brand-name produce
Produce brands not only have fierce competition from other brands, but also from private-label fruit and vegetables. In the last two years, inflation has impacted the cost of produce, further challenging brand-named produce. Companies need to fully understand the impact of inflation on consumers, and what they are looking for in their products to convince […]
British and EU farmers launch protests over potentially crippling trade agreements
Hundreds of UK farmers, mounted on tractors, descended on the British Parliament in protest of post-Brexit trade and farming policies that they say endanger their livelihoods and national food security. Multiple farmer protest movements continue across the United Kingdom and European Union in opposition to trade policies, environmental agreements and other regulations. The effort is […]
Co-op and Waitrose join national mission to help farmers with ‘Best of British’ tabs on their websites
Supermarket chains Co-op and Waitrose have agreed to give a lift to the nation’s farmers by placing Buy British sections on their websites. The National Farmers’ Union said their inclusion makes a half dozen retailers that are backing the cause, which adds visibility to the people who provide fresh fruits and vegetables and other products […]
IGD report highlights 10 of the biggest challenges facing the UK food system
Over the next decade, the UK food industry and supply chain will continue to face many of the same disruptions they have in recent years, requiring leaders to be both bold and nimble in their strategies and decision-making. In its latest report “A System Under Pressure: An Overview of Long-Term Risks to the UK Food […]
Researchers in Canada, UK say wastewater irrigation may be factor in Tomato virus spreading
A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo in Canada and the University of Oxford developed a highly targeted approach to identify the presence of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit virus (ToBRFV) genomes in municipal wastewater in Ontario, Canada. The devastating plant pathogen, which has had a few occurrences over the past few years in […]
University of Reading launching another large-scale study to monitor fruit trees and climate
Scientists from the University of Reading in the UK will conduct the country’s largest-ever fruit tree monitoring project. It will include the observation of peach and apricot tree flowering dates for the first time. FruitWatch aims to understand how climate impacts fruit tree blossoms. The effort is an interactive project that depends on the public’s help to […]
