Agroberries seizes minority stake in part of BerryWorld’s businesses

Production and marketing firm Agroberries has acquired a minority stake in BerryWorld’s Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific (APAC) businesses. The transaction will provide BerryWorld, a leading global marketer of berries and fresh-cut fruit, with a solid foundation for growth with a diversified global footprint spanning the entire value chain. Agroberries has a portfolio […]
Mission Produce ‘quickly advancing’ avocado ripening in the UK

Mission Produce, Inc., a world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados with additional offerings in mangos and blueberries, announced the advancement of its ripening process in the UK with AVOS Mini. This is a non-destructive ripeness control tool and innovative smart device that measures avocado ripeness and provides quality management insights. The […]
UK supermarkets enjoy great month, helped by Coronation and holiday

Sparked by the Coronation and bank holiday weekend, British supermarkets saw a 12.3% boost in total till sales during the four weeks leading up to 20 May. That figure bettered sales from the previous reporting month by 2.6%, according to data from NIQ, formerly Nielsen. Own-label sales were the biggest driver, rising more than 14% […]
Consumer spending power increases, but Asda tracker shows cost concerns still high

Although spending power has increased and inflation decreased, new insight from Asda shows that shoppers are still struggling with affordability. The rising cost of food and other items actually means that the amount customers can spend per week fell by £3 from March to August. That data point offsets somewhat upbeat news and is among […]
Innovative startups that promote sustainability can now make initial pitches for Tesco Agri T-Jam

Agtech startups that utilise environmentally friendly practises are being asked to submit applications to showcase those efforts at this year’s Tesco Agri T-Jam competition. The supermarket chain and Leading Edge Only are accepting entries until 30th June. The chosen finalists will be invited to a pitch day in September. The winner from that group will […]
Staying fresh matters: How to use social media to directly reach consumers

Social media is a powerful marketing tool in today’s produce world. It connects a product or brand directly with consumers and influences buying decisions. Witness the explosive effect of a recipe called uunifetapasta, or ‘oven-baked feta pasta,’ shared by Finnish food blogger Jenni Häyrinen in January 2021 on the social media platform, TikTok. A key […]
Can a coating of CBD really help extend the life of strawberries?

Researchers at Thammasat University and Chulabhorn Research Institute in Thailand have developed an invisible, edible coating made with cannabidiol (CBD) that extends the freshness of strawberries and can help improve post-harvest life. CBD has been shown to have antioxidant and antibacterial effects. Previous studies have found that CBD limits the growth of some pathogenic bacteria and fungi, […]
Led by M&S Food and a lean to value, Marks and Spencer shows signs of a comeback

Despite falling profits in 2022/23, stock outlook has soared in the past week for Marks and Spencer, which notably has been bolstered by the rejuvenation of M&S Food. Sales from its Food division jumped 8.7%, including a 5% rise in its “core categories” that eclipsed pre-pandemic levels. Its market share, in fact, increased by 3.6% […]