Leaning on ‘quality’ and Food, M&S is big winner during the Christmas period

Despite the admitted challenges and competition facing big retailers in the UK, especially the rise of deep discounters, some are doing quite well. Marks and Spencer, which had its share of struggles before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, has shown particular resilience with a stunning 7% boost from its M&S Food Division during the Christmas […]

Sainsbury’s ditches plastic for cardboard punnets on own-brand mushrooms

The not-so-distant target to reach sustainability goals has pushed retailers to eliminate plastic bags and individual wraps on fruits and vegetables. And think of new ideas. One of the biggest offenders aside from packaging film – which in some cases helps in terms of food safety and convenience – are punnets. Easy to store but […]

Potatoes and onions can still be stars of your produce section with proper merchandising

Potatoes and onions provide a constant opportunity for cross-merchandising and upselling. Their presentation can be flexible, allowing retailers to tailor approaches to, and drive sales in, the often-conjoined categories on a local, and even store-by-store, basis. Just how to merchandise and promote the two separate, but not-to-be-casually-separated, categories can be accomplished in many ways. Retailers […]

Cheap veg tops Asda’s list of food trends that will shape the next year

Inexpensive vegetables are expected to become more popular over the next year, according to the newly revealed 2023/24 Food Trends guide released by supermarket Asda. These ‘Everyday Heroes’, led by the surge in interest and demand for potatoes, are one of “seven megatrends” and 120 foods to watch that will shape food and drink development. […]

What place does artificial intelligence have in fresh produce? It’s simply, the future.

For all the excitement about ChatGPT, it requires significant effort for companies to harness the power of artificial intelligence and related technologies, such as machine learning. However, doing so isn’t just advantageous, it’s crucial — because any company that doesn’t keep pace with developments is going to watch as its competitors master it. Walmart is […]

Global Marketing Innovation Award: Veg Power Beats Junk Food Marketers at Their Own Game

Vegetables are disgusting!” Kids forever have dodged eating vegetables. Resorting to convoluted measures, parents cajole, bribe and slyly disguise them, often to no avail. The industry, despite valiant efforts, has struggled to move the needle on overall produce consumption, let alone conquer most children’s downright disdain for vegetables. Veg Power, the UK nonprofit super alliance […]

Sainsbury’s CEO selected to be keynote speaker at City Food & Drink Lecture

Simon Roberts, chief executive officer at Sainsbury’s, will headline the 2024 City Food & Drink Lecture at London’s Guildhall as its keynote speaker. The event, which for more than two decades has brought together some 700 industry leaders from food, drink and agriculture, will take place on Monday 11th March. Roberts joined the retailer at […]