Grocery sector news updates

Latest grocery news and information for businesses, consumers, restaurants, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations and other foodservice providers.

Scottish retailers risk losing money from DRS

Scottish retailers risk losing money from DRS
The fees paid to retailers for handling containers as part of a deposit return scheme (DRS) in Scotland will not cover their costs, according to a trade body. The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF) said the risk of the scheme being a net expense to retailers would put their sustainability and business survival at risk with…
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Farmers “out of step” with the public on climate, say NGOs

Farmers “out of step” with the public on climate, say NGOs

This year’s drought has brought farmers into conflict with wildlife NGOs. In an interview with Channel 4 earlier this month to discuss the issues farmers are facing, NFU deputy president Tom Bradhsaw called for food production to be “prioritised alongside environmental protection. At the moment the risk of harm to the environment will trump food production every day and yet it's absolutely crucial we produce the country's food," he added.

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Companies urged to source low-impact seafood

Companies urged to source low-impact seafood
Campaigners are calling on government and businesses to ensure 100% of the seafood produced and consumed in the UK comes from sustainable sources by 2030 after a new report found consumption of some species was linked to significant nature, climate and social impacts. WWF’s risky seafood business report has for the first time quantified the total volume…
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Supermarkets criticised for unsustainable use of krill

Supermarkets criticised for unsustainable use of krill
Campaigners are calling for a ban on the use of krill to feed farmed fish, which they say is damaging critical marine ecosystems and contributing to climate change. An investigation by the Changing Markets Foundation found that European retailers, including several in the UK, are routinely selling farmed fish that use Antarctic krill – a…
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Supermarkets pilot sustainable soya initiative

Supermarkets pilot sustainable soya initiative
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 incentives for farmers in Brazil who commit to deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) soya cultivation. Each…
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Move to clarify legal status of edible insects

Move to clarify legal status of edible insects
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 milestone”, according to sector representatives.  The proposals would allow edible insects to remain on sale…
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‘Inefficient’ animal feed fuelling climate crisis 

‘Inefficient’ animal feed fuelling climate crisis 
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 a rethink of what it called an “inherently inefficient” approach to feeding farm animals, which…
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Campaigners demand refill revolution

Campaigners demand refill revolution
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 Greenpeace, the Women’s Institute and the Muslim Council of Britain, to mark World Refill Day…
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Group demands ban of ‘forever chemicals’

Group demands ban of ‘forever chemicals’
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 of per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which are widely used in food packaging, posed…
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Businesses shun recycling over cost concerns

Businesses shun recycling over cost concerns
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 of space in which to keep bins were the two most common reasons given for…
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