The UK government is consulting on a new labelling scheme for animal welfare that could see caterers required to disclose welfare information on menus. A call for evidence will consider how to define the welfare standards that would underpin a new labelling system and whether it should be mandatory or voluntary. It will also seek…

Mandatory calorie labelling on menus in Scotland has moved a step closer after the government made it a key proposal in a new plan for the out of home sector. Published this week, the Out of Home Action Plan outlines how the Scottish Government plans to work with the food industry to help tackle obesity…

The scale of the labour crisis facing the hospitality and foodservice sector was laid bare this week after official data showed a fresh surge in vacancies. Office for National Statistics (ONS) data for June to August showed accommodation and foodservice as the sector with the highest ratio of vacancies (5.9) to employee jobs (100). The…

Businesses have thrown their weight behind a new campaign to adopt a single design for the government’s proposed mandatory recycling labelling. OPRL (the on-pack recycling label) is leading a coalition of brands, retailers and other organisations to ensure new government legislation does not result in a “free for all” in label design. The government plans…

Eight in 10 food business owners feel unprepared for new food labelling regulations due to come into force in a matter of weeks. From October 1st, all food businesses will have to provide full ingredient lists and allergen information on foods pre-packaged for direct sale in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The introduction of Natasha’s…

Over 200 UK restaurants will encourage diners to donate money to support malnourished children as part of a charitable campaign this autumn. The likes of Hawksmoor, Yo! Sushi and Hakkasan are supporting Action Against Hunger’s Love Food Give Food campaign during September and October by asking customers to add £1 to their bill at the…

There are currently half a million vacancies across food and drink businesses, leaving animals stuck on farms, retailers short of stock and everyone scrabbling to attract staff. The sector is under “immense pressure” noted a cross-industry report, as it broke down the “chronic labour shortages” up and down the supply chain. Covid has exacerbated the…

Staff are not the only ones to benefit from hikes in the minimum wage – diners do too, according to research published in the journal Marketing Science. The discussion around minimum wages has focused on how prices will go up leaving consumers worse off, explained Vrinda Kadiyali, professor of management at the Cornell SC Johnson College of…

McDonald’s has been slow to the plant-based patty party but there is a sense that the pace is picking up. Earlier in the year the fast food chain quietly rolled tests of the new product, developed with Beyond Meat, in various markets, including Denmark and Sweden. However, it was quite low key. But now there…