Sainsbury’s asks customers to keep masks on as UK government lifts mandate

As the UK government lifts mandatory masks in public settings on Monday, one supermarket chain says it will strongly encourage customers to keep them on. Officials at Sainsbury’s say they will ask its shoppers to continue to put on face coverings as they shop at stores, providing an extra layer of protection for themselves, other […]

Tesco, FareShare team on ‘Buy One’ produce scheme to aid children

Tesco is launching a fruit and vegetable scheme aimed at helping children experiencing food insecurity this summer. The UK retailer’s Buy One to Help a Child initiative, which runs through 8 August, hopes to gain three million meals that will be turned around and distributed by charitable organisation FareShare. There are currently more than two […]

National Berry Month in UK presents big marketing potential

BerryWorld Group and Beekers Holding BV to consolidate

British Summer Fruits and Love Fresh Berries are combining on a marketing effort to showcase Britain’s sweet fruits this July, launching National Berry Month. Throughout the 31 days, the two will lead a campaign that features recipes from chef Jackson Boxer and tips for at-home preparations for consumers that also can give a lift to […]

Pandemic shopping trends unwind for Tesco as sales growth slows

Little Helps? Tesco to have shareholder vote on tackling obesity in UK

Tesco expects some of the changes driven by the coronavirus pandemic to begin reversing in the months ahead as a period of rapid sales growth combined with elevated costs draws to a close. Ken Murphy, chief executive of the UK’s largest supermarket group, said there were already signs that as restrictions eased and hospitality reopened, […]

U.S.: Lidl Builds Sustainable Presence by Listening to Customers

Today’s consumers are focused on produce purchases that fit their lifestyle and improve their health, but environmental sustainability is becoming an important buying factor too. And that’s something Retail Sustainability Award winner Lidl US is embracing in a big way. At a time when COVID-19, a related recession and a major lifestyle realignment have made consumers rethink […]

Retailer rescues 400 tonnes of British strawberries, puts them on sale in stores

A huge surplus of strawberries brought on by mixed weather conditions have ended up in Tesco stores. The UK retailer rescued 400 tonnes of the fruit and immediately put them on sale in supermarkets – £3 for one kilo boxes instead of the regular £2 for a 400g punnet. “Last week’s heatwave brought the strawberries […]

In U.S. and across globe, retail success may be hard to sustain

Originally printed in the April 2021 issue of Produce Business. Though the produce category had a record year at retail in 2020, foodservice was, of course, way down as so many restaurants were closed as were institutions such as schools and their lunch and meal programs. The statistics are not all in yet, but there is […]

Seven tough questions in preparing for the post-pandemic future

How has COVID-19 affected the fresh produce sector in the UK?

Originally printed in the March 2021 issue of Produce Business. As we move into the second year of our pandemic-created reality, it’s become clear that whenever the virus ceases to be a major factor in our industry, things will never be the same as they were prior to March 2020. Innovative and resourceful produce retailers are […]