Shop prices creep up as retailers brace for Iran war supply chain disruption March 31, 2026 Shop price inflation edged up in March as cost rises related to the Iran war began to take effect. The cost of shop items increased by 1.2 per cent year on year in March, up from 1.1 per cent in February, according to data compiled by NIQ for the British Retail Consortium (BRC). The BRC [...]
Asda boss says ‘plenty to do’ in turnaround after sales drop March 27, 2026 The boss of Asda has said he has “plenty to do” to complete his turnaround of the firm after sales and earnings slumped. The supermarket giant, the UK’s third largest, took £21bn of sales excluding fuel in 2025, down by 3.3 per cent, while adjusted earnings tumbled by a third to £764m. Asda’s executive chair [...]
Just Eat and Autotrader face fake reviews investigation March 27, 2026 Just Eat and Autotrader are among five firms being probed by the competition watchdog as it uses new fake review rules to crack down on businesses. The food delivery firm’s ratings system may have inflated the star ratings of some restaurants and grocers, according to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), while the used car [...]
Retail sales fall as Brits cut back on supermarket spending March 27, 2026 Retail sales fell in February, as low spending in food and household goods stores could not offset the strong performance of online sellers. The quantity of goods bought in February fell by 0.4 per cent, down from the surprise two per cent rise in January, which was revised up from 1.8 per cent, according to [...]
Co-op takes £126m knock from cyber attack as boss quits March 26, 2026 Retailer Co-op has slumped to a £126m loss as it reels from the cyber attack which cost the firm nearly £300m last year, as its chief executive quit. The grocery chain is preparing to slash costs in the coming year, as it plans to cut £200m of spending in 2026. Co-op’s cyber attack in April [...]
Food industry warns of inflation ‘calm before the storm’ March 25, 2026 Food and retail bosses have warned the fall in food inflation is the “calm before the storm,” as business brace for the Iran war to push up energy costs. Trade body Food and Drink Federation (FDF) said Wednesday’s drop in food inflation – from 3.6 to 3.3 per cent year on year – could be [...]
Firms scramble to keep up as the UK prepares to align with EU food standards March 25, 2026 Fans of Clarkson’s Farm will know that, for British farmers, dealing with the EU presents an endless stream of headaches and paperwork. But things are changing fast – too fast, many worry – in the UK’s complex web of food production, and farmers and manufacturers are scrambling to meet changes in legislation coming down the [...]
Unilever food spin off gets marmite reception March 20, 2026 Unilever’s talks over selling its food business has been met with a marmite reception as analysts warned a deal may not pay off until the long-term. The FTSE 100 giant said on Friday it is in talks with US spice and seasoning maker McCormick over offloading its food brands, including Marmite and Hellman’s. The move [...]
Unilever confirms talks to sell food arm March 20, 2026 FTSE 100 giant Unilever has confirmed it is in talks to offload its foods business, which includes iconic brands like Hellman’s and Marmite. The mayonnaise-maker said it has received an offer from US seasoning manufacturer McCormick and is now in discussions with the firms. The company has been prioritising its €13bn (£11.2bn) beauty and personal [...]
Gousto founder: Rise of weight-loss jabs ‘a depressing state of affairs’ March 19, 2026 Gousto founder Timo Boldt is on a mission to make the UK’s food system healthier. But in a world of weight-loss jabs – and after a succession of failed government initiatives – Ali Lyon asks whether he is fighting a losing battle. What goes into the most moreish hamburger on earth? Ask the owners of [...]