Markets

Has UK packaged food gone past its sell-by date?

Study finds UK packaged food sales have declined steadily throughout past decade

Has UK packaged food gone past its sell-by date?

By Louis Gore-Langton

Packaged food sales in the UK have reached their lowest growth rate in a decade due to an increase in discounter stores, innovation fatigue, and an increase in eating out due to economic improvements, according to Euromonitor.

Confectionery is most purchased category in travel retail with over half of items brought on impulse. Photo: HRG

Guest Article - Trend Report

Digital tech to change confectionery travel retail space

By Tina Thompson, digital projects director from retail marketing agency HRG

Technology is set to enrich the travel retail segment, where confectionery is already the most purchased category, says retail marketing agency HRG.

Lewis road Creamery has introduced what it believes is the world's first chocolate butter in the New Zealand market.

Lewis Road launches chocolate butter

By Jim Cornall

Two New Zealand companies - Lewis Road Creamery and chocolate producers Whittaker’s - have partnered to create what Lewis Road believes is the world’s first chocolate butter.

'We've had stronger messages from the large companies we work with that they are aware of the potential for disruption, what we could call the uberisation of their activities.' © iStock/StockRocket

Application deadline: 25 November 2016

AcceleRise promises accelerated 'Uberised' route-to-market for start-ups

By Niamh Michail

Are you a food tech start-up looking to speed up your time to market, or an established industry player that could mentor a young company? AcceleRise business accelerator is calling on applicants to foster a food tech ecosystem.

Prices for all major commodities in the FAO's basket of goods.rose last month apart from grain. © iStock/Peshkov

World food prices hit 15-month high: FAO

By Niamh Michail

Food prices for all global commodities rose in the past month apart from cereals, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Bean to bar not always the best approach for chocolate startups, says Frederic Loraschi

Industry Voices - top tips for startups from a master chocolatier

Bean to bar chocolate makers often stuck with cocoa ‘leftovers’

By Oliver Nieburg

The bean to bar chocolate market is abound with below-par products as small companies are often left with cocoa unwanted by the major suppliers, says master chocolatier Frederic Loraschi.

Photo: iStock

British exports to non-EU countries 'beyond expectations': FDF

By Niamh Michail

British food and drink exports were up 6.2% in the first half of 2016 thanks to a weak pound while exports to non-EU countries grew “beyond expectations” in the pre-Brexit period, says the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).