The Grocer

‘Defra error’ to blame as Soil Association Certification appeals ruling The accreditation scheme has argued the Information Commissioner's Office judgement was made following an administrative error on the part of Defra

Soil Association Certification has submitted an appeal against a ruling earlier this year that found it must directly respond to to requests for environmental information

Poppi ditches prebiotic claim for UK soda launch Poppi's sodas contain 3g of fibre per can, well below the 12g specified in the specific authorised claim on the GB Nutrition and Health Claims Register

Poppi’s new UK range of sodas do not contain sufficient fibre to make a prebiotic claim on pack

Employment costs drive up Greggs prices but CEO predicts more ‘positive’ 2026 In January, Greggs increased the price of a sausage roll by 5p and added 10p to the price of a latte coffee

Employment costs pushed up prices at Greggs in 2025

But CEO Roisin Currie has predicted more “respite for the consumer” in 2026

Baby formula prices rocket as much as 45% following recalls Out of 310 like-for-like SKUs available across the traditional big four, 157 have risen in price

Infant formula prices have rocketed by as much as 45% since the start of 2026

It comes amid hampered availability following subsequent recalls from Nestlé and Danone

NEW 🧈 Butter

Kerrygold to launch Pure Irish Butter with Olive Oil

Made of just four ingredients, it is available in stores from this month for rsp: £2.95/200g

🔗 See where to get them here: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/kerrygold-launches-spreadable-variant-with-olive-oil/715919.article

Holland & Barrett targets £1bn in sales after third consecutive year of growth 2025 marked the 'most significant year of investment' in H&B's recent history, as owner LetterOne pumped £124m into its stores, people and supply chain

Holland & Barrett has set its sights on passing £1bn in sales

Following its third consecutive year of double-digit growth

Iran conflict raises inflation fears as global trade badly hit Container costs are surging, while shipments are having to be diverted as a result of the rapidly escalating war

UK food and drink exporters are warning of “significant challenges” as the #Iran conflict intensifies 🇮🇷

Fears growing the war could also trigger an upturn in #inflation and cause #availability issues

Sugar taxes could result in 30% price hikes on some food, report warns Modelling by Nesta shows a nutrient profiling model-linked tax would cut obesity but also lead to higher food prices, with some products likely to see cost hikes of up to 30%

Extending sugar taxes could cut adult obesity in the UK by 16%

But some products likely to see cost hikes of up to 30%

M&S raising store worker pay by 6.4% The rise, which will benefit 55,000 workers, is an increase of 6.4% from current M&S rates

M&S announces a #payrise for entry-level hourly store workers

The increase of 6.4% will benefit 55,000 workers

Argos trumps Tesco to top new index of retailer digital capability The Sainsbury's-owned everything retailer offers shopping features most closely matched to consumer demands

Argos has narrowly trumped Tesco to top the Digital Capability Index

A new ranking by Retail Week and The Grocer of 65 leading high street retailers based on how strongly their shopping features match consumer demands

Asda to promote next CEO from within, Allan Leighton says Leighton told The Grocer x Retail Week's LIVE conference this morning that Asda would promote its next CEO from within its current crop of executives

Asda to promote its next CEO from within its current crop of executives

Executive chairman Allan Leighton told #RWGLIVE2026 conference this morning

Greggs profits hit by challenging food-to-go market Profits have fallen at Greggs as costs increased and volumes at the high street bakery chain declined amid tough trading conditions

Profits have fallen at Greggs

Costs increased and volumes at the high street bakery chain declined amid tough trading conditions

Hotel Chocolat unveils biggest brand ‘transformation’ for 21 years The complete 'transformation' includes a redesign of its signature gift box collections, a widening of price points and an overhaul of its core chocolate range

Hotel Chocolat has unveiled its biggest brand refresh for 21 years

Designed to make its luxury products more accessible to shoppers and tackle soaring inflation

WH Smith buyer seeks help for TG Jones as fears mount for stores It is understood Modella Capital has called on advisers to come up with a plan to restructure the TG Jones business

Investment firm Modella Capital, which purchased WH Smith’s high street empire last year, has brought in advisers

One in five grocery trips involves missing items: research The research assessed the in-store availability of 40 high-frequency grocery items across fresh, ambient and household categories

One in five grocery trips involves at least one missing item

Empty shelves are putting £2.1bn of grocery sales at risk

First tariff-free UK beef shipment hits US The shipment follows the signing of the UK/US Economic Prosperity Deal last May, which gives both countries a reciprocal 13,000-tonne tariff-free quota for beef

The first tariff-free shipment of UK beef has arrived in the US

A move Defra said could be a “major growth opportunity for British farmers”, worth up to £70m a year

NEW 🍓 Drinks

Ribena to launch new zero added sugar Summer Fruits variant

Available in stores from 3 March

🔗 Read the full story here: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/ribena-adds-zero-added-sugar-summer-fruits-npd/715906.article

BrewDog sold to US pharmaceutical and cannabis giant Tilray for just £33m Separately, Tilray said it was also negotiating a deal to acquire certain BrewDog assets in the United States and Australia.

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

BrewDog has been sold to US consumer goods, pharmaceutical and cannabis company Tilray Brands in a cut price £33m deal

Birds Eye owner Nomad Foods eyes tough 2026 as revenues fall The new boss of Nomad Foods has warned the company has 'work to do' to turn around its fortunes, as revenue slipped 2.2% to €3bn (£2.6bn)

The new boss of Nomad Foods has warned the company has “work to do” to turn around its fortunes

Revenue at the frozen food giant slipped 2.2% to €3bn (£2.6bn)

Crisis talks on nutrient profiling model revamp slated for Wednesday FDF leader Karen Betts said the planned switch to the 2018 model would lead to huge swathes of products effectively being banned from advertising and in-store promotions

Food industry leaders will meet ministers on Wednesday for #health crunch talks

There are plans to ramp up the ban on #junkfood advertising and #HFSS promotions in supermarkets

NEW 🍜 Frozen

Birds Eye to add new rice and noodle dishes to its Steamfresh range

Korean Style Noodles, Malaysian Laksa Style Noodles (rsp: £3.50/350g), Asian Rice and Mexican Rice (rsp: £2.75/380g) available from 9 March

🔗 See where to get them here: https://bit.ly/4r3tnAQ

Tesco revamps ‘every little helps’ message with new slogan The supermarket said the new slogan would show how Tesco was there to help the nation get the groceries they need and much more

‘Need anything from Tesco?’

WATCH: Tesco to launch a new national slogan

Morrisons is best supermarket in high-scoring Bournemouth shop Our Morrisons shopper said that 'what sticks in my mind most is how fresh everything looked'

Morrisons wins best supermarket in our #Grocer33 Bournemouth shop

Our mystery shopper praised the staff's "helpfulness and humour”

BrewDog shuts bars ahead of sale completion Brewers including C&C and Royal Unibrew are believed to be frontrunners to acquire the Scottish beer company

BrewDog has closed all of its UK bars today as it prepares to complete the sale of its business

Former CEO James Watt is now believed to be out of the running to buy back control of the business

Big 30 wholesaler report and rankings 2026: a heavy load to bear Inflation, increasing employment costs, new regulation... as the challenges mount up, how are the Big 30 wholesalers responding?

Inflation, increasing employment costs, new regulation…

As the challenges mount up, how are the Big 30 wholesalers responding?

Waitrose suspends mackerel sourcing over sustainability concerns Waitrose said it would be suspending its sourcing of fresh, chilled and frozen mackerel by 29 April, with tinned lines to follow once the current stock has been sold

Waitrose has become the first UK retailer to suspend mackerel sourcing

It follows concerns over sustainability and ocean health

What next after a week of renewed US tariff chaos? The US court ruling on Trump's tariffs brings 'fresh uncertainty'

Any hopes exporters had of 2026 ushering in greater US trade stability have been dashed over the past week

The US court ruling on Trump’s #tariffs brings ‘fresh uncertainty’

Asda records its biggest pricing win of the Grocer 33 year The win will be music to the ears of executive chairman Allan Leighton, who aims to be 5%-10% cheaper than other mults by the end of 2026

Asda secured an emphatic victory as cheapest supermarket this week

Its #Grocer33 basket was a full 9% cheaper than its full-range rivals

NEW 🍋 Drinks

US prebiotic soda brand Poppi to make its UK debut

Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Raspberry Rose, Lemon Lime and Wild Berry cans available from 5 March for rsp: £2.59/330ml

🔗 See where to get them here: https://bit.ly/3ZZAAqM

#TomorrowsPapersToday

Check out The Grocer digital edition now: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/still-like-getting-your-magazine-fix/192031.article