AI Robot Can Spot ‘Invisible’ Signs of Plant Disease
RoboCrops, a robotic phenotyping platform developed by the University of Lincoln and the Lincoln Institute for Agri‑food Technology, won a Silver Gilt medal at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Its core system, PhenAIx, fuses AI, high‑resolution imaging and robotics to spot hidden disease, stress and growth signals in plants long before they become visible. The exhibit demonstrated automated leaf‑counting and leaf‑to‑fruit volume analysis for strawberries, illustrating how the technology can accelerate breeding and improve yields. Researchers say the approach could help create climate‑resilient crops and attract policy support for food‑security initiatives.
‘Completely Preposterous’: Food Industry Reacts to Price Cap Proposals
The UK government has been in talks with leading supermarkets about a voluntary price‑cap on essential items such as eggs, bread and milk, though officials now deny any formal cap is planned. Retail leaders, including M&S, argue the proposal would...
Morrisons in Talks to Supply Food to Rivals as Debt Pile Mounts
UK supermarket Morrisons is exploring ways for its food‑manufacturing arm, Myton, to sell to rival chains and large hospitality operators. The move follows mounting debt and a recent plan to close 100 Morrisons Daily convenience stores. Myton already supplies a...
An Existential Shift Is Coming: Dimbleby on the Forces Set to Reshape Food
Former UK food tsar Henry Dimbleby warned at the British Nutrition Foundation summit that soaring nitrogen‑fertiliser costs and an upcoming El Niño could push food inflation higher, while a rapid rollout of cheap GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs will reshape consumer demand. He...
Industry Experts Lay Out Most Effective Levers for Healthier Diets
The British Nutrition Foundation’s report "Beyond Ultra‑Processed Foods" outlines evidence‑based levers—pricing, placement, reformulation and front‑of‑pack labeling—to reshape the UK food environment amid an obesity crisis. It stresses structural change over individual willpower, noting that mandatory HFSS rules and fiscal tools...
IGD Exclusive: How to Win with Shoppers in an Evolving Online Landscape
IGD forecasts UK online grocery will surge 23.6% annually through 2030, reaching roughly $7.8 billion. The market is fragmenting into four sub‑channels—retailer websites, quick commerce, social commerce and direct‑to‑consumer—each with distinct shopper profiles. Retailer websites remain the most used (35% of...
Princes Group Scrambles to Replace CEO
Princes Group CEO Simon Harrison will step down on June 30 after just over two years in the role. The board has no pre‑named successor, so chief commercial officer Giuseppe Mastrolia will serve as interim CEO from July 1. The announcement triggered a...
Is This the Beginning of the End for Bagged Greens?
Home Harvest is launching connected at‑home vertical farms in the UK and US, priced around $430 per unit with a $13‑$19 monthly seed‑mat subscription. The low‑energy devices use roughly $2.5 of electricity per month and automate lighting, temperature and humidity...
Pact Coffee and Waitrose Collaborate on New Coffee to Support Women Growers
British coffee roaster Pact Coffee and supermarket Waitrose are launching a new Colombia Single Origin blend on May 31, priced at £7.95 for a 200 g ground pack. The coffee is sourced exclusively from women‑led farms in the Mirtayu Women’s Group in...
EU Approves 2 Sisters Owner’s Buyout of German Turkey Processor
The European Commission cleared Boparan Private Office’s acquisition of German turkey processor Heidemark, adding 2,300 staff and a £662 million (≈$845 million) turnover to the Storteboom Food Group’s European division. The deal, deemed competition‑free, supports Storteboom’s "Next Gen" strategy focused on automation,...
Opinion: Food Producers Are Being Judged by Hidden Algorithms and Not All Are Evidence Based
The article warns that food producers are increasingly judged by health‑scanning apps that rely on proprietary, undisclosed algorithms, producing inconsistent product scores. It contrasts these opaque systems with evidence‑based frameworks such as NOVA and Nutri‑Score, which offer transparent, published methodologies....
Nestlé’s Maggi Enters Ready Meal Market
Nestlé’s Maggi brand has launched Maggi Global Kitchen, a ready‑meal line featuring six single‑serve dishes that cook in two minutes. Each 260 g portion is low in saturated fat and high in protein, offering global flavours such as spaghetti bolognese, chicken...
The Chancery Lane Project and WRAP Update Clause to Fight Corporate Food Waste
The Chancery Lane Project and WRAP have revised Runa’s Clause, a contractual tool that obliges companies to measure, report and cut food waste across supply chains. The update targets the £1,638‑£4,200 (≈$2,080‑$5,340) cost per tonne of waste and promises up...
Kenco Targets Gen Z with New Matcha Latte Options
Kenco is expanding its instant beverage line with vanilla and strawberry matcha latte sachets, targeting Gen Z consumers who favor at‑home, Instagram‑ready drinks. The matcha lattes retail for £2.99 (about $3.80) and are stocked at Asda, Tesco and Sainsbury’s. The brand...
Nestlé UK Workers Secure Vital Pay Rise as Sweeping Cuts Loom
Nestlé’s UK workers, represented by Unite, secured a 3.9% pay rise – 0.3% above the Retail Prices Index – with the agreement back‑dated to April 2026. The deal covers more than 1,200 employees across five facilities. At the same time,...