Plant-Based Meat Can Improve Diets - but a Key Cog Is Missing
Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found that replacing processed meat with leading UK plant‑based alternatives can raise dietary fibre by 4‑6% and lower saturated fat and salt by up to 7% and 4% respectively. While most examined products meet healthy nutrient‑profiling standards, the study highlights inconsistent micronutrient fortification, especially for iodine, calcium, iron and vitamin B12. A companion paper notes that voluntary Dutch fortification rules have driven more than three‑quarters of products to add these nutrients, suggesting policy could close the gap. Experts warn that consumer demand for natural, less‑processed options and taste concerns may impede broader health benefits.
M&A in the High Protein Market
The UK high‑protein food sector is entering a phase of strategic consolidation, with firms like Yeo Valley and Bako Group formalising long‑standing supplier relationships through acquisitions. Private‑equity investors are shifting focus from crowded protein‑bar lines to savoury, functional snacks, exemplified...
US Naval Blockade of Iran Sparks Global Trade Shock
Washington announced a full naval blockade of Iranian ports, cutting all seaborne commercial trade. The move follows stalled peace talks in Pakistan and has pushed crude oil above $100 a barrel while sending Middle East‑to‑Asia shipping rates to six‑year highs....
2026 Drinks Report
Food Manufacture’s 2026 Drinks Report examines how the UK beverage sector navigated a perfect storm of economic and regulatory pressures over the past year. It highlights the impact of the cost‑of‑living crisis, persistent inflation, tighter government legislation, and geopolitical volatility...
Childhood Obesity Epidemic Drives Government’s Drastic Overhaul of School Menus
The UK government is overhauling school food standards to combat a childhood obesity crisis, banning deep‑fried items and cutting back on grab‑and‑go foods such as sausage rolls and pizza. New guidelines require daily fruit, healthier main dishes and a lead...
208 Tonnes of Unsafe Food Stopped at UK Border
Since November 2024 Ashford Port Health Authority has seized and destroyed 208,563.81 kg (about 35 elephants) of unsafe food, 97% of which came from the EU. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, 39 tonnes were removed, highlighting the port’s critical role in...
Scottish Organic Dairy Kickstarts Expansion Drive
Mossgiel Organic Dairy, founded in 2015 to challenge the dominance of mega‑dairies, is adding three Scottish farms—Auchlea, Wester Manbeen and Connage Highland Dairy—as direct milk suppliers. The move lifts its processing capacity by roughly 10% and gives the company full...
Scottish Ice Cream Manufacturer Invests in New Site
Mackie's of Scotland has purchased a former Kintore site in Aberdeenshire to bring ice‑cream production closer to its core market. The new facility will slash food‑mile distances by hundreds of miles, giving the company tighter control over distribution and a...
Brands Ramp up Protein with Fresh Wave of Food Launches
A wave of protein‑focused launches is reshaping the UK food aisle. Plenish introduced two clean‑label protein powders with 20 g protein per serving at a $57 price point, while Hungry Boar rolled out five‑pack meat stick multipacks in Tesco for $5....
Dutch Pig Slaughter Falls by 780K in Five Years
Dutch pork processors reported a 7.4% year‑on‑year drop in slaughter, with 3,733,125 pigs processed up to week 14 of Q2 2026 – about 300,000 fewer than a year earlier. The decline reflects a five‑year fall of roughly 780,000 pigs, pushing the national...
Brits Ditching Certain Foods as They Face £6K Annual Grocery Bill
British households are now spending about $149 a week – roughly $7,500 a year – on groceries as food inflation is projected to reach 9% by year‑end, double the earlier 3% forecast. The surge, driven largely by the Iran war’s...
Defra’s Powell Takes Helm at British Meat Processors
John Powell, formerly head of Defra’s agricultural sectors team, will assume the chief executive role at the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA) on 13 April 2026, succeeding Nick Allen. Allen steps down after nine years at the helm, a period that saw...
Opinion: GLP-1s, UPFs and the Forgotten Middle
The rapid uptake of GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs—1.6 million UK adults between 2024‑25 and 4.1 % of households now have a user—is reshaping ready‑meal demand. Retailers such as M&S, Morrisons, The Co‑op and Ocado have introduced protein‑focused, smaller‑portion meals priced around $4‑$8 per...
Inside Rounton Coffee: ‘Getting Beans to Britain Is Anything but Easy’
Rounton Coffee, a Yorkshire‑based roaster, captured eight Great Taste awards last year while sourcing beans from eight countries, from classic origins like Colombia to unconventional ones such as China and Yemen. Founder David Beattie makes bi‑annual trips to coffee farms,...
Paper‑based Bottles at Scale Are Drawing Closer
A coalition of PulPac, PA Consulting and Diageo launched the Bottle Collective to develop fibre‑based drink containers that can replace single‑use plastic and glass. Using PulPac’s dry‑molded fibre technology, the group produced prototypes that require only a thin plastic liner,...
