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The growth of E Commerce in food retailDuring May, we saw two major moves:• M&S beginning construction on a £340m automa...
09/06/2026

The growth of E Commerce in food retail

During May, we saw two major moves:
• M&S beginning construction on a £340m automated distribution centre, the largest supply chain investment in its history.
• Asda partnering with Ocado to rebuild its entire online grocery operation from 2027.

Different strategies, same signal: e commerce growth is reshaping the foundations of UK food retail.

Online grocery continues to expand year on year, and retailers are responding with serious investment in automation, smarter fulfilment and digital platforms built for scale. The competitive edge is shifting towards availability, speed and seamless online to store experiences.

The retailers modernising their infrastructure now are defining what the next decade of grocery will look like.

-commerce

Big move in UK grocery e-commerceAsda has announced a major partnership with Ocado at the end of May to rebuild its enti...
08/06/2026

Big move in UK grocery e-commerce

Asda has announced a major partnership with Ocado at the end of May to rebuild its entire online grocery operation, and it couldn’t come at a better time.

With the UK now one of the world’s most advanced online grocery markets and e commerce still growing year on year, the stakes have never been higher. Millions of households now treat online grocery as their default shop.

From 2027, Asda customers will see a faster, smarter, more stable digital experience with improved search, better recommendations, simpler checkout and more efficient delivery. All powered by Ocado’s Smart Platform.

For a retailer already handling 700k+ online orders a week, this is a clear signal: invest in digital, sharpen fulfilment, and compete harder in a market where convenience wins.

E commerce is an essential for the food retailers now and competition for the online food shop is getting harder hence and it’s shaping the future of the entire sector.

The challenges facing the UK’s fish and chip shops are a reminder of how vulnerable parts of our food system remain to g...
05/06/2026

The challenges facing the UK’s fish and chip shops are a reminder of how vulnerable parts of our food system remain to global supply chains. With most cod and haddock imported, operators are exposed to price swings and supply volatility, pressures that have already contributed to 1,500 closures in three years.

That’s why the industry push towards ‘Britfish’ matters. It’s not just a menu tweak; it’s a resilience strategy. Supporting locally landed species helps reduce dependency on imports, strengthens domestic supply chains and gives communities a practical way to back their local chippy.

In a month where we’ve seen major moves in UK retail and e commerce, the theme is the same: resilience, diversification and smarter sourcing will define who thrives in a more volatile market.

If we want to keep our local chippies, we need to support them in every way possible.

The merger of Arla Foods and DMK Group announced on 1st June has created Europe’s largest dairy cooperative and a dairy ...
05/06/2026

The merger of Arla Foods and DMK Group announced on 1st June has created Europe’s largest dairy cooperative and a dairy business with annual revenues exceeding €20bn.

The combined company brings together around 11,200 farmer owners and 28,800 employees across seven countries under the Arla name. Headquartered in Viby J, Denmark, it will manage an annual milk pool of 19.4 billion kg, significantly expanding its scale across dairy production, ingredients and branded products.

It marks a major shift in European dairy, with the combined scale likely to influence everything from farmgate prices to retailer negotiations.

As part of their £1bn multi-year investment programme, Waitrose announced two new store openings last week. Due to open...
04/06/2026

As part of their £1bn multi-year investment programme, Waitrose announced two new store openings last week. Due to open in Autumn this year, the stores in Hale Barns and Cricklewood will add over 30,000 sq ft of fresh retail space.

It’s all part of a bigger push to grow in the right places while giving the existing estate a lift. With 28 refurbishments happening this year alone and Waitrose moving into airport travel retail for the first time at Heathrow T2, it’s clear the brand is widening its reach in smart, strategic ways.

Morrisons is marking National Fish & Chips Day with a limited edition £15 Fish & Chips Afternoon Tea for Two, now availa...
03/06/2026

Morrisons is marking National Fish & Chips Day with a limited edition £15 Fish & Chips Afternoon Tea for Two, now available across all 343 cafés. It’s a playful twist on the classic afternoon tea, swapping sandwiches for fish bites, scampi, chunky chips and all the usual trimmings, not forgetting fruit scones to finish.

Good timing for National Fish and Chips Day as way to drive footfall and increase dwell time by bringing customers into the café during their shop.

Trendy Tuna!Tinned tuna is having a real resurgence, and TikTok has played a big part in it. The Tuna Rice Bowl is a big...
03/06/2026

Trendy Tuna!

Tinned tuna is having a real resurgence, and TikTok has played a big part in it. The Tuna Rice Bowl is a big hit. Everyone always had tinned tuna in the cupboard and for those of a certain age, the tuna and sweetcorn butty was always in lunch boxes.

It’s quick, affordable and high protein, which explains why Gen Z has adopted it as a go to meal. Microwave rice, tinned tuna, a spoon of mayo, a drizzle of sriracha or chilli crisp, and whatever you’ve got lurking in the fridge and as Gordon Ramsey says, done.

This shift in eating habits has been reflected in the numbers. Tesco has seen demand for tuna rise by almost 18% in two years, adding up to an extra 2.25 million kilos sold as younger shoppers rediscover a classic that really wasn’t seen as a chic and trendy option.

Tesco now sources 100% MSC certified own brand tuna. To achieve MSC certification, fisheries are independently assessed to ensure they don’t overfish, keep stocks at healthy levels, and minimise environmental impact.Most of the tuna sold in the UK is Skipjack or Albacore, which are among the most stable and resilient tuna stocks globally.

With TikTok trends driving big shifts in what people eat, it’s important that sustainability aligns with these surges in demand and MSC certification helps make sure it does.

More fresh ideas from Greggs Their first ever self service Greggs Express unit is now live at an MFG petrol forecourt ju...
02/06/2026

More fresh ideas from Greggs

Their first ever self service Greggs Express unit is now live at an MFG petrol forecourt just outside Glasgow Airport.

The idea is simple: grab your own bakes, sweet treats or Fairtrade hot drinks without waiting in line. It’s compact, quick and designed for places where a full Greggs shop just wouldn’t fit.

This trial will help Greggs understand how customers use the format, with a few more Express units planned for other MFG travel hubs soon.

It follows the launch of the Bitesize Greggs concept last November, another clever way the brand is reaching people in high footfall, space tight locations.

Its another move around the way people live their lives now – we’re always running to the next thing and time starved so this is a great practical solution from a brand people recognise.

Asda’s giving its shelves a major refresh, adding 400+ new food and drink lines across bakery, frozen, fresh and more. T...
01/06/2026

Asda’s giving its shelves a major refresh, adding 400+ new food and drink lines across bakery, frozen, fresh and more. They’re also cutting prices on lots of everyday essentials like mince, sausages, eggs and potatoes, with more reductions coming soon.

They’ve even added new £1 and £2 value roundels to make the best deals easier to spot as you go round the store.

It’s a move that many households will welcome right now, especially when every penny counts and budgeting feels tougher than ever. It fits neatly with Asda’s longstanding promise to help customers ‘save money and live better’.

Who keeps you sane?There are those days when you just need that voice of reason, that person who is outside of your imme...
28/05/2026

Who keeps you sane?

There are those days when you just need that voice of reason, that person who is outside of your immediate world of work but knows that world, if that makes sense. That person who you can ring and talk things through, who will challenge you and listen and give advice, sometimes tough love, but you know, deep down, they are in your trusted set and they have your back.

I’ve got mine, and he took a really early call from me this morning and made my day. He won’t want highlighting on here but that, in my view, is how the world keeps working. Even if you just make one person feel better today, lighten the load for them, make them smile, hear them laugh, then you’ve done a great thing.

Work mentors are also essential. Over the years, so many candidates have shared how they were lucky to have someone who took them under their wing and not only developed them but had their back. They follow them to their next job. On the reverse, you know you’ve got a good leader if their team follows.

Whatever your role, level, or industry sector, having a mentor or your sense checker is a game changer. Without knowing it, you probably do that for someone else too.

In a world of crazy politics and division, there are great people out there, and keeping in touch and maintaining that sense of reality is something we should all focus on.

Pic stunning Higger Tor - Happy Cooler Thursday!

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