The Grocer
@thegrocer.bsky.social
Bible of the UK food and drink industry since 1862 🛒
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Register for free guest access: account.thegrocer.co.uk/register
Anger is growing over failure by the UK governments to reveal the extent of the financial “black hole” threatening the future of the #EPR packaging tax
Fury grows over EPR financial ‘black hole’ silence
Scheme administrator PackUK has admitted it may have to reissue the first year of bills because of a major shortfall in the money raised
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Anger is growing over failure by the UK governments to reveal the extent of the financial “black hole” threatening the future of the #EPR packaging tax
BrewDog has been put up for sale by restructuring firm AlixPartners
It could be split up and sold off in piecemeal parts, following five years of consecutive losses
So, where did it all go wrong?
It could be split up and sold off in piecemeal parts, following five years of consecutive losses
So, where did it all go wrong?
BrewDog fire sale: how did it come to this?
Scottish beer business BrewDog has been put up for sale and could be split up following five years of consecutive losses
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
BrewDog has been put up for sale by restructuring firm AlixPartners
It could be split up and sold off in piecemeal parts, following five years of consecutive losses
So, where did it all go wrong?
It could be split up and sold off in piecemeal parts, following five years of consecutive losses
So, where did it all go wrong?
Waitrose staff are set to get a 6.9% #payrise from April
The John Lewis Partnership invests a further £108m into paying its partners
The John Lewis Partnership invests a further £108m into paying its partners
Waitrose staff to get almost 7% pay rise in April
The John Lewis Partnership said the investment comes on top of the nearly £300m it has pumped into improving salaries over the past three years
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 1:18 PM
Waitrose staff are set to get a 6.9% #payrise from April
The John Lewis Partnership invests a further £108m into paying its partners
The John Lewis Partnership invests a further £108m into paying its partners
NEW ⭐ Kids
Kids’ food brand Little Dish has expanded its Superstars frozen range
Crispy Fish Bites with Added Veg and Golden Veggie Bites with Mozzarella available in supermarkets from 9 March for rsp: £3.95/300g
🔗 See where to get them here: https://bit.ly/4aD2ldI
Kids’ food brand Little Dish has expanded its Superstars frozen range
Crispy Fish Bites with Added Veg and Golden Veggie Bites with Mozzarella available in supermarkets from 9 March for rsp: £3.95/300g
🔗 See where to get them here: https://bit.ly/4aD2ldI
February 18, 2026 at 1:02 PM
NEW ⭐ Kids
Kids’ food brand Little Dish has expanded its Superstars frozen range
Crispy Fish Bites with Added Veg and Golden Veggie Bites with Mozzarella available in supermarkets from 9 March for rsp: £3.95/300g
🔗 See where to get them here: https://bit.ly/4aD2ldI
Kids’ food brand Little Dish has expanded its Superstars frozen range
Crispy Fish Bites with Added Veg and Golden Veggie Bites with Mozzarella available in supermarkets from 9 March for rsp: £3.95/300g
🔗 See where to get them here: https://bit.ly/4aD2ldI
Boots has launched a high street weight loss jab service
Offering face-to-face consultations and GLP-1 treatments such as WeGovy and Mounjaro
Offering face-to-face consultations and GLP-1 treatments such as WeGovy and Mounjaro
Boots launches high street weight-loss jab service
Available in 17 stores across the UK, including in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, the service offers a private consultation with a pharmacist who can give treatment to eligible customers
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 12:12 PM
Boots has launched a high street weight loss jab service
Offering face-to-face consultations and GLP-1 treatments such as WeGovy and Mounjaro
Offering face-to-face consultations and GLP-1 treatments such as WeGovy and Mounjaro
Major confusion over the nation’s growing mountain of soft plastic ♻️
It has emerged many films and other types of flexible packaging incorrectly reported by suppliers under the #EPR tax system
It has emerged many films and other types of flexible packaging incorrectly reported by suppliers under the #EPR tax system
Confusion over ‘incorrectly classified’ soft plastic adds to UK’s waste mountain fears
Concern has been growing that new rules to try to push companies away from using the materials have been widely misinterpreted
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Major confusion over the nation’s growing mountain of soft plastic ♻️
It has emerged many films and other types of flexible packaging incorrectly reported by suppliers under the #EPR tax system
It has emerged many films and other types of flexible packaging incorrectly reported by suppliers under the #EPR tax system
Aldi is the latest retailer to incur the wrath of the Real Bread Campaign over sourdough labelling claims
Aldi sourdough loaf sparks complaint to Trading Standards
The Real Bread Campaign has lodged a complaint with Trading Standards over Aldi's Specially Selected Signature Bake Dark Rye Sourdough loaf
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 10:10 AM
Aldi is the latest retailer to incur the wrath of the Real Bread Campaign over sourdough labelling claims
Inflation has fallen to 3%, its lowest point in almost a year
Inflation falls to lowest level in nearly a year
Inflation has fallen to 3%, its lowest point in almost a year, according to the latest ONS figures
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 18, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Inflation has fallen to 3%, its lowest point in almost a year
NEW 🍰 Cake
Black Milk to launch new Pistachio Cream and White Chocolate Cake
Available in Tesco now for £16/each
Black Milk to launch new Pistachio Cream and White Chocolate Cake
Available in Tesco now for £16/each
February 14, 2026 at 5:06 PM
NEW 🍰 Cake
Black Milk to launch new Pistachio Cream and White Chocolate Cake
Available in Tesco now for £16/each
Black Milk to launch new Pistachio Cream and White Chocolate Cake
Available in Tesco now for £16/each
NEW 🥩 Mr Beast
YouTube megastar and host of Amazon Prime's Beast Games, Mr Beast's beef jerky is coming to supermarkets and forecourts across the country
YouTube megastar and host of Amazon Prime's Beast Games, Mr Beast's beef jerky is coming to supermarkets and forecourts across the country
February 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
NEW 🥩 Mr Beast
YouTube megastar and host of Amazon Prime's Beast Games, Mr Beast's beef jerky is coming to supermarkets and forecourts across the country
YouTube megastar and host of Amazon Prime's Beast Games, Mr Beast's beef jerky is coming to supermarkets and forecourts across the country
#TomorrowsPapersToday
Check out The Grocer digital edition now: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/still-like-getting-your-magazine-fix/192031.article
Check out The Grocer digital edition now: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/still-like-getting-your-magazine-fix/192031.article
February 13, 2026 at 4:32 PM
#TomorrowsPapersToday
Check out The Grocer digital edition now: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/still-like-getting-your-magazine-fix/192031.article
Check out The Grocer digital edition now: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/still-like-getting-your-magazine-fix/192031.article
For Valentine’s Day 2026 retailers are rolling out their annual dine-in deals while attempting to hold prices steady
Here’s what the UK’s biggest supermarkets have to offer for all the lovers tomorrow
Here’s what the UK’s biggest supermarkets have to offer for all the lovers tomorrow
Battle of the Valentine’s Day supermarket dine-in deals
Retailers roll out their annual dine-in deals while attempting to hold prices steady in a market still under pressure from inflation and loyalty pricing
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 3:07 PM
For Valentine’s Day 2026 retailers are rolling out their annual dine-in deals while attempting to hold prices steady
Here’s what the UK’s biggest supermarkets have to offer for all the lovers tomorrow
Here’s what the UK’s biggest supermarkets have to offer for all the lovers tomorrow
Co-branding has evolved from novelty launches to a core grocery strategy
Explore why partnerships are proliferating, what makes them work, and profile the most attention-grabbing collaborations from Heinz x Morley’s to Cadbury x Biscoff
Explore why partnerships are proliferating, what makes them work, and profile the most attention-grabbing collaborations from Heinz x Morley’s to Cadbury x Biscoff
How co-branding became grocery’s ultimate marketing strategy
Once reserved for occasional promotions, co-branding has become a core strategy for grocery brands seeking to refresh mature categories
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Co-branding has evolved from novelty launches to a core grocery strategy
Explore why partnerships are proliferating, what makes them work, and profile the most attention-grabbing collaborations from Heinz x Morley’s to Cadbury x Biscoff
Explore why partnerships are proliferating, what makes them work, and profile the most attention-grabbing collaborations from Heinz x Morley’s to Cadbury x Biscoff
NEW 🍫 Easter
Oat milk chocolate brand HAPPi to launch new #plantbased flavour for Easter 2026
Pistachio Crunch Easter Egg available from Waitrose and Amazon for rsp: £15/155g
Oat milk chocolate brand HAPPi to launch new #plantbased flavour for Easter 2026
Pistachio Crunch Easter Egg available from Waitrose and Amazon for rsp: £15/155g
February 13, 2026 at 1:06 PM
NEW 🍫 Easter
Oat milk chocolate brand HAPPi to launch new #plantbased flavour for Easter 2026
Pistachio Crunch Easter Egg available from Waitrose and Amazon for rsp: £15/155g
Oat milk chocolate brand HAPPi to launch new #plantbased flavour for Easter 2026
Pistachio Crunch Easter Egg available from Waitrose and Amazon for rsp: £15/155g
The UK’s winter supplies of key fruit and veg items could be hit after floods “devastated” farms in Spain and Morocco 🍊
Floods in Spain and Morocco set to hit UK fruit & veg supply
The flooding has devastated farms supplying olives, strawberries, citrus, avocados and winter crops
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 12:08 PM
The UK’s winter supplies of key fruit and veg items could be hit after floods “devastated” farms in Spain and Morocco 🍊
Scottish salmon exports to China boomed in 2025 thanks to a growing Chinese middle class
Demand for Scottish salmon surges in China
According to HMRC data released on 12 February, Scottish salmon retained its crown as the UK's top food export, with growth in China and the US particularly profound
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Scottish salmon exports to China boomed in 2025 thanks to a growing Chinese middle class
M&S has issued urgent new guidance to staff after a social media exposé of the #foodwaste that stores put in bins
M&S issues update to all stores on food waste after exposé
The retailer is among a number of major grocers whose store bins have been filmed in recent weeks by the Instagram and TikTok account Food_waste_inspector_
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 10:08 AM
M&S has issued urgent new guidance to staff after a social media exposé of the #foodwaste that stores put in bins
Retailers are ready and willing to top up Healthy Start vouchers for families
But low awareness and digital issues could derail it
But low awareness and digital issues could derail it
Is there a future for Healthy Start supermarket top-ups?
Retailers are ready and willing to top up Healthy Start vouchers for families. But low awareness and digital issues could derail it
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Retailers are ready and willing to top up Healthy Start vouchers for families
But low awareness and digital issues could derail it
But low awareness and digital issues could derail it
Scotch whisky exports to the US have fallen by 15% since the imposition of 10% #TrumoTariffs last April
Scotch whisky exports to US down 15% since tariff imposition
Scotch was navigating 'significant challenges across multiple markets', the SWA said
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 8:07 PM
Scotch whisky exports to the US have fallen by 15% since the imposition of 10% #TrumoTariffs last April
Co-op Wholesale has launched its overhauled Nisa symbol group
Giving retailers the choice of a new commercial model that drops membership fees and surcharges in exchange for sourcing 75% of stock from the wholesaler
Giving retailers the choice of a new commercial model that drops membership fees and surcharges in exchange for sourcing 75% of stock from the wholesaler
Co-op Wholesale launches new Nisa model with fees scrapped and 75% sourcing requirement
The move aims to create a simpler, more consistent buying structure for retailers
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Co-op Wholesale has launched its overhauled Nisa symbol group
Giving retailers the choice of a new commercial model that drops membership fees and surcharges in exchange for sourcing 75% of stock from the wholesaler
Giving retailers the choice of a new commercial model that drops membership fees and surcharges in exchange for sourcing 75% of stock from the wholesaler
Government accused of rowing back from promises to “get out of the way” and let the industry run its under-fire #EPR packaging tax
EPR: government ‘backtracks’ on plans for industry-run scheme
Sources told The Grocer the language from PackUK was a "major change in tone" compared with its message in the autumn
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Government accused of rowing back from promises to “get out of the way” and let the industry run its under-fire #EPR packaging tax
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
The Welsh government allowed to launch a #DRS including glass in pivotal decision from Westminster
Sources say this will have huge implications for the UK rollout planned for October next year
🔗 Read the full story here:
The Welsh government allowed to launch a #DRS including glass in pivotal decision from Westminster
Sources say this will have huge implications for the UK rollout planned for October next year
🔗 Read the full story here:
Wales given Internal Market go-ahead to include glass in deposit return scheme
The UK government today announced it had approved the Welsh government's application under the Internal Market Act for devolved powers to push ahead with a breakaway DRS
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 6:04 PM
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
The Welsh government allowed to launch a #DRS including glass in pivotal decision from Westminster
Sources say this will have huge implications for the UK rollout planned for October next year
🔗 Read the full story here:
The Welsh government allowed to launch a #DRS including glass in pivotal decision from Westminster
Sources say this will have huge implications for the UK rollout planned for October next year
🔗 Read the full story here:
NEW 🐰 Easter
Nestlé Confectionery has added a swathe of treats for Easter 2026, including two marbled Kit Kat Eggs
🔗 See what's new here: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/nestle-adds-kit-kat-aero-milkybar-and-rowntrees-treats-for-easter/715216.article
Nestlé Confectionery has added a swathe of treats for Easter 2026, including two marbled Kit Kat Eggs
🔗 See what's new here: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/nestle-adds-kit-kat-aero-milkybar-and-rowntrees-treats-for-easter/715216.article
February 12, 2026 at 5:05 PM
NEW 🐰 Easter
Nestlé Confectionery has added a swathe of treats for Easter 2026, including two marbled Kit Kat Eggs
🔗 See what's new here: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/nestle-adds-kit-kat-aero-milkybar-and-rowntrees-treats-for-easter/715216.article
Nestlé Confectionery has added a swathe of treats for Easter 2026, including two marbled Kit Kat Eggs
🔗 See what's new here: https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/nestle-adds-kit-kat-aero-milkybar-and-rowntrees-treats-for-easter/715216.article
Just Eat has launched a trial of four-legged delivery robots in Milton Keynes
Just Eat launches robo-dog delivery trial in Milton Keynes
The robo-dogs can bound up staircases, reach speeds of 14km an hour, open gates, dodge (actual) dogs and carry 30kg of food
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Just Eat has launched a trial of four-legged delivery robots in Milton Keynes
The Magnum Ice Cream Company CEO praises “solid operational performance” in the company’s first year end outside Unilever
Magnum on target post-Unilever with ‘solid’ performance
Magnum navigated the separation from Unilever to win 1.5% volume growth in the year, up from 1.1% in FY2024
www.thegrocer.co.uk
February 12, 2026 at 3:03 PM
The Magnum Ice Cream Company CEO praises “solid operational performance” in the company’s first year end outside Unilever