The Grocer

Young's Seafood and Karro Food Group owner Sofina Foods Europe has announced the appointment of three new senior executives as part of a move to strengthen its leadership team

NEW 🍊 Spritz Fever-Tree has partnered with Margot Robbie’s Papa Salt Coastal Gin They have launched new RTD made with Italian Blood Orange Soda 🔗 See where to get them here: https://lnkd.in/enNWn44G

The UK #fishing industry will receive 2,000 tonnes of fishing opportunities from Faroe Islands, following annual negotiations 🐟🎣⛵ The government announced this was valued at £5m, based on historic prices It also reconfirms the UK and Faroese commitments to scientific co-operation and to establish a new joint Compliance Forum 🔗 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/duyQzf8s

Last month, Lidl laid claim to being the first supermarket to sell through TikTok Shop. It's limited 3,000 run of £5 high-protein product bundles sold out on the platform within 18 minutes. And it's just the beginning for grocery sales on the social media platform, says TikTok's UK general manager, global business solutions Kris Boger tells The Grocer. READ IT HERE: https://lnkd.in/eKfySK97 Some stats: - 46% of users are open to trying TikTok Shop or have already bought through it (Kantar) - From 2023 to 2024 fmcg sales on TikTok Shop grew by 177% in the UK - An fmcg product is sold every second on the platform - 70% of the platform’s 150 million users in Europe come 'to be entertained' (TikTok)

🧀 Steven Bartlett 's first-ever investment as a dragon on Dragons' Den has crumbled as cheesegeek is sold in a pre-pack administration deal to The Albex Group Group. The business has grown extremely quickly, with total sales well above £4.5m and more than 100,000 artisan curated cheese boxes despatched to customers. But its capital intensive model also meant it burned through cash equally rapidly, with accumulated losses far in excess of £3m. Bartlett and other investors, including the crowd, will miss out on a return on the £2m-plus injected into the company. However, glad to see the business continuing under new ownership and also continuing to be run by founder Edward Hancock as MD. Check out The Grocer for all the details on this exclusive story:

Tesco agrees two-stage #payrise, increasing hourly rates to £12.64 by August, but will scrap Sunday premiums as part of the deal 💷🛒 The 5.2% rise, negotiated with Usdaw Union, follows a 32% increase in pay since 2022. Tesco said the move aligns it with other retailers, with bank holiday premiums remaining in place 🔗 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dHKmuweS #RetailNews #Tesco #Jobs #Pay #Supermarkets

PepsiCo has entered the on-trend gut health soda category with the $1.95bn acquisition of poppi 🦠 PepsiCo said the brand’s “consumer-first approach, cultural cache and nutritional profile” had “nurtured a loyal fanbase and driven rapid growth” 🔗 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/dx2Z3jqn

Del Monte Foods has extended its partnership with the Lawn Tennis Association and professional British tennis star Jodie Burrage 🎾

NEW ❓ Easter Aldi to launch hot cross bun taste challenge where shoppers could win £1,000 worth of vouchers by guessing the secret flavour A new flavour launches every Thursday for three weeks from 20 March Available for 99p/two-pack

Shoppers overwhelmingly support a ban on #plastic packaging for fruit and veg, with WRAP urging the government to introduce legislation to cut waste and plastic use 🍎🌍 The climate change body claims selling produce loose could save 100,000 tonnes of food waste and 13,000 tonnes of plastic annually. Currently, only 19% of fruit and veg is sold without packaging 🔗 Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/ep7auezg #Sustainability #FoodWaste #PlasticFree