News and Trends

  Namnews,  18th August 2022 Lumina Intelligence has recently released its Top of Mind Report 2022, an insight from industry professionals on key market developments and the business challenges currently facing the UK eating out and grocery retail market. Over half of leaders across eating out and grocery retail are anticipating deteriorating trading conditions over the next 12 months, with the cost of living crisis highlighted as the number one reason across both markets. This compares to 2021 figures of 34% for grocery retail and 15% from eating out who thought the market would deteriorate this year. Inflation, labour shortages, rising costs, as well as availability and supply chain challenges, were also cited as reasons for a deterioration in market conditions across the next 12 months. 83% of eating out leaders said they have had to increase their prices as a direct impact of increasing living costs on your business compounded by 33% of leaders saying there has been a decr...

 Namnews,  17th August 2022 Tesco has revealed that it will spend more than €50m in Ireland this year on new stores and refits of its existing outlets as it targets further growth in the market. Yesterday, the group opened its 154th Irish outlet in the South Lotts area of Dublin. According to The Irish Times, this smaller-format convenience outlet will be followed this year by further openings of Express outlets in Smithfield and Charlemont Square. Tesco will also open a new superstore in Adamstown in west Dublin later this year. In addition to the €50m capital expenditure for 2022, Tesco is also preparing to rebrand nine of the Joyce’s supermarkets that it bought in Galway last year. Earlier this year, Tesco opened its first new store in Ireland in four years, at White Pines in Rathfarnham. It also opened a new Express outlet this year at Spencer Dock in Dublin. Natasha Adams, who took on the role of Chief Executive of Tesco Ireland back in April, told The Irish Times: “We ha...

 Namnews,  17th August 2022 Industry data released yesterday confirmed that Aldi is set to overtake Morrisons as the country’s fourth biggest supermarket within weeks. Figures from Kantar  showed the discounter’s market share in the UK had increased to 9.1% in the three months to 7 August after seeing a surge in sales as cash-strapped shoppers flocked to its stores amidst the cost of living crisis. Meanwhile, Morrisons continued its poor run with weaker sales resulting in its market falling from 10.0% to 9.3% over the last year. With Aldi now just 0.2% behind Morrisons, Clive Black, a leading retail analyst at Shore Capital, said: “In very short order, we’ll be talking about a new Big Four: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Aldi. I think in the next one or two months, and there’s no going back for a while.” He stated that both Aldi and Lidl had been boosted by “unnatural footfall” as the cost of living crisis prompts shoppers “who ordinarily would not be striving for deep valu...

Source: CSM Ingredients Nostalgia, comfort, enjoyment and indulgence are the four trends set to dominate bakery ranges in autumn and winter, according to CSM Ingredients. As such, the supplier expects to see a rise in cookie cakes, stuffed cookies and traditional Halloween baked goods that meet these needs as bakers gear up for one of the busiest times of year. Flavours to focus on include nuts and warming spices such as cinnamon and chai, it added. Meanwhile, chocolate and marshmallows used in cookie cakes and stuffed cookies will help achieve ‘stand out on shelf’ and dial up the indulgence by taking a year-round favourite to the next level. To tap into these trends, CSM Ingredients has developed a range of recipes including Spiced Toffee Apple Traybakes, Stuffed Cookies and Chai-Spiced Maple & Pecan Cookies. Halloween Spiders and monsters will prove popular at Halloween, according to CSM Ingredients, as well as traditional ghosts and ghouls with all the creatures expected to be s...

  Aldi has unveiled a cracking line-up of festive pies and puddings for Christmas 2022. Indulgence, fun flavour combinations and desserts created with an element of surprise are among the key themes. There is also an array of vegan options. Below we take a closer look at some of the sweet and savoury NPD the retailer has in store: Source: Aldi Festive Vol au Vents Embracing the nostalgia trend, Aldi has unveiled a trio of mini vol au vents to spruce up party platters. There’s no prawn cocktail filling in sight though – the light bites, part of its Specially Selected range, come in three flavours: Ham & Cheddar, Goats Cheese & Caramelised Onion, and Salmon & Dill. On sale: 12 October   Source: Aldi Sticky Toffee Pudding Crown Cake Add some sparkle to the table with this Sticky Toffee Pudding Crown Cake which is finished with glitter sprinkles. The sponge is made with sticky dates and features a rich sticky toffee sauce and buttery fudge pieces. On sale: 9 December ...

Grocery price inflation is at the highest level since   Kantar   started measuring it in 2008, the analyst said today. Grocery inflation hit 11.6% over the past four weeks. Fraser McKevitt, Kantar’s head of retail and consumer insight, said: “As predicted, we’ve now hit a new peak in grocery price inflation, with products like butter, milk and poultry in particular seeing some of the biggest jumps. This rise means that the average annual shop is set to increase by a staggering £533, or £10.25 every week, if consumers buy the same products as they did last year.” The last three months indicated that supermarket sales have grown, although by far less than the rate of inflation. Sales were up 2.2% in the 12 weeks to 7 August. There are also clear signs that shoppers are making changes in how they spend their grocery budget. McKevitt said: “It’s not surprising that we’re seeing shoppers make lifestyle changes to deal with the extra demands on their household budgets. Own-label ran...

rpbi-openings.co.uk, 14 August 2022 Manchester’s New Century Hall - which opens on 26th August - has announced the next three food vendors who will be joining the ground floor kitchens.  The bottom floor of the new music and events venue has been turned into a food hall, with a host of the North’s best in class food operators getting involved. The three new additions include Zumuku Sushi, offering up authentic Japanese cuisine; chef Tom Lowe’s steak and burger concept, focusing on sustainably sourced produce; and Northern Quarter favourite’s Ply, with their new elevated pizza concept. The food hall, which opens later this month will seat 300 people, and will also boast local beers, creative cocktails, artisan coffees and a grab ‘n’ go concept. The live music and events venues above, in the restored New Century Hall, will open in September. The soon-to-be-revealed space has all been designed to inspire creativity and collaboration and will also spill outside onto Sadler’s Yard for a...

rpbi-openings.co.uk, 08 August 2022 BNP Paribas Real Estate initial Q2 2022 data has revealed that improved hotel demand has driven average daily rates (ADR) and revenue per available room (RevPAR) to record highs as hoteliers increase their pricing to reflect rising occupancy levels and inflationary costs.  As UK total average hotel occupancy rose to 80% in Q2 from 70% in Q1, the highest seen since pre-pandemic (Q4 2019: 81%), ADR increased from £97.90 in Q1 to a new UK record of £122.86, with RevPAR increasing from £68.41 to £98.60. The news comes as inflation rose to 9.4% in June. Transactions have slowed down amid increased economic uncertainty and the rising cost of capital in Q2, with investment volumes totalling £1.2bn, albeit, it was still the strongest Q2 since £1.9bn was recorded in 2018. This was significantly influenced by the £420m purchase of the majority shareholding in the owner of Point A hotels by Tristan Capital Partners at the beginning of Q2 2022. Rebecca Shafr...

Healthy indulgence continues to be a buzz-phrase in bakery From lowering fat, salt and sugar ahead of Government regulations to improving its ethical and environmental credentials, the bakery and confectionery category has been busy.  Afforded the time and space to get creative during the pandemic, manufacturers have unleashed a wave of NPD spanning vegan variants to TikTok-inspired X-box cakes, boozy jellies and CBD-infused chocolate.   Challenging this vibrant category, however, is a major cost-of-living crisis, while manufacturers are facing their own raft of challenges.  “Brexit, COVID and now of course the war in Ukraine has given us, as well as many other bakery manufacturers, many challenges relating to supply,” ​ says Jacqui Passmore, marketing manager UK and Ireland for Dawn Foods. Dawn Foods's Superbakery products “The increased costs of raw materials, transport and labour continue to be the biggest challenges to the food industry, and this is unlikely to c...

Greggs is providing market-leading value propositions and increased choice to passengers F&B specialist SSP Group has secured a franchise deal with UK food-on-the-go retailer Greggs and is set to open stores across the UK. The first unit has begun trading at Derby Railway Station, with other openings in progress. Greggs will be providing market-leading value propositions and increased choice to passengers. The new stores will be located in SSP units which will be converted to Greggs. Richard Lewis, CEO, SSP UK & Ireland, says, “At SSP, we have a long history of bringing popular high street brands that customers love into travel locations. We’re delighted to have struck a deal with Greggs, which not only delivers a great core range, but is constantly innovating to meet evolving trends. “The deal has also been welcomed by our regional travel clients, who are looking forward to the opportunity to bring an instantly recognizable food offer to their platforms and concourses, and we ...

Autonomous shopping without scanning or paying at the SCO - Tesco in Chiswell Street will allow both. (Photo: Tesco/Parsons Media) UK grocery retailer Tesco is to open a second store using EasyOut technology from Trigo, The Grocer reports. The Israeli startup’s technology allows for a completely checkout-free operation. However, the new store, on London’s Chiswell Street, will also provide self-checkout systems. Customers will thus have the choice between fully autonomous shopping and scanning and paying at a self-service terminal. Tesco has not yet disclosed a date for the launch of the new shop. Under the name GetGo, Tesco opened its first unattended convenience store in London’s High Holborne Street in October last year. This uses technology from Trigo, which Tesco had previously trialled in a staff-only shop at its Welwyn Garden City campus. Access to the existing GetGo shop will only be available to users of the Tesco app. In the new hybrid store, consumers will also be able to sh...