News and Trends

Save article Source: Le Pain Quotidien Simon Stenning, founder of strategic analysis consultancy Future Foodservice, discusses whether the recent failure of Le Pain Quotidien indicates wider problems for the UK bakery café market:   “It is always sad news when any business goes into administration, but it wasn’t much of a surprise when  Le Pain Quotidien (LPQ) announced the closure of nine out of its 10 UK stores  – the site at St Pancras remains open as it is operated by a separate company. The closures were reflective of several factors and a situation that has been exacerbated by recent major global events. LPQ is predominately based in central London, with just one site in Oxford. Foodservice businesses in the capital are affected by footfall and especially by tube usage, which is still 10-15% lower than 2019 and experiencing different patterns of business from both workers and shoppers. London has also been affected by a slow return of inbound tourist trade, with 202...

Source: Honey & Co. Honey & Co. co-founders Sarit Packer and Itamar Srulovich stand outside their Lamb’s Conduit Street restaurant. Middle Eastern food brand Honey & Co. has unveiled its latest venture, a bakery café and deli in London’s Bloomsbury district. Named ‘Honey & Co. Daily’, the Store Street location is due to open in September and will feature a dedicated deli-takeaway area at the entrance offering pastries, cakes, beverages and lunches to go. Meanwhile, a casual 40-seater dining room at the back will offer a more substantial eat-in menu. All bakery offerings such as pastries, sandwiches, cakes, and breads will be made on site to co-founder Sarit Packer’s recipes. The menu will also include Middle Eastern salads, shakshukas, and dips. Packer established the business in 2012 with her husband Itamar Srulovich. “From the start, our baking has been our beating heart, the backbone and basenote of everything we do,” said Srulovich. “From the morning bread through t...

(Image Credits: Palsgaard). 05 Jul 2023 --- With summer in full swing, consumers are eyeing fanciful escapes in the ice cream and frozen dessert aisle. However, industry has the complex task of creating products that deliver on taste, texture and appearance while keeping costs down. We explore some of the latest trends and solutions in the category, from super-indulgent flavors and colorful novelties to plant-based alternatives and cost-effective ingredients. Food Ingredients First  sits down with Valio, Foodology by Univar Solutions, Palsgaard, ofi and Cargill representatives to find out the latest in the category.  “When it comes to ice creams and frozen desserts, consumers increasingly expect more than a great-tasting treat. Some crave indulgence, others mindful eating and many are tapping into plant popularity with alternative dairy products. In general, today’s consumer desires an ever-more indulgent sensory experience across taste, texture, and color, and it is inspiring...

Home Bargains has opened in-store bakeries over stores across the UK, following a successful trial in Stoke-on-Trent. The business  has already introduced bakeries in stores across such locations as Darlington, Basingstoke and Merthyr, and now will add another 20 bakeries in stores across the UK over the next 12 months. Visitors will be able to bag a selection of baked goods, from baguettes and tiger rolls to pastries, muffins and doughnuts as the retailer looks to focus on a small product range to offer the best quality of value. A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “In recent years the market for fresh baked good in the UK has grown significantly and the bakeries we have introduced at stores nationwide have allowed customers to enjoy our competitively priced fresh bakery range. “We are looking forward to introducing more bakeries in stores as we roll out our fresh  bakery range  for customers across the UK to enjoy.” All bakeries operate on the same opening hours as t...

07 Jul 2023 --- Despite the current atmosphere of financial uncertainty and the cost of living spiraling, consumers surveyed by  Innova Market Insights  revealed that health is the number one driver of future F&B product development. Notably, consumers of all demographics and income levels prioritize health over affordability, among other factors. “Health benefits remain at the top of the list for consumers, even in financially challenging times,” says Lu Ann Williams, global insights director at Innova Market Insights.  Speaking to  Food Ingredients First , she explains that consumer food choices involve a “weighted balancing” of a number of factors such as cost savings, health messaging, sustainability and indulgence.  “How each factor is weighted depends on culture, country, income level, product category and a host of other revolving factors. Certainly, health and well-being remain a top spending priority for consumers, with the primary goal of healthier...

Namnews, 23rd June 2023 As we look forward to Aldi’s July supplier conference, their first since 2018, we ask IGD’s lead analyst for the Discount channel, Dan Butler, key questions on the future direction for Aldi; the growth opportunities, balancing sustainability in a price-led proposition and how suppliers can stand out from the crowd. To learn more, direct from Giles Hurley, CEO for Aldi in Great Britain and Ireland, along with his leadership team and category product directors –  join IGD in Birmingham  on July 4th 2023 – for what will be a most informative and productive briefing for pro-active suppliers. As Aldi grows to become ‘one of the big four’ – do you see them changing their model to serve more shopping missions? I can’t see a massive increase in SKU count coming, as this goes against its efficient operating model. I expect categories will be evolved to meet the needs of shoppers and we are seeing some glimpses of potential in-store additions in other markets. Ad...

Namnews, 29th June 2023 Marks & Spencer is following Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons in offering members of its loyalty scheme special discounts on food lines. Bryan Roberts, Global Insight Leader at IGD, revealed that M&S had begun a trial of ‘Sparks Prices’ at around 50 stores in South Wales, the North-East and the West Midlands. Members of the retailer’s Sparks scheme scan their loyalty card or app to take advantage of the deals that include a family chicken meal at £13 rather than £15; two pizzas and two sides for £10 rather than £12; and certain lines of Prosecco for £8 rather than £10. Roberts revealed that marketing material sent to shoppers in the relevant regions said: “We’re introducing Sparks Prices to a few of our stores. As you’re already a Sparks customer, you’ll get the best of M&S at even better value, simply by scanning your Sparks card at the till.” Retailer loyalty cards have become a key focus in the battle for cash-strapped consumers amid ever-increasi...

Namnews, 30th June 2023 The recent rounds of price cuts by the UK’s leading grocers continue, with Tesco announcing today that it is reducing the cost of 500 essential items. The supermarket is cutting the price of certain packs of own-label pasta, tinned tuna, milk, grapes, cheese and other goods by an average of 13%, saying that it had worked with its suppliers to pass on cost reductions where it could. The move comes just days after supermarket executives were questioned by MPs over claims they have been profiteering during the cost of living crisis. Representatives from Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda vehemently denied the accusations, pointing to the highly competitive nature of the grocery market and the small profit margins they operate with. They blamed rising energy, labour and commodity costs, as well as difficulties with food supplies, for rising prices. However, with some commodity costs now easing, most analysts believe that food inflation in the UK has now peaked, ...

Namnews, 30th June 2023 There are fresh rumours that the two Aldi entities – Nord and Süd – are close to a merger, ending a separation that has lasted over 60 years. German business publication Manager Magazin said that “rough plans” to reunify the two Aldi operations have already been drawn up, while the ownership structure of an enlarged group is said to have been “clarified”. Aldi split into two distinct groups in 1961 due to a difference in opinion between the founding brothers Theo and Karl Albrecht on whether to sell cigarettes. The discounter’s German operations are currently split between Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd. Internationally, Aldi Nord operates in Denmark, France, the Benelux countries, Portugal, Spain and Poland, while Aldi Süd operates in Ireland, Great Britain, Hungary, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Australia, China, and the USA. Whilst both use different branding, they follow a similar model and have been harmonising their ranges and product development in recen...