Author: Sam Allcock

Asda’s Cashpot for Schools initiative has reached a £3 million milestone just four weeks after its launch.Joe Wicks leads this campaign, allowing shoppers to donate 0.5% of their purchase to primary schools.The initiative has already seen participation from over 21,500 out of 22,000 eligible UK primary schools.In its first four days, the campaign remarkably raised £1.1 million, showing strong community support.Asda aims to continue this success, targeting a total of £7.7 million over eight more weeks.Asda’s Cashpot for Schools initiative, driven by television personality Joe Wicks, achieved a significant funding milestone by reaching £3 million merely four weeks post-launch. This…

The UK wine sector is voicing strong opposition against the government’s proposed alcohol duty rise, leveraging industry veteran support.Major wine retailers such as Majestic Wine and Cambridge Wine Merchants are leading the campaign against the amplified duty regimes.Proposed duty changes are expected to introduce significant complexity, increasing from a single tax band to 30 for wines.Retailers express concern over potential price hikes, with duty increasing by 2p for every 0.1% rise in wine strength.The initiative to rollback these regulations includes mobilising customer support to contact local MPs.In the heart of the UK’s wine retail sector, opposition is mounting against the…

Nish Kankiwala, the CEO of John Lewis Partnership, is set to transition from his executive role to a non-executive position.This change marks a significant shift in the strategic transformation of the John Lewis Partnership.Kankiwala’s return to the board is expected to assist the new chairman, Jason Tarry, in steering the company.The position of CEO will not be directly filled, highlighting the transformation’s progress.Kankiwala’s journey from non-executive to executive role was initiated in March 2023 to accelerate the company’s transformation.Nish Kankiwala, CEO of John Lewis Partnership, is transitioning back to his non-executive role within the company, effective March 2025. This move…

In a concerted effort, the UK’s leading supermarkets are advocating for a reduction in business rates.The British Retail Consortium has addressed an open letter to the Labour government.The letter, endorsed by top supermarket chains, argues for a 20% reduction in business rates.The sector reportedly contributes 7.4% of total business taxes in the UK.Without reform, there is a significant risk of shop closures across the nation.The leading supermarkets in the United Kingdom have unified in a significant initiative, urging the government to address business rates that they consider disproportionately high. The core of their argument rests on a letter orchestrated by…

Ocado has introduced a new online section promoting female entrepreneurs.The ‘Buy Women Built’ initiative features over 1,000 products.Established brands and startups are included in the initiative.Sahar Hashemi spearheaded the ‘Buy Women Built’ campaign.Ocado aims to boost female entrepreneurship, addressing gender gaps.Ocado has made a strategic move by launching the ‘Buy Women Built’ section on its online platform, showcasing more than 1,000 products crafted by female entrepreneurs. This initiative serves as an effort to highlight and support brands founded by women in a market predominantly led by male entrepreneurs.The campaign, envisioned by Coffee Republic founder Sahar Hashemi, has led to the…

The strike action at Tetley highlights an unresolved pay dispute at Tata Consumer Products in Teeside.Over 150 workers, mainly women, initiated the strike, citing insufficient pay and unfair treatment.GMB Union accuses management of calling police on strikers, escalating tensions further.Legal actions are being pursued against workers for trespass amidst ongoing strikes.Despite a new pay deal in August 2023, workers argue for further pay justice.The current strike action at Tetley underlines ongoing tensions between the workforce and management at Tata Consumer Products’ facility in Teeside. Over 150 workers, primarily women, have positioned themselves at the forefront of this industrial action, with…

Jack Mason, co-founder and CEO of Inc & Co, has officially announced his departure from the Manchester-based business collective after five highly successful years. Mason’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Inc & Co into one of the UK’s most dynamic and forward-thinking business groups, particularly in the realm of rescuing distressed companies. His exit marks the end of a significant chapter for both Mason and Inc & Co, while opening up new possibilities for both. Leading Inc & Co from Vision to Reality In 2019, Jack Mason, along with co-founders Scott Dylan and Dave Antrobus, established Inc & Co…

Following a protracted drought, the global olive oil market is set for recovery.Spain, a leading olive oil producer, saw its production plummet by 60% due to severe droughts.Favourable weather conditions now promise a more robust harvest in Spain.This improvement is expected to alleviate the upward pressure on olive oil prices.These changes might stabilise production costs and impact global supply chains.The global olive oil market has been under significant strain following a two-year drought in Spain, one of the world’s largest producers. This adverse weather led to a dramatic 60% decline in olive oil production, significantly impacting international prices and supply.Recent…

KP Snacks achieved a remarkable financial milestone in 2023, nearing £100 million in profits.Despite a severe cyber attack in 2022, the snack giant showed impressive resilience and recovery.Sales surged alongside profits, increasing significantly from the previous year.Strategic pricing, cost management, and sustainability initiatives were key to overcoming industry challenges.The company maintained and strengthened its market position in the UK.In the financial year 2023, KP Snacks, known for brands like McCoy’s, KP Nuts, and Popchips, achieved an impressive pre-tax profit of £93.7 million. This was a marked increase from the £64.3 million reported in 2022. The surge in profits occurred despite…

The grocery industry faces significant challenges affecting the supply chain in 2024.Citrus greening disease severely impacts orange production in key regions.Avian flu outbreaks lead to increased egg prices due to shortages.Adverse weather threatens UK grain harvests, affecting staple food prices.Global sugar production suffers from climate change, raising costs of confectionery.The grocery sector is grappling with numerous disruptions as it heads into 2024. Significant challenges include the impact of citrus greening disease on orange crops, avian flu in the egg sector, adverse weather conditions affecting grain harvests, and the rising global cost of sugar impacting confectionery products. These issues have wide-ranging…