Author: Dave Antrobus

In a significant move, Tesco has allocated £10 million to support the recovering UK egg industry, following severe challenges faced over the past year.Buying restrictions on eggs, implemented in November 2022 due to supply chain strains, have now been lifted.The investment follows a prior £27.5 million backing by Tesco to source eggs from the UK and ensure high welfare standards.From August 2023 until March 2024, £6 million will be allocated to cover increased costs in egg handling, processing, and production.Tesco’s commitment includes maintaining their leading poultry feed model, offering financial protection against fluctuating feed prices.Tesco has announced the provision of…

Tesco plans to introduce Creams café concessions across its UK stores, expanding its dessert offerings.The initiative follows a successful trial of a Creams café at a Tesco in Streatham last November.The first new in-store cafés will open in Gateshead and Maryhill in early August, with more to follow this year.Customers will enjoy 24 different gelato flavours alongside waffles, sundaes, and milkshakes.Tesco is innovating its café operations with new digital ordering systems and automated kitchen solutions.Tesco is embarking on an innovative partnership with Creams café to launch concessions in its UK stores. This strategic move builds on the successful trial of…

Exploring the recent buzz in fashion retail, we dive into the numbers shaping the industry this week.Kim Kardashian’s brand, Skims, reaches a substantial valuation milestone.Inflation impacts consumer prices, reflecting in the 7.9% Consumer Price Index (CPI).Drapers provides valuable insights and analysis in fashion retail news.Exclusive content available through Drapers subscription services.Kim Kardashian’s lingerie brand, Skims, has achieved a remarkable valuation of $4 billion (£3.1 billion) as it embarks on a new funding round targeted at $270 million (£209 million). This valuation highlights the brand’s growing influence and market presence, marking a significant achievement in the fashion industry.The Consumer Price Index…

Iceland introduces significant changes to the role of area managers, extending their responsibilities to include oversight of both Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores.Previously, area managers’ duties were brand-specific, but now they are geographically oriented to enhance operational efficiency.This move aims to facilitate growth opportunities and reduce unnecessary travel time for area managers.There are concerns among employees regarding job security, despite Iceland’s assurance of no imminent redundancies.Store closures are compounding uncertainties with recent and forthcoming shutdowns amid economic challenges.Iceland has strategically increased the responsibilities of its area managers, who will now manage both Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores within…

Virtual Data Rooms (VDRs) are revolutionising the way businesses manage secure data sharing.Entrepreneurs demand VDRs for optimising business processes and ensuring data safety.Key performance metrics, like IOPS, are crucial for VDR efficiency.Advanced features including AI and blockchain enhance VDR functionality.VDRs provide unparalleled security with military-grade encryption.Virtual Data Rooms are becoming indispensable in modern business environments for secure and efficient data management. Entrepreneurs are increasingly turning to VDRs to create secure work atmospheres, crucial for today’s digital-dependent operations. These platforms automate and optimise business processes, offering a transparent environment to collaborate safely with colleagues.Performance metrics such as Input/Output Operations Per Second…

The rising tide of abuse against customer service staff is reaching alarming levels.Over two-fifths of service employees are considering resignation due to increased customer aggression.Research indicates widespread abuse, with verbal hostility and physical violence cited.Economic struggles fuel customer frustrations, further aggravating tensions.The new law’s impact remains limited with many incidents still unreported.In recent findings, over two-fifths of customer service staff have expressed their intention to leave their roles. This is primarily due to the increased levels of abuse they face from customers, which is often fuelled by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.The Institute of Customer Service conducted a survey with 1,488…

Brakes, a wholesale foodservice supplier, has announced a price freeze on 1,850 own-brand products until October 2023.This decision comes at a time of rising food inflation, aiming to provide stability for food businesses.Popular items such as baked beans, tuna chunks, and chicken chunks are included in this initiative.Frozen goods like hash browns and chips are also part of Brakes’ price lock programme.This move follows similar actions by other retailers like M&S and Tesco.In response to the ongoing rise in food inflation, Brakes has taken a forward-thinking approach by freezing the prices of 1,850 own-brand products until October 2023. This decision…

Sainsbury’s introduces a groundbreaking initiative to combat plastic waste and reduce carbon emissions.Cardboard cartons replace traditional plastic in Sainsbury’s own-brand liquid laundry detergent.The new packaging is set to save 22 tonnes of plastic annually across all stores.Sainsbury’s aims to cut carbon emissions by 50% through this transition.This move aligns with the company’s broader goal to halve plastic usage by 2025.In a pioneering move for sustainability, Sainsbury’s has launched its own-brand liquid laundry detergent in innovative cardboard cartons. By transitioning away from conventional sleeved plastic bottles, the supermarket chain is spearheading efforts to significantly reduce plastic waste. This initiative is expected…

The UK public is calling for the extension of free school meals due to rising food poverty.A YouGov poll reports 80% support for extending free school meals to Universal Credit households.Food insecurity has doubled over a year, affecting 21.6% of UK households with children.Support for policy changes is high in key political areas at risk for the Conservative Party.Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are already ahead in offering universal free school meals.Faced with an increase in food poverty, the UK public is urging the government to extend free school meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit. A YouGov…

A recent study by the EEF reveals a rise in sickness absence, highlighting employers’ struggles with mental health issues at work.Despite CIPD data showing a general reduction in sickness absence, the EEF finds an increase among manufacturers’ staff.Mental health conditions are now a leading cause of absence, with one in four manufacturers affected.Only a small fraction of companies offer training for managers to deal with mental health conditions.The study calls for better tools and efforts to manage and reduce long-term absences.In a comprehensive study by the manufacturer’s organisation, the EEF, it has been identified that most companies are failing to…