AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: UK shoppers are being urged not to eat certain Ukrainian eggs after Salmonella was detected, with 36 cases linked to the supplier; M&S and Tesco have also recalled selected ready meals, salads and sauces over contamination concerns. No- and Low-Alcohol: Premium options are gaining ground ahead of Christmas: Tesco reports alcohol-free spirits sales up 17% year on year, with no- and low-alcohol beer and cider volumes up 12.5%. Hospitality: More than 110 former Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Cookhouse sites are set to reopen under new operators, potentially creating over 700 jobs. Brewing: Carlsberg Britvic plans to close Marston’s Brewery, putting 310 jobs at risk, as the British Beer and Pub Association’s chief executive calls for beer duty to be cut. Food Access: Two disadvantaged areas are each set to receive £222,000 from a £10m community food programme to improve access to affordable, healthy food.

Food Safety: UK consumers and businesses have been told not to eat or sell Ukrainian eggs stamped 3UA1012066 after Salmonella was detected; the products may have been repacked and sold under different names, and the outbreak is linked to 36 cases. Brewing: Carlsberg Britvic plans to close Marston’s Brewery, putting 310 jobs at risk and raising concerns over the future of Banks’s beers. Farming: England has suffered its worst harvest on record after extreme summer weather, adding pressure to food supply as UK butter and cheese availability also contracted in the second quarter. Packaging: Pulpex has started production at a Glasgow fibre-bottle plant, a potential boost for lower-plastic packaging in the drinks sector.

Industry Awards: Guala Closures UK was named Manufacturer of the Year at Scotland’s Made in Scotland Awards. Its £52m Gartcosh plant supplies more than 100 distilleries. Food Safety: M&S and Tesco recalled food products over salmonella concerns, with shoppers told not to eat affected items. Brewing Jobs: Carlsberg Britvic plans to close Marston’s Burton brewery, putting more than 300 jobs at risk and raising concerns for the future of its well-known beers. Food Supply: England has suffered its worst harvest on record after extreme summer weather. The NFU also warns Britain’s food production is falling as farmers face rising costs and policy uncertainty. Whisky: Scotland’s industry faces fresh pressure, with job losses and a dispute over protections for Scotch whisky highlighting concerns about the sector’s recovery. Coffee: Coca-Cola may sell Costa Coffee after the chain was overtaken by Greggs as the UK’s biggest coffee seller; Costa has returned to profit as UK revenue rose.

Food Safety: M&S and Tesco recalled ready meals, salads and sauces over salmonella concerns. Separately, a coroner found a cafe’s failure to wash a blender after using it for a hazelnut drink led to the fatal allergic reaction of 12-year-old Mia Shay St Hilaire. Brewing: Carlsberg Britvic plans to close its Marston’s brewery in Burton in 2027, putting about 310 jobs at risk and leaving the future of Banks’s beers uncertain. Retail & Coffee: Coca-Cola is reportedly exploring a sale of Costa Coffee, while Tesco raised its full-year profit outlook after first-half growth. Drinks: A lorry carrying 41,184 bottles of Irn-Bru, worth about £30,000, was stolen from Cumbernauld and later tracked into Cumbria. Farming: Extreme summer weather has left England facing its worst harvest on record, raising fresh concerns about domestic food supply.

Retail: Coca-Cola is reportedly reconsidering a sale of Costa Coffee after an earlier attempt fell through. The chain has about 2,700 UK and Ireland outlets and has lost ground to Greggs on store numbers. Food safety: The Food Standards Agency has warned shoppers not to eat five M&S and Tesco products recalled over possible salmonella from pistachio nuts; affected items can be returned for a refund. Brewing: Carlsberg plans to close Burton upon Trent’s historic Marston’s Brewery, putting around 310 jobs at risk and ending nearly 200 years of brewing at the site. Hospitality: Upper Crust owner SSP expects annual operating profit of about £230m, below analyst forecasts, as passenger numbers weaken in Middle East travel hubs and North America; UK and Ireland fourth-quarter sales rose 9%. Food security: Experts warn Britain is poorly prepared for food supply emergencies, while farmers report that policy uncertainty is hurting their businesses.

Costa Sale: Coca-Cola is again exploring a sale of Costa Coffee after an earlier process failed to meet its price expectations. The chain returned to profit, with UK revenue up 5%, adding urgency to the question of its future ownership. Brewing Shake-up: Carlsberg Britvic plans to close Burton’s historic Marston’s Brewery in 2027, putting about 310 jobs at risk. The future of regional beers, including Banks’s, is uncertain. Food Security: Experts warn the UK has no clear plan for a food crisis, as farmers face policy uncertainty and a powerful El Niño threatens harvests, food prices and energy costs. Retail and Regulation: Tesco raised its full-year profit outlook after first-half profit rose 6.3%. Meanwhile, the UK competition watchdog is still reviewing McCormick’s proposed $44.8bn takeover of Unilever’s food business, despite the deal clearing a US antitrust hurdle.

Retail: Tesco raised its annual profit forecast after first-half sales reached £33.8bn, citing resilient shoppers and strong online growth. The grocer expects a “marginally healthier” Christmas, with less alcohol. Hospitality: Wetherspoon’s annual pre-tax profit fell 28% to £56.8m as wage, repair and property costs climbed, despite higher sales. Food Security: More than 150 experts warn the UK lacks a plan for major food supply shocks, while a farming survey found 87% of farmers pessimistic about long-term food security. Farming and Production: This summer’s heat and dry spell left British potatoes undersized, adding pressure to growers. Northern Ireland crisp maker Glens of Antrim has also closed after 54 years, with most of its 95 staff made redundant.

Food Manufacturing: Northern Ireland crisp maker Glens of Antrim has entered administration after 54 years, putting a long-established brand sold in UK supermarkets at risk. Farming & Inputs: A UK industry roadmap targets replacing current ammonia demand with low-carbon supply by 2036, including 1.1 million tonnes of domestic production. It forecasts £1.5bn in private investment and 5,000 jobs, but says delivery is uncertain without policy and funding support. Retail: Aldi plans 40 more UK stores and a £900m investment, while shop price inflation eased to 1.4% in September. Crop Demand: UK pea consumption has fallen 74% in five decades, a worrying trend for growers and the domestic supply chain. Beef: Tight cattle supplies are pushing up UK beef prices, adding pressure to food costs.

GLP-1 shock for hospitality: New Lumina Intelligence data says more than 6% of UK adults are on GLP-1 weight-loss drugs—more than the combined share who are vegetarian or vegan—raising fresh pressure on restaurants facing smaller appetites and fewer dining occasions. Farm assurance spotlight: Red Tractor released its “Proud to Farm” film, backing 40,000-plus assured farmers and growers and highlighting how assurance schemes support consumer confidence amid hot, dry weather. Flood resilience via drinks partnership: Carlsberg Britvic and The Rivers Trust are creating new River Alne wetlands in Alcester to slow and store water, cutting flood risk while boosting biodiversity. Breakfast goes evening: Heinz and Greggs extend “Brinner” (breakfast at dinner) with limited-time breakfast rolls and sauce from 4-7pm at 20 sites on Oct 14-15. Local food awards momentum: Two Trafford venues are shortlisted for the “Oscars of the curry industry”, while Renishaw Hall & Gardens’ honey partnership wins double Bronze at the Great British Food Awards. Retail expansion: Aldi opens in Norton on Oct 8, with fresh meat, Specially Selected ranges and Food to Go, plus fruit-and-veg giveaways for early customers.

Food Safety Breakthrough: Scientists at the University of Reading say a low-power blue light treatment can kill Campylobacter on raw chicken, with all 64 tested strains wiped out—aimed at cutting the UK’s huge burden of food poisoning. Retail Waste Tech: Iceland is rolling out an AI system to monitor stock and automatically calculate yellow-label markdowns, targeting less food waste and freeing up staff time. Christmas Grocery Push: Tesco has unveiled new festive meal deal items from Oct 12, including a Fully Loaded Chicken stuffing-and-cranberry sandwich and a Turkey pastrami panettone-style roll. Local Food & Drink Recognition: Wander Cuppa’s spiced green tea blend won bronze at national tea awards, while Dorset producers picked up Great British Food Awards honours. Industry & Operations: Glen Industries says it’s growing in eco food packaging, with H1 FY27 revenue up 18.84% as it expands capacity. Food Industry Compliance: A Dudley convenience store owner was fined after inspectors found mice and food hygiene failures.

Retail & Foodservice Partnerships: Waitrose launches its first supermarket range with Rick Stein, landing 7 October with nine “restaurant quality” fish and seafood dishes plus festive additions. Food Waste & Food Poverty: A Felix food-rescue piece says UK households waste about three meals a week, while 1bn meals of surplus are thrown away across the food sector, calling for more rescue of edible food. Seasonal Eating: A guide warns pumpkin spice can make autumn bakery “predictable”, pushing more varied flavours like fig, citrus and salted caramel. Community Food Initiatives: Incredible Edible Bagillt in Flintshire kicks off with a children’s event that included free groceries for dozens. Local Food Culture: Chesterfield adds a new Christmas Market (20-22 Nov) alongside its lights switch-on, with food and drink stalls. Awards & Chefs: Currylife Awards name seven chefs and 41 restaurants celebrating South Asian cooking; Northumberland’s pub chef is also among Britain’s best culinary talents. Beverage Industry: Coca-Cola HBC Northern Ireland reports 2025 turnover up to £386.2m and profit up nearly 14%, citing investment and growth. Food Safety/Health: A reminder on whiteflies swarming UK gardens notes they’re harmless to people but can be a crop pest.

Cancer Diagnostics: GRAIL will present new NHS-Galleri and PATHFINDER 2 data on its Galleri multi-cancer early detection test at EDCC in Edinburgh and ESMO in Madrid, including work on Cancer Signal Origin guided diagnostics and performance across cancer types. Food & Drink Culture: Greggs fans are pushing for wider availability of the London-only Tottenham Cake, reigniting debate over “secret menu” regional treats. Agriculture & Diet: UK pea consumption has fallen to a 50-year low, with Gen Z far less likely to see peas as a British staple—raising fresh pressure on domestic growers. Whisky Innovation: Scottish researchers plan to age whisky in space using a CubeSat mission to the ISS, aiming to see whether orbiting conditions accelerate maturation. Hospitality & Community: A Taste of Leamington charity dining event raised £6,300 for Parkinson’s UK, with diners touring independent restaurants in one evening.

Tea value showdown: Which? says Sainsbury’s Red Label and Waitrose Essential are top for taste and “best buy”, with Sainsbury’s about half the price of big brands like Tetley and PG Tips. Retail performance: Lidl’s UK revenues hit £13bn for the year to February, up 10.8%, helped by a 12% jump in its Deluxe range and more shoppers. Food safety recalls: Home Bargains recalled Lambertz Mini Spekulatius and Christmas Tree Cookies over undeclared allergens, while Unilever recalled Pot Noodle Piri Piri Chicken for undeclared milk. Drinks retail M&A: Tesco is reportedly exploring a bid for Majestic Wine to expand specialist drinks and hospitality supply. Food waste standard: BSI and ISO-backed guidance launches a new food-waste management standard to help firms cut loss and waste across the supply chain. Health & diet research: A new review links higher processed meat intake with increased dementia risk, including UK data. Food security warning: More than 150 experts urge Andy Burnham to act on UK food resilience, citing import dependence and “just-in-time” fragility. Community impact: Birmingham’s Kings Heath Community Kitchen highlights rising cost-of-living pressure as demand grows.

Crown Estate Court Battle: Veeraswamy, London’s historic “curry house” at Regent Street, faces closure after its boss claims the King’s property managers don’t value Indian food as highly as celebrity European chefs—its case heads to court on Nov 4. Recall Alerts: Shoppers are being urged to check recent purchases after urgent recalls linked to major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Amazon and eBay—hazards cited range from Lucky Saint beer cans that could over-pressurise and explode to salmonella-contaminated chocolate and asbestos risk in kids’ play sand. Curry Week Deal: National Curry Week returns with Babul’s launching a £25 “Naan-Stop Curry” promotion (Oct 5–9) at its Darlington and Barnard Castle sites. Refugee Food Spotlight: Borough Market teams up with TERN for a week-long pop-up celebrating refugee-owned food businesses, with eight traders bringing products including Ukrainian honey, Turkish spice mixes and Palestinian granola. Diet Drinks Study: A two-year UK trial reports diet soft drinks can match water for long-term weight loss and maintenance, with no major metabolic downsides reported. Beef Market Pressure: Tight prime cattle supplies are pushing UK beef prices up, with AHDB noting the deadweight all-prime cattle price rose in the week to Sept 27. Foodservice Innovation: OiLChef wins Restaurant Solution of the Year at the 2026 Restaurant & Takeaway Innovation Expo for its deep-frying technology aimed at improving performance and extending oil life. Aviation Security Spillover: A Flydubai hijacking attempt highlights gaps in aviation background checks—relevant for food and drink operators with travel supply chains and passenger safety planning.

Food Recall & Allergens: The FSA has flagged a Home Bargains recall of Lambertz Mini Spekulatius and Lambertz Christmas Tree Cookies after undeclared allergens on English labels could pose risks for people with gluten, nut, milk, egg, lupin, sesame or soya allergies. Animal Welfare Oversight: Animal Equality UK says fish slaughterhouses in England and Wales face a “disgrace” lack of routine inspections, with multiple agencies pointing to others. Local Dining Spotlight: Norwich diners have rated Benedicts in St Benedict’s Street as the city’s most consistently top restaurant, praised for seasonal, locally sourced European/British-influenced menus. Cider & Awards: A Herefordshire cider maker has won a top UK award at Perry Fest, highlighting heritage varieties and education across the cider and perry sector. Pub & Licensing Tensions: Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin attacks Westminster’s “vertical drinking” curbs in Soho as “barmy,” arguing they restrict business. New Openings: Mother Mash is set to open a new Notting Hill restaurant for its pies and mash, with licensing hours under discussion. Industry Trade: QMS will showcase Scotland’s red meat at SIAL Paris, pushing quality, provenance and sustainability to international buyers. Food Safety: Unilever has recalled a batch of Piri Piri Chicken Pot Pot Noodles after milk was found not listed on pack, with the FSA urging anyone with milk allergy to return it.

Retail & Drinks M&A: Tesco is reportedly bidding for Majestic Wine in an auction, a move that could deepen its wine and spirits push and reshape the UK specialist drinks market. Food Safety Recalls: The FSA and Trading Standards issued recall alerts for products sold via Amazon, including e-bikes/e-scooters and some sweets and alcoholic drinks, urging shoppers to check details for free refunds, repairs or replacements. Health & Gut Trends: Scientists and experts are questioning whether supermarket kefir and kombucha deliver the same “gut health” benefits as traditional brews, with concerns over narrower cultures in mass-produced bottles. Climate & Food Prices: A Europe-wide grain loss estimate (including UK losses) links to extreme weather impacts on wheat and maize, raising wider concerns for global commodity markets and inflation. Local Food Culture: Newport Food Festival drew big crowds for stalls and demos, from hog roast to Welsh honey and cooking sessions. Farming & Animal Health: Scotland extended bluetongue restrictions and urged vaccination, with movement of livestock now requiring licences.