Bells of Lazonby completes £1M expansion
The Cumbrian bakery has finished a major expansion that will boost production, support future growth.
Investments
Former Iceland innovation boss launches food licensing business
The former head of licensing & innovation at Iceland Foods, Oliver Gilding, has launched a new food and drink licensing business called Food Brands Now (FBN).
Greencore and Bakkavor deal looks set to get green light
Greencore’s £1.2 billion acquisition of Bakkavor is expected to complete in early 2026 after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it accepted in principle the “remedies” put forward by the businesses to resolve its concerns.
M&S profits hit hard
The retailer’s profits for the first half of the year have taken a major slump in the aftermath of its Easter cyberattack.
Aldi to open 16 stores in time for Christmas
Aldi is to open 16 new stores across the UK in the next five weeks, creating around 40 new jobs at each location.
Princes floats at £1.16BN with IPO priced at bottom range
Princes Group, known for producing tuna and Napolina tomatoes, is set to float at a valuation of £1.16 billion, with its IPO priced at the lower end of the expected range.
Farmison site and brand identity sold to different companies
Farmison & Co has been divided, with Febripa Holdings snapping up the plant and shop, whilst another DTC butcher takes the brand identity.
Oatly plans to triple investment into British grown oats by 2026
The goal comes as the oat drink brand announces that most of its Barista range has switched to 100% British grown oats and follows its Q3 2025 results.
Mr Kipling factory invests £2.1M in solar farm
The Premier Foods’ Carlton bakery which makes Mr Kipling’s cakes has seen a significant investment into solar power.
Lidl sees £400M sales increase as customers leave rivals
An extra 38 million customer visits were made to supermarket chain Lidl over its past financial year, with a £400 million increase in sales coming direct from them switching from competitors.
Bakkavor and Greencore bosses remain confident despite CMA concerns
The Competition and Markets Authority phase 1 investigation has flagged concerns with the acquisition, but the businesses remain positive the transaction will go ahead.
Princes Group to raise up to £400M in IPO
Princes Group will be looking to raise up to £400 million to support the company with further inorganic growth via acquisitions as part of its initial Public Offering (IPO).
Heritage South Asian sweets brand enters new era following £22M acquisition
Egg-free cake retailer Cake Box has revealed the next phase of its growth plan for Ambala.
SlimFast UK & Europe acquired for £20.1M
The FMCG manufacturer, supplier and brand owner, Supreme, has purchased the trade and selected UK and European assets of SlimFast.
Why did Joe Delucci’s go into liquidation?
Challenging events in 2023 led to Joe Delucci’s liquidation last month, say joint liquidators.
Historic sweets manufacturer moves into new 60,000 sq ft site
Lancashire-based confectioner, Stockley’s, has invested into a new facility as part of ambitious growth plans.
Roberts Bakery saved, over 400 jobs secured
Roberts Bakery parent company Frank Roberts & Sons Limited has been saved by the private investment enterprise, Boparan Private Office, owned by entrepreneur Ranjit Singh Boparan.
McVitie’s maker surpasses £3BN in revenue
Pladis posted record revenue in its latest full-year results, as it hit £3.23 billion.
Asda to open 20 new convenience stores by end of 2025
Supermarket chain Asda has revealed it is to launch up to 20 new Express convenience stores across the UK by the end of the year as part of its plans to expand the format.
Finsbury invests millions into foodservice site
The manufacturer is making a multi-million investment into its Manchester-based Kara Foodservice facility to drive innovation, efficiency and growth.
Arla Lockerbie celebrates 50th birthday with £144M investment
The dairy firm has made major upgrades to its cheddar facilities and is adding a UHT and lacto-free Centre of Excellence, alongside a new anaerobic digestion plant at its Scottish site in Lockerbie.
Eden Mill opens new distillery
The ribbon has been cut on the beverage firm’s new landmark distillery and visitor centre, situated on the banks of the Eden Estuary.
Princes Group confirms London IPO plans
Following the announcement on 3 October 2025 of its expected intention to float, Princes Group has confirmed it will proceed with an initial public offering (IPO).
Dessert retailer receives £1.1M investment
Batch’d expects to significantly grow turnover in next three years, with ambitious expansion plans.
Whitakers Chocolates invests in new nut facility
The North Yorkshire chocolatier has announced the investment alongside a new product launch.
Carlsberg Britvic invests £20M into Rugby factory
The beverage manufacturer has made a major investment into its Rugby factory, creating double digit job opportunities.
Pilgrim’s Europe profits grow amid revenue dip
The UK private label grocery supplier reported profitable growth, with profit after tax at £128.4 million for FY 2024.
New Princes plans IPO and listing on London Stock Exchange
New Princes Group has announced plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO).
Boparan to expand restaurant portfolio with new site openings
Boparan Restaurant Group has announced plans to open numerous new Slim Chickens and Giraffe sites.
Hilton Foods disposes of FairFax Meadow for £54M
Hilton Foods has sold the catering butcher to Sysco GB as the group continues to reshape it strategy.
Poultry and horticulture key to UK economic growth, says IGD
Horticulture and poultry have been marked out as two sectors with the potential to unlock £5 billion investment and 60,000 jobs, if the right support is given.
The Original Baker doubles production capacity
The North Yorkshire manufacturer, The Original Baker, which produces handmade sweets and savoury pastry products, has completed a major expansion project.
‘Breakthrough’ functional fat alternative secures €2.5M investment
Perfat Technologies has raised €2.5 million in Series A financing after developing a novel solution that can replace saturated and trans-fats.
Paulig venture arm invests into AI start-up
PINC, the corporate venture capital arm of Paulig, has joined a £4 million investment round into start-up Scindo to drive innovation into sustainable ingredients.
Ditsch acquires WorldBake for UK expansion
The German bakery has acquired the assets of WorldBake Ltd for an undisclosed sum.
Sandford Orchards to increase capacity by 400,000 litres
The Devon-based cider producer has installed 8 new 50,000 litre tanks ahead of a bumper harvest.
Ambrosia factory gets £19M makeover
Premier Foods has invested into its Lifton site in Devon, which has been the home of Ambrosia custard for more than a century.
Regal Foods snaps up soft drinks brand Suncrest
The Yorkshire-based manufacturer has acquired Suncrest for an undisclosed sum.
Manchester Gin maker faces administration
The small distilling and blending business Drinks of Manchester has appointed an insolvency firm.
Leading UK food redistribution charities to merge
FareShare and The Felix Project, which rescue and redirect surplus food to households across the UK, are uniting to form a bigger and more ambitious organisation.
Major sweetener manufacturer to acquire Slimfast US
Glanbia is set to sell the US division of its weight management and health & wellness brand to the Heartland Food Products Group.
UK food inflation hits 18-month peak at 5.1%
Whilst the latest inflation rate figures show overall stability, the cost of food takes another climb - and is only projected to get worse.
Paramount Retail Group acquires DB Foods
The UK wholesale meat supplier joins Paramount Retail Group’s portfolio of British brands across pet care, confectionery and drinks.
UK food inflation may hit 5.7% by December
Food and drink inflation is on the rise, with the Food and Drink Federation adjusting its original forecast by 0.9 percentage points.
Aldi to invest £1.6BN as it plans to open 80 new stores
Aldi has announced plans to open 80 new stores in the UK over the next two years.
Aldi invests £300M into price cuts
The discounter has invested more than £300 million in price cuts since the start of 2025 amidst rising inflation.
Momo Kombucha secures £2M funding boost
Momo Kombucha has raised £2 million in its largest funding round to date.
JPL Flavours opens £11M headquarters in Merseyside
JPL Flavours has officially opened its new headquarters in Bromborough, Merseyside.
Kraft Heinz announces plan to split business in two
Kraft Heinz has announced a plan to separate the business into two independent companies via a ‘tax-free spin-off’.
Kraft Heinz nears grocery division ‘spin off’
Kraft Heinz is reportedly close to finalising a move to spin off its grocery division into a separate business.