Upheaval, disruption and scandal: 2018 had everything

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Merry Christmas

What a year. It’s had everything. A long snowy, bitterly cold winter. An incredible summer heatwave. (And, in the midst of it all, CO2 shortages.)

England played well at a World Cup. And rough, an even bigger retail merger was proposed. Somewhat ignominiously, the Sainsbury’s-Asda team this week asked for an extension on their homework.

Amidst continuing upheaval and disruption on the high street it was not surprising there was another spectacular collapse, though the speed of the implosion at Conviviality was shocking and the botched attempts to save it brought further shame. At least the near-collapse of Patisserie Valerie was averted. And Luke Johnson emerged with credit as he stumped up the cash (an interest-free loan) to secure its future.

In terms of scandals, few match Pret’s allergen nightmare. And KFC’s logistics meltdown was bizarre. Putting all its eggs in one basket, the chickens came home to roost.

As a summary of everything on the fmcg side, our Top Products Survey is full of nuggets. Blueberries are the new avocados while the soft drinks levy brought inflation, a fall in sales for Coca-Cola, as it stuck to its guns, and a mixed bag of reformulation: some brilliant, some disgusting.

We’ve all gone nuts about plant-based. And among the most bizarre trends, given all the paranoia about acrylamide, has been activated charcoal. Perhaps Sainsbury’s well fired loaf will re-emerge in activated mode.

Meanwhile the meat industry’s self immolation has continued with more shady dealings and shameful exposés. Red Faced Tractor indeed. It’s also been a terrible year for the wine industry, hit by price hikes and duty hikes but also gin’s continuing renaissance.

Plastic has been public enemy no1 (not including politicians), though the ice caps will have melted before we ditch the plastic habit, or build an infrastructure to recycle it. Still, at least Morrisons pulled the plastic wrapper off its cucumbers.

Our highlight? The triumph of The Grocer’s Waste Not Want Not food waste campaign. In the current political and economic climate, Michael Gove’s commitment to subsidise food surplus redistribution to the tune of £15m felt like a miracle. Praise be!

But there’s been an elephant in the room. Brexit has been preying on our nerves all year. And another year of argument appears to be ending in bathos and inconclusiveness. So the PM lives to fight another day. Is anyone the wiser?

It’s so infuriating because it’s deeply damaging for business . The pound has fallen again. It all points to Brinkflation. And after a great summer, the weather hasn’t helped, with a mild autumn making life difficult.

With confidence low and uncertainty high, the start of Christmas hasn’t been much better, either. The high street is quiet. Let’s hope it picks up in the final furlong next week. With Christmas Eve on a Monday it’s not ideal.

Anyway, we’ll update you on Christmas trading in our first issue of 2019, alongside a full review of this year, and lots of predictions. Send us yours - we’ll give a prize for the best, the funniest and the most cheerful one.