Jimmy Nicholls
Jimmy was The Grocer's Focus On editor
Analysis & FeaturesAre we witnessing the death of craft beer?
As an unprecedented number of breweries close down, what does this mean for the future of the craft beer category and its place in the supermarkets?
Category ReportCan White Claw trigger a hard seltzer boom? Hard seltzers & RTDs category report 2023
Despite their US success, hard seltzers have proven a tough sell to Brits. The market leader is now trying out a brand new strategy
NewsCBD brands put on hold as product approvals delayed
The FSA will be unable to recommend authorisations until next year, claimed a source
Comment & OpinionSustainable beer raring to inspire a green food and drink future
Pubgoers increasingly complain a pint of beer is costing the earth. And they’re right, but in more ways than one
NewsGipsy Hill launches offset-free carbon negative beers
The south London brewery has used regenerative barley and recaptured hops to create Swell Lager and Trail Pale
Category ReportCan Ed Sheeran heat up hot sauce sales?
The pop singer’s teamed up with Heinz for his Tingly Ted’s brand – and he’s not the only one bringing star power to zingy sauces
Analysis & FeaturesHow the FSA's novel foods rule could shake up the road to bug burgers
The FSA has mooted a number of new ideas in its regime review
ReportsThe caffeinated booze brands seeking urbane shoppers
Brands are targeting shoppers of both sexes across a broader array of ages, often with a more premium range
Category ReportWhy energy brands are hitting the booze
Monster and Mountain Dew look set to bring alcoholic options to the UK’s thriving energy drinks sector. What’s behind their plans?
Comment & OpinionBrewDog spirits could succeed. But not because of BrewDog
BrewDog’s name doesn’t feature heavily on its new spirits bottles, and it’s playing up how ‘on-trend’ they are
ReportsHow ambient brands are cutting the sugar in cans
New rules bar products high in fat, sugar or salt from placement in impulse locations in stores
Category ReportHow can canned brands stand up to price inflation? Canned and ambient category report 2023
Branded volumes have fallen 18% as cheaper own label lines gain ground. How can they avoid crashing further?
NewsCanned brands suffer 18% volume sales slump
The squeeze on household budgets had ‘forced consumers to monitor their spending and opt for cheaper options’, said Kantar
ReportsHow can direct-to-consumer beer beat the post-lockdown slump?
Last November, Heineken took a big step into DTC beer with the launch of its Beerwulf Marketplace in the Netherlands
Category ReportCan BrewDog seriously take on Guinness? Beer category report 2023
Guinness has enjoyed unrivalled dominance in stouts. Could Black Heart open up the category to competition?
NewsMola and Pause add CBD soft drinks under novel foods exemption
It comes as thousands of CBD novel food applications are set to be validated by the FSA
Analysis & FeaturesShould the FSA standardise the safe daily CBD dosage?
The Food Standards Agency seems unlikely to recommend specific dosage levels
NewsFSA set to validate thousands of CBD products
Groups responsible for half of the CBD public list confirm an update is imminent
Comment & OpinionBig tobacco, not ElfBar, will be the real winner from disposable vapes
Big tobacco may have breathed a sigh of relief this year when ElfBar got its fingers burned in a large-scale product recall
Category ReportWill inflation squeeze the pulp out of juice? Juices & smoothies category report 2023
As rising costs put the squeeze on margins and shoppers resist higher prices, what can brands and retailers do to maintain sales?