Coffee drinkers may soon see their morning treat get more expensive, as the price of coffee on international commodity markets has hit its highest level on record (BBC). On Tuesday, the price for arabica beans, the world’s most popular variety, topped $3.44 (£2.70) a pound, having risen more than 80% this year. Meanwhile, the cost of cheaper robusta beans, used in instant coffee, has almost doubled this year, with the price touching $5,694 a metric tonne in late November. The price pressure follows predictions of smaller harvests this year after the world’s largest producers, Brazil and Vietnam, were hit by bad weather (The Guardian).
Dobbies Garden Centres, meanwhile, has announced that 12 of its outlets will be closing before the year’s out after the company’s restructuring proposal was given the greenlight by a court (Metro). In a statement which “shocked shoppers” back in September, Dobbies outlined their intentions to shut 16 of their sites across the UK with the aim of returning to ”sustainable profitability”. Now, after a successful hearing yesterday at the Court of Session in Scotland, the company have been given the greenlight to sever leases on ten of their stores, with a further two set to change hands.
Online marketplaces such as Amazon and eBay will have to pay their “fair share” of the costs of recycling electrical waste under new government proposals (BBC). Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said planned reforms would create a “level playing field” for electronics producers by putting more onus on international retailers to contribute to recycling costs. Some foreign sellers have been able to avoid this charge by selling via online marketplaces, leaving UK-based firms such as Currys to foot much of the bill. Firms which produce e-cigarettes will also be asked to pay more, with the plans not coming into action until January 2026.
Almost a third of goods at supermarkets are on promotion, according to industry data as a big question mark hangs over the sector heading into 2025 (Sky News). Kantar Worldpanel, which monitors sales and prices among chains, reported that 30% of products were discounted ahead of the key shopping season. Discounts are widely linked to loyalty schemes - recently given a clean bill of health by regulators.
No comments yet