Coca-Cola has drawn the ire of environmentalists after the it maker weakened its recycling and reuse goals for tens of billions of bottles each year, reports the FT. Coke said it was now aiming to use 35 to 40 per cent recycled material in primary packaging such as plastic, glass and aluminium by 2035, compared with its previous goal of at least 50% by 2030. Coca-Cola had also pledged in 2022 to have 25% of its drinks sold in refillable or returnable glass or plastic bottles, but deleted a page on its website outlining this promise (The Guardian). Campaigners have called it a “masterclass in greenwashing”.
Unhealthy versions of breakfast cereals including muesli, porridge oats and granola are to be included in a UK junk food advertising ban from next year (The FT). Pitta bread snacks, rice cakes, tea and coffee with added sugar will also fall within regulations that prevent unhealthy food being advertised online or before 9pm on TV. Exemptions, however, have been granted to savoury pastries, reports The Times. This means food companies can continue to advertise sausage rolls, pork pies and pasties. The ban will prevent an estimated 20,000 cases of childhood obesity, the government has said (The Evening Standard).
Chef Tommy Banks has said he is “gutted” after recovering a van full of steak and ale, turkey and cranberry, and butternut squash pies worth £25,000 stolen this weekend, only to discover the pies had perished (The Times). Banks had previously urged the thieves to “do the right thing” and donate the goods, which were to be sold at York Christmas market
Carlsberg’s belated exit from Russia features across several titles. Citing a government document seen by it journalists, the FT reports Baltika Breweries will be sold to VG Invest for Rbs34bn (£260m), with the deal expected to close in the coming days. VG Invest was set up in August and is run by Baltika vice-president Egor Guselnikov.
Moscow seized control of Carlsberg’s stake in Baltika in July 2023 and placed it under “temporary management,” prompting Carlsberg Group CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen to say its business had been stolen (Reuters).
Exports of British food to the EU have dropped by nearly £3bn a year since Brexit, according to a new report from trade thinktank the Centre of Inclusive Trade Policy (The Guardian). The report revealed the export of food and agricultural products to the EU had fallen by more than 16% on average across the three years since Britain left the single market.
Arla’s decision to trial feed additive Bovaer in a bid to reduce the methane production of its cows continues to spark controversy. Rupert Lowe, the Reform MP, has called on Defra to conduct “an urgent review” of the use of Bovaer, after conspiracy theorists alleged the substance was toxic, carcinogenic and affected fertility. Alra insists additive is safe and boycott calls are based on “misinformation” (The Times).
Supreme, the new owner of Typhoo, could take the British tea brand into soft drinks like ice tea following its rescue of the 120-year old company, reports The Telegraph. Sandy Chadha, chief executive of the vape, battery, lighting and soft drinks supplier, said Typhoo would need to consider entering alternative categories with hot tea consumption declining.
Tesco is asking shoppers to rate employees on their “festive spirit” in its latest feedback form, according to The Telegraph. In a survey sent out online last month, Britain’s largest supermarket also asked respondents to rate how festive the store looked and felt overall. Responses were not used to determine pay or bonuses, Tesco said.
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