If one thing has been certain this year, it’s that nothing has stayed the same. 2024 has unequivocally been a year of change – both in the world of food and drink and beyond.
Cost of living issues show no sign of easing as inflation continues to creep up, with supply chain issues pushing prices even higher as suppliers battle with floods and drought, both in the UK and overseas.
Even Aldi has struggled to continue to grow, in the face of Aldi Price Match schemes popping up left, right and centre.
It’s been a particularly difficult year for Asda too, with job cuts, chair changes and pay disputes making the past 12 months a challenging time for the supermarket.
A new Labour government came in promising stability and growth across the UK, but those hopes were dashed for many when the first budget was announced, with farmers eventually taking to the streets to voice their upset at the Inheritance Tax changes.
The CMA wasted millions investigating supermarket loyalty schemes only to declare them almost entirely genuine – showing that the issue instead is with a lack of consumer trust…
Big names have changed hands: Mars bought Kellanova and Carlsberg snapped up Britvic (finally).
Lab-grown meat has taken off, while CBD development has stalled, and consumers are either cutting UPFs from their diet entirely or leaning into new products that are anything but natural.
Here’s to hoping 2025 brings more change – in the right direction.
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