Coffee shop chain investing more than £9.2m to raise hourly rate amid sector-wide labour shortagePret a Manger is increasing pay for the second time in four months as labour shortages force up wages across the hospitality and retail industries.The coff…
UK hospitality firms hit by Christmas party cancellations over Omicron fears
Mixed messages about socialising during festive season also having an effect, say bossesCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageBosses of pubs, bars and restaurants across the UK are warning they are already receiving cancellations …
‘World’s most sustainable spirit’: the vodka made with CO2 captured from air
Critics call the ‘carbon-negative’ drink a distraction but makers say it points a way forward to tackling the climate crisisThe disastrous consequences of the unfolding climate crisis is enough to drive some people to drink, so making alcohol from plan…
‘It’s not as carbon-hungry’: UK’s largest sunlit vertical farm begins harvest
In a greenhouse in Worcestershire, Shockingly Fresh grows towers of leafy veg for supermarket shelvesThe largest naturally lit vertical farm in Britain has begun harvesting and the creators plan to build 40 more.It looks nothing like a traditional farm…
Bank official warns of early interest rate rise as Kraft Heinz puts up prices
Baked beans maker is latest firm to talk of food price rises, as inflationary pressures mountA Bank of England policymaker has warned households to get ready for “significantly earlier” interest rate rises as inflation pressures mount, and Kraft Heinz …
Pigs die in fire at Oxfordshire farm
Five fire trucks and two water carriers battle blaze 13 miles south of Oxford that spread ‘significant smoke’ across areaA number of pigs are understood to have died after a large fire broke out at a farm in Oxfordshire.The Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue …
One in six adults in Great Britain not able to buy essential foods, ONS finds
Survey of impact of supply chain crisis in past fortnight also finds 15% could not buy fuelAlmost nine million people, representing one in six adults in Great Britain, have not been able to buy essential food items in the past two weeks because they we…
Will an eco grade on your food make you think about the planet’s health?
New labelling system allows shoppers to measure environmental impact of what they eatBritons are used to checking traffic light scores to compare the calorie, fat, sugar or salt content of different foods, but will a new environmental label make them t…
Vrimp your shrimp: Nestlé launches faux seafood product made from seaweed
Swiss food firm says product boasts ‘authentic texture’ as it seeks to capitalise on rise in meat-free dietsCadbury to launch vegan Dairy Milk alternative called Plant BarFirst Vuna salad was added to the menu, now Vrimp is on there too as the world’s …
Two in three UK firms expect to raise prices in Christmas run-up, poll finds
BCC warning comes as Greggs flags price pressures amid surge in fuel and energy costsNearly two-thirds of UK manufacturers expect to raise their prices in the run-up to Christmas after being hit by mounting cost pressures, a leading employers’ group ha…