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1 day ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
Grocery shopping emerged as the most popular response for UK consumers when asked how they choose to spend their free time and disposable income. A recent study conducted by Bauer Media Outdoor, formerly Clear Channel UK, revealed that 69% of respondents opted for grocery shopping, followed by travel (31%), and eating out (29%). The study, which included 2,000 respondents, found that men and women tend to spend their money in a similar manner.
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2 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
Contract manufacturer Refresco has announced that its chief executive officer Hans Roelofs will retire on 1 August 2025. Refresco supervisory board has launched a succession planning process to recruit Roelofs' successor. James Cunningham, partner of KKR and chair of Refresco's supervisory board, stated, “Hans’ passion for and commitment to Refresco is admirable, and he was instrumental to the company’s ascent to a global leadership position.
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2 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
Associated British Foods said it would close its bioethanol plant in northern England if the government does not provide the funding to alleviate the impact of the US-UK trade by the time its consultation process for a wind down is complete. The group said it would begin consultation with employees to effect an orderly wind-down immediately, while continuing to negotiate with the government.
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2 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
Alimentation Couche-Tard closed its financial year with a ‘disciplined’ performance, driven by focus on operational excellence and cost management measures. The Circle K parent reported a 5.2% year-on-year increase in full-year revenue, attributable to the contribution from acquisitions and good performance in its wholesale fuel business, among other factors.
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3 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
EuroCommerce has called on the European Commission executive vice-president Stéphane Séjourné for urgent action to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of Europe’s retail and wholesale sector. The association raised concerns over the growing threat of unfair competition from third-country platforms and traders during a meeting with Séjourné.
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3 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
Absolut Vodka has successfully tested a paper-based cap and bottle duo as part of its efforts to create a fully bio-based bottle. The cap has been designed in collaboration with Blue Ocean Closures (BOC), a Swedish start-up that has formed a pioneer community to reduce plastic use through fibre packaging innovation. The bottle and cap completed its first trial at an event in May, being put to the test by a community of bartenders, the Pernod Ricard subsidiary said in a statement.
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3 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
Food delivery firm Just Eat has introduced its delivery-as-a-service platform – JET Go – in the UK in with Co-op as its official launch partner. The service will enable partner brands to receive orders from customers through their own channels while tapping into Just Eat’s technology infrastructure and network of independent couriers to offer on-demand, same-day and scheduled deliveries.
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3 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) has appointed Tricia Brannigan as the new chairperson of its board. Brannigan is the vice-president and chief procurement officer at The Hershey Company. She has previously served as vice chair and treasurer at the World Cocoa Foundation. Brannigan commented, “I am honoured to take on the role of chair and look forward to supporting the continued evolution of the WCF strategy.
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4 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
UK convenience retailer Co-op has announced that it will stop sourcing goods from countries where there are internationally recognised community-wide human rights abuses and violations of international law. The board of the Co-op group has approved the policy, the retailer added. The policy states that, wherever possible, Co-op will not use ingredients in its own-brand products or sell whole products from 17 countries identified by the international community.
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4 days ago | 
esmmagazine.com | Dayeeta Das
UK shoppers spent ‘little and often’ on groceries in the latest four weeks, according to the latest data from Kantar. Take-home grocery sales grew by 4.1% year-on-year in the four weeks to 15 June as grocery footfall hit a five-year high in this period. However, this increase in footfall was balanced out by a drop in average spending per trip to £23.89. Grocery price inflation increased from 4.1% in the previous period to 4.7% in June - the highest level since March 2024.
