The Pick List

Julia is joined by Jane McKay, founder of Astute Ideas, a consultancy that works with food and drink startups and SMEs. Now based in Bristol, Jane spent 10 years in the US, where she co-founded an award-winning spice company called Zen of Slow Cooking.

She talks to Julia about the fantastic growth many food & drink startups experienced during the pandemic and how to maintain growth now that we’re facing a cost-of-living crisis. Plus, she shares what UK brands tend to get wrong about expanding into the US, the implications of the HFSS crackdown for challenger brands, her passion for the B Corp movement - and why she’s so excited about the ‘no and low’ sector.

Articles discussed by Jane and Julia:

Pandemic delivers rich pickings for niche food start-ups | FT

The Gondola End is dead. Long live the Power Aisle | The Grocer

What is a B Corp drinks brand and why should you care? | Drinks Retailing

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Spring statement: Tax, fuel duty and NI cuts in Rishi Sunak's mini-budget amid forecast of biggest disposable income drop on record | Sky News

HFSS legislation could be delayed to beat inflation | The Grocer

Asda launches Just Essentials range in major pricing overhaul | The Grocer

 Food bank users declining potatoes as cooking costs too high, says Iceland boss | The Guardian

McColl’s boss Miller exits as rescue talks progress | Retail Week

Nestlé bows to pressure and quits Russia | The Times

Free-range eggs no longer available in UK due to bird flu | BBC News

McVitie’s launches non-HFSS version of Rich Tea biscuits | The Grocer

Julia is joined by Spencer Price, co-founder and CEO of Halla, a US-based tech startup working to bring greater personalisation to online grocery shopping. Spencer talks about Halla’s plans for international expansion and the opportunities he sees in the UK, the challenges of product discovery in online grocery and how retailers can get much smarter about substitutions.

Plus, they chat about the “Amazonification of Whole Foods”, balancing personalisation with privacy concerns – and jellied eels.

Articles discussed by Spencer and Julia:

Here Comes the Full Amazonification of Whole Foods | New York Times

Raspberries for cauliflower? The bizarre world of online grocery store substitutions | WSJ

Gen Z have never eaten jellied eel? Let’s give it a try | The Times

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Food and drink bosses call for legislation ‘pause’ while they focus on Ukraine crisis | The Grocer

Restaurant and leisure groups warn Ukraine war will push costs higher | FT

Farmers warn Ukraine war will hit UK food prices | BBC News

Ocado reports sales fall as shoppers resume pre-Covid buying habits | The Guardian

Three-quarters of meal deal snacks ‘dangerously’ HFSS, research shows | The Grocer

Iceland’s first Swift c-store in London teams up with Uber Eats

Starbucks is looking for a new boss | The Times

Bord Bia CEO Tara McCarthy to step down | The Grocer

Julia is joined by Alice Rackley, CEO of Polytag, a startup that's developed technology to help brands and retailers tag and trace their plastic packaging.

Alice shares her perspective on the problems with our current recycling system and the lack of data on what happens with packaging once the product has been consumed. Plus, she talks to Julia about what to expect from Deposit Return Schemes, Extended Producer Responsibility and the new UN plastic waste treaty - and why the QR code is finally having its moment in the sun.

Articles discussed by Alice and Julia:

Global plastics lifecycle ‘far from circular’, OECD says | letsrecycle.com

World leaders agree to draw up ‘historic’ treaty on plastic pollution | FT

Will Coinbase’s Super Bowl ad really change the landscape of TV QR codes? | The Drum

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Marks and Spencer chief to step down | FT

War in Ukraine: McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Starbucks halt Russian sales | BBC News

Unilever commits to annual nutritional report | Food Dive

Irish dairy and beef farmers urged to grow crops amid Ukraine shortage fears | The Guardian

Greggs to increase price of sausage rolls despite record sales of £1.23bn | The Times

Asda adds 100 greengrocers to stores as Issa brothers revamp fresh offer | The Grocer

Waitrose and Aldi to stop selling disposable barbecues | The Guardian

Morrisons launches salad refill box rental scheme to reduce plastic | The Grocer

Julia is joined by Angelica Camacho-González, trade specialist at ProColombia UK. Angelica helps Colombian food producers understand the UK market and make the most of export opportunities here.

Colombia is well known as an exporter of bananas and coffee, but there is so much more to the country and its food sector. Angelica talks about the growth in Colombian avocados and efforts to bring new exotic fruit and added-value food products to the UK market. Plus, she shares her perspective on how the country is responding to the threat of climate change and what its trading relations have been like with the UK post-Brexit.

Articles discussed by Angelica and Julia:

Consumer demand for sustainably sourced products sees Fairtrade sales boom | Confectionery News

Scrap produce packaging, says WRAP | Fruitnet

Risks to global supply chains rising as climate change worsens, IPCC warns | FT

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Tesco launches relief operation to help refugees fleeing Ukraine | The Grocer

Halewood to move production of J.J Whitley vodka from Russia to UK | The Grocer

Sainsbury’s to close 200 cafes putting 2,000 jobs at risk | BBC News

Grocery prices in UK rise at fastest rate in eight years, data shows | The Guardian

Supermarket sweep: Lidl’s market share pips Co-Op | The Times

Convenience store giant McColl's scrambles to stave off collapse | Sky News

Tesco to stop selling baby wipes that contain plastic in first for UK supermarkets | The Guardian

Cosmic Crisp makes European entry | Fruitnet

Julia is joined by Tom Gill, head of sustainability at agri-food consultancy Promar International. Tom is an expert in sustainability and environmental footprinting who works with major retailers and agri-food companies on carbon footprinting and sustainability strategy.

He talks to Julia about the challenges and opportunities around carbon, the different environmental labelling schemes that are coming to market and the dangers of zombie data when making sustainability claims.

Articles discussed by Tom and Julia:

PepsiCo squares up to supply chain emissions challenge | FT

New environmental labelling system unveiled | Food Navigator

Fashion firms using ‘zombie data’ to mislead on sustainability claims | edie

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

‘Completely contradictory’: NFU leader attacks UK farming policy | The Guardian

WRAP urges end to plastic packaging for fresh food | MRW

Morrisons ditches plastic packaging for fresh milk | Food Manufacture

Innocent Drink’s ‘greenwashing’ advert found misleading, rules ASA | Resource

Kraft Heinz launches global plant-based joint venture | The Grocer

Thousands of Asda lorry drivers ready to strike after rejecting pay deal | The Guardian

Tesco and Gorillas extend rapid delivery partnership to Manchester | The Grocer

Investors have a big appetite for Gousto | The Times

Julia is joined by Darren Nickels, retail technology operations director at Henderson Technology. An expert in retail tech and convenience retail, Darren shares his view on the big trends shaping the convenience sector in the wake of Covid, from hybrid working to rapid delivery and checkout-less shopping, and how tech is helping independent retailers adapt to new shopping habits. 

Articles discussed by Darren and Julia:

Amazon and Getir home delivery threat | Better Retailing

City workers lead the way in the week we went back to the office | The Times

Why the convenience market is betting big on its future | The Grocer

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

UK inflation forecast to hit 8% in April amid cost of living crisis | The Guardian

Customers must pay price as costs soar, says Kraft Heinz | The Times

Waitrose loyalty scheme revamp will give deeper savings and personalised offers | Retail Gazette

Leon launches points-based loyalty app | The Grocer

Poundland moves into fresh food | BBC News

M&S to raise minimum pay to £10 an hour and offer free health checks | The Guardian

Defra to launch supply chain probe into UK pig crisis | The Guardian

Tilda makes a play in dairy alternatives with ‘naturally sweet’ rice milk drink | The Grocer

Julia is joined by Hannah McCollum, founder of the ChicP brand of hummus and veggie bites and a campaigner on food waste.

Hannah talks to Julia about how working in the catering and events industry as a private chef left her appalled at the levels of food waste she saw. She explains how this experience inspired her to create ChicP, her top tips for encouraging consumers to waste less, and the challenges of creating change and making your voice heard on food waste and sustainable packaging when you’re a small brand.

Articles discussed by Hannah and Julia:

Food waste: are you throwing your money in the bin? | The Guardian

Corporations’ Ambitions to Curb Plastic Vs. What They are Actually Doing | Waste 360

Global Supply Chains Must Get Smart—and Sustainable | Wired

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Amazon designated a grocer by CMA in regulatory crackdown | FT

Asda makes cheapest food pledge after pressure from Jack Monroe | The Guardian

'Growth and resilience': Organic market breaks £3bn mark for first time | Business Green

Co-op Food CEO Jo Whitfield to take career break | The Grocer

Walkers calls time on crisp packet recycling scheme | The Grocer

Jeremy Clarkson backs farmers protesting against Oxfordshire county council’s bid to ban meat | The Times

Skinny spud latte to go? Potato milk hits UK supermarket shelves | The Guardian

Julia is joined by Jack Scott, co-founder of Dash Water. Having just secured a fresh round of investment and appointed a new chairman, Jack shares what’s next for Dash and why DTC is a key focus for the brand. Plus, he talks about how his farming background inspired a passion for fighting food waste and why Dash has started adding its carbon footprint to cans. Jack also shares some great tips and tricks for holding your own in a category dominated by big suppliers and getting cut-through with buyers.

Articles discussed by Jack and Julia:

Wrap launches new industry partnership to tackle household food waste | The Grocer

Supermarkets ‘harder than ever’ to deal with report challenger brands | The Grocer

Supermarkets are powerless to prevent food price inflation but the how and the where has enormous repercussions | The Grocer

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Food bills to rise by around £180 a year, shoppers warned | The Independent

Government in talks with industry leaders on major new approach to obesity strategy | The Grocer

Junk food ad ban facing possible year-long delay | The Grocer

Tesco to shut down its Jack's discount stores | BBC News

KP Snacks hit by ransomware attack with retailers warned of crisps and nuts shortage | Sky News

School food targeted in ‘levelling up’ agenda | Footprint Media

UK beer and meat producers breathe sigh of relief after CO2 deal is struck | The Guardian

Marks & Spencer and Aldi call truce in Colin the Caterpillar cake war | The Guardian

Pret a Manger increases price of coffee subscription by 25pc | The Telegraph

Julia is joined by Rich Clothier, managing director of Wyke Farms.

Rich is known for his passion for sustainability and recently created a carbon-neutral cheddar for Lidl’s own-label range. He has also just launched his own carbon-neutral cheddar brand, Ivy’s Reserve.

He talks to Julia about consumer appetite for products with carbon and other sustainability claims, the importance of robust accreditation and certification, and creating a sustainable dairy industry that’s fit for the future. Plus, he shares his take on the cost-of-living crisis and Jack Monroe’s ground-breaking campaign highlighting the impact of soaring food prices on the poorest households.

Articles discussed in this episode:

Cost of neutralising carbon emissions soars as demand escalates | The FT

Tory rejection of windfall tax on energy firms ‘beggars belief’, says Ed Miliband | The Guardian

Hungry Brits will 'starve to death' as food and energy prices soar, Jack Monroe warns | The Mirror

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Cost-of-living crisis: Jack Monroe hails ONS update of inflation calculations | The Guardian

Unilever to cut 1,500 jobs in management shake-up | FT

CD&R denies headhunting for David Potts successor | The Grocer

Ocado steps up robot wars with new ‘pick and pack’ machines | The Times

Sainsbury's and John Lewis ask shoppers and staff to keep wearing masks | BBC News

Oatly ads banned over 'misleading' environmental claims | BBC News

Tesco sells caulis at 49p after glut | FPJ

Asda is selling engagement rings for £1 for Valentine’s Day

Julia is joined by Jason Geary, master baker and executive director at Geary’s Bakeries and the Jason behind the ‘Jason’s Sourdough’ brand.

He tells Julia why he’s on a mission to change the way Brits think about bread and make great-quality bread (particularly sourdough) accessible to more people. Plus, he shares how taking inspiration from the craft beer boom helped him open retail buyers’ eyes to the opportunity in craft bread, NPD trends for 2022, tapping into the gut health trend and how he’s navigating soaring wheat prices and other cost challenges within his business.

Articles discussed by Jason and Julia:

Wheat prices at nine-year high as bakers warn of price increases | The Grocer

Craft bakery has been resilient and tenacious | British Baker

How to make really good bread | New York Times

Links to the big food and grocery retail stories this week:

Covid: Sainsbury's asks staff to delay Christmas parties | BBC News

Tesco depot staff suspend pre-Christmas pay strikes | BBC News

Asda facing strike threat as Tesco battles to prevent Xmas walkout disruption | Sky News

Cost of Christmas dinner jumps 3% as turkey, pudding and sprout prices rise | The Guardian

Booths owners take dividend after hanging on to business rates relief | The Times

Heck in talks with Ivy Farm over lab-grown meat tie-up | The Grocer

FSA launches consultation on 'may contain' packaging | Food Manufacture

Marks & Spencer launches ‘world first data science and AI academy’ in grocery | The Grocer