Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsRetail analyst Nick Bubb says:Well, grocery price inflation is not what it used to be, but it’s still a surprise to see Kantar report that the supermarket sector saw only 1.0% sales growth in the latest 4 week period…We’re not yet reaching for those typical summertime products and are making...

Companies have touted AI as future of the industry, but technology has also resulted in viral videos of wrong ordersMcDonald’s is ending its test of employing artificial intelligence chatbots at drive-thrus, raising questions over the fast food industry’s rush to roll out the technology.The world’s largest burger chain will remove automated AI-based...

Undemocratic Britain | Let Labour rock the boat | Landslide fears | American robins | Sewage sandwichesAn opinion poll last week put Labour at 37%, Reform at 19% and the Tories on 18%. Yet everybody predicts a Labour landslide. This is absurd and shows just how undemocratic Britain has become. If the turnout is roughly the same as in 2019, then Labour...

Plant-based food company This has not detected E coli in the wrap but is concerned about possible contaminationA third sandwich and wrap manufacturer has recalled one of its products after an E coli outbreak that has left 67 people in hospital and more than 200 in total seriously ill.On Sunday evening the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said This had “taken...

On an eco resort near Lagos, distilled palm sap outlawed by colonial authorities is making a comebackSince the pandemic, Lola Pedro has been spending a lot of time at an eco-tourist hamlet in Badagry town, on the outskirts of Lagos, surrounded by coconut and African apple trees next to chalets with showers open to the sky.The hamlet’s beach house serves...

Suppliers are recalling various sandwiches, wraps and salads in response to an E coli investigation• Sandwich suppliers issue recall amid UK E coli outbreakThe Food Standards Agency has said several suppliers to major retailers are taking the precautionary measure of recalling various sandwiches, wraps and salads in response to findings from investigations...