NFU and the BRC write to Tories, Labour and Lib Dems over lack of focus on food security in campaignsFarmers and supermarkets have accused the main political parties of ignoring the risk of severe food shortages in Britain, calling the issue a “worrying blind spot” in their general election campaigns.The UK’s main farming and food and drink bodies have...

Food Foundation says height of five-year-olds falling, child obesity up by a third and type 2 diabetes by a fifth Children across the UK are getting shorter, fatter and sicker amid an epidemic of poor diets, food insecurity and poverty, according to a report warning that millions are facing a “timebomb” of avoidable health conditions.The average height...

Unite union also considering employment tribunal claims for unfair dismissal against WhitbreadWorkers demonstrated at Premier Inn owner Whitbread’s annual shareholder meeting on Tuesday over plans to cut 1,500 jobs amid rising profits.The employees of restaurants including Brewers Fayre, Table Table and Beefeater protested outside the company’s investor...

Bad weather makes consumers trim supermarket shop and rethink summer purchases despite slower food price risesBusiness live – latest updatesBritons have cut back on their supermarket shopping and traditional summer purchases because of recent poor weather, even though grocery price inflation slowed further, according to a report.Supermarket prices were...

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsWhitbread (who we covered in the introduction) are the top rise on the FTSE 100 share index in early trading.Whitbread’s shares have jumped by 4.5%, as investors welcome the news that UK trading strengthened over the last quarter.Well, grocery price inflation is not what it used to be, but it’s...

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...