Industry News

UK-based Ethical Consumer magazine has warned vegans that they could be “unwittingly supporting animal exploitation” as the companies behind many of the Britain’s leading vegan brands also have a heavy involvement in the meat and dairy industry.

The British Homeopathic Association (BHA) is taking the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to court over a recent decision to ban public funding of homeopathy and other alternative medicines.

The recent partnership between the National Association of Health Stores (NAHS) and the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) will be further strengthened with an exclusive at Natural & Organic Products Europe (NPE), when the two organizations will launch a new retailer initiative called Shop Talk.

The Organic Trade Board (OTB) is to receive a loan from Triodos Bank, Europe’s leading sustainable bank, to help grow organic sales in the UK in 2018 and beyond.

Michael Gove became the first Defra minister to address the rebel Real Farming Conference in Oxford, usually a prerogative of the established Oxford Farming Conference.

In a speech broadcast today by the BBC, Theresa May spoke of her plans to ‘nurture’ the environment through a ‘comprehensive 25-year environment plan’ which puts plastic at the forefront of the agenda.

Waitrose has become the first UK supermarket to prevent children from buying energy drinks.

A new survey by the Vegan Society has found that 91% of vegans sometimes struggle to find ‘grab and go’ food options, which has prompted the charity to launch its Vegan on the Go campaign.

A new study, published under Current Developments in Nutrition shows ‘strong evidence’ that diets rich in plant foods offer the body protection from cardiometabolic disease. 

In a recent study, Public Health England has found that the average primary school child eats at least three sugary snacks a day, leading to a daily sugar consumption of three times the recommended upper limit.

A campaign started by anti-plastic campaigners and gardeners is urging consumers to switch from tea bags to loose tea to avoid plastic contamination of garden compost.

The New Zealand Government’s Ministry For Primary Industries (MPI) will release a new scientific definition for mānuka honey in early February.

Organic certifier Organic Farmers & Growers has introduced a rule change that will require mandatory on-pack presence of its logo. 

Growing consumer interest in all things ‘indie’ natural and organic has produced record levels merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the beauty and personal care sector, according to data from Catalyst Corporate Finance.

A GROUND-breaking standard for seaweed farming has been launched jointly by the Marine Stewardship Council and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council.

New and existing natural products shone as the industry gathered for the annual Holland & Barrett Showcase.

George Eustice MP, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has claimed that soil health will be central to the Government’s environment policy.

Wyke Farms has united with OMSCo in a new joint business venture which the two parties have named The British Organic Dairy Company.

With online visitor registration now open, the countdown to Natural & Organic Products Europe 2018 has officially begun.

Launching with a series of events at Whole Foods, Kinetic has introduced US brand Garden of Life to the UK with a range of organic supplements.