Opinion

Here we bring you the thoughts of the natural and organic products industry’s leading commentators and opinion formers.

Learning from LA: trends from the Indie Beauty Expo

Natural beauty, health and wellness blogger Ailish Lucas reports from the Indie Beauty Expo in LA to bring us some of the key trends coming out of the US which are worth paying attention to

Spreading the (chocolate) love

In 2016, inspired by his great-great-great grandfather – the founder of Cadbury chocolate, which was subject to a hostile takeover in 2010 – James Cadbury started the organic chocolate company Love Cocoa. Here, Jane Wolfe talks to him about how the ethical beliefs of his family have influenced his brand

Dive deep with Wiley’s Finest

When Alaskan fish oil manufacturer Wiley’s Finest first hit British shores some three years ago, it discovered a calibre of consumer unlike anything the brand had encountered in the US. Here, CEO Sam Wiley, tells Rosie Greenaway how he navigated new waters and what sustainability means to the brand.

2018 and beyond

Ahead of Natural & Organic Products Europe (NPE) in April, show organizer Diversified Communications has been hearing from industry figures about trends, innovation, opportunities, challenges and the ‘ones to watch’ for 2018.

The Vegan Society responds to Patrick Holford’s column with a letter...

The Vegan Society respond to Patrick Holford's column 'The dangers of a vegan diet' with a letter to the editor.

A note from the editor: You’re not alone

Long before we Brits craved the perfect night in, the Danish had a word for it. Hygge, pronounced ‘hoo-gah’ is a Scandinavian way of life that celebrates cosiness, shared meals and interactions with friends and family.

Organic tidings we bring

So here we are, approaching the end of 2017. And, although we are not quite there, I’m already reflecting on what has been a very exciting year for the organic sector.

Ready or not? Preparing for Brexit

Even those of us who try to avoid politics at all costs cannot fail to notice that Britain’s exit from the EU looms ever closer, and that The British Government has been talking more about the preparations it is making for Brexit. Food businesses across the UK may not want to think about the issue but they should, and they must be asking are we ready, or are we not?

Psychological magnets and margin management

Continuous promotion is a necessity to attract and keep customers, but margin erosion must be closely managed. A key objective of sales promotion is therefore to achieve highest impact at lowest cost.

Time to break the prescription drug addiction cycle

Craig Sams offers an alternative perspective on the culture of prescription drug addiction, saying a natural solution could be more effective in treating depression.

Hangover cures that work

It’s the season to drink and be merry, but there’s a good and a bad side to alcohol. Moderate drinkers have a lower risk of a number of diseases, including heart disease and dementia.

Strengthening the chain

After plenty of research, a lot of consultation and a few rounds of editing, October saw the launch of our Organic Supply Chain Report – a consensus gathered from industry on the challenges and opportunities currently presented in the organic sector.

WWOOF

A couple of young women pitched up at our place recently. We fed them, gave them a twin-bed room and they worked for us for six hours every day, mostly weeding and cutting back brambles on the edge of the orchard. If they had to pay for a B&B it would cost them £700 a week at this time of year so they’re earning, for a 30-hour week, nearly £10 an hour.

Cocoa shock

Last night, I crossed to the dark side. I unwittingly bit into a bar of chocolate that was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A bar of Green & Black’s new Velvet Edition; its first product that is neither Fairtrade certified, nor organic.

Will Ye No Come Back Again

You have four different types of customer and it is vitally important to understand the differences. In my seminars across the UK and abroad I repeatedly stress this key business principle using an animal analogy. The four types of customer are butterflies, loyal hounds, ‘dumb asses’ and blind bats.

The dangers of a vegan diet

Sometimes it’s hard to be a vegan. There are three key nutrients a vegan diet struggles to provide enough of: vitamin B12, vitamin D and omega-3 fats.

Cliffs and costs: Brexit risks and opportunities

There has been much speculation about the impact of Brexit on the British food and farming industry, with the most urgent policy questions relating to the much-discussed potential ‘cliff-edge’ with any agreed transitional agreements. Disruptions to the supply chain and the supply of labour in the food and agriculture sector will need to be carefully considered as negotiations progress.

Harmony in food and farming

The groundbreaking Harmony in Food and Farming Conference explained why a sustainable food culture sits naturally at the heart of an inspiring philosophy for harmonious living, says Craig Sams

Dips and spikes – expecting the unexpected

Some business disciplines are relevant only to specific industries; many others, however, transcend different sectors. There is a key manufacturing discipline, known as capacity management, which is as important in retail planning as it is in factory management.

Winning the cold war

Despite the anti-vitamin propaganda, vitamin C actually works – depending on the dose. That’s the conclusion of the most recent and most thorough review published this year by Professor Harri Hemila from the University of Helsinki, including a clear exposé of the flaws that were used to falsely discredit vitamin C.