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April 2026 Market Report

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:54:04 GMT

MARKET NEWS

UK inflation rises after Iran war pushes up fuel prices:

The UK inflation rate rose to 3.3% in the year to March, after the US-Israel war with Iran caused the largest jump in petrol and diesel prices in over three years.

The rise was "largely due to increased fuel prices", while airfares and food also contributed, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The figures provide the first official look at the impact of the Middle East conflict on the cost of living in the UK.

Inflation is now expected to be higher this year due to the war, and higher energy costs could also slow down the economy as people and businesses have less money to spend.

Inflation could peak around 3.5% to 4% this year, economists have predicted. This would be higher than the Bank of England's target of 2%, but much lower than the double-digit rates seen early on in the war in Ukraine in 2022.

The Food and Drink Federation, which represents manufacturers, forecasts food inflation could be as high as 10% by the end of the year.

Government to ban high-sugar and deep-fried food in schools
The government has announced plans to remove high-sugar and deep-fried foods from school meals.

A nine-week consultation launched on the 13 ^th April which sets to overhaul the School Food Standards for the first time in over a decade.

New standards, developed alongside nutritionists and public health experts, will apply to all breakfasts and lunches served by schools.

This will see the removal of unhealthy ‘grab-and-go’ foods like sausage rolls and pizzas from daily menus, while fruit will need to be served instead of high-sugar treats for the majority of the school week. Deep-fried foods will be completely banned.

The government is also developing a national enforcement system to monitor schools’ compliance. Full details will be announced in September 2026, with enforcement in place from September 2027.

Employment Rights Bill timeline – how will it impact hospitality?

With 35 separate measures being introduced over the next two years, the Employment Rights Act represents the most significant shift in employment law in a generation.

While some elements have already come into force, including the repeal of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 and much of the Trade Union Act 2016, making it easier for workers to strike and strengthening protections against dismissal for taking industrial action, the bulk of the changes will begin from 6 April and roll out through to 2027.

From 6 April 2026:

Statutory sick pay

Statutory sick pay will be available from the first day of illness, rather than the fourth, with the lower earnings limit also removed.

‘Day one’ unpaid parental leave and paternity leave

New measures will give parents the right to up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave per child, available from day one of employment and usable up to the child’s 18th birthday.

Paternity leave will also become a day-one right, removing the current 26-week service requirement.

Menopause and gender pay gap action plans

Large employers (with 250 or more staff) are being encouraged to publish menopause action plans from 6 April, with the requirement set to become mandatory from spring 2027. Support strategies could include clear menopause policies, flexible working options, reasonable adjustments and greater training and awareness around symptoms.

The Act also encourages the voluntary adoption of action plans to address gender pay gaps ahead of mandatory requirements in 2027. The aim is to move beyond reporting towards more robust, evidence-based action that can accelerate progress in closing the gap.

Collective redundancy protective

The measure will double the maximum ‘protective award’ for failure to consult in collective redundancy, increasing it from 90 days’ pay to 180 days’ pay.

A package of trade union measures

This includes simplifying the trade union recognition process and electronic and workplace balloting.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

Spring has now officially arrived, and the produce calendar is finally starting to look bright. A host of homegrown favourites are either already with us or firmly on the horizon, joined by a fresh wave of European arrivals and the full transition into the Dutch salad season.

There’s plenty to be excited about, from spring greens and elegant new-season arrivals to the ingredients that quietly signal summer is approaching.

April is a fantastic month for exciting UK produce. In season now:

Asparagus
Wild Garlic
Jersey Royal Potatoes
Cavolo Nero
Hispi Cabbage
Watercress

The supply of capsicums, aubergines, and broccoli have again been affected by the weather. As we move towards warmer weather, we hope supply will slowly return to normal.

Mondelez Factory Fire:

A fire occurred on December 11 th at Mondelez’ Chirk facility. The fire has significantly disrupted the supply of all Cadbury hot chocolate products and we expect the impact to affect availability through January and February at a minimum.

UKHospitality warns of 2076 closures in 2026:

More than 2,000 hospitality venues could close this year without sector-wide business rates support, UKHospitality has warned. New modelling from the trade body has revealed that six hospitality venues could close every day in 2026. It forecasted the industry could see 963 restaurant, 574 hotel and 540 pub closures in the year ahead without additional support from government – the equivalent of 19

restaurants, 11 hotels and 10 pubs closing every week.

Currently, the average hotel will see their business rates increase by £28,900 next year and by £205,200 in total over the next three years – an increase of 115% – while the average pub will see their rates increase 15% next year – an extra £1,400 – and by 76% over the next three years – an increase of £12,900.

UKHospitality has called on the government to increase the business rates discount for hospitality properties from 5p to 20p, the maximum permitted in law, to ensure the government delivers its manifesto commitment of levelling the playing field between the high street and online giants.

The government has intimated it will be providing some relief to the pub sector at least and we keenly await clarity on this.

March is a fantastic month for exciting UK produce. In season now:

UK Asparagus
Wild Garlic
Jersey Royal Potatoes
UK Rhubarb
UK Leeks
Italian Monks Beard

Frozen Seafood & Meat:

Frozen protein categories are experiencing heightened pressure due to their reliance on refrigerated containers. Global shortages of these containers, combined with shipping lines avoiding affected regions, are resulting in extended longer transit times and higher cold‑chain costs. Seafood suppliers report varying levels of risk depending on origin. Some had already rerouted shipments around Africa in previous years due to Red Sea instability and therefore are not expecting fresh delays. Others have warned of potential cost increases driven by higher freight rates, longer voyages and shortages of empty containers returning to Asia.

Shellfish:

If the UK weather stays warmer, our own native lobster season will start soon. Good availability of both UK and Canadian origins will help to keep prices down, but it will not be until May at the earliest.

Mussels will be out of season in May, but if temperatures rise, the quality may start to deteriorate earlier. Those operators who wish to continue offering live mussels during the warmer months should be aware that the product will be poorer quality.

UK processed crab prices have increased. Significant impact is being felt within processing factories due to the increases in the national living wage. This is in addition to rising raw material costs due to reduced landings of brown crab this season. Variable raw material quality is also impacting yields during processing, which significantly raises the cost of finished products.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Asparagus only needs the lightest touch to make it irresistible, and this simple recipe brings out the full flavour. Chargrilled asparagus are served alongside alioli to create a garlic lover’s dream. This sauce compliments the asparagus beautifully, but also goes perfectly with any other vegetable, so be sure to make extra.

Asparagus with roast garlic alioli

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 bunches of asparagus

1 garlic bulb

1 egg yolk

juice of ½ lemon

150ml olive oil

salt

Method:

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Slice the top off the garlic bulb and place it in a baking dish. Drizzle a little olive oil on top and flip it over. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the garlic is soft when pierced with a knife. Let it cool for 15 minutes.

Step 2:

Meanwhile, heat a griddle pan until smoking hot and prepare the asparagus by cutting off any tough ends. Lightly oil and grill in batches until you have a thick black mark on each side. Place them on a serving plate, sprinkle some flaky salt on top and set aside.

Step 3:

Squeeze the garlic from the bulb into a blender or food processor and add the egg yolk and lemon juice. On a low speed, slowly pour in the oil until a cream sauce begins to form. To finish off, season to taste with salt and place into a small serving bowl next to the chargrilled asparagus.

March 2026 Market Report

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 10:30:58 GMT

MARKET NEWS

UK Farmers struggle as Iran war drives up costs:

The prices of crucial farming inputs such as fuel and fertiliser have skyrocketed, just at a time when their use will increase in the coming weeks as the spring planting season gets under way and farmers use their tractors more.

It is estimated that about a third of the global seaborne trade in fertilisers passes through the strait of Hormuz. The narrow trade artery has effectively been closed since the start of the war, halting the transport of fossil fuels as well as ammonia, nitrogen and sulphur, vital ingredients in many synthetic fertiliser products.

A prolonged transport shutdown could disrupt production at the world’s largest fertiliser manufacturing sites, many of which are located in the Gulf. About 16m tonnes of fertilisers were transported by sea from the region in 2024, according to Unctad.

This is leading to worry and uncertainty among farmers, particularly when many are unsure what price they have to pay for crucial products.

Hospitality Reacts to Spring Statement

The hospitality industry has criticised the chancellor for delivering a Spring Statement that “feels disconnected from reality”.

On the 3 ^rd March Rachel Reeves assured the House of Commons that the government has “the right economic plan” amid an “increasingly dangerous world”. She said Labour has “restored economic stability”, with inflation forecast to fall faster than previous estimates. GDP was expected to grow by 1.1% in 2026, down slightly from the 1.4% forecast during November’s Budget. Reeves said her actions would keep inflation “low and stable” should another energy crisis arise out of the conflict in the Middle East. She also stated the government “will not leave an entire generation of young people behind” after it was revealed last month that unemployment among people aged between 16 and 24 was at 16.1%, its highest in more than 10 years.

The Spring Statement comes ahead of next month’s changes to business rates, which will see government replacing the existing retail, hospitality and leisure relief with two lower business rates multipliers for properties with rateable values below £500,000.

From 1 April, National Living Wage rates will also increase to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over and to £10.85 for 18–20-year-olds.

Hospitality operators have raised concerns around the lack of reprieve from day-to-day challenges in the industry.

Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, stated: “If the government wants to deliver growth everywhere for everybody, it needs to recognise that hospitality is the sector best placed to deliver that across the country.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

Severe weather conditions in Spain and Morocco, including heavy rain, low temperatures, and poor light levels have stressed crops, slowed growth, and caused early field exhaustion. Combined with disease pressures in courgettes and peppers, this is leading to reduced yields, inconsistent quality, and increased pricing.

Tomatoes remain extremely tight as Moroccan supply ends ahead of Dutch production starting mid-May onwards, and Spanish lettuce is also showing quality challenges as we approach the UK season in May.

Rising energy costs and fuel surcharges are adding further pressure across imported products. Over the coming weeks, customers should anticipate ongoing uncertainty in availability, quality, and pricing.

Markets for peppers, berries, carrots, and brassicas remain strained, although cucumbers are beginning to stabilise as Dutch volumes improve.

We are starting to see price increases and tighter availability on fine beans, sugar snaps and mangetout. As these products are airfreighted, disruption to flights through key hubs such as Dubai is affecting supply.

Connect’s suppliers continue to work closely with growers to secure allocations and carry out daily quality checks to support supply continuity as conditions evolve.

March is a fantastic month for exciting UK produce. In season now:

UK Asparagus
Wild Garlic
Jersey Royal Potatoes
UK Rhubarb
UK Leeks
Italian Monks Beard

Mondelez Factory Fire:

UKHospitality warns of 2076 closures in 2026:

restaurants, 11 hotels and 10 pubs closing every week.

The government has intimated it will be providing some relief to the pub sector at least and we keenly await clarity on this.

March is a fantastic month for exciting UK produce. In season now:

UK Asparagus
Wild Garlic
Jersey Royal Potatoes
UK Rhubarb
UK Leeks
Italian Monks Beard

Continued White Fish Supply Issues:

The market continues to experience extreme price and demand pressure in the global white fish industry. Both cod and haddock have maintained their steady upwards price trajectory in recent months. Prices seem to be levelling out at record levels – with little indication of easing due to the continued effects of quota reductions and demand outstripping supply.

There is an increase in the presence of Chinese buyers in Iceland as they are unable to sell Russian sourced fish to most European countries. It is necessary for them to purchase a percentage of Icelandic origin fish to enable continued exports to the USA and Europe.

This bolsters demand. From this month we will begin to see reduced volumes of smaller codling as the fish begin to spawn. Haddock will also start spawning and the quality will be poorer. Line caught fish will fetch a premium as their condition will be superior. Furthermore, there are extremely low stocks of frozen fish available from Iceland, so there are no reserves to draw off during this time.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Making the most of seasonal March veg, these delectable gnocchi include wild garlic for an intense flavour hit. Finish simply with just a little parmesan or serve with a sauce of your choice.

Wild Garlic Gnocchi

Serves 2

Ingredients:

800g potatoes

70g wild garlic

250g plain flour

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

2 egg yolks

butter or olive oil, for frying

1 lemon

Method:

Step 1:

Preheat your oven to 200⁰C fan/Gas 6. Give each potato a couple of jabs with the tip of a knife and give them a quick wash. While still wet, rub the skins generously with salt. Pop them in the oven and bake for 40–50 mins or until completely cooked through.

Step 2:

Meanwhile, put a kettle on to boil. Wash the wild garlic, place it in a heatproof bowl and pour over enough boiling water to cover. Leave for 30 seconds until wilted. Drain and cool immediately with cold water. Drain again and then squeeze out as much excess water as you can with your hands. Chop it very, very finely and leave it spread out on the chopping board until needed.

Step 3:

When the potatoes are ready, turn off the oven. Carefully cut the potatoes open and leave them in the oven for 10 mins to drive away some of the moisture in the flesh. Meanwhile, put a large pan of salted water on to boil.

Step 4:

Now dust a clean work surface with about half the flour. Scoop the warm flesh out of the potato skins and pass through a potato ricer or push them through a fine sieve with the back of a spoon, directly onto the floured surface. Season with salt and nutmeg and add the egg yolks and chopped wild garlic. Bring everything together gently until it starts to form a dough, dusting with more flour if it feels too sticky or wet. Divide it into 4 equal parts.

Step 5:

Dust the work surface with more flour and roll each piece out into a long thin sausage shape, dusting with more flour to keep it workable as needed. Cut the sausages into 2cm pieces, these are your gnocchi. Dust them all again lightly with flour. At this stage you can press and roll each one down the tines of a fork to give them a bit of texture if you like.

Step 6:

Reduce the water to a gentle simmer and add the gnocchi. Simmer for a few minutes until they float to the surface. Simmer for a further minute to cook them through. While they are cooking, heat a knob of butter or dash of olive oil in a large frying pan.

Step 7:

Remove the gnocchi from the pan with a slotted spoon and add to the frying pan to take on a little colour for a few minutes. Finish with a grind of pepper and a little squeeze of lemon juice.

January 2026 Market Report

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:10:30 GMT

MARKET NEWS

French strikes causing short term supply challenges:

French farmers are blockading roads and ports as the EU prepares to sign an agricultural trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc (a number of South American countries). Unfortunately, these blockades come on the back of a stretched supply chain that has suffered recently due to Storm Goretti impacting supply routes across France, Spain, and the UK. Supermarkets and manufacturers have struggled to maintain supply over the past few days.

If the strikes continue, it is likely that there will be some supply impact to the following ingredients: cucumbers, tomato, courgette, pepper, aubergine, and salad leaf (iceberg, cos, gem, rocket). Open market prices on the above products are reportedly between 4-6 times their normal value which demonstrates the market conditions and scarcity.

Milk poured away due to oversupply

A major UK dairy processor, Freshways, has disclosed that it was forced to dispose of excess milk over the Christmas period due to a significant oversupply in the market. The overflow of raw milk was so pronounced that the company had no choice but to physically pour it away, highlighting one of the more stark consequences of an ongoing supply–demand disconnect in the British dairy sector.

The decision to dump milk reflects the severe imbalance facing UK dairy producers and processors, where production volumes outstrip processing capacity and retail uptake. After a period of strong milk flows and limited demand growth, dairy supply chains are struggling to find outlets for all the raw milk being delivered, with Freshways’ experience illustrating how extreme the current glut has become.

We are already seeing milk prices coming down from suppliers in response to this.

Mondelez Factory Fire:

UKHospitality warns of 2076 closures in 2026:

restaurants, 11 hotels and 10 pubs closing every week.

The government has intimated it will be providing some relief to the pub sector at least and we keenly await clarity on this.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

The weather has been causing quality and supply issues across Europe, with Spain in particular being hit. Europe is the main source of supply of fruits and vegetables for the UK at this time of year. The severe cold snap and mixed heavy rain and snow mean fields are frozen, crops are water damaged and road closures have been in effect. Along with the reported strikes in France, we expect this cause shortages and price increases on a number of lines.

Late January we will start to see the arrival of forced Yorkshire rhubarb. Grown in candlelit sheds and harvested by hand, it’s a truly unique ingredients and much anticipated. Spanish citrus fruits are at their best in January. Blood oranges have been available for a few weeks and have been great quality. Seville oranges are just arriving on the market now. Both have very short seasons, so make the most of them while you can.

January is the ideal time to lean into winter salads and rustic slaws, letting colder-weather leaves do the heavy lifting. Chicory, radicchio and endive all thrive at this time of year, whilst fennel, beetroot and celery add colour and texture to the plate.

In Season Now:

Blood Oranges
Seville Oranges
Forced Rhubarb
Bramley Apples
Shallots
Chicory, Radicchio and Endive

Meat Supply Update:

Beef prices continue to remain very high, with demand still outstripping supply. Similarly, as demand has shifted to Pork, supply is now struggling to keep up. This has been further impacted by an outbreak of African Swine Flu in Spain (the biggest pork producer in the EU). UK pork market is more stable and so UK product is a better option at the moment.

Frozen Fish Supply Issues:

There is a shortage of cod, both single Frozen into the UK and European market but also for onward processing into China, due to the quota cut. Prices are sky high on frozen at sea cod, and this was the case throughout 2025. Add to this the sanctions put on Russian fish by the EU and USA, and it is creating a fundamentally distorted market. These prices are expected to last until 2027 or beyond as we wait for stocks

to recover.

The demand for IQF haddock is escalating, driven by the increases on cod. This demand is predominantly from the USA and UK. A decrease in price is now not expected to happen until late 2026 and into 2027. This is because the reduced cod quota is forcing fishermen to spread out their fishing during the year and to target the

premium specie (cod) with less focus on haddock, despite the increased quota. The

frozen haddock inventories in the UK, China and the EU/USA are exceptionally low.

We are already seeing force majeure and price increases from suppliers on frozen fish and expect this to be across the board.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Making the most of seasonal winter veg, this take on a Waldorf salad is super

simple, lighter than the classic and allows you to use the best of the vegetable

offering on the market at the moment.

Winter Waldorf Salad

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1 tbsp cider vinegar

1 tsp Dijon mustard

2 tbsp yoghurt

olive oil

2 good handfuls of shredded black kale, Savoy cabbage, red cabbage or radicchio

2 small sharp apples, cored and diced

2 celery sticks, finely diced

30g walnuts, chopped and toasted

40g dried cranberries, raisins or sour cherries

salt and pepper

Method:

Make the dressing by whisking the vinegar and mustard together. Slowly whisk in the yoghurt followed by 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season well. Throw the remaining ingredients together and streak over the dressing to serve.

December 2025 Market Report

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:40:31 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Government chooses hospitality for youth training and apprenticeship plans

The Department for Work and Pensions has released details of two funding packages to get young people into work in hospitality.

The first is an £820m fund to create an estimated 350,000 new workplace opportunities to support young people on Universal Credit in developing on-the-job skills, employer networks and CV and interview coaching.

The fund, called the Plan for Change, will encompass a government-backed guaranteed job and will be rolled out from spring 2026 in areas with some of the highest need, including Birmingham and Solihull, East Midlands, Greater Manchester, Hertfordshire and Essex, Central and East Scotland and Southwest and

Southeast Wales.

The second funding package is for £725m earmarked for apprenticeship system reform.

This includes £140m for a pilot where mayors will be able to connect young people – especially those not in education, employment or training (NEET) – with thousands of apprenticeship opportunities with local employers.

As part of the package, the government will also cover the full cost of apprenticeships for eligible young people aged under 25 at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This removes the previous 5% co-investment rate for SMEs.

Turkey:

Bird flu has had a serious impact on Turkey supply with the largest UK poultry producer having 4 farms hit with bird flu. Poland, Germany and Italy all saw 30 day export bans on turkey which are due to finish on 12th December. This will prove a challenge this close to Christmas for both supply and pricing.

Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Updates:

The recent Marine Conservation Society (MCS) updates bring some good news and some less positive news for some of our key species.

Whitefish supplies have been particularly hard hit in 2025. Another 20% reduction in the previously huge Bering Sea quota signifies extreme anxiety regarding the sustainability of our favourite North Atlantic cod. As a result of this cut in quota, the MCS have now rated most Bering Sea cod a 5 (red rated fish to avoid). This will affect many UK suppliers who rely on this species landed in Norway and processed in China.

Haddock caught off the South coast of the UK will now be 5 rated, along with Norwegian haddock out of the Bering Sea which will be 4 rated. Haddocks out of Iceland and Scotland will remain either 2 or 3 rated, so a better opion.

Unfortunately, another great UK favourite, the lemon sole, is due a downgrade from a 3 to a 4 or 5 rating leaving only dover sole or megrim sole as great alternative single portion flat fish. Most UK landed plaice also faces downgrades to either 4 or 5 ratings, other than Scottish North Sea plaice or West country trawled plaice which will remain 2 and 3 rated respectively.

On a more positive note, and a great triumph that goes to show how positive management plans can help rebuild a stock, wild caught sea bass from the most common areas around the UK will now be 2 rated, whether line caught or trawled. Several scallop fisheries that were previously 4 or 5 rated will now be 3 rated. This means it will be easier for our suppliers to ensure they are sourcing the most sustainable UK caught scallops.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

As the industry shifts into Christmas mode, menus tend to slim down while indulgence goes up a notch. There’s still plenty to get excited about. The Spanish salad season is in full swing, bringing freshness to the plate, just as our homegrown brassicas and roots come into their winter glory. Whether you’re leaning into the classics — think sprouts, parsnips, and potatoes — or hunting for something a little

quirkier to catch the eye, December has it all on offer.

Cauliflower and broccoli are now coming in from Spain. Sprouts are taking centre stage – whether you roast, shred or fry, they’re looking their seasonal best!

Medjool dates are in season and perfect for a cheese board or for baking. Spanish clementines and fresh cranberries are also December favourites and true festive classics.

Pepper and cucumber prices are high unfortunately and set to stay that way for a while. Spanish pepper crops have been severely affected by the Thrips Parvispinus virus, which is causing significant damage to plants and leaving the fruit deformed.

Our suppliers are working hard to maintain quality and stock levels. Cucumbers have been affected by rainfall in Spain.

In season now:

Carrots
Parsnips
Medjool Dates
Cranberries
Sprouts
Clementines
Celery

Good picks from buyers this season include:

Mussels
King Prawns
Dressed Crab
Gilthead Bream
Sea Reared Trout

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

A robust salad full of comfort and spice. The sweet squash is balanced by the sharpness of the clementines and pickled onion, while the bulghur, fruit and nuts add toothsome texture. An ideal starter for the big meal, or a perfect side to complement your Boxing Day leftovers. If you want to embellish this salad, it goes well with some crumbled blue, goat’s or feta cheese.

Spiced Squash, Clementine & Bulghur Christmas Salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

100g bulghur wheat

½ cinnamon stick

4 cardamom pods

1 star anise

2 clementines

1 Butternut squash

1 tsp mixed spice

1 red onion

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

40g toasted hazelnuts

25g dried cranberries

small bunch of parsley

50g watercress

1 tbsp maple syrup

salt

olive oil

Method:

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Put a kettle on to boil.

Step 2

Tip the bulghur wheat into a heatproof jug or bowl, along with the cinnamon, cardamom, star anise, a generous pinch of salt, and 1 tbsp of olive oil. Stir it together to coat the grains. Pour over enough boiling water to cover it by 2cm, cover with a plate, and set aside to soak and plump up while you continue.

Step 3

Finely zest both clementines; keep the zest to one side. Remove what is left of the peel, then slice the clementines into thin discs. Peel, deseed and chop the Butternut into 3cm pieces. Pop them in a roasting tray with the sliced clementines, 2 tbsp of olive oil, and the mixed spice. Season and mix well. Transfer to the oven and roast for 25 mins, until the Butternut is tender and starting to colour at the edges.

Step 4

Meanwhile, peel and finely slice the red onion; if it’s much bigger than a golf ball, you’ll only need to use half. Mix it in a small bowl with the vinegar. Leave to pickle, turning occasionally – the vinegar takes the raw edge away from the onions.

Step 5

Coarsely chop the hazelnuts and cranberries. Pick the parsley leaves from the stalks and finely chop them.

Step 6

When the Butternut is ready, you can choose to let it cool before building the salad (see cook’s note). To build, give the bulghur wheat a stir to separate the grains, and pluck out the spices. Add it to the tray along with the watercress, clementine zest, maple syrup and 1 more tbsp of olive oil. Mix well, taste, and tweak with more salt to your liking; if you want even more sharpness you can mix in a dash of the vinegar from the onions too.

Step 7

To serve, pile it on to a serving plate and garnish artfully with the hazelnuts, cranberries, parsley and drained onions.

November 2025 Market Report

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:05:37 GMT

MARKET NEWS

 345 hospitality businesses sign open letter to the chancellor

More than 340 hospitality businesses have signed UKHospitality’s open letter to the

chancellor urging significant intervention to support the sector ahead of the Budget.

Rachel Reeves will be delivering the Budget on 26 November. To mark the occasion, 345 hospitality businesses ranging from Greene King to IHG Hotels & Resorts have called on the government to better support the industry as the impact of the last Budget was “immediate, concentrated and socially regressive”.

Over the past year, more than 80,000 jobs in the sector have been lost, with one Conservative MP warning hospitality is being “taxed out of existence” during a debate in Parliament in July.

Signatories including Marston’s, Stonegate, Wagamama, Butlin’s and Big Table Group have urged the chancellor to lower business rates by delivering the maximum discount for hospitality properties under £500,000 rateable value, fix National Insurance Contributions to boost jobs and cut VAT on hospitality.

 ‘We will all have to contribute’: chancellor refuses to rule out tax rises in

Budget'

The chancellor has refused to rule out tax rises in the upcoming Budget and said she would make “the choices necessary” to fix public finances.

In a speech in Downing Street on 4 th November, Rachel Reeves said she would do “not what was popular, but what was right” when she sets out her tax and spending plans on 26 November. She said millions of people across the country felt the economy was “not working as it should” but claimed her plans would help boost jobs.

“Mine will be a Budget for growth, with fairness at its heart, and a Budget that supports businesses to create jobs and to innovate,” she said.

Labour had pledged not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance in its general election manifesto. However, Reeves is widely expected to increase taxes on workers.

Are you ready for your January menu change?

With Christmas menus locked in and party bookings (hopefully) well underway, it’s all

too easy to forget what comes next. But as every operator knows, the post-festive

comedown is real. That’s why planning for January 1st – a key menu switch date – is happening right

now. After a month of indulgence, your customers’ focus snaps to new goals, health

and wellbeing. For the past six years, savvy pubs, restaurants and hotels have known the answer: plant based. It’s the single best way to attract diners who want to eat out without falling off their New Year track.

January has become the gateway for a huge wave of customers – people looking for simple, positive switches in their diet. Veganuary is a globally recognised campaign that gets people talking and, more importantly, trying. And it’s not a niche trend; it’s a mainstream cultural moment:

Last January, 25.8 million people participated worldwide – a 10% jump from 2024
The #Veganuary hashtag has been viewed over 1.1 billion times on TikTok
The motivation is a mix: 62% cite animal welfare, 54% environmental concerns, and 46% personal health

This isn’t just happening at home – customers are also looking for plant-based options when they dine out.

If you are keen to make the most of this trend, talk to your Connect Purchasing account manager about supplier options and inspiration.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

Shorter days and cooler temperatures bring a strong selection of hearty, flavour-rich seasonal crops.

This month, British root vegetables are now in their prime including maincrop carrots, parsnips, celeriac and beetroot. Brassicas are also thriving with kale, cavolo nero, tenderstem broccoli and Brussels sprouts all in good supply – including the arrival of sprouts on the stalk for an early festive feel.

Kalettes, variegated kale and rainbow chard bring crunch and texture to late-autumn menus, while Fenland celery from Cambridgeshire – prized for its crisp bite and distinctive aromatic flavour – is this month’s seasonal highlight!

British orchard fruit remains strong with late varieties of apples and pears – including Braeburn, Cox, Russet and Comice – and as outdoor salad crops wind down, English-grown radicchio and lovage continue to add colour and freshness to seasonal salads.

In season now:

Beetroot (golden, candy, red)
Brussel sprouts
Carrots
Cavolo Nero
Celeriac
Watercress
Tenderstem Broccoli
Leeks
Braeburn & Bramley Apples
Williams, Comice & Conference
Pears
Quince
Pomegranates

Fish Buyer Recommendations:

Our recommended options for November include Mussels, Halibut, Salmon, Monkfish and Plaice. Typically, this is the best season for most of our native species.

The cooler waters provide excellent conditions for quality bivalve molluscs, and most fish are outside of their spawning periods. This means that you will see the best quality at this time of year. With the worst of the weather typically presenting December through to February, we are hopeful of good landings all around our native coastlines.

Turkey:

Turkey supply remains very tight, and planning is key for clients towards Christmas to avoid unavailability. EU or South American turkey remains the best option as very little UK turkey is on the market with available quotas being directed towards the key retailers. Current turkey costs are approx. 30% higher than last year and will continue to rise as we approach the festive period. Early planning is essential to secure volumes ahead of Christmas.

Pork:

Pork pricing, whilst remaining generally stable, has started to creep upwards as demand rises due to many consumers switching to pork from beef because of high prices. However, pork remains a strong value-for-money option.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Dark spice, sour lactic notes from the cabbage and yogurt, fresh dill... These are all

very Norse notes to play alongside beetroot. Served this way, it is also reminiscent of

an Eastern European borscht.

Scandi Beetroot Soup

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 onions, sliced

2 celery sticks, finely diced

1.2kg beetroot, peeled and chopped

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 tsp caraway seeds

2 bay leaves

1 litre vegetable or chicken stock

red wine vinegar, to taste

100ml soured cream or yogurt

4 tbsp sauerkraut, preferably made with red cabbage

bunch of dill, chopped rye bread, to serve

Method:

Step 1

Warm 2 tablespoons of oil in a deep pan. Add the onions, celery and a pinch of salt.

Cook gently for 10 minutes, until starting to soften.

Step 2

Add the beetroot, garlic, caraway and bay. Cook for 2 more minutes.

Step 3

Tip in the stock. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 25 minutes, or until everything

is soft and tender.

Step 4

Remove the bay leaves. Blend the soup until completely smooth - adding a dash of

water if it seems too thick.

Step 5

Taste and tweak with more salt and a dash or two of vinegar, to your liking.

Step 6

To serve, divide into bowls, stir in a swirl of soured cream and finish with a garnish of

sauerkraut and dill. Serve the rye bread on the side.

October 2025 Market Report

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:35:54 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Government plans for pubs, clubs and restaurants to extend opening hours

Prime minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to review licensing laws for pubs, bars and restaurants.

The Plan for Change hopes to give a boost to the hospitality sector and drive economic growth by making it easier for operators to host live music, pop-up food stalls, as well as other community events at their venues.

According to The Guardian, councils will have to take into account a new objective of “promoting economic growth” when deciding on applications for new premises or longer opening hours.

Nearly half of hospitality operators forced to cut back on capex, survey shows

45% of hospitality operators have been forced to cut their capital expenditure programmes as a result of rising operational costs, according to a recent survey.

The results are based off the latest Business Confidence Survey from CGA by NIQ and Sona, which was conducted among leaders at CEO, managing director, chair and board levels across more than 14,000 hospitality businesses between July and early August 2025.

The survey showed 63% of operators had to increase their operational expenditure over the last 12 months due to inflationary pressures on labour, food and drink, compared to 34% who had capacity to increase capital expenditure.

Businesses need to be ready for government crackdown on sponsor licences

The UK government’s recent announcement of a record-breaking number of sponsor licence revocations, particularly in the hospitality sector, marks a significant shift in immigration enforcement. Across all industries, nearly 2,000 sponsor licences were revoked in the past year – more than double the previous year. The surge stems from intensified efforts to address misuse of the immigration system. This is part of the government’s wider agenda to reduce illegal working and control net migration.

Through this crackdown, the government’s message is clear: non-compliance will be met with severe consequences, including revocation of a licence, financial penalties, operational disruption or closure, reputational damage and even criminal prosecutions.

Hospitality businesses should ensure rigorous compliance with their duties as an employer and sponsor, as well as introduce safeguards to ensure workers are being paid enough, are doing the role they are contracted to do, and that recruitment practices are properly documented.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

October brings with it crisp mornings, sharp contrasts in temperature and a natural

pull towards rustic, warming plates.

Squashes take centre stage. From the quirky, multi-coloured knobbly types that look

as good on the plate as they do on display, to the classic orange pumpkins of Halloween fame, they bring both character and comfort. Root vegetables and orchard fruits such as apples and pears are also in their prime.

Good news on the broccoli front – the recent dry spell in weather means they are looking good and cauliflower is great quality too.

Berries have mostly moved over to Spain and Holland now the UK seasons are over,

so prices may be volatile.

In season now:

Pumpkins & Squash
Leeks
Apples
Pears
Parsnips
Swede
Carrots

Fish & Seafood:

Monkfish:

Good landings of monkfish are expected over the next few months before prices typically increase in December as monkfish assumes its position as a festive favourite. Whilst subject to some price fluctuations, monkfish presents a year-round quality option for any menu. Its versatility is unmatched.

Mackerel:

Demand for mackerel for export remains strong. Particularly for Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan where record prices are being paid. Iceland saw the highest prices ever recorded for frozen fish last summer. The situation is exacerbated by tight quotas and reduced inventories. Whilst the summer season has seen prices ease back a little, we are not expecting levels to be the same as last Year.

If you are planning to use mackerel on your menu, autumn is the last real opportunity as we see quotas come to an end in November. With the downgraded MCS rating, please aim to source hook and line caught fish from the South-West as the most sustainable option.

Turkey:

We have received further warnings from suppliers regarding turkey availability this year being challenging and the risk of prices rising as we get closer to Christmas.

We would suggest you place your orders as soon as possible to get the best prices. Some suppliers have deals in place now for pre-orders, so take advantage!

Meat:

As the seasons change, there is an uplift in demand for roasting joints. Seasonal beef joints in particular are already well above the 5-year price average and we expect prices this year will be higher than previously seen. Pork however remains

stable and a good alternative for your menus.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Squash recipes don't get much more exciting than this one: a fragrant, Asian coconut soup is cooked inside a hollowed-out squash and then served as it is, to be eaten straight out of the shell. Small squashes work best for this recipe. Red onion or Kabocha are perfect as they are the ideal size for single portions.

Thai Coconut Squash Soup Bowl

Serves 2

Ingredients:

For the soup

1 small red onion or kabocha squash

1 400ml tin coconut milk

1 tbsp peanut butter

1 tbsp Thai red curry paste

4cm piece fresh ginger, grated

2 garlic cloves, peeled & crushed

½ red pepper, seeds removed & diced

50g noodles, we used soba noodles

1 stick lemongrass, split open using a rolling pin

1 cinnamon stick

To garnish:

zest of 1 lime

1 spring onion, shaved into lengths with a peeler

1 red chilli, finely sliced

cashew nuts (optional)

Method:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas mark 5. With a sharp knife, carefully cut off the top few

inches of the squash, to create a lid. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.

Step 2

Use the back of a spoon to spread the peanut butter and curry paste all around the

inside of the squash. Pour in coconut milk until it’s about ¾ way full (you probably

won’t need all of it), then add the ginger, garlic, red pepper, lemongrass and

cinnamon. Season generously with salt and pepper and give it a gentle mix.

Step 3

Transfer to the oven, with the lid off (place the lid next to the squash so it cooks too),

and cook for 45 minutes.

Step 4

When the 45 minutes is nearly up, cook the noodles as per packet instructions.

Remove the squash and lid from the oven, add the noodles, and cook for a final 5

minutes, with the lid on.

Step 5

When done, the squash should be browned on the outside and soft to touch all the

way round. Cooking times may vary, depending on the size of your squash.

Step 6

Place the squash on a plate and remove the lid. Remove the cinnamon stick and

lemongrass, and garnish with the spring onions, chillies, lime zest and cashews, if

using. Pop the lid back on and serve. Be sure to use your fork to scrape the squash

out as well as the soup as you eat..

September 2025 Market Report

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:53:26 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Food Inflation News:

UK Inflation rate stays at 3.8% but food costs continue to rise sharply

Prices in the UK rose by 3.8% in the 12 months to August, pushed up by steeply rising food prices. Food prices rose by 5.1%, spurred by global commodity prices and government policy.

The Bank of England are among economists who’ve suggested that measures such

as higher National Insurance Contributions and minimum wages may have added more than 1% to food prices, while adding to cost pressures elsewhere.

Hospitality industry on track to lose 111,000 jobs by next Budget

The UK hospitality industry is on course to have lost 111,000 jobs in just over a year by the next Budget on 26 November. The projection, based on the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), shows the damage done to the sector by government tax rises announced in the 2024 Autumn Statement.

The lowering of the employer NICs threshold in April has had the most impact, bringing 774,000 people working part-time and flexible jobs into the tax threshold for the first time.

ONS figures revealed that 10,963 hospitality jobs were lost in the last month. Following revisions to earlier ONS data, the total jobs lost in hospitality since the Budget now stands at 84,000 – this is 4% of all jobs in the sector and 55% of all jobs lost in the UK economy.

London restaurant openings hit eight-year high as prices soar

London has seen its highest number of new restaurant openings since 2017, despite

the industry facing a battleground of cost pressures.

According to data from restaurant guide Harden’s, 146 new venues launched in the

past 12 months. There were 65 reported closures, the lowest figure reported by the

guide for a decade. This resulted in a total of 81 net new openings, a figure only

surpassed in four years in Harden’s 35-year history.

Harden said the 2% growth in London’s population since 2023 and a boom in tourist

numbers may have helped the capital’s restaurant scene remain more resilient, but

he admitted the rosier picture may only be relevant to London and the figures

revealed nothing about the profitability of the restaurants .

Contract catering sales grow 8% year-on-year

Contract catering sales rose by 8% year-on-year between April and June 2025, outperforming most other sectors of hospitality.

These figures come from the Catering Tracker by CGA by NIQ, Bidfood and UK Hospitality, which aggregates sales from leading operators including Sodexo UK, Baxter Storey, Compass UK and Elior UK to produce quarterly reports.

In every quarter since mid-2021, the contract catering sector has posted growth. This year has been no different, with contract caterers delivering a 9.3% increase in the number of outlets and a 7.9% jump in MAT growth – sales over the last 12 months compared to the previous 12 months.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

As the days cool, we are seeing beautiful autumn fruits and vegetables arriving on

the market including Squashes, Apples, Plums and Brassicas. Root vegetables are in their prime now.

It’s been a trickier story for Broccoli and Cauliflower. The warm, dry weather has

slowed things down for growers. On the upside, UK Kale, Savoy Cabbage, and leeks

are looking terrific this month and Tenderstem Broccoli is still going strong.

UK Girolles are still in season and offer a fantastic flavour, ready to turn a dish into

something special.

UK Quince are arriving this month – golden, aromatic and elegant.

Due to a poor harvest, the volume of citrus fruit coming from South Africa is lower

than expected and this will put pressure on pricing.

In season now:

Squash

Quince

Plums

Apples

Kale & Cabbage

Leeks

Girolles

Turkish Figs

Fish & Seafood:

Typically, Autumn is the best season for most of our native species. The cooler waters provide excellent conditions for quality bivalve molluscs and most fish are outside of their spawning periods. This means that you will see the best quality at this time of year.

The whitefish market is still extremely volatile with demand currently outstripping supply. Sanctions on fish of Russian origin are impacting availability, with Russia historically accounting for 40% of global whitefish production. This is exacerbated by the recent recommendation from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and the Joint Russian-Norwegian Arctic Fisheries Working Group that

the 2026 Barents Sea cod quota is cut to 21% less than in last year. It is inevitable that prices will rise across all whitefish as all buyers seek out alternatives.

Salmon:

The recent tariffs imposed upon Norway by the USA of 15% could have far reaching

effects on salmon prices. The USA is responsible for circa 25% of global farmed salmon demand. The increased tariffs could significantly soften this where Norwegian fish are concerned, whilst Scottish salmon with a lower 10% tariff will be

in a stronger position in terms of export.

Consequently, we could be enjoying lower

salmon prices to the end of 2025.

Turkey:

Suppliers are warning that turkey pricing will be challenging this year. The number of birds are down 30% on last year and EU Turkey prices are already at record levels for this time of year, with prices surpassing where they were last Christmas. We recommend looking at the Christmas deals on offer and placing your orders early.

Pork:

With the continued high pricing on beef, pork is offering a much more economical alternative. The UK is a key producer of pork and we recommend speaking to your butcher when menu planning to see which cuts offer the best value.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

A rich frangipane with sweet, sharp, sticky plums hiding in its depths.

Plum Frangipane Tart

Serves 8

Ingredients:

Sweet pastry:

200g flour

100g cold salted butter

1 tbsp caster sugar

1 egg

For the filling:

200g ground almonds

200g softened unsalted butter

160g caster sugar

2 eggs, beaten

seeds from ¼ of a vanilla pod, or ½ tsp vanilla extract

400g ripe plums

clotted cream, crème fraiche, or ice cream to serve

Method:

Step 1

To make the pastry, pulse the flour, butter, and sugar in a processor until they look

like fine breadcrumbs. Add the egg and pulse until it comes together as a soft dough.

Add a dash of cold water if it seems to be struggling or looks too dry. Turn it out and

shape into a ball. Wrap and chill for at least an hour.

Step 2

To make the frangipane, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla together in a mixing

bowl, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, a little at a time, making sure the first bit is

completely incorporated before adding the next. Fold the ground almonds into the

mixture. Pop into the fridge to chill for at least 30 mins.

Step 3

Roll the pastry out into a thin circle. Then use it to line a shallow 25cm tart case. Chill

it in the fridge for at least 30 mins.

Step 4

Preheat your oven to 160°C/Gas 3. Halve and destone the plums. Arrange them

evenly in the tart tin. Dot the frangipane mix over the top (it will level itself out as it

cooks).

Step 5

Transfer to the oven to bake for 1 hour or until it is golden on the top and a skewer

comes out of the middle cleanly. It may take a little longer depending on your oven.

Leave to cool in the tin.

Best served slightly warm with cream or ice cream.

August 2025 Market Report

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 10:48:49 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Potential Minimum Wage Increases on the cards for 2026

The UK minimum hourly wage would need to rise by 4% to £12.71 next April to ensure it does not fall below the government’s target of two-thirds of median earnings, according to a report from the Low Pay Commission (LPC).

This would amount to a rise of 50p per hour for adults aged over 21-years-old, up from the current £12.21 an hour rate. But the advisory body said minimum pay may need to rise to as much as £12.86 an hour to hit the government target, depending on changing economic conditions.

The LPC is an independent body that provides final recommendations to the government each October on how minimum wage rates should be changed. However, ministers ultimately decide the wage rates ahead of the following April.

More than 80,000 hospitality jobs lost since announcement of National Insurance rise

The number of people working in UK hospitality has dropped by more than 100,000 in the past year as the sector bears the brunt of increases to employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs).

UKHospitality said there had been a major fall in the availability of entry-level roles and summer jobs typically taken up by young people. The number of payrolled employees in hospitality dropped 108,000 in the year to July 2025, the largest decrease of any sector of the economy, according to analysis from the Office for

National Statistics (ONS).

Some 84,000 of these roles have been lost since changes to employer NICs were announced in Rachel Reeves’ inaugural budget last autumn. Job vacancies in the sector also dropped 7,000 in the three months to July as operators cut back on hiring after the tax changes came into force in April.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Beef Prices:

Beef prices continue to be high, with some suppliers reporting 150% increase on

prices from last year. Summer tends to be a period of high demand for steak cuts

and trim for burger production in particular.

Shortages are worldwide and UK farmers

are finding they can make more money by exporting, putting further pressure on UK

demand.

Fruit & Vegetables

The heat and dry spells are putting pressure on produce from the UK and Europe.

UK Cauliflower and Broccoli have been in very short supply which is driving up prices. Soft herbs and whole lettuce heads have also seen quality issues and cucumber crop yields have been low.

It’s not all bad new for produce, however. Fresh Sweetcorn is in good supply and is in perfect time for summer barbecues. Beetroot are also in season, including golden and rainbow varieties.

It’s not all bad new for produce, however.

Fresh Sweetcorn is in good supply and is in perfect time for summer barbecues. Beetroot are also in season, including golden and rainbow varieties. New season UK carrots, fresh peas and cavolo nero can

make fantastic veg options.

UK Victoria plums should be arriving at any moment. They are a wonderfully versatile fruit which can be baked, roasted or enjoyed as they are.

Tomatoes are still in great supply with plenty of varieties.

In season now:

Blackberries
Strawberries
Victoria Plums
Baby Spinach
Beetroot
Corn on the cob
Carrots
Peas
Cavolo Nero
Turkish Figs

Octopus:

Octopus are breeding in unprecedented numbers in British waters due to warmer sea temperatures. So many of the creatures are now being landed that tens of tonnes are reportedly being traded daily at Brixham Fish Market. However, the rise in

numbers is becoming a problem for crab and lobster, their favourite source of food,

and may lead to a decline in numbers.

Exotic Fish:

We are now in the midst of monsoon season which seriously affects fishing across India and Sri Lanka in particular. This will affect some exotic fish such as swordfish and tuna, with lower catches driving higher prices.

Poultry Prices:

Prices on poultry have continued to rise across the UK and Europe. Producers, particularly in Poland, are still recovering from widespread avian flu. This has coincided with record temperatures throughout Europe and the barbecue season, which will keep pressure on availability and price. There have now been outbreaks of Newcastle disease which has caused huge losses in birds in Poland.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Make the most of the UK beetroot and carrot season with this delicious salad.

Honeyed Beetroot & Carrot Salad

Serves 6

Ingredients:

450g Carrots, cut into batons

450g Beetroot, peeled and cut into thin wedges

2 tbsp Olive Oil

150g Quinoa or Bulgar Wheat

2 tbsp Honey

2 Lemons, zested and juiced

1 Orange, zested and juiced

1 tsp Ground Cumin

1 tsp Ground Coriander

75g Hazelnuts, roughly chopped

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Small bunch of Mint, picked and chopped

Small bunch of Parsley, picked and chopped

Small bunch of Dill, picked and chopped

200g Feta, crumbled

Method:

Step 1

Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the carrots and beetroot wedges into a roasting tin, drizzle with the olive oil and season. Toss to coat and roast for 25 mins.

Step 2

Meanwhile, cook the quinoa/bulgur wheat in a pan of boiling salted water following pack instructions. Drain in a sieve, then set aside to cool slightly.

Step 3

Combine the honey, lemon zest, orange zest and juice, the cumin and coriander. Remove the tin from the oven and pour the honey mixture over the veg. Stir, then scatter over the hazelnuts and return to the oven for another 10 mins.

Step 4

Tip the cooked grains onto a serving platter. Squeeze over the lemon juice and drizzle with the extra virgin olive oil. Top with the herbs and the feta, season well,

and toss together. Pile the roasted veg and hazelnuts on top, pouring over any roasting juices from the tin. Best served warm or at room temperature.

July 2025 Market report

rosie@marcellmedia.co.uk (Rosie Bossert) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:45:14 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Hospitality roles face removal from skilled worker visa list

Opportunities to recruit hospitality staff from overseas could become severely limited as part of a government plan to crack down on immigration. The Home Office has announced plans to raise the eligibility threshold for skilled worker visas to RQF 6, equivalent to graduate level, meaning 111 occupations will no longer qualify. This could include many in the hospitality sector, where roles including chefs and hotel, pub and restaurant managers are currently eligible for skilled worker visas.

A time-limited temporary shortage list will allow certain sectors to recruit from overseas for roles below graduate level, but workers will no longer be able to bring their families to the UK or qualify for salary or visa fee discounts.

The final selection of industries placed on the shortage list will be based on advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), and those industries will face strict requirements to grow their UK workforce. The government said existing skilled worker visa holders will be able to renew their visa, change jobs and take supplementary employment in currently eligible roles below degree level from the point the skills threshold is raised, but future applicants from overseas will have to follow the new rules.

The changes are expected to come into effect from 22 July, subject to parliamentary approval.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

July brings an abundance of new season home-grown produce. English carrots have arrived with new season leeks and parsnips arriving by the end of the month. Fresh peas, broad beans and courgettes are superb quality. With warmer temperatures, broccoli, cauliflower and tender stem are now in season. UK purple sprouting broccoli is a terrific choice this month.

UK cherries are still available. The season is short, so make use of them whilst they are available.

UK blackberries and gooseberries are now available and Spanish stone fruit continues to arrive in decent volumes.

In season now:

UK blackberries
UK Gooseberries
UK peas
UK runner beans
UK broad beans
UK purple sprouting broccoli
UK courgettes
Nectarines & peaches from Spain

The hot, dry weather has been causing some concern with produce. We have reports of it impacting both availability and quality of some key lines. Some broccoli and cauliflower are showing signs of sun stress for example. Our suppliers continue to work hard to ensure you only receive the best quality produce.

Soaring beef and butter prices continue to drive food inflation

Food inflation has risen to its highest level in nearly a year. Overall inflation was ahead of expectations in June at 3.6 per cent, but food and drink inflation continued to outpace the rest of the economy at 4.5 per cent.

This was the third consecutive increase in the rate. It is the highest recorded since February 2024. Butter, chocolate and red meat have seen the highest price rises over the past year.

Sea Bass:

Availability of Sea Bass is quite limited. Farmers suffered high mortality of fish last year because of rising sea temperatures and the industry is also facing rising production costs. We expect prices to remain high over the next year at least. We suggest you consider alternative fish for your menus such as Meagre.

Meagre are more resilient to warmer water temperatures and, as less energy is needed to produce them, they have a lower carbon footprint. They are a good choice for a summer menu as they can be grilled, fried, baked or steamed.

Flat Fish:

Summer sees our native flat fish returning to prime quality. Lemon soles are in season with Cornish fish being at their best from July onwards. Plaice are now fully in season and will be a good choice throughout the summer. Alternatively, witch soles (or Torbay sole) also offer a cheaper flat fish that is in season during the summer. Dover soles will have moved back offshore now that their spawning season has finished. This means that they will be scarcer, and prices are likely to rise – although quality should be excellent. Turbot and brill are now in season, and we should see much improved landings throughout the summer – offering the potential of some deals for the specials board.

Pork:

British pork is becoming a great protein option for menus. Domestic production remains strong and pricing offers a more economical option compared to beef and chicken.

Poultry:

Across the EU, poultry prices continue to rise steadily due to a shortage of birds available. While supply is expected to improve this month, it coincides with barbecue season, a period of seasonal high demand which will maintain pressure on availability and pricing.

Demand in the UK poultry market continues to rise steadily despite ongoing supply constraints. Avian influenza outbreaks and logistical challenges have contributed to persistent shortage, placing upward pressure on prices.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Why not try this vibrant, summery dish.

Fish Tacos and Summer Salad

Ingredients:

300g diced meagre or pollock

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp sweet smoked paprika

½ tsp chilli powder

olive oil

1 lime

½ tbsp brown sugar

½ cucumber

½ red onion, finely diced

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

3 tomatoes, roughly chopped

1 red chilli, finely chopped

small bunch of coriander, chopped

40g salad leaves

4 corn tortillas

150g soured cream

Method:

Step 1

Season the fish with salt and pepper. In a shallow bowl, mix the spices with 2 tablespoons of oil. Place the fish in the marinade. Turn it to coat with the mixture. Leave to one side while you continue.

Step 2

Juice half the lime. Mix the juice with the sugar. Cut the cucumber lengthways, remove the soft, seedy core with the tip of a teaspoon and discard. Slice into ½-cm pieces at an angle. In a shallow bowl, mix the onion and cucumber with the sweetened lime juice and a good pinch of salt. Leave to macerate while you continue.

Step 3

To make a quick salsa, mix the garlic, tomatoes and chilli with the coriander. Add 1 tablespoon of oil, season with salt and mix together well.

Step 4

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a frying pan. When the oil is shimmering hot, add the fish and all of the marinade. Fry on a medium-high heat for 3 minutes until cooked through. Finish with a squeeze of lime.

Step 5

Meanwhile, turn your grill on to a medium-high heat. Toss the salad leaves with the cucumber, onion and sweetened lime juice to complete the salad.

Step 6

Slide 4 tortillas under the grill, until warm but still pliable. Wedge some salad, a blob of soured cream and some salsa into the tortillas. Pile the fish in and fold them over to make a taco. Serve with any leftover salad on the side.

June 2025 Market Report

rosie@marcellmedia.co.uk (Rosie Bossert) — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 19:17:22 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Can US Beef make it into the UK Market?

The US-UK trade agreement means that 13,000 tonnes of tariff-free US beef could now hit the UK supply chain, with foodservice the likely destination. The agreement lessens the impact on the UK of US president Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff scheme, announced in April, which meant that UK exports to the US were subject to a 10% surcharge. In return for US concessions over car, steel, beef and ethanol exports from the UK, the UK will be reciprocally scrapping a 20% tariff on US hormone-free beef imports. This is within the existing quota of 1,000 tonnes, as well as creating a preferential duty-free quota of 13,000 tonnes.

However, the finer details are yet to be confirmed, and it is still unclear whether this is an annual allocation and what cuts of beef will be covered. In the official government filing it even states the document “does not constitute a legally binding agreement”. So where does this leave the UK hospitality industry?

Using hormones to boost growth in cattle is an accepted practice in the US and other countries but was banned by the EU in 1989 over safety fears. The government is insistent there will be no movement on food quality, with imports of hormone-treated beef or chlorinated chicken remaining illegal.

What is the real cost of cheap school lunches?

As well as announcing over half a million additional pupils will become eligible for

Free School Meals next year, the Department for Education recently revealed that its funding for universal infant free school meals would rise from £2.58 to just £2.61 per child in September. This 3p increase, which is below expected inflation, has been met with real concern.

This modest increase not only fails to cover rising food prices, but wage increases. for catering staff, too.

The cost of delivering nutritious meals is now much higher, and for those schools with a significant number of children who have free school meals, the gap between funding and actual cost is widening, forcing school leaders to make difficult decisions.Insufficient funding to cover the cost of meals puts pressure on schools, whose

budgets are already stretched and risks compromising the quality of food provided. Pre-prepared and processed foods are considerably cheaper than fresh ingredients but cannot compete on nutritional value.

Hospitality loses nearly 125,000 employees in a year:

A total of 124,376 employees have exited the accommodation and food services sector in the UK in the 12 months to May 2025, according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). This represents a 5.6% fall from the same month in the previous year, and the 10th consecutive month of losses in hospitality staff.

ONS’s latest Labour Market Overview also showed that in the overall UK economy, payrolled employees decreased by an estimated 109,000 between April and May 2025, following the hike to employer National Insurance contributions. This loss of

jobs exceeds predictions.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

Summer has officially arrived and brings with it an abundance of UK fruit and vegetables. Thanks to the warmer weather, some produce has arrived earlier than expected. Jersey, Cornish and Pembrokeshire new potatoes have been arriving in good volumes, and the quality is great.

UK courgettes will be arriving throughout this month, alongside broad beans, runner beans and even early summer brassicas such as cavolo nero, tender stem and broccoli.

Asparagus has come to an end unfortunately, as have the UK carrot and leek season. These will be moving to Spain or France for the month. English apples will also come to the end this month and supply will move to southern hemisphere varieties..

UK strawberries and raspberries are now here in abundance. UK gooseberries will arrive later this month. Spanish cherries are due into the market at any moment, alongside peaches, nectarines and apricots.

UK salad season is now here in earnest with Lollo, Oakleaf, little gem and iceberg in abundance. Due to the higher temperatures, yields and quality of all whole head lettuce varieties have been fantastic.

Also, in season in June:

In season now:
UK strawberries & raspberries
UK peas
UK iceberg
New potatoes
UK broad beans
UK courgettes
Nectarines & peaches from Spain

Cod & Haddock:

Cod and haddock prices have been extremely volatile throughout the spring. We have seen key fishing areas closed for both species. This, in addition to spawning haddocks and severely reduced cod quotas, has seen prices reach astronomical levels. There has been a serious haddock shortage which is seeing virtually no fish coming out of Norway. Suppliers are therefore reliant on either Scottish fish

(prohibitively expensive) or Icelandic fish, and there is very little Icelandic quota left.

The shortage means that we are also seeing more quality issues with the fish as merchants are desperate to pick up any available stock. Many Icelandic boats will tie up towards the end of July as quota comes to an end. This may also create some scarcity until new quota begins on the 1st of September.

Mackerel:

Mackerel was downgraded by the Marine Conservation Society from a 3-yellow to a 4-orange rating. Mackerel was once seen as the great sustainable alternative species that all chefs should be using, but the consistent abuse of the Total Allowable Catch quotas (TAC’s) by the relevant fishing nations (Iceland, Norway, EU

& UK) is now endangering this great value species. The downgrading is seen as a move to try and restrict this over-fishing. Hook and line caught mackerel is a more selective fishing method and still carries a 3-rating, so makes a better option for your menus.

Beef:

Issues with beef continue. Suppliers are experiencing huge competition to secure enough product, and prices are proving very volatile. There is news of beef arriving from New Zealand but we do not expect prices to reduce any time soon. Seasonal cuts are particularly affected.

Poultry:

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Making the most of the new UK season of

potatoes and peas in this seasonal dish.

New potato & pea frittata

Ingredients:

500g Jersey or Cornish New Potatoes

100g Peas

6 Eggs

100g Mature Cheddar Cheese, grated

Small Bunch of Chives

1 Tbsp Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

Method:

Clean the new potatoes and then chop into small chunks, bring them to a boil in a saucepan and leave for around 10 minutes, until tender. Add the peas in during the last 2 minutes. Drain all the water away and set aside.

Crack the eggs into a large bowl, add the grated cheddar, chives, salt & pepper and beat well to combine.

Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan on a medium heat. Add the cooked potatoes and peas, then pour over the egg mixture. Stir gently and ensure all ingredients are distributed evenly.

Cook over a low heat for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are set and the base is golden.
Transfer the pan to a preheated grill and cook for 6-8 minutes, until the top is golden and the frittata is fully set.

Let it cool slightly before slicing into wedges. Serve warm with a crunchy salad, enjoy!

May 2025 Market Report

Thu, 15 May 2025 09:06:37 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Food Inflation Continues to Rise: Labour costs a big factor.

The recent tax increase and global tariff wars could lead to a surge in foodservice

price inflation in the next few months, analysts have warned.

Businesses have been advised to stay “laser-focused” on cost management and margins to navigate the potential challenges ahead.

Foodservice price inflation has eased in recent months, with the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index dropping by a marginal 0.1 point from January 2025.

Year-on-year inflation held steady at 1.8% in February, while month-on-month inflation saw a slight decrease of 0.1%.

However, six out of 10 of the categories tracked by the index experienced month-on-month inflation in February and only one category showed year-on-year deflation.

The highest year-on-year inflation was observed in oils and fats at 5.7% and coffee, tea and cocoa at 6.8%.

Cocoa and coffee prices remain at nearly double the average price compared to 2023.

Meat and poultry prices are also under significant upward pressure with beef prices continuing to trade at record highs, and price rises in chicken being seen due to the avian flu outbreak in Poland.

Analysts said the full impact of US tariffs on prices has yet to materialise and the situation remains uncertain.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables

vMay is always an exciting month with the beginning of the new salad season and

both stone fruit and berries starting to arrive.

English Asparagus continues to be available, as a result of a fantastic crop this year.

We expect supply to finish mid-June.

Jersey Royal potatoes are now available in decent volumes. Strawberries are already coming in from the UK and we expect Raspberries to follow soon. UK cherries will hopefully arrive by the end of the month – a classic sign that summer has arrived!

Spanish stone fruit such as peaches and nectarines are due to arrive, along with

their flat varieties, in the coming weeks.

Also, in season in May:

UK Heritage Tomatoes
Nettles
UK Peas
Spanish Melons
Wye Valley Rhubarb

Cantaloupes are in short supply at the moment as the Spanish season is just starting but the South American season has already finished.

Wild garlic season is pretty much over, and supply will dry up very soon. UK Cox’s apples have now finished for the season, but we should see New Zealand fruit arrive before the end of the month. Purple sprouting broccoli has now come to the end of the season.

Beef:

Beef from the UK and EU continues to rise in price as demand continues to outstrip

supply. Constraints on the supply chain have been exacerbated by farmers pushing

cattle to market earlier to take advantage of the high demand. This means we can

expect supply to tighten even further over the coming months, affecting price further.

Poultry:

There continue to be several large outbreaks of avian flu in Poland. As Poland is the EU’s largest exporter to the UK, this continues to affect supply, and our suppliers are reporting shortages on a weekly basis. We expect further price increases on all cuts of chicken as suppliers compete to secure product.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

A very simple way to cook corn on the cob, making the most of the beautiful sunshine!

Chilli Lime Corn on the Cob

Ingredients:

4 Fresh Corn on the Cobs

2 tsp Lime Juice

1 small Red Chilli

3 tsp Olive Oil

Method:

1. Combine the lime juice, chopped chilli and olive oil. Brush this mixture onto the corn cobs and wrap each one in foil.

2. Preheat your barbecue to a medium-high heat, cook the corn whilst continuously turning for 8-10 minutes. Keep doing this until the corn is lightly charred and tender.

April 2025 Market Report

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 09:06:47 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Food Inflation News:

Rising UK labour costs and global tariff wars could lead to a surge in foodservice price inflation in the next few months, analysts have warned.

Foodservice price inflation has eased in recent months, with the CGA Prestige Foodservice Price Index dropping by a marginal 0.1 point from January 2025. However, six out of 10 of the categories tracked by the index experienced month-on- month inflation in February and only one category showed year-on-year deflation.

The highest year-on-year inflation was observed in oils and fats at 5.7% and coffee, tea and cocoa at 6.8%. Cocoa and coffee prices remain at nearly double the average price compared to 2023. Meat and poultry prices are also under significant upward pressure with beef prices continuing to trade at record highs, and price rises in chicken being seen due to the avian flu outbreak in Poland.

Analysts said the full impact of US tariffs on prices has yet to materialise and the situation remains uncertain. President Trump yesterday announced a 90-day pause for countries hit by higher tariffs but increased the tariff on goods from China to 125%.

The increase in the National Minimum Wage and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) in April could also push up prices in the supply chain as producers and wholesalers adjust to increased overheads and analysts have warned businesses to remain “vigilant” for future price increases.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Egg Supply:

Avian Influenza continues to cause issues with the egg market in the UK. The UK is 88% self-sufficient for eggs and the growing number of affected farms and the prevention zone has meant a reduction in supply and availability of free-range eggs in particular. This is being reflected in pricing.

Produce Update:

The Dutch season is due to begin mid-month, along with UK salads in early May. Our procurement team are working closely with suppliers to monitor any supply chain issues throughout the transition.

Fruit & Vegetables:

The English Asparagus season officially starts on 23 rd April, but you can find stock of

these delicious seasonal favourites at all our suppliers.

Indoor crops of Jersey Royal potatoes have begun appearing, but the price is still

quite high. Once the outdoor varieties start arriving, prices are expected to become

more reasonable.

Wild garlic is at its prime with volumes increasing as temperatures continue to rise. The season will come to an end by early June so make full use of the subtle flavours. Spanish strawberries will draw to a close with products from Holland beginning to appear early in the month. Some of our amazing suppliers already have stock of some delicious British grown strawberries too!

Also, in season in February:

UK Wild Garlic
UK Cauliflower
UK Purple Sprouting Broccoli
Italian Fennel
UK Asparagus
Italian Broad Beans

Poultry:

We continue to see consistent increases in the price of chicken and turkey, with availability being a major issue. Although we expect the milder weather to reduce the impact of Avian Influenza, it will take many months for flocks to fully recover.

Many Polish suppliers to the UK are restricted on exports until the end of April due to Avian Influenza, so we do not expect the shortage to improve until May at least.

Lamb Prices:

In better news, the UK Lamb season has arrived and quality and prices are look good. Demand always spikes over the Easter period but as our prices are held for the month, you can rest assured you won’t have any sudden price hikes.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

A quick and delicious way to use this season’s Wild Garlic.

Creamy Wild Garlic Tagliatelle

Ingredients:

100g Tagliatelle per person

1 large handful wild garlic

200ml Mighty Oat Milk

Squeeze of lemon juice

2 tbsp olive oil

3tbsp sunflower seeds or walnuts

2tbsp nutritional yeast/grated Parmesan

Method:

1. Cook the pasta and blend the other ingredients together to create a creamy pesto.

2. Drain the pasta, put back in the saucepan and stir in the pesto until all the Pasta is covered.

3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

March 2025 Market Report

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 08:09:52 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Allergen guidance strengthened by the Food Standards Agency:

Businesses will be expected to provide written allergen information and encourage allergen conversations with customers, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has stressed in new guidance.

The FSA has shifted responsibility for addressing allergens further on to restaurants following a consultation with consumers and food businesses.

The updated guidance, published on 5 th March, stresses that written allergen information should always be available for non-prepacked food, and that servers and customers should also have a conversation about their allergen requirements.

The FSA has also provided free tools to support businesses such as allergy icons, an allergen matrix and a new allergy poster.

This updated guidance applies to businesses operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. See link below for more information.

Allergen guidance for food businesses | Food Standards Agency

UK Food inflation hits five-month high:

The rising price of butter, cheese and eggs has pushed UK food inflation to a five-month high, according to sector data that underscores persistent cost of living pressures.

Annual food inflation rose to 2.1% in February, up from 1.6% in January, marking the first time it has gone above 2% since September 2024, according to data from the British Retail Consortium.

Inflation expectations are closely tied to food prices, according to the Bank of England, complicating efforts to bring overall inflation back to its 2% target.

The Bank of England expects headline inflation to rise from its current rate of 3% to 3.7% by the middle of this year, before returning to target. The British Retail Consortium, however, predicts food inflation to surpass 4% by the second half of the year.

In January 2025, UK food prices were about 35 per cent higher than in January 2021, according to official data.

Connect Purchasing continue to work hard with our suppliers to ensure you are impacted as little as possible.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Egg Supply:

Avian Influenza is causing issues with the egg market in the UK. The UK is 88% self- sufficient for eggs and the growing number of affected farms and the prevention zone has meant a reduction in supply and availability of free-range eggs in particular. This is being reflected in pricing.

Produce Update:

Shipping delays caused by poor weather conditions transporting South American produce overseas are resulting in a lack of availability on Pineapples and all Melon varieties. Availability of Banana’s is also poor and colouring is proving difficult. Due to slow growth, Yorkshire Rhubarb had been delayed but should now be available across all suppliers.

Fruit & Vegetables:

English Asparagus should start making an appearance by the end of the month.

Combine that with wild garlic and jersey royal potatoes which are also now in season

and create the perfect spring dish!

Also, in season in February:

Beetroot – red, golden, white and candy
Carrots
Wild Garlic
Asparagus
Jersey Royal Potatoes
Yorkshire Rhubarb
Broad Beans & Peas

Poultry:

For the last three to four weeks, we have seen a consistent increase on the cost of fresh and frozen, Chicken and Turkey products.

There have been several large outbreaks of avian Flu with Hungary being affected far worse that Poland and Romania. Hungary are currently one of the biggest suppliers to the EU with Live birds and eggs. We have had reports that 2 of the main producers in Poland have had to shut down production for 30 days whilst they quarantine. This has meant serious shortages being seen across all suppliers and even Smithfield’s market.

This has affected the price on all cuts of Chicken and Turkey, with chicken fillet and thigh meat being the worst affected.

Beef price rises:

Beef prices continue to be an issue as previously reported and look unlikely to reduce at any time in the near future. Even the cheaper cuts have risen and prime steak cuts are now at record levels with no signs of easing.

Lamb Prices:

The new British season for lamb is almost here but until it arrives, we will be seeing unstable pricing due to lack of availability. Early season lamb prices from Australia and New Zealand are also significantly higher than last year, also due to lack of supply.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Season your dishes with this super simple wild garlic salt to bring a touch of spring to your

menu.

Wild Garlic Salt

Ingredients:

100g wild garlic

800g salt

Method:

Step 1

Add 100g of sea salt and 100g of chopped garlic to a blender and briefly blend to form a thick mixture.

Step 2

Next, mix this paste through 700g of sea salt until all of the salt has turned a vibrant green. Spread the mixture out on a baking tray and leave somewhere warm to dry overnight. And that’s it – simple. Put it in a jar and store in a cool, dry place, ready to be enjoyed.

February 2025 Market Report

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 10:43:53 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Inflationary Pressures in 2025:

Is your business considering cost savings in the kitchen?

So far this year we have seen a number of key inflationary pressures, such as National

Insurance rising 15% from April and living wages rising to £12.21. Business rates relief was

also cut from 75% to 40% for the 2025/26 tax year and the cap on relief remains. Multi-site

businesses are still restricted from benefitting from relief.

These pressures are expected to particularly affect hospitality venues such as restaurants,

pubs and hotels as they have such a high proportion of staff and part-time workers in

particular.

Connect Purchasing have been working with our suppliers to support you through this. We

are focused on keeping your costs in check and offering long-term, sustainable pricing.

Speak to our team about how we can help you manage your costs and create efficiencies

across your whole business.

Simpler Recycling Act:

Legislation brought in under the Environment Act 2021 will require all businesses with 10 or more employees to separate dry mixed recyclables and food waste from their general waste, prior to collection from their premises.

Called ‘Simpler Recycling’, the legislation will be made law on 31st March with the intention

to simplify and improve the existing recycling system. According to the Waste and

Resources Action Programme (WRAP), 920,000 tonnes of food is wasted by hospitality and

foodservice outlets each year. Making a dent in this waste will not only generate environmental benefits, but financial ones too.

Are you ready for this new legislation to come into effect? Connect Purchasing have partnered with waste experts to make sure you aren’t stung by any potential fines. Contact us for more information.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Produce Update:

Cold weather continues to challenge Spanish farmers, reducing harvests across some key

crops. We expect improvement as we move through the month, temperatures start to rise

and we get longer periods of sunlight. Until then, please be aware of an impact on cucumbers, aubergines, peppers, courgettes and tomatoes.

Fruit & Vegetables:

Highlights this month include Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb. This seasonal gem is incredibly versatile, so make the most of the short season. Also, in season in February:

Beetroot – red, golden, white and candy
Carrots
Parsnips
Swedes
Spring Greens
Cavolo Nero
Savoy Cabbage

The UK asparagus season has started but until more stock comes on the market next month, prices remain very high. Spanish strawberries and raspberries are excellent quality and flavour at the moment, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

F ish:

The cut in the Barents Sea Cod quota is creating pressure on prices. Cod prices have been high for some time, and we do not expect this to end anytime soon. Haddock is the natural choice of alternative, however, whilst not subject to quota cuts of the severity of cod, demand for haddock has pushed the price upwards. We recommend considering Hake or Coley, as prices are more stable and significantly lower than Cod or Haddock currently.

Beef price rises:

Beef prices have continued to rise this month with demand outstripping availability. We have seen this affect all cuts including the usually cheaper options of mince and stewing steak. Steaks have however been hit hardest.

This increase has been caused by the shortage of cattle on the market and by the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Germany. The UK has become the latest country to ban the import of live animals and meat from Germany in an effort to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease after the virus was detected in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin.

Avian Influenza Protection Zones:

An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone (AIPZ) was declared across all of England and Scotland starting on 25 January 2025, in response to increasing cases of bird flu. Bird keepers are now required by law to follow strict biosecurity measures to protect their flocks from the highly contagious virus. The decision follows several cases of H5N1 and H5N5 avian influenza in both wild and captive birds, raising concerns about further outbreaks among poultry populations.

These heightened measures include requiring poultry to be kept indoors to limit contact with wild birds, who are believed to be spreading the disease. Biosecurity steps such as disinfecting clothing, footwear, and vehicles, as well as reducing

contact with wild birds, must be followed by all poultry farmers, from commercial operations to those with backyard flocks.

The UK Health Security Agency assures the public that properly cooked poultry and eggs are safe to consume, though the overall risk to human health remains low.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Sharp & sweet rhubarb balances perfectly with earthy root vegetables like beetroot and

carrots.

Rhubarb, Beetroot & Carrot Salad

Ingredients:

300g bunched beetroots

300g bunched carrots

salt & pepper

175g rhubarb

1 orange

1 tbsp soft brown sugar

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

50g watercress

small bunch of mint, finely chopped

1 tsp caraway seeds, lightly toasted

olive oil

salt & pepper

Method:

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 200˚C/Gas 6. Place the beetroot in the saucepan, cover with cold water and season with salt. Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for about 30 minutes, or until soft to the tip of a knife.

Step 2

Meanwhile, cut the carrots into evenly sized angular pieces. Place them on the roasting tray, coat with oil and season well with salt and pepper. Mix well and roast for about 20 minutes, or until tender and starting to colour.

Step 3

While the carrots and beetroot cook, cut the rhubarb into 3cm pieces. Split any wide pieces in half, lengthways, so that all the pieces are a roughly even size. Zest and juice the orange into a large saucepan and add the sugar and rhubarb. Cover and bring to a simmer. Cook gently for 5-6 minutes, until the rhubarb is starting to soften but still holds its shape. Remove from the heat and leave it to cool with the lid on.

Step 4

When the beetroot ready, remove them from the water and pull off the skin. Cut into even-sized wedges.

Step 5

Let the carrots and beetroot cool a little while you make the dressing. Whisk 3 tablespoons of the rhubarb liquid with a pinch of salt and slowly add 2 tablespoons of olive oil so that it comes together into a dressing. Tweak by adding a dash or two of the vinegar if you feel it needs more sharpness.

Step 6

Mix the beetroot, carrots and watercress together with the dressing. Transfer to a serving plate and then gently place the rhubarb pieces across the top. Scatter over the mint and caraway seeds to finish.

January 2025 Market Report

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 14:46:26 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Are you ready for the new food waste legislation?

New food waste legislation, known as the ‘Simpler Recycling’ reforms, is coming into effect

in England from 31 March 2025.

It’s intended to streamline and simplify the recycling of waste, improving the existing

recycling system. It is applicable for businesses as well as for public sector organisations in

England. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland already have their own legislation in place.

Those businesses and organisations producing more than 5kg of food waste per week will

be required to store food waste in separate bins and arrange for collection by licensed waste

collectors. And, importantly, biodegradable materials such as vegetable peelings, bones,

eggshells, coffee grounds and tea bags are to be included as food waste.

Connect have suppliers in place to make sure you can be compliant and avoid any penalties.

Contact your Sales Manager to discuss options.

Foot and Mouth Outbreak in Germany:

The UK has become the latest country to ban the import of live animals and meat from

Germany in an effort to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease after the virus was

detected in a herd of water buffalo near Berlin.

It is Germany's first outbreak of foot and mouth in 36 years and has seen the precautionary

slaughter of 55 goats, sheep and cattle on a farm in Brandenburg state that had purchased

hay from the buffalo farm. Currently there is only one confirmed case.

It is very important to know that the viral disease poses no risk to human or food safety but is

highly contagious in cloven-hoofed animals such as cows, sheep and pigs.

Our suppliers have assessed their supply chains to make sure supply is uninterrupted.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Produce Update:

Due to the recent cold weather across Europe, several key produce lines, including

Aubergines, Courgettes, Peppers, Cucumbers, and Tomatoes, are being affected. As a

result, we are seeing some volatility in prices, growers being more lenient with specifications

and some inconsistency in quality.

Please be assured that we are closely monitoring the situation daily with our suppliers, who are actively sourcing the best available quality at the best possible value for you.

If you would like to discuss alternative options or need further information, feel free to give us

a call. We're here to help you navigate these challenges and find the right solutions.

Fruit & Vegetables:

January brings with it a range of delicious root vegetables and brassicas from the UK and tangy citrus fruits from Spain. Many key home-grown UK products will have enjoyed the harder frosts we have experienced as this raises the starch levels and intensifies flavour. Savoy cabbage is a wonderful option, as are parsnips and butternut squash. Salsify, also known as oyster plant due to its flavour, can offer an interesting alternative root veg.

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb has just arrived and is now in season.

Spanish citrus options include:

Seville Marmalade oranges – the season is very short, so make use of these while you can.
Blood oranges – unique colour and flavour
Nadorcott – current option as an easy-peeler
Pink Grapefruit – flavour-packed and beautiful colour

Salad:

Salad products arriving from Spain have made a steady recovery throughout

December. Prices remain firm although, with good grower relationships, our

suppliers have made sure the product has continued to arrive as planned.

French frisée lettuce, also known as curly endive, can make an excellent addition to

your winter salad. The hardier leaves with a delicate sharpness hold their shape well

and do a decent job bulking up the dish. Tendril pea shoots are a thrifty way to pad

out your salad or create an elegant garnish.

Top Picks for January:

Forced Rhubarb
Blood Oranges
Marmalade Oranges
Pink Grapefruit
Savoy Cabbage
Salsify
Frisee Lettuce

Fish:

Salmon prices are expected to continue to rise through January as farms stop harvesting over the Christmas period and availability tightens. Historically, farmers

tend to reduce harvests as the waters cool and the fish stop feeding (and therefore growing). However, prices appear lower than last year.

Fresh water & Sea reared Trout can offer a good alternative to salmon at the moment. Their disease resilience and lower mortality rates has meant that a number of salmon farmers have moved over to farming trout instead.

Shortage of Cattle:

The price surge in beef is largely due to reduced cattle availability for slaughter,

creating an imbalance between supply and demand. Key factors for this shortage

include:

Declines in cattle herds from disease, farming changes, or environmental pressures.

Weather conditions impacting feed availability for sustaining large herds.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

This Broccoli, Blood Orange and Blue Cheese Salad uses the best seasonal ingredients for a delicious winter salad.

Broccoli, Blood Orange & Blue Cheese Salad

Ingredients:

1 large leek, trimmed and sliced
300g Purple sprouting broccoli
2 Blood Oranges
2tsp Dijon Mustard
Olive Oil
80g Mixed Salad Leaves
2 Celery Sticks
75g Blue Cheese
70g Walnuts, toasted & chopped

Method:

Step 1

Place the leeks into boiling water and simmer for 3-4 minutes, until just tender. Remove with

a slotted spoon and leave to one side to cool.

Step 2

Fill a large bowl with cold water. Boil the broccoli for 3 minutes, until tender. Drain and plunge straight into the bowl of cold water to cool. Remove and keep to one side.

Step 3

Zest the oranges. Remove the skin from the oranges with a sharp knife. Over a bowl, remove the segments from their membrane, catching any juice in a bowl as you work and squeezing the juice from what remains.

Step 4

Make a dressing by whisking 2 tablespoons of the orange juice with the mustard. Slowly whisk in 3 tablespoons of olive oil, until you have a thick, emulsified dressing. Alternatively, put everything into a lidded jar and shake like crazy to bring it together. Season to taste.

Step 5

Gently mix the salad leaves, celery, leeks, broccoli and orange segments with enough

dressing to coat.

December 2024 Market Report

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 16:48:20 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Restaurant and pub groups see November sales boost:

Britain’s leading hospitality groups recorded year-on-year sales growth of 2.7% in November

2024, the latest edition of the CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

The like-for-like figure is marginally above Britain’s rate of inflation as measured by the

Consumer Price Index and marks the first real-terms growth since June.

Analysts said it provided “cautious optimism” that consumers were prepared to increase their

spending in restaurants, pubs and bars over the crucial Christmas and New Year period.

Are you up to date with visa laws?

The Home Office, the government department responsible for immigration, has been tasked

by the new government with upping the ante on the enforcement of immigration laws.

Hospitality is seen by the Home Office as a sector where immigration breaches are

disproportionately common and is a focus for enforcement action.

Hospitality businesses are facing tremendous pressure with recruitment, staff retention and

costs. Against this backdrop, parts of the sector are getting caught out making immigration

mistakes. The Home Office can issue fines to companies that are found to be employing

people illegally in the UK.

The law requires that employers hiring staff must make sure that new hires have the correct immigration permission to work and that restrictions on this permission are observed. For

example, only certain student visa holders can work, and most of these students are restricted to

up to 20 hours of work per week during term-time.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Milk & Dairy Update:

Following the announcement of a feed additive trial involving Bovaer on 30 UK farms

associated with a well-known farmer-owned cooperative supplying high street brands and

retailers, we have reached out to all our dairy suppliers to clarify their position and confirm

whether this additive is used in their supply chains.

If you are concerned about whether your dairy comes from producers using Bovaer, please

preferences.

Fruit & Vegetables:

The devasting weather in Spain continues to raise challenges throughout the industry and may have a longer-term effect on future crops. Some growers have reported challenges with getting machinery into waterlogged fields, following Storm Darragh. Our suppliers have been working hard alongside

their growers to make sure supply has not been hampered.

Potatoes:

Finally, some good news on the potato front - There are currently no major availability issues with potatoes and, depending on market conditions, we do not expect any significant problems for at least a few months.

Grapes:

The situation with grapes, caused by the poor South American harvest, continues to

be very challenging. While we are expecting some improvement in green gapes

before the end of the year as we will see the arrival of early season South African

grapes, the market for red grapes, which are harvested later, will remain very challenging and is unlikely to ease until next year.

Top Picks for December:

Carrots
Jerusalem Artichokes
Parsnips
Brussels Sprouts
Beetroot
Kale & Kalettes
Shallots
Persimmons
Cranberries
Medjool Dates

Pork:

The cost of pork has been falling, as the number of pigs produced in the UK has risen and feed costs have dropped. However there have been outbreaks of African Swine Flu across Europe, Asia and Africa. Similar outbreaks have caused huge availability issues in the past.

Fish:

The most recent Marine Conservation Society (MCS) winter ratings update has seen

few significant updates:

Farmed Spanish Turbot has come out as a positive MCS 2 rating – making it a “fish to eat”
Dover Soles from the West Country has moved from a 3 rating to a 2 rating – again making it a “fish to eat”.
Coley continues to be positively rated at 3 for non-MSC fisheries and 2 for
MSC certified – a great under-utilised white fish alternative to Cod
Ling is red rated 5 – a “fish to avoid”
Crab has been downgraded from an MCS 3 to a MCS 4 rating – meaning some restaurants may prefer to remove it from menus.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

This caramelised shallot, thyme and goats cheese Tarte Tatin combines so many favourite

flavours - utterly delectable and totally impressive!

Shallot Tarte Tatin

(from one of our wonderful suppliers)

Ingredients:

10-12 banana shallots (peeled and halved)
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp brown sugar (or honey)
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh thyme (a few sprigs)
Puff pastry (shop bought or homemade)
1 egg (for egg wash)
Fresh thyme
A few crumbles of goat cheese or blue cheese

Method:

Step 1 - Caramelize the shallots:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

In a heavy, oven-safe skillet (cast iron works well), heat the butter and olive oil over medium

heat. Add the shallots, cut side down. Let them cook gently for about 5-7 minutes until they

start to soften and turn golden.

Add the brown sugar and balsamic vinegar to the pan, stirring to coat the shallots. Cook for

another 5-7 minutes until the shallots are tender and the syrup thickens. If needed, add a bit

of water to prevent the mixture from burning.

Season with salt and pepper and scatter a few sprigs of fresh thyme over the shallots.

Step 2 - Prepare the pastry:

Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to fit the skillet. The pastry should be large

enough to cover the shallots completely. You can trim it if needed. Like to have the pastry

around 4mm thick to give a good flaky base.

Gently place the pastry over the shallots, tucking the edges down around the sides of the

skillet.

Brush the pastry with a light coat of beaten egg (egg wash) for a golden finish.

Step 3 - Bake the tart:

Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is

puffed and golden.

Step 4 - Invert and serve:

Once the tart is out of the oven, let it sit for 5 minutes. Then carefully invert the tart onto a

serving plate. Be cautious of hot caramel that may spill out.

Sprinkle with fresh thyme and goats’ cheese with Roquette

Connect Purchasing wish you and your teams a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

November 2024 Market Report

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 15:33:09 GMT

UK BUDGET – KEY POINTS

National Insurance Increases:

In October’s budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an increase in the rate of

employer Class 1 NICs from 13.8% to 15%. The government also reduced the per-employee

threshold at which employers become liable to pay National Insurance from £9,100 to

£5,000 a year. UKHospitality has said the increase will amount to a 10% increase in the cost of employing a worker, amounting to at least £2,500 per employee. These latest tax hikes

are expected to hit hospitality and retail disproportionately, with leaders in both industries warning they will have wide-ranging impacts.

Labour costs and National Minimum Wage Increases:

The National Minimum Wage (NMW) is set to increase to £12.21 per hour for adults over 21.

The 6.7% rise will come into effect in April 2025. Higher labour costs will lead to increases in

both production and distribution costs, subsequently reflected in food product price tags. A gradual rise in food prices can therefore be expected, as businesses adjust to higher wage

expenses.

Business rates relief for retail, hospitality and foodservice sectors:

On a more positive note, the budget provides a 40% relief on business rates for the retail, hospitality and foodservice sectors for the fiscal year 2025-26. It is capped at £110,000 per business, with the relief expected to provide temporary financial respite for foodservice businesses. The business rates relief could indirectly help stabilise food prices, particularly in the restaurant and hospitality sector, offering a short-term cushion that may help some foodservice businesses to temporarily weather rising costs.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

The storms and flooding in Spain have had a serious impact on fruit and vegetables.

Thousands of hectares of fruit and vegetables have been destroyed by flash floods

in the Spanish region of Valencia. Our suppliers are working with their growers to

understand the impact and offer any practical support they can. Not only has the rain

damaged crops but also infrastructure, putting additional pressure on transport of

goods. Categories affected by the extreme weather include brassica, citrus, lettuce

and salad.

Citrus Fruits:

Growers in Valencia were unable to access orchards, so very little fruit has been picked and despatched. This will impact oranges, lemons and easy peelers in particular.

Tomatoes:

There continues to be limited availability from mainland Spain, with growers running up to a fortnight behind schedule. We are working with our suppliers to cover the Spanish shortages. It is, however, very challenging and the market is extremely tight. We expect it to be another week or so before we see it stabilise.

In Season from the UK:

English Apples – Gala, Braeburn, Russet.
Conference Pears
Plums
Quince
Carrots including Chantenay
Parsnips
Swede
Turnips
Brussel Sprouts
Cauliflower

Talk to us if your veg supplier is not performing

Turkey:

There are now only 2 UK turkey processors – Bernard Matthews and Avara. The throughput of turkeys for these producers has fallen from 110 thousand birds per week to 52 thousand. This due to their not being enough UK fresh turkey available. Alongside reduced production from the EU, Brazil and US, turkey shortages may be an issue and we may see unpredictable pricing dictated by supply and demand.

Challenge us to find you the best Turkey prices for Christmas

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

English Parsnips have arrived and are great value. Here is a delicious recipe to add to your

repertoire and make the most of autumnal vegetables:

Crispy Spiced Parsnip Chips

Perfect as a side or starter

Serves 4

Ingredients:

a few tbsp sunflower oil

100g seasoned plain flour

2 eggs

70g Parmesan, grated

70g breadcrumbs

3 tsp ground cumin

½-¾ tsp cayenne, depending on how spicy you like things

400g parsnips (about 4 small or 2 large), peeled

salt and pepper

Method:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Pour a generous layer of oil into a large baking tray and put to heat in the oven.

Step 2

Prepare the crisp coating by placing the seasoned flour in a large clean plastic bag. Beat the eggs in a large, wide bowl. In another bowl, combine Parmesan, breadcrumbs, cumin and cayenne. Add some salt and pepper. Turn out crumbs onto a large plate or tray. Cut the parsnips into batons a couple of centimetres thick - aim for the look of large chips.

Step 3

Put the parsnip batons in the flour, hold the bag closed, and shake. The parsnips will be coated in a thin layer of flour. Pick out the floured parsnips, and using a fork, roll in the egg to coat. Then lift the parsnips out of the egg and roll each piece in the breadcrumb mix.

Step 4

Once all the parsnips are ready, place them carefully in a single layer on the hot oiled oven tray, turn gently to coat in oil all over and roast for 25-30 minutes until parsnips are soft and the crumb coating is crisp and golden. Turn out onto kitchen paper, then serve.

October 2024 Market Report

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 09:51:17 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Tipping Bill:

New laws affecting how businesses handle employees’ tips came into force from 1 October.

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act means staff must receive 100% of the money they

earn through tips and service charge, without deductions. The changes mean the hospitality

industry is likely to come under greater scrutiny in the coming weeks.

industry is likely to come under greater scrutiny in the coming weeks. The new regulations make it easier for claims to be brought to an employment tribunal if businesses don’t play by the rules. This is because the definition of wages, as detailed in the Employment Rights Act, has been altered to include qualifying tips, gratuities and service charges.

It means from 1 October if any worker feels their tips have been held back, they may be able to claim for unlawful deduction from wages. Staff will be able to use the code of practice to make a claim and businesses could face paying fines or compensation.

Therefore, it is important hospitality operators follow the law and have a clear written policy in place on how tips are handled. Keeping an up-to-date record of how tips are managed and distributed could help you avoid a tricky legal situation.

Autumn Statement:

With less than two weeks to go until the Autumn Statement on 30 October, the industry is preparing for some big announcements. Following conversations with the government, UKHospitality has set out its top asks for the budget, including calls for business rates reform and lowering VAT.

The current business rates relief scheme for retail, hospitality and leisure is due to end in March 2025. Without a discount on their bills, which can amount to as much as £110,000 a year, hospitality operators may struggle from 1 April.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

Market supply of salad produce is very tight, particularly for aubergines and

tomatoes, following the high levels of production between May and August. This is likely to cause some challenges through the rest of October. On tomatoes, while quality and shelf-life remain good, the weather means yields are lower. We are currently managing this with our suppliers, but it will remain a challenge until the Spanish produce starts to become more available at the end of the month. The wet weather is impacting availability of lettuce. Iceberg has been a particular issue. However, first deliveries from Spain are expected imminently, which should ensure there are no major availability issues.

Mushrooms:

There continue to be market-wide shortages on mushrooms. Our suppliers have taken steps to maximise availability, including sourcing from other producers. We are

expecting market-wide shortages to last for the next couple of weeks as growers continue to recover from the compost failing to get down to the required temperature, ultimately resulting in lower yields and availability.

Citrus Fruits:

As we approach the end of the South African season, we are working to minimise the impact of the poor weather conditions earlier in the year. Our suppliers are taking pro-active steps to allow them to manage supply until the arrival of the Spanish season in November.

Broccoli:

It remains challenging for farmers hoping to harvest the remaining brassica crop. The very wet weather is causing market-wide availability issues. Our suppliers are working with growers to avoid major shortages. There have been some weather- related quality issues which our suppliers are monitoring closely.

Talk to us if your veg supplier is not performing

Butchery:

Beef remains in high demand, especially on steak cuts, and we expect this to continue during the run up to Christmas.

In the UK, there is a growing demand for poultry produced under higher welfare standards, which emphasizes lower stocking densities and longer lifespans for birds.

While these standards improve animal welfare, they also result in reduced overall supply this will impact availability and prices will increase.

The pheasant season started on 1st October and runs until 1st February.

Dairy:

Processors increased farmgate milk prices over the summer. This combined with

lower production levels has driven up consumer prices. Butter and cream prices

have also followed suit, with bulk butter prices increasing by 50% in the last year. We

expect cheese prices to follow the same trend.

Challenge us to beat your current dairy prices

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Pumpkins and squash are bang in season currently and fantastic value. Here is a delicious recipe to add to your repertoire and make the most of autumnal vegetables:

Butternut, Red Onion & Pumpkin Seed Salad

(Adapted from Riverford Organic)

Serves 4

Ingredients:

3 red onions, sliced into 1cm-thick discs

7 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into chunks

a few thyme sprigs (optional)

30g pumpkin seeds

pinch of hot smoked paprika

1 tbsp red or white wine vinegar (or use more balsamic)

1 tsp Dijon mustard, or to taste

¼ tsp crushed garlic, or to taste

1 bag of mixed salad leaves (100–150g)

salt and black pepper

Method:

Step 1

Heat the oven to 190°C/Gas 5. Keeping the onion discs whole, place them in a roasting tin and drizzle with a tablespoon or two of olive oil, the balsamic vinegar and a splash of water. Season with salt and pepper. Cover the tin with foil and roast for 30–40 minutes on a low shelf in the oven, until the onions are soft and sweet.

Step 2

Meanwhile, place the squash chunks in another roasting tin, toss with a further tablespoon or so of oil to coat and a good sprinkling of salt and roast for around 30 minutes, until tender and lightly caramelised, throwing in the sprigs of thyme halfway through the cooking time (if using). While the vegetables are roasting, put the pumpkin seeds in a small pan with a teaspoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt and a pinch of paprika.

Step 3

Toast over a medium heat, stirring frequently, until lightly browned, then transfer to a plate to stop them toasting further. Make a simple vinaigrette: whisk together the vinegar, around 3 tablespoons of olive oil, the mustard and garlic to taste. Season with salt and pepper. Put the salad leaves in a large salad bowl, pour over the dressing and toss to combine. Scatter over the butternut, onions and seeds.

September 2024 Market Report

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 09:53:06 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Tipping Bill:

The majority of consumers believe hospitality employees should receive 100% of tips, a

survey has found. RSM UK’s Consumer Outlook found that 80% of consumers believe

employees should receive 100% of tips, but only 20% think that the entirety are passed on.

From 1 October 2024 the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023 will require businesses to pass on 100% of tips received to their employees. The law will cover England, Scotland and Wales and will prevent employers from making deductions from tips or service charge. The act was put forward by the previous Conservative government and was originally due to come into force on 1 July. The Labour government has suggested further measures could follow the introduction of the bill.

Hospitality Vacancies:

Hospitality vacancies have fallen below 100,000 for the first time since the outbreak of the

Covid-19 pandemic but remain above 2019 levels. Data from the Office for National

Statistics showed there are 98,000 vacancies in the food service and accommodation

sectors, above pre-pandemic levels of 93,000. The data also shown that wages in the sector

have increased by 4% in the last year.

Outdoor Smoking Ban:

The prime minister has confirmed the government is considering a ban on smoking in pub gardens and outdoor restaurant areas. Full details of the proposal have yet to be confirmed

but it forms part of wider plans to crack down on use of tobacco and vapes across the board.

Responding to last week’s news, 62% of the British Institute of Inkeeping’s surveyed

members said the ban would significantly impact their trade and a further 20% believe it

would result in the closure of their pub. Just 7% of respondents said there would be little or

no impact to them if the ban came into place, with some not having outside spaces to

manage.

Youth Mobility Scheme:

Europeans under 30 could again be allowed to live and work in the UK as the government attempts to reset relations with the EU post-Brexit. According to reports in The Times, the new Labour government has acknowledged that youth mobility could be an area that could aid more wide-ranging talks. The proposal would likely be similar to existing deals with Canada and Australia, whereby those under 30 can live and work in the UK for up to three years as part of a reciprocal relationship.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

As temperatures begin to drop and nights start to draw in, more robust autumnal produce is

starting to appear on the market.

What’s in season this month?

Broccoli & Tenderstem
Savoy Cabbages
Scottish Girolles
Carrots
Blueberries
Turkish Figs
Damson &. Victoria Plums
Beetroot
Summer Squash

Currently, our Spanish growers have no concerns over tomatoes, peppers and cucumber crops for the coming season. UK & Dutch produce will remain available until towards the end of October although there will be small pockets of Spanish appearing at the end of this month. Historically we know there can be challenges in the coming months. These can be cause by cooler growing conditions forcing UK & Dutch crops to finish earlier than expected. UK whole-head salad will continue throughout the month with the switch over to Southern European produce in late Sept / early Oct.

Potatoes:

The arrival of main crop potatoes will be slightly later than normal due to late planting earlier

in the year. The full extent of the crop’s performance will be clearer by late November, but the early indications are that it is looking good.

Dairy:

Milk, Cream and Butter prices are continuing to climb. Processors such as Freshways have

increased what they are paying the farmers due to their cost increases, which has had a

knock-on effect. There is also less cream available on the market which means less butter can be produced, driving the price up of these as well.

Butchery:

Beef prices continue to remain high as demand does not appear to be slowing. This is especially true of prime steak cuts. Lamb prices remain higher than this time last year but are stable. The EU market is experiencing rising poultry prices, driven by strong demand and increased costs or raw materials. The market for thigh meat is especially tight, with consumers turning to it as a cost-effective alternative to the more expensive breast meat. While demand is expected to ease slightly in the winter months, the overall market remains under pressure.

Fish & Seafood:

Well over half of UK seafood consumers now recognise the blue Marine Stewardship

Council (MSC) ecolabel, continuing the upward trend in awareness of this crucial global

sustainability certification. Understanding is also increasing, with 39% of UK consumers

associating the ecolabel with sustainability or certification. Connect have MSC accredited

suppliers who can supply a wide range of fish to suit your discerning customers – contact us

to find out more.

Seasonal Recipe Suggestion

Mackerel is in season currently and fantastic value. If you’ve never tried it and would like to

add it to your menu, why not try our recipe which combines mackerel and beetroot which is also in season:

Warm mackerel & beetroot salad

Serves 4

Ingredients:

450g new potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces

3 MSC smoked mackerel fillets, skinned

250g pack cooked beetroot

100g bag mixed salad leaves

2 celery sticks, finely sliced

50g walnut pieces

For the dressing

4 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 tbsp White Wine Vinegar

2 tsp creamed horseradish saucev

Method:

STEP 1

Boil the potatoes for 12-15 mins until just tender. Meanwhile, flake the mackerel fillets into large pieces and cut the beetroot into bite-size chunks.

STEP 2

Drain the potatoes and cool slightly. Mix the salad dressing and horseradish sauce together in a salad bowl and season. Tip in the potatoes – they should still be warm.

STEP 3

Add the salad leaves, mackerel, beetroot, celery and walnuts, and toss gently. Serve with crusty bread.

August 2024 Market Report

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 09:32:53 GMT

MARKET NEWS

Inflation has fallen:

Year-on-year inflation in the foodservice sector has fallen for 12 months in a row. Inflation in

June 2024 stood at 3.6%, a rate now considered normal for the industry. The 12 consecutive

months of decline are a very welcome trend for both businesses and consumers, who have

faced several years of historically high inflation. Of the ten categories of the Foodservice

Price Index, only Vegetables remains in double-digit inflation—driven primarily by the potato

market, where poor weather conditions impacted 2023 crops and availability leading into the 2024 season. Adverse weather has also impacted other outdoor vegetables, causing delays in planting and poor availability during the seasonal crossover, and pushing up prices for carrots, onions and brassicas.

Employment law reforms:

The government announced changes would be made to employment laws in the King’s

speech. They have proposed two specific employment bills, which will now have to be

drafted and considered by both Houses of Parliament as usual, no doubt subject to

extensive public consultation processes, before being passed into law. The first of these is

the Employment Rights Bill. One noteworthy proposal which should stand out to hospitality

businesses is the banning of so-called “exploitative” zero-hours contracts.

Other priorities outlined in the government’s briefing notes of notable relevance to hospitality businesses include a commitment to remove the age thresholds in the minimum wage framework, which suggests the National Living Wage would be payable to all workers age over 18. For a sector with a relatively high proportion of younger workers, this is likely to lead to increased costs. Also of note will be provisions to make flexible working the default from day one for all workers, with employers being required to accommodate this “as far as is reasonable”.

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

August heralds the “sweet spot of summer” with an abundance of homegrown produce from

the UK and beautiful additions from Europe. Scottish girolles are at the best. UK new season

carrots and sweetcorn have arrived. Broccoli and cauliflower are in full flow from the UK and

quality is excellent.

What’s in season this month?

Scottish Girolles
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Sweetcorn
Strawberries
Turkish Figs
Victoria & Damson Plums
Beetroot

The poor UK weather has led to some problems with the yield of green beans. Excessive heat followed by too much rain has led to crop curling and touching the ground. Supply may therefore move to the Netherlands or Italy to avoid disruption.

Pork:

British pork prices have eased slightly this summer. However, looking at the long-term trend, there has been little movement in prices through the first half of 2024. Supply remains tight but the usual trend of higher summer demand with the BBQ season has not materialised. Perhaps due to the poor UK weather.

Poultry:

UK retail customers continue to look for higher welfare standards for poultry. This has

dictated the supply chain focus and had a knock-on effect to the number of birds available as their life spans increase.

Turkey:

Turkey prices may increase significantly in the coming months until the market finds an equilibrium. This is the result of a main EU producer stepping fully out of the market this month which equates to 30,000 birds a week.

It is highly recommended that customers secure frozen volumes before the lead up to the festive period. There is very little frozen stock in cold stores throughout Europe which will greatly affect availability later in the year.

Fish & Seafood:

Looking forward to the Autumn, the best time for our native species. It’s when we see bivalve

molluscs coming out of the spawning season, new Icelandic quota increasing fishing effort,

and the cooler waters creating an optimal environment for quality flat and round fish. With

increased availability, and improving quality and yields, there should be plenty of opportunity

to get a variety of UK fish and seafood into multiple spots on your menus.

The Barents Sea is set to face a huge cod quota cut next year. The Norwegian-Russian Joint Fishery Commission has recommended a limit of 311,587 metric tons of cod to be fished in 2025. This would see a 31% cut on top of the 20% cut implemented this year, and the 20% cut in 2023. For clarity, the quota was 885,600 metric tons in 2021. That’s a 64% cut in 3 years and is the lowest quota since 2003. The quota recommendation is driven by a

reduction in spawning stock. We recommend you consider alternative fish options when

designing new menus. Good options would be farmed cod, arctic char or spotted wolffish.

July 2024 Market Report

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:47:48 GMT

COMMODITIES REPORT

Fruit & Vegetables:

July is peak produce month in the UK, delivering a plentitude of homegrown produce to add

to your menus. What’s in season from the UK this month?

Cherries
Strawberries & Raspberries
Gooseberries
Tomatoes
Salad
Kale
Broad & Runner Beans
Peas
Cucumbers
Courgettes
Beetroot

There have been some large fluctuations in night and day temperatures across southern

Italy, where most suppliers are currently sourcing roquette from. This has stressed the plants and they have stopped growing. Keep an eye on quality and availability.

It is the end of season now for English Asparagus and Jersey Royal potatoes.

Lower than average temperatures have delayed the arrival of some key brassica lines such

as cauliflower, broccoli and tenderstem broccoli. Farmers have planted their crops later than

normal due to waterlogged fields, plus the growth rate was hampered by colder evening

temperatures.

Ongoing Potato Saga

The potato market continues to be challenging, with low stocks and poor availability. Our supply partners are working hard with their potato suppliers to maintain availability and quality. However, this has been an exceptionally challenging period, and we expect problems to continue through to the new season, with some longer-term implications for the market.

Beef

We are starting to see demand outstripping availability, especially for seasonal cuts such as burgers and steaks. This has meant prices have started creeping up.

Lamb

The outlook for UK lamb in the second half of 2024 is looking challenging. There is expected

to be a decline in domestic production as farmers had expected reduced demand. Price may therefore increase.

MARKET NEWS:

Inflation:

Year-on-year inflation fell to 4.6%, which is the lowest figure we have seen for some time.

This indicates a sustained return towards pre-pandemic levels

The Cateys 2024:

The annual awards by The Caterer were held at the beginning of July at JW Marriott

Grosvenor House. Head chef Luke Selby and chef pâtissier Benoit Blin of Belmond Le

Manoir aux Quat’Saisons created the menu for the evening. Michel Roux won the Lifetime

Achievement award and Nisha Katona of Mowgli Street Food won Restaurateur of the Year.

General Election Results:

Following the Labour Party winning the general election, UKHospitality is urging the party to deliver on it’s manifesto commitments. Labour pledged to replace the business rates system and level the playing field between high street businesses and online giants, and to reform the Apprenticeship Levy by creating a Growth and Skills Levy.

School Meal Funding:

The school caterers’ association is campaigning for the new administration to commit to a minimum funding level of £3 per meal per child in the face of significant cost increases and staff shortages at educational sites. Currently English schools outside London receive £2.53 per pupil per meal (London’s funding will rise to £3 from September), while Northern Irish schools are on £2.60, Welsh sites obtain £3.20 and Scottish schools receive £3.30.

Bidfood to make products’ carbon footprint data available to operators:

Food and beverage wholesaler Bidfood will be releasing details of individual products’ carbon footprint to its hospitality operator customers towards the end of this year.

As part of its project to reach net zero emissions by 2045 across scope 1, 2 and 3, the firm has linked up with climate intelligence platform CarbonCloud, which enables the food industry to holistically calculate and manage carbon footprints throughout the supply chain.

The system uses AI statistical and scientific models to gauge products’ carbon footprints, right the way from farms, through to processing, packaging and transportation.

Britvic accepts £3.3b Carlsberg takeover deal

Danish brewing giant Carlsberg has agreed to buy Robinsons squash maker Britvic in a £3.3b deal. It comes after weeks of negotiations between the two firms which saw Carlsberg’s two previous offers rejected.

June 2024 Industry News and Market Report

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:30:29 GMT

Inflation Update

According to industry professionals, we have seen the worst of high food inflation, and this is

being reflected in the reduced inflation levels seen across Europe. With that said, UK food

inflation remains higher than other Western economies, with Brexit Red Tape contributing to

this. The future, however, remains a little more uncertain. Poor weather conditions across

Europe have the potential to disrupt crops in a significant way and additional customs

checks on goods imported from Europe are only likely to add further complexity to the supply

of the UK market. Crude oil is high (historically), labour costs are increasing and ongoing

conflict, both Russia/Ukraine and across the Middle East, can quickly sway Government

policy and in turn, affect commodity markets.

General Election: UK Hospitality urges operators to invite candidates to visit

UK Hospitality has launched an election toolkit that allows operators to invite parliamentary

candidates to visit their venue. The trade body has created an interactive map that shows

the economic impact of hospitality in each constituency, as well as the number of venues

and people they employ. It also provides contact details for local parliamentary candidates and a template letter asking them to visit.

More than 130 MPs have said they will not stand for re-election when the UK goes to the polls on 4 July. The UKHospitality website reads: “There is expected to be a record number of new MPs in the new parliament and we want them to be the hospitality sector’s champions. This relationship starts with you and your business. We want as many political candidates to visit hospitality venues across the country

as possible, as part of the General Election campaign and hear about the vital contribution our sector plays in their constituency.”

Food Standards Agency Polish eggs warning

The Food Standards Agency is considering banning Polish eggs and chickens due to rising

Salmonella infections from imports. In a letter sent to Polish authorities, FSA chief executive

Emily Miles, and the UK’s chief vet Christine Middlemiss, wrote: "Owing to the significant

public health risks, we are considering the options available to us to protect UK consumers." Food safety expert Sterling Crew commented “Imported eggs pose a real threat to human health, with at least 2,680 human infections linked to Polish products in recent years”. To ensure food safety and quality, Sterling suggests using British Lion eggs as their code contains strict food safety controls above and beyond EU and UK legislation.

COMMODITIES REPORT: Milk, Cheddar, Eggs, Chicken, Fruit Juices

Milk:

Prospects for milk production are not looking favourable, as the wet weather across the UK

and Ireland is starting to take hold on the market. Northern Europe is also seeing a similar

pattern, which means a pretty bleak outlook for milk volumes. For example, Ireland’s milk

volumes for March are believed to be between 10-15% down versus the previous year. Key

processors such as Freshways, First Milk and Yew Tree Dairy have all announced milk price

rises, meaning that they will pay more to their farmers going forward with sluggish supply

and the impact of poor weather conditions being cited as the main reasons for this.

Cheddar:

Export demand remains strong and along with the possible future milk supply situation, it is causing nervousness in cheddar markets for the future. Currently, there seems to be enough supply to satisfy demand but with the feeling that buyers are not well covered into the future. In addition, it is muted that some Irish producers have a lot less product to sell than previously, which again could be an indicator of what is to come. The market is quite flat pricewise.

Eggs:

Wholesale egg pricing for free-range eggs has risen to last year’s historic highs, thought to

be due to the shortage of supply. The expansion of free-range flocks has stalled in recent

months, despite the 2025 deadline to remove colony eggs from shelves. The number of

laying birds is looking set to increase around July by approximately 30%, meaning that there

will be an additional 740,000 chicks compared with February last year, which should help

with pricing.

Chicken:

Fresh poultry pricing continues to remain high and pricing is up, driven by the cost of production/input. Welfare continues to remain the priority in fresh poultry, as a direct result of the bird flu outbreaks globally. More supermarkets are backing the changes to higher welfare and Lidl GB has become the latest major UK retailer to cut the maximum bird density in its own label fresh chicken supply chain, with the transition starting this summer.

Fruit Juices:

Orange and apple juice both remain high at the moment. Orange juice has been well

documented with a shortage of fruit stock and citrus greening disease has played a key role

in this. The Brazilian export market (world’s largest exporter) is controlled predominantly by

three key players, who are determining the price situation. They are favouring exports to the

US rather than Europe due to the higher price paid there, and additionally the most recent

Florida orange crop was the lowest since records began, affecting demand.

FRUIT & VEGETABLES

What’s in season this month?

Asparagus
Cavolo Nero
Broad Beans & Peas
Courgettes
Salad leaves
Tomatoes
Raspberries
Gooseberries

Marking the start of summer, June is the month we swap brassicas for the more colourful, delicate produce the new season has to offer. The asparagus season has had a decent run this year and the English season will come to an end by mid-month to be replaced by imports. UK Strawberries have started to arrive in good volumes at our supply partners.

UK salads are now in full flow. There is a wealth of options from UK growers such as Iceberg, Lollo, Oakleaf, Cos or Little Gem. If you are looking for colour and flavour, look no further than the

show-stopping heritage tomatoes now arriving from English growers around the country.

If you are looking for a supplier of seasonal fruit and vegetables, give your account manager

a call to discuss our fantastic supply partner options.

Potatoes:

Looking ahead to the new season crop, it looks like the planting of the ‘early’ potatoes across Northern Europe will be late due to the wet weather being felt in the key areas. This combined with the lack of carryover stock has put uncertainty into the market for the new season pricing which will start to become clearer in the next 2-3 months.

May 2024 Industry News and Market Report

Fri, 10 May 2024 12:59:47 GMT

Brexit Regulations

The final phase of Brexit regulations came in at the end of April with physical checks on plant

and animal imports coming into Britain from the EU. These checks will see imports

categorized into 3 risk groups and potentially mean lorries could be held up at border control

points around the country. The government has estimated these checks will cost businesses

and extra £330m a year and increase food inflation by 0.2% over 3 years. Our suppliers

report that they are already seeing costs creeping up on EU poultry imports in particular.

Grain Prices:

The relentless storms and flooding have cut harvests for farmers while also limiting the

amount of planting they can do to grow the next batch of crops. Harvests could drop by

almost a fifth, according to the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) which examined

crop forecasts. It found that the production of wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape could fall

by four million tonnes, equivalent to 17.5 per cent, compared to last year. And the decline is

even worse if compared to the average since 2015 at five million tonnes or 21 per cent.

We expect to see this affect prices of flour, bread, oil, beer and processed foods.

UK Poultry:

UK retailers are continuing to push towards higher welfare poultry and it is putting mounting pressure on suppliers to meet these requirements, with a lot of businesses not taking on new customers in the catering or wholesale sector. Retail has the ability to pay premiums meaning suppliers can fetch a higher market rate for product locking out catering and wholesalers.

Sourcing any boneless UK product is proving challenging, with thigh meat being in high demand from the public.

Increased labour costs and production costs are adding to mounting pressure on the UK supply chain and the price will be affected going forward.

Fruit & Vegetables:

Sandwiched between spring and summer, May has a great assortment of spring products

and sees the arrival of early summer veg. Homegrown UK produce will become more

prominent in the marketplace with UK salads coming soon.

In Season this month:

Asparagus
Jersey Royal Potatoes
Cornish New Potatoes
English Peas
Hispi Cabbage
Strawberries
Spanish Melons
Wild Garlic
Baby Spinach

Stocks of carrots and parsnips are running low due to lower yields last year and this has

resulted in price increases. We have warned previously about the issues surrounding

potatoes but unfortunately due to weather conditions things don’t seem to be improving

anytime soon.

The prolonged wet season in countries such as Kenya, Spain, Zimbabwe & Tanzania has

caused shortages too. We have had notifications that key lines including Tenderstem

Broccoli, Cauliflower, Sugar Snap and Mangetout have availability issues on the market, with some suppliers seeing cost prices increase over 50% or supply simply disappearing.

Fish & Seafood:

Skrei cod season has now finished so availability will be scarce. Hake prices however should be coming down. Hake is caught using gill nets, but these cannot be used during periods of strong tidal flows, so most hake netters will stop fishing during spring tides.

Pollock is still rated red by the Marine Conservation Society, so one to avoid. Gurnard go into their spawning season from April to August so should be avoided. Given their mixed sustainability ratings, we would advise waiting until the autumn to utilise on menus.

The MCS rating for red mullet has improved somewhat in recent reviews. Fish tend to present around UK shores in May, hitting peak availability in the summer. They do fetch quite high prices, but are a great addition to a specials board

Pubs to open later:

Pubs will be able to open until 1am if England or Scotland make the semi-finals of the UEFA

European Football Championships this summer.

Home secretary James Cleverley has confirmed the two-hour extension to licensing hours

will be granted on match days, should one or both teams progress to the semi-finals.

MPs launch inquiry into hospitality staff shortages

MPs have launched an inquiry into the issue of staff recruitment and retention in the hospitality industry. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Hospitality and Tourism is booking to explore why the industry has such a high number of staff vacancies and how it can respond. It is asking businesses to make submissions to its inquiry, which will end by making a series of recommendations to government.

The number of unfilled hospitality roles has remained steadily above 100,000 since the start of the pandemic in 2020, and many staff members also returned overseas after Brexit. There were 112,000 vacant hospitality jobs at the end of 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), up from 89,000 before the pandemic. The inquiry wants to hear from businesses about the barriers they face to recruitment, the impact of zero-hours contracts on staff, and how operators are being impacted by the government's focus on encouraging firms to hire UK-born workers.

April 2024 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 08:38:35 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period September 22 to October 23*

-8.7%

Butchery

-16.4%

Fish & Seafood

-11.9%

Fruit & Vegetables

-17.9%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Market News

Michelin to present first batch of international key awards:

The first Michelin Keys, the hotel equivalent of a Michelin Star, were presented 8th April, starting with a list of hotels in France. Further Key awards will be released in batches by country at later dates, which the guide has yet to confirm.

"While the Michelin Star recognises the most outstanding restaurants in the world, the Michelin Key does the same for outstanding hotels," Michelin said in an announcement.

Hotels have been recommended in its guides since the 1920s but Michelin said the Key would highlight the "crème de la crème" of its selection.

New Brexit Import Charges:

New Brexit charges on imported goods from the EU will damage the food industry, several trade bodies have warned. The government revealed on Wednesday companies importing products such as sausages, cheese, yoghurt and cut flowers face fees of up to £145 per load from

30th April.

But the industry has warned that the levy, known as the common user charge (CUC), will severely impact businesses and hit food prices while reducing choice of goods for UK consumers.

The Fresh Produce Consortium said the charges would “cripple” those in the fresh produce and flower industry, who imported the majority of their goods from the EU.

National Living Wage Increase

As of 1st of April 2024, the UK government has implemented a significant increase to the national living wage to £11.44 an hour for workers aged 21 and over, up from £10.42 previously. This 9.8% raise extends the living wage to a broader pool of younger employees as well. According to the government’s estimates, a full-time minimum wage worker will now earn £1,800 more annually, while a 21- year-old newly qualifying for the higher living wage rate will see a £2,300 yearly pay bump. At a time of high inflation and a ‘cost of living crisis’ the increase will no doubt be welcomed by most qualifying workers,

although some will argue it still falls short of the real living wage in the UK. However, those in the hospitality sector have complained they are being squeezed even further in an already tricky period.

Milk Prices Possibly Set To Rise Again

Following a spate of price hikes by processors over the past month, average farmgate prices are likely to continue rising into the spring and

summer. The likes of Freshways (up 2p to 37ppl), First Milk (up 72p to 37.72ppl) and Yew Tree Dairy (up 1p to 37ppl) are among 15 processors to have recently announced price increases, with many pointing to sluggish supply and the impact of bad weather on herds. Watch this space to see what impact this has on consumer prices!

Fish & Seafood News

We are now witnessing the effects of the Middle Eastern conflict on imported frozen

foods, in particular fish. Aside from the humanitarian crisis, Houthi rebels are targeting

ships transiting the Suez Canal in solidarity with Palestinians. As a result, the world’s

largest shipping firms are pausing shipments through the Red Sea after attacks along the

crucial international trade route. This will have far-reaching effects for many industries,

where there is a reliance on international imports.

• Total transit times will be delayed as ships are re-routed around the Cape of Good Hope. This means that shipment schedule reliability is non-existent. Furthermore, shipping lines will be unable to maintain subsequent schedules, with massive delays and backlogs anticipated. The expected delays are 10-20 days per container. This will make the forecasting of requirement more difficult.

• Spot rates and insurance costs are increasing rapidly on all affected trades. This will lead to an inevitable increase in freight cost.

• There is an expected issue with congestion and berthing at arrival ports in weeks to come across Asia, Europe and other regions of the world. This will lead to demurrage costs, again adding cost to products.

• Vessels are turning off their AIS identifying locators meaning they cannot be targeted. This also means that they are difficult to track which makes estimated times of arrival very difficult to know.

• Stock availability is likely to be affected. Frozen fish and seafood importers will be expecting consignments to arrive which have been planned precisely to enable continuation of supply. The delays could see stocks run out.

Given that these issues are related to frozen lines, we strongly advise that you communicate your requirements or significant changes in your current volumes, as soon as you are aware.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for April?

• Asparagus

• Jersey Royal Potatoes

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli

• Rainbow Chard

• Savoy Cabbage

• Watercress

• Rhubarb

• Wild Rocket

• Cos Lettuce

• Baby Mixed Leaf

• Wild Garlic

Potato supply continues to raise red flags and is unlikely to improve anytime soon. Strong prices will continue with growers reporting a real possibility of further increases over the coming months.

The English Asparagus season officially commences on April 23rd although we do expect stock from our suppliers from around mid-month. Wild garlic is the A-lister in the foraging world. This quite unique product, with soft earthy garlic notes, will be available in decent volumes through until mid-June. If your current supplier isn’t stocking it, please get in touch!

December 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 08:26:37 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period October 22 to November 23*

-8.9%

Butchery

-16.2%

Fish & Seafood

-11.4%

Fruit & Vegetables

-18.1%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Market News

Butter & Cream:

Butter prices have increased by over 10% in the last month. This is driven by increases in cream prices from Europe due to the low milk volumes in Germany in particular. Currently producers are favouring making cream rather than butter

due to higher returns. This is forcing butter prices to rise.

In addition to this, some producers are now starting to hold back stocks in expectation that it could be worth more in the coming weeks and months. This potentially limits availability which adds further pressure.

Egg prices:

Egg prices remain high, compared to previous years and up 40% in the last 12 months alone. The commitment by major supermarkets to move to Free Range Eggs only by 2025 has put real pressure onto the industry and has forced a race against time for factories and farms to gear up to this style of production.

The various input costs (predominantly feed and energy) which rose during the early stages of the Ukraine war, led to higher prices which are yet to come down.

There have long been conversations about whether eggs are effectively ‘under-priced’ with retailers in particular coming under pressure about whether fair prices are paid to farmers.

Oil Prices

Rapeseed, soya, sunflower and palm oil are all down year-on-year following their excessive high pricing last year. The market appears steady currently, with prices fluctuating in a relatively normal range. A lack of oilseed from Ukraine caused a market spike earlier this year. This has eased and increased availability of other oils such as palm has added further pressure into the overall mix.

Of course, many of these oils are significant contributors to certain manufactured products such as mayonnaise and spreads, so thankfully this should provide some stability for caterers.

Potatoes

Many parts of the UK have recently experienced prolonged spells of wet weather. Unfortunately, this has had a detrimental effect on the supply

of ware potatoes. In some areas, much of this season's crop is still in the ground and will not be harvested due to the ground conditions.

Herefordshire has been one of the lucky counties where the majority of this season's harvest has been lifted and is already in store. Almost 90% of the local potatoes are grown under contract for the chipping and crisp

industry, which doesn’t leave much for free trade sale!

Some of this season's harvested crop are already showing signs of breakdown due to the excessive water content. Chipping & roasting

potatoes are commanding extremely high prices and will do so for the foreseeable future.

Fish & Seafood News

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) have undertaken their winter ratings review, and we have some key changes to share with you:

• Meagre has improved to a 2 rating

• ASC certified farmed salmon has also improved to a 2 rating

• Brill stocks seem to be improving. Inshore fisheries move to a 3 rating in the West

Country, whilst otter trawled and gill netted fish in the North Sea achieve a 2 rating.

• Most fisheries are now 2 rated for Coley.

• Wild Bass from trawled and netted fisheries are now 3 rated – the same as line caught.

• Red mullet has gone from a 5 – fish to avoid – to a 3.

• North Sea cold water prawns are now 5 rated from specific areas.

• Cod that is trawl caught from Iceland and Norway has been downgraded to a 3 and 4 respectively.

• Dover soles that have caught by beam trawls in the Irish Sea have moved from a 3 rating to an automatic 5 rating, as there is significant concern for the stock level.

• Plaice caught by bean and otter trawl fisheries in the Eastern Channel have been downgraded to a 5 and 4 respectively.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for December?

• Cavolo Nero

• Broccoli

• Brussels Sprouts

• Cime di rapa

• Curly Kale

• Hispi Cabbage

• Jerusalem Artichokes

• Parsnips

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli

• Savoy Cabbage

• Watercress

• Braeburn apples

• Comice & Conference Pears

• Cox Apples

• Persimmon

• Blood oranges

• Yorkshire Rhubarb

December can still provide a decent array of veg, from classic brassicas to quirky alternative roots, ideally suited for creating mouth-watering menus with a dash of frivolity.

The big question is, how has the excessive rainfall and the aftermath of the recent storms affected crops, particularly across Northern Europe? This will inevitably have a bearing on many products over the coming weeks and months.

November 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Wed, 15 Nov 2023 08:05:29 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period September 22 to October 23*

-9.1%

Butchery

-14.2%

Fish & Seafood

-11.2%

Fruit & Vegetables

-16.9%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Market News

Food price rises:

The Sunday Times reports that supermarket bosses have said they do not expect food

prices to fall next year, adding to evidence that inflation will persist through 2024. The national living wage, which acts as a reference point for pay up and down the food supply chain, is forecast to rise above £11 an hour in April, up from its current £10.42. Labour costs are typically the biggest factor in food price inflation.

Food inflation is proving to be among the more stubborn inflationary pressures. Inflation, measured by consumer price index, peaked at 11.1% in October last year. Food inflation hit its peak of 19.1% in March, falling to 12.1% in September. The Bank of England expects food inflation to be 9% in the last 3 months of 2023 and 5% in the first 3 months of 2024.

Business Rates Freeze:

Chefs Tom Kerridge, Monica Galetti and Tom Aikens have led calls for the government

to freeze taxes for hospitality businesses in the upcoming Autumn Statement. The trio have joined more than 230 companies, including Burger King, Travelodge, and Greene King, in calling for business rates to be frozen and a relief package extended into next year.

They have signed an open letter created by trade body UKHospitality which warns the

sector could face an extra £1billion bill next April without help from the Chancellor.

Kerridge said:

"The hospitality industry has taken a battering in recent years, yet pubs, bars, and restaurants all across the nation continue to go above and beyond to provide memorable and outstanding experiences to everyone that comes through the door. "As an industry this is what we love to do. The stark reality for many businesses, however, is that with rising costs and ongoing challenges time is running out and

without further support from Government they will shut their doors."

Olive Oil Prices

Price rises are expected for all new season

Olive Oils as extreme weather has yet again decimated this season’s olive crop with some countries banning exports. Extreme heat, wildfires and drought have devastated

much of the world's olive harvest yet again, driving prices for olive oil to record high prices.

Strawberry Supply Under Pressure

The volume of strawberries arriving from Holland and Belgium has reduced significantly over the last few days which is now impacting availability and pushing up prices sharply. The effect of this has been felt in the supermarkets with shelves being bare for more than a week now. European temperatures back in August soared to unseasonal highs leading to larger than normal yields. This over-production has had a detrimental effect on the plants as it basically drained them of the energy required to reproduce fruit for the remainder of the season. To put this into perspective, a recent grower report highlighted that current yields being produced are half the amount of the same period in 2022. With the UK season now ending, and both the Dutch and Belgian seasons

drawing to an early close, we are seeing a shortage of good quality fruit. This will remain the case until we see the Spanish season start in full, supported by both Egyptian and Moroccan.

Fish & Seafood News

‘Severe’ marine heatwave recorded around UK and Irish coasts

An alarming new report revealing increased sea warming around the British Isles and Ireland indicates potential challenges for the fish farming sector. The findings by the European Space Agency suggest that some of the most intense marine heat increases on the planet, up to 4C above expected temperatures for this time of year, have been recorded in coastal waters around the UK and Ireland.

The findings are also backed up by the UK’s Met Office. Last summer was the hottest on record and salmon companies in Scotland and Ireland blamed some of their biological problems on those record temperatures. Source (full article) - fishfarmermagazine.com

Government seizes post-Brexit freedoms for fishing industry

The UK Government has set out further steps to deliver a thriving, sustainable fishing industry and healthy marine environment for generations to come. Seizing the opportunities of our freedoms outside the EU, the UK is introducing a world class system of fisheries management which draws on the best available science and the expertise of our fishermen to ensure our fish stocks are healthy

and sustainable long into the future. This new system will be underpinned by Fisheries Management Plans – blueprints for how best to manage fish stocks – including bass, king scallops, crab and lobster; amazing produce which we are renowned for around the world.

Source (full article) - fishfocus.co.uk

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for November?

• Broccoli

• Cavolo Nero

• Rainbow Chard

• Brussel Sprouts

• Celery

• Beetroot

• Hispi & Savoy Cabbage

• Carrots – mixed and Chantenay

• Parsnips

• Watercress

• Pears – Comice & Conference

• Cox Apples

• Plums

• Quince

• Pomegranates

With preparations underway for the impending festive period, we can see some seasonal transitions and key products appearing. The recent wet weather is causing some concern in relation to Potato harvesting and potential availability. While its too early to understand the exact impact it is

worth keeping a close eye on.

October 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Sun, 15 Oct 2023 07:40:10 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period August 22 to September 23*

-8.2%

Butchery

-14.6%

Fish & Seafood

-10.8%

Fruit & Vegetables

-17.4%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Butchery Report for Autumn

Turkey:

Red Tractor turkey remains in very short supply due to the supermarkets having boxed

off what little is available, and this is likely to be the case for the rest of 2023, our

advice is to plan early for the Christmas period and agree volumes and pricing just as

soon as possible for UK and EU birds for your menus

Beef:

Cattle prices remain high and above the 5-year average, remaining elevated incomparison to the same period last year. Restaurant and hospitality demand also remains high for steak meat and roasting joints along with added value cuts as the sector seek to find alternatives with cuts such as feather blade, flat irons and beef daube now featuring on many menus. Retail demonstrates the opposite with steak

cuts slowing but demand for mince and stewing cuts increasing, which in turn keeps

the carcase cuts at an all-time high price.

Poultry:

Poultry continues to be a challenge with UK and EU suppliers struggling to meet demand, and prices moving almost weekly.

• Operational costs continue to drive prices with higher distribution and feed costs along with labour and energy the key factors.

• Avian Bird flu continues to wreak havoc in the marketplace, with further cases now being identified throughout Poland, Germany and Holland reducing the number of food production kills significantly.

• The heat on the continent has killed many chicks which has impacted volume available from the EU.

• Duck remains very limited currently with few options available and has been decimated with the Avian Bird flu however we are seeing some limited availability now coming from France.

• Producers are desperately trying to replenish stock birds for killing in the coming months however returning to normal numbers may take months and prices are expected to continue to remain strong in turn.

Single-Use Plastic Ban

In effect from 1st October 2023

Following on from the ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers in 2020, the ban means businesses can no longer supply, sell or

offer single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers in England. This also includes EPS (expanded polystyrene) products. Businesses will instead need to use alternative options. The ban on these items includes online and over-the-counter sales and supply, from new and

existing stock.

What is Connect Purchasing doing to support?

To help businesses make the swap as simple and seamless as possible, our team has worked with our suppliers to produce some great alternative product suggestions to help operators make informed choices.

Contact your sales manager to find out more

01491 821199

Fish & Seafood Autumn Report

Salmon

Prices in Norway are currently falling, and trade is down. There have been some soft fish appearing recently which means suppliers are having to be selective about the farms we use. The expectation is that salmon prices will fall during October, and should be stable until we hit the end of November when demand from the festive period kicks in. Certainly, by reviewing historical trends, this “should” be the case. It may be one of those rare seasons where you can put salmon on your menu with a little

more confidence. Beware, however, of prices going up from December into next year. The last two years tells us that the salmon farmers will be keen to replicate the record prices reached in the first six months of 2023 and 2022. Do not be surprised if this happens again. For now, however, salmon should be a stable choice

White Fish

The new Icelandic quota period began on the 1st September for cod, haddock and coley. Quota indications are cod +1%, haddock +23%, and

coley -7%. So, not too gloomy a picture for our favourite white fish. The quality should be excellent from now until the end of the year as the cooler

waters favour these species. If you are looking for fish in prime condition, cod or haddock are both a good option. We are anticipating some easing of

price once fishing for new quota has commenced. However, large cod is expected to remain quite firm in price, such has been the case for many

months now. The expected 20% cut in Barents Sea cod quota next year is likely to keep prices buoyant. Smaller cod and haddock will be a good menu

choice until the end of November. Coley, will maintain its position as a quality low-cost white fish that offers a much better value alternative than

cod or haddock. If you are looking to use Hake over the festive period, seek to freeze some down during October when the price will be lower.

Fruit & Vegetables

This month is all about going big on the roots, squashes and orchard fruit arriving from our local growers and across the UK. With deep flavours and vibrant colours, it’s an ideal period to take advantage of the glorious autumnal produce starting to arrive.

What’s in season for October?

• Apples – Braeburn & Cox Pippins

• Pears

• Plums – Victoria & Damsons

• Squashes & Pumpkins

• Carrots

• Parsnips

• Quince

We expect the cost of lemons to rise as we move from Southern to Northern hemisphere.

The reports we are receiving from our suppliers around orange supply are bleak with small to medium products in extremely short supply. One of the main factors for the shortage is the situation in North and South America, where they had large crop damage last year in Brazil and Florida, from Hurricanes Ian and Nicole along with freezing weather conditions during the winter. Towards the end of the month, there will be pockets of Italian blood oranges beginning to appear although it will be November before we see a better volume.

September 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:17:45 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

8.9%

Butchery

12.3%

Fish & Seafood

11.9%

Fruit & Vegetables

17.8%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Commodities Report

Milk:

Milk prices are pretty stable now, following a period of deflation. Major processors are holding their prices paid to farmers which should hopefully bring a bit of normality to market conditions. The price now being paid for dairy cows has also started to ease, which perhaps discourages some farmers who were thinking of selling up and cashing in.

Salmon:

Norwegian Salmon pricing remains erratic and whilst there have been small moments of lower pricing, it has climbed back up dramatically, though not quite to the peak prices seen in August 2022. Experts state that exports of salmon are significantly down versus 2022, which they mainly put down to the higher cost price. Salmon is seen as a luxury protein source, so whilst it is currently more expensive than the alternatives such as beef, poultry and tuna, many consumers are reaching to the lower priced options, meaning a downturn in demand.

In May 2023, the Norwegian Government finally confirmed the tax rate of 25% on salmon farms, which is backdated to January 2023, however the industry will not start to pay this until 2024. That said, the Norwegian Government are still unclear on how the tax will be implemented and are convening an independent Price Council to determine the market value of the traded fish. This has caused a stir in the market, with many organisation’s insisting that the tax should be based on the price the product actually brings, rather than an average. This in itself is causing a lot of unrest in the market and will likely push some of the current producers out of the market and lower the domestic capacity.

Chicken

A devastating outbreak of avian flu is wreaking havoc in South America,and has resulted in the deaths of millions of wild birds worldwide. The highly infectious H5N1 variant, which gained momentum in 2021, has now spread to every continent except Oceania and Antarctica. South America, in particular, has been hit hard, with Peru reporting a staggering 200,000 wild bird deaths from the disease.

Frozen Chips:

Prices are much higher year on year. This is partly due to the increased cost of producing potatoes, but this probably doesn’t go far enough in explaining what those type of prices mean historically. To give some comparative levels, most chip manufacturers in recent years will have paid anything from €140-€250 per tonne to their farmers for potatoes. The current market prices are around €500 per tonne. What this means is that when a chip producer negotiates a price with their farmers, the farmers are seeing the prices available of €500 per tonne on the open market but being offered much less than this on contract. There are benefits to farmers contracting of course, i.e. a guaranteed sale for their product, but it means chip producers are paying a much higher price for potatoes otherwise they simply will not get what they need. This is being passed on to the end user with frozen chips at record price levels.

Olive Oil Prices:

The olive oil industry has been reported to be “in crisis”, and the heatwave experienced over the summer in Southern Europe has caused a second bad harvest in a row with shortages in stock. After a spring heatwave affected flowering in Spain which produces about half the global olive crop, the harvest was forecast to be only 28% up on last year, which was the worst in almost a decade. Wholesale prices have doubled since the beginning of 2022. In the UK, the retail price of olive oil was up 47% year on year.

Fish & Seafood Autumn Report

White fish should be exceptional quality and abundant as the waters cool and the new Icelandic fishing quota commences. Bivalve molluscs such as oysters and mussels will be back in season, with the latter offering a low cost and sustainable local option. There should be good landings of monkfish, hake, and lemon sole. For price stability, talk to your account manager. Now is the season to consider freezing down some of our fantastic native wild caught species for the festive period. As you all know, we see a reduction in fishing effort as we near the 25th of December. If you are considering hake, monkfish, lemon soles, brill or turbot for your festive menu, and you do not wish to pay extortionate prices, get in touch with us and discuss the possibility of securing and freezing stocks now.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for September?

• Apples – Braeburn & Cox Pippins

• Pears • Plums – Victoria & Damsons

• Gooseberries

• Squashes

• Agria Potatoes (new crop)

• Broccoli

• Hispi & Savoy Cabbage

• Heritage Carrots

• Rainbow Chard

• Celeriac

• Watercress

It is now the end of the season for all apricots, nectarines and peaches, as well as English cherries.

The Spanish winter season is fast approaching with the real possibility of produce arriving by late month. So, with the much-reported scorching heat around Europe, we have seen an increase in the cost on Spanish onions and this is likely to continue through the month. Farmers have begun to harvest main crop new potatoes which give a wonderful earthy flavour. However, using these early varieties for mash is an absolute no-no this time of year.

July 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 13:34:14 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

7.9%

Butchery

14%

Fish & Seafood

12.2%

Fruit & Vegetables

16%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Market Report

Restaurant closures reach a 10-year high

Restaurants closed at their highest rate in a decase in the first three months of the year, at an average rate of five per day. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls, said “these figures show and alarming increase in restaurant closures and clearly demonstrate the challenges faced by hospitality businesses big and small all across the UK”.

The Cateys 2023:

The Cateys celebrated 40 years on 4th July. The Ruby Catey, a one-off award was presented to Raymond Blanc recognising him as redefining British hospitality during a stellar career spanning more than five decades.

The 2023 Chef Award was won by Gareth Ward of Ynyshir, who was described by judges as a "maverick" who had transformed fine dining, while Clare Smyth, of three-Michelin-starred Core by Clare Smyth, was named Restaurateur of the Year – Independent.

The Special Award was presented to Jeremy Goring, who through the Hotel School charity has supported those who have experienced homelessness into roles in hospitality, transforming lives and providing a means for people to build a better future.

The International Award was given to chef Jason Atherton, who has built a global portfolio stretching as far as Shanghai, Dubai, Mykonos and St Moritz, while also running his seven critically acclaimed sites in London. Yorebridge House in the Yorkshire Dales was named Hotel of the Year – Independent, while Pan Pacific London took home the Hotel of the Year – Group Catey.

Market Report

Beef

Steaks and Burgers continue to see increased demand as is usual at this time of year. This drives price increases. However, the influx of Australian beef following the new trade agreement may help prices remain manageable.

Potatoes

We are at the end of potato season with the first of the main new season crop hopefully arriving in early August. This is later than previous years due to cooler temperatures in spring which delayed planting. A dry June has not helped as growth has slowed. Watch out for issues on potato quality for the next month or so until we are fully into the new season stock.

Orange Juice

The Brazilian supply base is reducing shipments of orange juice and rationing stock right across Europe as the carry over from last year’s crop will be little to nothing. A better crop would help but this is by no means a certainty due to weather concerns.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for July?

• Nectarines and Peaches

• Apricots

• Blackberries

• Blueberries

• English Cherries

• Red & Green Gooseberries

• Raspberries and Strawberries

• Globe Artichokes

• Peas

• Watercress

• Runner Beans

• Rainbow Chard

• Baby mixed leaf

• Italian Basil

• Lollo Rosso, Biondi & Oakleaf lettuce

• Rainbow radish

• Lovage

It is now the end of season for UK asparagus and Jersey Royal potatoes so watch out for shortages and increasing prices.

Fish & Seafood

Salmon

Industry intel suggests that salmon prices may start to reduce in July, although to what extent we are unsure. Analysts are suggesting that a lack of supply growth in coming years is likely to see prices remaining high until 2025. We fully expect that the second half of 2023 will see an easing of price in line with historical trends and this will be much welcomed by all. However, remain cautious as prices looked to be dropping in April but took a strong rebound.

Halibut

Farmed halibut is expected to be stable in July. There may be some availability issues heading into August where a number of farms traditionally close down for maintenance.

Flat fish

Summer is a good time for most flat fish. Better weather and the resulting increased fishing effort means that we are anticipating reductions on plaice. Yields are also continuing to improve after their spawning season so this will be a good choice for the summer months. Lemon sole prices are currently holding firm, partially due to a buoyant export market. Quality should be superb however.

Dover soles are now one to avoid as they move offshore, become more scarce, and the price rises. Unaffordable for most sadly. We continue to champion the Cornish sole (megrim sole) as an underutilised species. Most origins and catch methods are rated a 3, with bottom trawled fish from the North Sea rated a 2. These fish are prime quality right now. Both wild brill and turbot continue to fetch extortionate prices at auction so are potentially for specials only

August 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Sat, 29 Jul 2023 13:15:35 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

9.2%

Butchery

12%

Fish & Seafood

11.5%

Fruit & Vegetables

18%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Market Report

Hospitality food prices rise again, whilst supermarket prices ease:

Inflation increased again to 22.6% year-on-year in June, just below the previous peak of 22.9% reached in December 2022. Compared to supermarkets where prices increased during the month of June just 0.4%, Foodservice Price Index climbed over five times as fast, at 2.2%.

his large difference is caused by a complex mix of factors. Retail food markets are more consolidated than hospitality (the top ten supermarkets own 75% market share) and are able to exploit their scale with sophisticated contracting and controlled distribution. In addition, the UK Government has threatened supermarkets with price caps if inflation does not fall. Conversely, hospitality buys primarily through multiple wholesalers – which dissipates scale, creates diverse ranging, and has less contractual price protection. Upstream cost improvements can also take longer to feed through and are subject to continued volatility such as the recent failure of the UK grain corridor arrangements. Finally, suppliers, squeezed by rising costs and smaller margins, will be seeking some respite, as their inbound costs ease.

In June, the cost of global food commodities continued the downward trend, averaging 23.4 percent below the peak it reached in March 2022. Producer conditions in the UK continue to be tougher however, with farming input costs such as energy, feed and fertiliser remaining high, near-full employment levels tightening the labour market, climate vulnerability on imported foods, rising interest rates, and additional costs of post-Brexit trade, all continuing to feed through into prices.

Eggs

Egg prices up by 50% year on year as availability improves. “There are a number of pressures facing the egg industry including high costs of energy and animal feed, which have been exacerbated by the war in Ukraine,” said Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability for the British Retail Consortium. “But, despite these challenges, retailers are working with suppliers to offer egg farmers a sustainable price while ensuring affordability for consumers.” “Egg consumption is generally lower during the summer, and we are also starting to see an increase in hen numbers as egg producer confidence grows,” said Mark Williams, British Egg Industry Council CEO. “This will all be helping with availability, although it may be some time before the flock size returns to capacity.”

Milk & Oil prices starting to fall

The prices of food staples such as oil and milk are finally "edging down", even though shopping bills remain high, new data suggests. Research firm Kantar said shoppers paid on average £1.50 for four pints of milk in July, down from £1.69 in March. The average cost of a litre of sunflower oil, meanwhile, is now £2.19, which is 22p less than in the spring. It comes despite separate research from consumer group Which? that found the price of some branded goods on supermarket shelves has more than doubled in the last 12 months.

Wheat Prices

Wheat prices have risen as Russia threatens ports. Russia’s decision to withdraw from a UN-brokered grain export deal with Ukraine and its increased attacks on the country’s agricultural infrastructure have ignited concerns about potential disruptions in global food markets. As a result, wheat prices have surged, renewing worries about food inflation worldwide. Russia’s strategic move to end the grain corridor agreement and intensify attacks on grain silos and port infrastructure along the Black Sea coast and the Danube River, which forms Ukraine’s border with NATO member Romania, has raised alarms. These actions appear aimed at crippling Ukraine’s agricultural industry and impacting global food supply chains. Kyiv says as much as 60,000 tons of grain were destroyed in the recent attacks.

However, despite these tensions, market experts anticipate that wheat prices may not escalate as sharply as they did in the previous year. This projection provides some relief to stakeholders in the wheat industry, hinting at a potential semblance of stability. Nevertheless, the situation remains complex due to climate-related uncertainties in northern Europe, which may significantly affect future crop development and influence wheat pricing dynamics.

Orange Juice:

An increase in orange juice cost prices is looming with prices surging to record highs after multiple hurricanes and disease decimating crops in the US and Brazil.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for August?

• Strawberries

• Blackberries

• Raspberries

• English Cherries

• Peaches, Nectarines and Apricots

• Runner beans

• Broad beans

• Fresh Peas

• Fine Beans

• Beetroots

• Broccoli

English plums are just arriving on the market. As are Melons. The UK apple season will start at the very end of August/beginning of September – something to look forward to.

After a tough period with major potato problems, we are pleased to see improvements on last month with availability on all varieties. Blemishes are still occurring, however.

Salad leaves have been affected by the mixed wet and warm weather conditions which can cause reduced shelf life and bruising on outer leaves. We recommend buying little and often to keep stock turnover going.

June 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 13:56:10 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

8.3%

Butchery

12.9%

Fish & Seafood

11.7%

Fruit & Vegetables

19%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Commodities Report

Dairy Pricing

Milk prices had been falling. However, we believe this may soon change. The general feeling amongst farmers is that it has been a shaky start to the traditional Spring flush. Milk volumes are lower than expected so this may cause prices to rise again. Cheese prices also seem to be on the rise again. This is reflected first in the younger cheeses such as mozzarella and can often signal the direction of travel for cheese prices.

Egg prices

Eggs have been the subject of our commodities report on a nearly monthly basis over the last 6 months. Prices are still rising and we continue to have reports of the major supermarkets being without stock.

Chicken

Pricing has eased somewhat on frozen chicken especially and we predict it will continue to do so as the Ukraine is expected to continue to increase shipments to the EU, benefitting from temporary EU free-trade measures. This should also trickle through to the UK.

Salmon Pricing

Norwegian salmon prices peaked at an all-time high in mid-March and there are still no signs of them reducing anytime soon. Experts suggest this is due to lower output due to colder than average water temperatures. Furthermore, the Norwegian government implemented a 40% tax on salmon farms which may push some producers out of the market and drive further price increases. Chilean stocks have been affected by disease outbreaks and will therefore be unable to bridge any gap

Tuna prices

Tuna prices have continued to rise since the beginning of the year. Lower than average sea temperatures have hindered the feeding and migratory habits of tuna leading to lower catches. High diesel costs, which fuels the majority of fleets, have also impacted costs.

Potatoes:

Potato prices have been increasing and look set to be significantly higher year on year. There are a number of key factors expected to drive the higher prices:

• Processors have committed to pay their farmers higher prices

• Factory capacity is at a premium. Chip producers can sell more than they can produce. New factories are being built in Europe to accommodate but this will take time

• Current free buy/Spot market prices are at record high.

Lower oil prices should help mitigate some of the price rises. It is however a seller’s market.

Dried Fruits & Nuts

The earthquake in Turkey has caused a massive slowdown on some dried fruits as warehouses have fallen down or are feared as unsafe for workers. It will take time to rebuild structure in the region, so pricing is expected to be higher for the foreseeable future.

Olive Oil

The global price of olive oil hit a 26-year high. Heat and drought in Spain and elsewhere in the Mediterranean harmed production of olive oil.

Cocoa

Cocoa has seen increased prices of around 22% versus 2022. This is due to a decline in cocoa exports from Nigeria (Nigeria is the worlds fifth-largest cocoa bean producer). The Ivory coast crop is also predicted to be 25% lower than last year. Cocoa farmers continue to struggle with the lack of fertilisers and pesticides as the war in Ukraine has limited Russian exports of potash and other fertilisers worldwide.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for June?

• English Asparagus

• Fresh Peas and Broad Beans

• Jersey Royal Potatoes & Cornish New Potatoes • Corn on the cob

• Courgettes

• Wet Garlic

• Heritage Tomatoes

• Salad

• English Strawberries

• English Raspberries

• Cherries

• Apricots, Nectarines and Peaches

Spain and Portugal are currently suffering from heat and lack of rainfall. Of the 3 main water reservoirs in the North of Spain, one is already fully depleted, and the levels of the others is very low.

The Ukraine dam explosion is set to have long lasting consequences for the fruit and vegetable industry. The flooding has covered one of the country’s most fertile areas and without the dam, areas further south will lack vital irrigation.

Fish & Seafood

The Marine Conservation Society have released their new ratings:

• Bluefin tuna stocks have recovered enough to now be able to be sold

• Most rays and skates remain either red or orange rated, so best avoided

• Yellowfin tuna stock in the Indian Ocean has been seriously overfished despite the existence of certain management measures that have not been properly monitored or enforced.

• Stocks of mackerel in the Northeast Atlantic are still abundant but are consistently overfished. This is causing stocks to decline and the MCS has downgraded them. Hand line fished mackerel in the South West of the UK is still considered sustainable.

• Sardines caught in French or Spanish fisheries in the Bay of Biscay have been downgraded to a 5 rating due to poor management and concerns over low stock levels. Stick to UK caught sardines when in season.

May 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Tue, 30 May 2023 14:13:19 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

7.9%

Butchery

14.8%

Fish & Seafood

12.3%

Fruit & Vegetables

18.1%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Commodities Report

Food Inflation

The food and drink sector received small but welcome relief on soaring prices as inflation dropped to 18.9% in March 2023. It was the fourth consecutive fall in year-on-year inflation and the first time in five months that the rate has dipped below 20%. The downward trend has been driven by an easing of prices in key commodities. The dairy and oils & fats categories both recorded month-on-month deflation on the back of improved availability, aided by increased milk production and falling edible oil prices.

MPs launch food supply chain probe

MPs have launched an investigation to determine whether some players in Britain's food supply chain are 'unduly' profiting from surging food prices. The comprehensive 'farm to fork' probe will be led by the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee. MPs will look into whether risks and profits are shared fairly among farmers, food manufacturers, other suppliers and supermarkets. They will also examine the impact of external factors such as imported food and surging global commodity prices.

Eggs

Over the past 12-18 months the egg market has seen a number of challenges. As a result of the pandemic, several factors have contributed to a reduction in chick placement, leading to insufficient supply available to meet the continued growth in demand we’re seeing in the market.

Unfortunately this situation is showing no signs of abating, and we are therefore anticipating that this will continue into 2024.

Eggs are a naturally produced product, meaning egg production is totally reliant on the number of laying birds. We have seen chick placement numbers reduce throughout 2022 compared with the previous two years, and this trend has continued into 2023. As a result of the reduced numbers of new birds placed in the UK, existing flocks are now reaching the end of their laying life, and there are not sufficient numbers of new birds to take their place and maintain supply at current levels.

There are a number of factors driving this reduction in chick placements:

• Avian Flu has made producers reluctant to invest the significant finance required to repopulate sheds

• Higher input costs and the effect on profitability for producers

• Push towards cage free eggs from supermarkets which has resulted in lower stock density.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for May?

• English Asparagus

• English Strawberries

• Cornish New Potatoes

• Jersey Royal Potatoes

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli

May is an absolute joy in the seasonal calendar with an abundance of wonderful products.

English Strawberries have just started to arrive on the market. They are still a little expensive and the flavour is not as good as it will be over the coming months.

After a hard winter and spring for Moroccan and Spanish growers, it’s great to finally welcome the start of the Dutch season. They are less dependent on the weather as they grow much of their produce in greenhouses.

End of season

• Forced Rhubarb

• English Cauliflower

• UK grown Apples & Pears

• Wild Garlic

Butchery

Beef:

UK beef prices have continued to rise and have been reaching record levels. This is due to less cattle being farmed amid struggling profitability and environmental pressures on farmers. EU beef is also facing the same issues and is forecasted to see a decline in production, pushing prices up.

Lamb

New season UK lamb is available but pricing is prohibitive. We expect to see better availability and lower prices in June when the UK season starts fully.

Poultry

We have seen a sustained period of consistent prices now from both the UK and EU, with no real signs of any easing in the market. Stocks are still recovering from Avian Flu and demand remains strong.

Fish & Seafood

What’s in season this month:

• Gilt Head Bream

• Gurnard

• Hake

• Monkfish

• Grey & Red Mullet

• Octopus

• Plaice

• Sole – Dover, Lemon, Megrim

• Turbot

• Spider Crab

• Langoustine

• Whelks

• Yellow Fin Tuna

April 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 14:27:43 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

8.3%

Butchery

18.6%

Fish & Seafood

7.9%

Fruit & Vegetables

13.2%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Fruit & Vegetables

Food Inflation

What’s in season for April?

• Asparagus

• Wild Garlic

• Peas & Broad Beans

• Jersey Royals

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Shortage Update

The temperature in Spain, The Canary Islands, Southern Italy and Morocco are still very mild and continues to cause major shortages leading to price increases across the sector. The results of these issues are that the crops haven’t ripened/grown properly, so we will begin to see smaller or unavailable lines. With product demand still high, we continue to see a drop in standards for certain products and volatile pricing.

Availability issues

• Lettuce - Cos, Frisee, Little Gem, Rocket, Iceberg, Lambs Leaf, Spinach, Baby Leaf

• Peppers

• Tomatoes

• Berries

• Mushrooms

• Carrots

Commodities Report

Lamb

Lamb prices normally increase in the lead up to Easter. However, this year we have seen particularly steep increases for the last couple of months. This has been driven in part by a decline in the production in the UK and by smaller animals being slaughtered. Increased input costs and dry conditions last year, as well as high feed prices are behind this.

Poultry

Poultry continues to be a challenge with UK & EU suppliers struggling to meet demand and prices moving almost weekly. Higher distribution and feed costs, along with labour and energy are the key drivers. Avian Bird flu continues to be an issue in the European market place with further cases now being identified throughout Poland, Germany and Holland reducing the number of food production kills significantly. Demand is currently far outweighing the supply and in turn is pushing pricing up once again on poultry both from the UK and the EU.

Eggs

The NFU calculates that UK egg production has fallen to its lowest level in nine years, while UK egg packers packed almost 1bn fewer eggs in 2022 than they did in 2019. These unprecedented pressures on the egg market have meant that prices continue to rise, and unfortunately cannot be completely absorbed by egg producers, packers or wholesalers. Therefore, regrettably we will no doubt see further increases in the near future on the list below.

Pork

Pork cuts continue to rise steeply. The driving factors are significant reduction in the number of pigs going to slaughter and the rising costs of feeding and farming. This is exacerbated by the high demand from the Far East and African Swine Flu.

No hospitality roles recommended for shortage occupation list

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has not recommended the addition of any hospitality roles to the shortage occupation list, which would make it easier for businesses to recruit from abroad.

In the report, the MAC said it had not received "substantial evidence which proves that shortage cannot be filled with domestic recruitment". "For the few hospitality occupations at skill level RQF 3-5 in-scope, we do not feel that we have sufficiently clear evidence that these specific occupations are in shortage, or, that a lower salary threshold would be sensible," the report said.

Fish & Seafood

Salmon

Industry data suggests that prices will not fall away significantly until June. Farmers have a tendency to cut back on harvest volumes this time of year when the water is cooler and the fish feed less. This creates shortages and pushes up prices as we go into the spring season. Salmon farmers have reported that everything from feed price inflation to labour costs have taken a toll. Additionally, the proposed Norwegian salmon tax is adding uncertainty and may further dampen supply growth.

Flat Fish

Spring is a mixed season for flat fish with plaice remaining out of season for most of March, but quality expected to improve as we head into April. Prices remain very firm currently on plaice and we are not expecting much better value due to a large proportion of the Dutch fleet signing up for their government’s buy-out ruling. Circa 40 of the 120 trawlers which fish for plaice and sole in the North Sea will be left, and that will have a knock-on impact for the rest of the industry. The development of offshore wind farms, the effects of Brexit, and high fuel prices have all been cited as having an impact

Other Fish

• Skrei cod are now in season until the end of April

• Crab meat prices have recently increased. The main factors causing this are increased utility costs, lack of available volume for processing, strong demand from Europe and high staffing costs. The volume of crab landed in the UK continues to be lower than 3 years ago..

• Ramadan lasts until mid-April. This might affect supply of exotic fish as fishing effort reduces.

March 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Tue, 28 Mar 2023 09:00:18 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

7.6%

Butchery

12.3%

Fish & Seafood

9.6%

Fruit & Vegetables

12.9%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Commodities Report

Milk:

Up until now the price of milk has remained firm. However, it now appears to be falling. The concern will be around how much prices do drop and what this means for the industry in general as we may see farmers stopping production again. A major dairy supplier, Pensworth, announced it has now gone into administration which will cause some disruption in the industry.

Butter

Butter prices have started to fall. The reasons for this drop in price are numerous; prices were previously sky high, there is a lot of milk in the market which needs to be converted and butter is an obvious quick return option, and high prices have led to reduced demand from China for EU product.

Eggs

Prices remain high and supply is tight at the moment, with retailers trying to snap up as much stock as possible. In reality supply is going to whoever will pay most for product.

Potatoes:

Potato processors are currently not receiving all of their contracted potatoes from farmers, due to a poor crop and low yields. This means they are forced to supplement their contracted potatoes with free market or spot buy potatoes, which are significantly higher in price. Whilst there has been some respite for chip producers in the form of lower oil prices and some energy reductions, the potato cost is more than offsetting this and prices are rising.

Chicken

Chicken prices have started to see a reduction. There is greater supply in the market, not least as the EU have agreed Ukrainian chicken can enter the EU tariff free, which is putting pressure on European producers. More of the European product is then making its way into the UK, hence prices have fallen.

Pork

Pork prices are rising week on week. This is starting to affect products like bacon and ham significantly. Producers are stating that pig numbers are falling, and it is this which is prompting these price increases. Additionally African swine fever continues to spread, causing serious production problems in Europe, Russia and most of Asia, including China.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for March?

• Bramley Apples

• Wild Garlic

• Hispi Cabbage

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Shortage Update:

Produce shortages from Morocco, Spain, Italy and France have been well documented in the media over recent weeks. This has been caused by the perfect storm of unusually high temperatures in January, causing crops to overproduce, followed by unseasonably low night time temperatures and flash storms resulting in the products being unable to mature or simply not ripening. Growers are quietly confident yields will slowly increase once temperatures return to a seasonal norm, but we expect challenges to remain through to April.

Availability issues:

• Lettuce - Cos, Frisee, Little Gem, Rocket, Iceberg, Lambs Leaf, Spinach, Baby Leaf

• Peppers

• Tomatoes

• Berries

• Mushrooms

• Carrots

Fish & Seafood

Salmon:

Salmon prices are rising yet again. Between November 22 and January 23, they increased on average 27%. The main drivers behind the increase is the high feed prices, along with all-time low level stocks due to premature harvests and shrinking biomass. Further increases look likely in the run up to Easter – consistent with historical trends. Industry data suggests prices will not fall away significantly until June. Farmers have a tendency to cut back on harvest volumes at this time of year when the water is cooler and the fish feed less.

Tuna

Tuna prices remain high. The poor strength of the pound sterling at the moment is a leading cause and is not showing any signs of easing at the moment

Other Fish

• Gilthead bream remains far better value than Sea Bass

• Farmed and sea-reared Trout prices remain high due to increased demand caused by the Salmon increases.

• Dover and Megrim Sole prices look to increase as we head into warmer weather and the fish start to spawn and become scarcer.

• Skrei cod are now in season until the end of April

• We advise waiting until April to list Hake on your menus as spring can see hugely variable catches.

• Monkfish prices have eased back somewhat.

• Ramadan starts on the 22nd March and lasts until mid-April. This might affect supply of exotic fish as fishing effort reduces

February 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 09:15:38 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period July 22 to August 23

8.1%

Butchery

7.6%

Fish & Seafood

10%

Fruit & Vegetables

14%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Inflation Update

The latest CPI inflation level, remains high, sitting at 10.5% above December last year, although slightly down on the October peak. CPI for Food and Non-alcoholic beverages is one of the main drivers, and continues to rise to an incredible 16.8% higher than it was last year, the highest level recorded by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) since September 1977. Of course, CPI doesn’t necessarily reflect the inflationary picture we see in foodservice, as it’s considerably skewed by grocery prices. However, these high CPI levels do indicate that food and drink prices are at record levels right now.

Chicken supply facing “crisis”

Reportedly, only the “top quartile” of the sector’s chicken farmers are currently making enough cash to continue producing in the long term under current financial conditions. Many producers are not restocking birds in the face of chronically low returns and soaring costs.

Eggs

There are approximately 4 million hens less in production in the UK. This is for a variety of reasons, such as the producers haven’t been making a profit so are not rehousing birds, the cost of electric, a labour shortage and the high cost of feed. In addition, wholesalers are willing to pay higher prices whilst producers are scarce. This is driving the price of eggs up weekly, to levels that we have never seen before. We are also still battling with Avian Influenza, that is unfortunately impacting the flock numbers each week. NB: BEIC have now advised as of 1st February 2023 egg codes will change on print to say 2UK instead of 1UK. Outer labels from 1st February will say BARN not FREE Range

Olive Oil Prices Soar

Temperatures in southern Europe soared to more than 40C last year, causing havoc in yields of Olives - Particularly in the Spanish province of Andalucia, which is known for producing more olive oil annually than the whole of Italy! As a result we are likely to see steep increases in prices of olive oil over the next couple of months.

Cheese prices up to 50% higher

Analysis by The Grocer shows some major cheese lines have seen price hikes, with some products 175% more expensive that they were a year ago. This is driven by the increases in production costs such as energy and labour, as well as the increase price of raw material having a knock on effect.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for January?

• Rhubarb

• Blood Oranges

• Nadarcotts

• Lemons

• Brassicas

• Chantenay Carrots

• Parsnips

• Swede

• Sweet Potatoes

• Tenderstem Broccoli

Low Temperatures Causing Concern

Spain, Italy and France has been experiencing extremely cold weather and snow which is causing challenges in availability. Crops that will be particularly affected are:

• Peppers

• Tomatoes

• Salad

• Cauliflower

• Spinach

• Rocket

• Beetroot

• Cavolo Nero

Fish & Seafood

What’s in season for February?

• Pollock

• Gilt Head Bream

• Brill

• Razor Clams

• Cockles

• Cod

• Coley

• Brown Crabs

• Haddock

• Halibut – Farmed

• Meagre

• Red Mullet

• Mussels

• Salmon

• Sea Bass
• Squid

• Trout

January 2023 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Sun, 15 Jan 2023 09:32:13 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period January 22 to December 22*

8.3%

Butchery

7.9%

Fish & Seafood

9.2%

Fruit & Vegetables

12.3%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Energy Bill Support Cut

The government has confirmed it will continue to subsidise businesses' energy costs until 31 March 2024, but said the rate of support will be reduced from April 2023. The Treasury said it had provided an "unprecedented" £18b package of support throughout the winter but that it was only intended to be temporary. From 1 April 2023 a new £5.5b Energy Bills Discount Scheme will be brought in offering a lower level of support. James Cartlidge, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, said this was a "transitional" scheme and that "no responsible serious government anywhere in the world can permanently shield businesses from this energy price shock". From 1 April 2023 until 31 March 2024 business customers who have a contract with a licensed energy supplier will see a unit discount of up to £6.97 per mw/h automatically applied to their gas bill and a unit discount of up to £19.61 per mw/h applied to their electricity bill.

The government said this meant a typical pub would see a taxpayer funded discount of up to £2,300 over 12 months. A higher level of support will be provided to businesses that are "energy and trade intensive", such as manufacturing. The government did not confirm any other sectors considered part of this classification. Cartlidge said that the government would eventually remove all government support with energy bills. Hospitality trade bodies have responded to the cut in energy bill support from April, saying it is "unsustainable" and will be "the last straw" for some businesses. UKHospitality chief executive Kate Nicholls said the extension was "crucial", however the new, lower level of support will see a total £4.5b hike in bills for the sector compared to the previous scheme. "This will simply be unsustainable for many," she said, urging the government to consider other measures such as increasing the business rates relief cap.

Industry News

Single-Use Plastic Ban:

Single-use items such as plastic cutlery, plates and trays are to be banned in England in a bid to reduce pollution, the government has confirmed. Figures suggest that every year England uses about 1.1bn singleuse plates and 4.25bn pieces of such cutlery, only 10% of which are recycled after being used. Plastic items relating to takeaway food and drink, including food containers and cutlery, make up the largest share of litter in the world’s oceans, according to research. Now the environment secretary, Thérèse Coffey, is set to ban a suite of single-use plastic items, confirming reports made last month. The move follows a consultation on the issue by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) that ran from November 2021 to February 2022.

Fruit & Vegetables

What’s in season for January?

• Rhubarb

• Blood and Seville Oranges

• Nardicotts Root vegetables and brassicas such as:

• Purple Sprouting Broccoli,

• Carrots

• Swede

• Parsnips

• Celeriac

• Jerusalem Artichokes

• Beetroot

• Kale

• Cavalo Nero.

There has been an issue with availability of grapes and pricing has been high, but we should see this easing later in the month.

Fish & Seafood

What’s in season for January?

• Brill

• Clams

• Cockles

• Dab

• Flounder

• Gurnard (grey, red)

• Haddock

• Hake

• Halibut (farmed)

• Mackerel

• Monkfish

• Mussels

• Oysters

• Pike

• Pollock

• Sole (Dover/Common, Lemon, Witch/Torbay)

• Trout (Rainbow)

• Turbot (Wild

January 2022 Industry News and Market Report

contact@marcellmedia.co.uk (Marcus Elliott) — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 12:49:06 GMT

Average Customer Savings

Period November 2022 to December 2023

9.3%

Butchery

18.6%

Fish & Seafood

10.8%

Fruit & Vegetables

18.6%

Dry Stores & Frozen

Industry News

Hospitality sounds the alarm over restaurant closures

The closure of a raft of high-profile independent restaurants during the first week of the year has sounded the alarm over the difficulties facing small businesses. MasterChef finalist Tony Rodd's Copper & Ink in Blackheath, James Allcock's the Pig & Whistle in Beverley, and Phil and Deb Lewis' Kindle in Cardiff were among those to shut their doors in the face of rising costs. Simon Rimmer's Greens, the vegetarian restaurant he bought in Didsbury, Manchester in 1990, closed after 33 years of trading after facing a 35% hike in its rent.

Chef’s have been calling for a Minister for Hospitality and flagging that businesses are struggling even in areas of relatively high disposable income. When contacted by The Caterer about the recent closures and issues facing the industry, a government spokesperson said: "We recently extended measures to support pubs and hospitality, including offering a 75% discount on business rates up to £110,000 and providing tax relief for the sector worth nearly £2.4b. "We have also frozen alcohol duty until August 2024 and through the Brexit Pubs Guarantee we remain committed to ensuring there will always be a lower duty rate for draught products." The government will set out its future tax and spending plans in the Spring Budget on 6 March.

Le Gavroche is now closed

The two-Michelin-starred London restaurant ran its final service on 13 January after 57 years of trading. Michel Roux said the closure would allow him to have a better work-life balance and spend more time with his wife and grandchildren. He said he was in conversation with hotels about possible Le Gavroche pop-ups or residencies and has partnered with cruise line Cunard to take Le Gavroche out to sea on its luxury ships.

Skilled worker visas: what will the changes in 2024 mean for hospitality

Under plans to cut migration by 300,000 a year, the minimum salary requirement for a skilled worker visa will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 from April. The same salary threshold will apply to anyone, including British citizens, who wants to bring family members to the UK, although this has been delayed to 2025 after a government U-turn prompted by widespread dismay.

These policy changes could have a chilling effect on an industry still reeling from Covid, rampant inflation and the resulting cost of living crisis, businesses fear. What’s more, the government made its decision, according to the trade body UK Hospitality, without any consultation with the industry.

The organisation, which represents firms running 100,000 hospitality venues, has written to the Home Office laying out some of its concerns. These include the fact that 95% of the 8,500 migrant workers recruited last year would be ineligible for a visa under the new thresholds. With migrants accounting for about 15% of the sector’s workforce, shutting them out altogether would only intensify the frenzied battle to find staff. The job vacancy rate in the sector is already high at 8% – about 120,000 roles unfilled – and the shortfall rises to as much as 10% for head chefs and 21% for production chefs, the worker bees who keep dishes flowing in high-volume kitchens and factories.

Market Report

Fruit & Vegetables

January will prove to be a challenging period for many key products. The storms in early Autumn together with the excessive rainfall towards the end of the year have affected crop yields. It is not all doom and gloom for menu planners with a great selection of products due to arrive.

In season this month; Yorkshire Rhubarb, Broccoli and Tenderstem Broccoli, Parsnips, Swede, Cabbage, Seville Oranges, Blood Oranges, Bramley Apples, Pink Grapefruit.

Cauliflower prices will remain high with low volumes arriving. The shortage could potentially remain until UK products start in spring.

Potato yields are significantly down due to the excessive rainfall last year. This has already firmed up pricing with warnings of further increases in the coming weeks. The longer view isn’t any more encouraging with growers already predicting a xq lack of product by early spring.

Egyptian salad products are expected to arrive this month which may ease pricing although, according to grower reports, we expect this will help prices remain stable rather than dropping significantly.

Fish & Seafood

Salmon prices were high towards the end of 2023. Although there was some easing, Scottish fish remain very expensive as a result of adverse weather conditions (notably Storm Babet and Storm Ciaran) interrupting supply and limiting volumes available.

Flat fish should be avoided currently. Plaice and Megrims (Cornish Soles) are in spawning season between January and April. Dover soles should be steady in price but the strong export demand from the continent is keeping prices buoyant.

Meat & Poultry

A high demand continues for steak cuts and beef roasting joints with many clients seeking to find alternative value for money cuts, however all prime beef cuts are now carrying strong money with feather blades, ox cheeks, dicing/mincing cuts and ribeye being the most popular.

The retail industry is now seeing stronger sales within slow-cooking braising and roasting cuts and the increased demand is driving the price upwards on forequarter and hindquarter meat.

Rising fuel costs and fertiliser costs have again pressured the industry with no respite expected into the winter months with natural gas costs driving the increases. Cattle feed, whilst showing some cost respite from 2022, remains high and unstable across the globe.