Gen Z tend to prioritise nutrition over taste and most focused on boosting their protein intake as they look to down green smoothies and chug down raw eggs in a bid to boost their protein, a recent report has claimed, highlighting the gradual shift in consumer preference.
According to a survey Warburtons, more than a third of adults endure foods they don’t like purely for the nutritional benefits, with 23 per cent of Brits saying they don’t enjoy their meals because they prioritise "goodness" over taste.
According to the research, 45 per cent find getting protein in the diet confusing as there are too many different health claims (38 per cent)and so much conflicting information out there about how much protein we’re supposed to be eating (33 per cent).
There is also a big generational difference in the way that Brits consume and think about food, with 74 per cent of 25 – 44-year-olds unclear as to what exactly makes up a balanced diet and Gen Z being the generation who is most focused on boosting their protein intake as they look to down green smoothies and chug down raw eggs in a bid to boost their protein.
Boomers (aged 65+), on the other hand, are most likely to prioritise their food enjoyment – and focus on what’s in what they eat the least out of any generation, whereas the younger generation were guilty of eating a meal in front of others just to look like they’re healthy, even if they don’t necessarily like the food in question!
With all this confusion around protein and our diets amongst the generations, Mary Earps MBE and Warburtons are here to make protein simple and delicious – just by making simple swaps to a Waburtons Protein thin bagel or Warburtons Protein Protein Power loaf – boosting protein intake has never been so easy!
Mary Earps MBE and 2023’s sports personality of the year, said, “People spend so much time and effort trying to consume as much protein as possible without prioritising taste. For me, it’s a no brainer; if I had the choice between eating raw eggs or a protein packed bagel, I know which one I’d choose for lunch.
“It’s important to have a balanced diet to fuel the body and achieve as much as possible – physically and mentally – but it should never come at the expense of personal enjoyment. Properly feeding yourself doesn’t have to be complicated, it can be quick and delicious, so you can put those hours that would have been spent overcomplicating your diet to keeping those balls out the net instead.”
The findings show that Brits are misinformed about the levels and types of protein to consume in their day-to-day, with 18 per cent rating their current nutritional knowledge poor or very poor.
Jonathan Warburton said, “The research shows people think boosting things like protein comes at the expense of taste, and that absolutely doesn’t need to be the case. At Warburtons, there’s no whey we would let people miss out on a delicious bite. We want our customers to meet their goals without having to sacrifice some of life’s delicious pleasures, and that’s why our protein range is not only delicious, but an easy, quick way to fuel up and feel good!
“We’re thrilled to have Mary Earps as our new protein ambassador. We know she’ll help inspire others to rise to their best with our tasty protein-packed products.”
As EUROSPAR marks 25 years of serving local communities, the brand is celebrating its long-standing relationships with local charities, community groups, schools and sports teams.
To continue the 25th anniversary celebrations following their £25,000 giveaway, EUROSPAR is also giving away five family passes for the Belfast Giants end of season fixture.
Giving back has been a central focus for the EUROSPAR brand since the first stores opened in 2000, creating significant partnerships, enabling not only the brand, but individual stores to give back to their local communities and charities that are close to their hearts.
One of the key partnerships was set up 14 years ago in 2011 with EUROSPAR’s charity partner, Cancer Fund for Children. Since then, EUROSPAR stores across the country have dedicated their time and energy into fundraising initiatives including taking on cold sea dips and braving the shave, raising almost £1.9 million in the process.
Many EUROSPAR stores across Northern Ireland also take part in the annual event which kicks off September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month each year, the Community Coffee Mornings. The Community Coffee Mornings began in 2017 and are the biggest fundraising events for the retailer each year, raising approximately £50,000 for Cancer Fund for Children annually.
The teams behind EUROSPAR also raise money for the charity through donations from their Christmas Sandwiches and the iconic Big Red Stetsons at the annual Balmoral Show, all made possible thanks to shoppers who have also given generously over the years.
EUROSPAR is giving away five family passes for the Belfast Giants end of season fixture on 5 April
“Being EUROSPAR’s charity partner for the past 14 years has been nothing short of incredible, seeing the dedication from the brand and the individual store staff, who always go the extra mile in their fundraising efforts,” Phil Alexander, chief executive at Cancer Fund for Children, said.
“The EUROSPAR Community Coffee mornings go from strength to strength every year and they are one of the highlights in our charity’s fundraising calendar. The vital funds each store and member of staff has raised have helped thousands of families through the toughest times of their lives, enabling us to ensure children and their families feel supported, connected and better able to cope with the emotional impact of cancer.
“We want to extend a big thank you for the invaluable support and monumental amount of money and awareness of the impact of cancer on families across NI that EUROSPAR has raised during our partnership and send a huge congratulations for 25 successful years of serving their local communities.”
EUROSPAR has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to their neighbourhoods throughout the past 25 years. Since 2004, stores have been providing sports kits to local schools for their Sports Days. Last year, over 600 sports day kits were supplied to primary schools across the country from their local stores.
As part of the celebrations this year, EUROSPAR is making School Sports Days more exciting and memorable by giving away £250 to five lucky schools, to help them purchase much needed Sports Day equipment.
In 2022, EUROSPAR stores began taking part in the Litter Pick Campaign, in which store team members clean up their local area. Henderson Group, which owns the EUROSPAR brand in Northern Ireland, provide stores with litter pick kits including large bin bags, pickers, high visibility vests and gloves to enable litter picks to take place in almost every town and neighbourhood in Northern Ireland. Teams from 54 Henderson Retail stores across the country have collected more than 2,098 bags of rubbish, cleaning up their local communities and creating better spaces for their neighbours to live in.
EUROSPAR stores across the country also show support to their local Foodbanks with regular donations from collections in-stores, donating 27,242 items through 475 donations since the initiative began in 2023.
“Our partnerships with local charities, community groups, schools and sports teams are so important to us and every single one of our EUROSPAR stores across NI,” Bronagh Luke, from EUROSPAR NI, commented.
“Our teams are so dedicated to their local communities, always looking for new ways to raise money, make donations or provide support in any way they can. This commitment runs through our brand and our store teams and has done since opening our first EUROSPAR store 25 years ago.
“It’s important to us to make a positive impact on our communities, and it is especially significant when we can help charities and local groups that our store staff hold close to their hearts. We wish to thank all local charities, organisations and groups for partnering with us and our stores over the years and we look forward to many more years of meaningful partnerships.”
Loyal and local suppliers
As part of the 25st anniversary celebrations, the brand has also highlighted its long-standing relationships with its loyal producers and suppliers.
When EUROSPAR opened its first stores in Northern Ireland back in 2000, so too began important relationships with some of the best local suppliers across the country: Orrs Potatoes, Willowbrook Foods, McColgan’s, Allied Bakeries, Irwin’s and Hovis, and now over 75 per cent of fresh food is sourced locally from 180 local suppliers.
These significant partnerships with local suppliers have enabled EUROSPAR stores to provide everything needed for meal inspirations and tonight’s tea right on shoppers’ doorsteps.
“We take pride in delivering fresh, locally sourced products, making sure our shoppers’ trolleys are filled with the best Northern Ireland has to offer, and our partnerships with local suppliers have allowed us to do just that since our first EUROSPAR supermarkets opened 25 years ago,” Clare Bell, from EUROSPAR NI, explained.
“Over the past 25 years, EUROSPAR NI has been dedicated to developing high-quality own-brand products to meet the evolving demands of our customers. By working closely with local farmers and suppliers, we’ve been able to source the best ingredients to create delicious, value-driven products that our shoppers love.
“Our award-winning The Kitchen range, crafted by Chef Carl Johannesson, features a range of family favourites such as luxury beef lasagne and meals for one including street food-inspired dishes and takeaway-style meals, all designed to bring quality, convenience, and great taste to your table.”
Richard Orr, from William Orr and Son. The farm has been a long-standing supplier of EUROSPAR
Richard Orr, from William Orr and Son, commented: “We’ve had such a successful partnership with EUROSPAR NI, helping bring our quality potatoes to shoppers across Northern Ireland. It’s been incredible to see our produce on their shelves and used in customers homemade meals and recipes, alongside ingredients from other local suppliers. EUROSPAR’s commitment to supporting local farmers and delivering the best to their customers has been at the heart of our journey, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Bell continued: “Thanks to customer feedback and a commitment to local sourcing, we continue to expand and refine our own-brand offering, ensuring that EUROSPAR NI remains your go-to for affordable, high-quality meals for every occasion.”
£25,000 giveaway
To celebrate their 25th anniversary, EUROSPAR is giving back in a big way with an exciting £25,000 giveaway.
A total of £25,000 is up for grabs, with 10 lucky winners each taking home £2,500 to spend however they like.
Shoppers just need to do is visit their local EUROSPAR store and scan the QR code for the chance to win. The competition will run until Sunday, March 30.
To continue the celebration, EUROSPAR is also giving away five family passes for the Belfast Giants end of season fixture on Saturday 5th April.
Back in January 2000, the first two EUROSPAR stores were opened, McVeigh’s EUROSPAR Warrenpoint, an independent store operated by the McVeigh family and EUROSPAR Rathgael Road operated by Henderson Retail. Twenty-five years later, there are 90 EUROSPAR supermarkets in Northern Ireland.
“This is a huge milestone for the EUROSPAR brand and one thing that hasn’t changed since the opening of our first stores is our commitment to our shoppers. This giveaway is our way of saying thank you to our loyal customers who’ve supported us throughout the years,” Bell said.
“As we look ahead to the next 25 years, we are excited to grow and develop our community supermarkets even further, while remaining deeply rooted in our local communities and providing, everyday essentials, key services and value on our shoppers’ doorsteps.
“Keep an eye out throughout the year for more EUROSPAR parties and celebrations instore and help us mark the momentous occasion as we thank you for helping us become the brand we are today.”
Wholesale businesses are urged to drive change by creating more female role models as a recent report shows that the number of women at board level in wholesale firms has fallen to its lowest recorded level.
Food and Drink Wholesale UK (FWD) and Women in Wholesale (WiW) on Tuesday (18) unveiled a new research report which was launched at a landmark Parliamentary Reception to mark ten years of the Women in Wholesale movement.
According to the report, the number of women at board level has fallen to its lowest recorded level – just 16 per cent in 2025, down from 20 per cent in 2022 and 17 per cent in 2019.
With the UK national average for board-level female representation at 48 per cent, wholesale is severely under-indexing, highlighting an urgent need for action.
The research also found that 67 per cent of respondents cited male-dominated workplaces as the biggest challenge for women in wholesale.
44 per cent identified a lack of female role models as a key barrier to career progression while only 30 per cent of businesses have a written menopause policy, and just 25 per cent provide menopause awareness training for managers.
Unconscious bias remains a critical issue, with 43 per cent of respondents saying it impacts decision-making and promotions.
Despite these challenges, there are signs of progress. The report adds that flexible working options are now offered by 65 per cent of businesses.
At the event, FWD urged wholesale businesses to take the following actions:
Increase the visibility of female role models – 53 per cent of respondents believe this is key to driving change.
Introduce unconscious bias training – currently, only offered by 33 per cent of businesses.
Enhance parental leave and flexible working policies – only 36 per cent of businesses go beyond the statutory minimum.
Develop mentorship opportunities for women – a major gap, as just 12 per cent of companies currently provide this.
FWD called on government to engage directly with representatives from the wholesale industry in the Employment Rights Bill consultations, including those on equal pay and flexible working, to ensure reforms are practical for the sector.
The wholesale body is also calling on the government to rethink its approach to business rates reform and exempt food and drink wholesalers, to ensure they can continue their vital role in supporting public services, local businesses, and communities.
The wholesalers are also demanding protections for wholesale workers and ensure that all wholesale premises are covered in the upcoming Crime and Policing Bill.
While quotas have been debated, with 56 per cent of respondents concerned they may undermine merit-based hiring, the solution lies in fostering an environment where women naturally progress.
“Empowering women in wholesale is about more than quotas,” said Elit Rowland, founder, WiW. ”It’s about creating real, sustainable change through workplace culture, policies, and leadership.”
“The wholesale sector has made progress, but the drop in female board representation is a wake-up call. We need real, structural support at every stage – from early career to maternity, menopause, and leadership. Now is the time for businesses to act, not just talk, to create a culture where women can thrive.”
Lyndsey Cambridge, head of external affairs, FWD agreed: “Our landmark report serves as both a reality check and a roadmap for the future.
"The message is clear: women working within the wholesale sector want businesses to address gender disparity, champion for change, and create the role models who will inspire the next generation of female leaders.”
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Scottish Retail Consortium Calls for Poundage Rate Lock
Firms occupying larger premises in Scotland are set to pay "£54.7 million more" than their equivalent-sized counterparts down south in the coming year, from 1 April,
The figures have prompted the Scottish Retail Consortium to reiterate its call for rates parity with England and for the introduction of a new ‘Poundage Rate Lock’, so that Scots retailers are never again charged more in rates than counterparts down south.
In response to a written parliamentary question from North East Scotland MSP Michael Marra, Scottish Ministers have confirmed that the Higher Property Rate differential between Scotland and England will be 1.3p in the pound, costing Scots ratepayers an extra £54.7 million in 2025-26.
Shops will account for £9.1 million of this surcharge, with hotels £2.5 million, offices £6.4 million, and factories £9.3 million. Pubs, cinemas and caravan parks are also affected.
The Higher Property Rate is liable on commercial properties with a rateable value of £100,000. There are 11,360 such premises. It is a slab tax and so the higher tax rate applies to each pound of a property’s rateable value.
This surcharge was described as “damaging perceptions” of Scotland’s competitiveness by the Barclay Rates Review, which called for parity with England to be restored by Spring 2020, some five years ago.
Despite some welcome decisions in the Scottish Budget including a freeze in the Basic Property Rate, the rates burden remains onerous and at a 26-year high. Meanwhile smaller stores in Scotland are missing out on the temporary rates relief being made available to counterparts in Wales and England.
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said, “There is a pressing need to lift private sector investment here in Scotland yet firms liable for the Higher Property Rate continue to pay more than their counterparts in England, to the tune of £54.7 million annually.
"Shops account for £9.1 million of this, making it even more expensive to operate a store on our high streets and retail destinations at a time when retail sales and footfall are at best flatlining.
“We’re baffled as to why thousands of stores and other businesses operating here in Scotland are thought to be better placed to fork out more in rates than similar sized premises down south.
"This Scotland-only surcharge increasingly sticks out like a sore thumb. Ministers must stand by their pledge to restore parity with England and commit to a new ambition, a Poundage Rate Lock, so that Scots retailers are never again charged more than their counterparts down south.”
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U K retailers warn of closures due to rising costs
Retailers across the nation’s flagship high streets are facing rising costs while many are considering reviewing their investment strategies and some are potentially facing permanent closure, a new report has stated.
According to fresh analysis from pro-growth group High Streets UK, rising operational costs is the most pressing issue businesses are facing.
The government confirmed changes to employers’ national insurance and the national minimum wage in last year’s Autumn Statement, but the proposed creation of a new ‘super tax’ business rates multiplier is currently undergoing a consultation period.
Properties set to be affected by the new ‘super tax’ multiplier are those with a rateable value of over £500,000.
The survey revealed that the majority of businesses set to be impacted by the new higher multiplier (69 per cent) will seek to manage costs by reviewing staffing requirements – threatening up to 5,500 jobs in these locations.
64 per cent of those impacted businesses will consider passing on the additional costs to consumers, with analysis suggesting that prices would need to rise by around 3 per cent to offset the increased tax burden.
A third of affected businesses are considering reviewing their investment strategies in the UK (34 per cent) or closing certain locations (31 per cent) as a result. This could put up to 600 trading units at risk, with over 200 potentially facing permanent closure.
Despite government claims the proposals will target online giants, properties subject to new higher ‘super tax’ multiplier are 5.1x more likely to be in flagship high street locations like Birmingham, Liverpool or London than anywhere else.
Often leased or owned by large retail, hospitality or leisure operators, or professional services firms, these businesses could be subject to a collective increase in business rates liabilities of up to £69 million.
Dee Corsi, chair of High Streets UK and chief executive of founding member, New West End Company, commented, “We welcome the long overdue review of the current business rates system.
"However, current proposals place too great a burden on the UK’s flagship high streets, undercutting the Government’s national growth ambitions.
“Our survey of businesses up and down the country clearly shows that the plans would be a disaster for jobs, investment, growth and ultimately, lead to higher prices for consumers.
"We urge the Government to take on board our concerns and reconsider their proposed reforms to protect flagship high streets, attract inward investment, support growth, and create a fairer system for all.”
Earlier this month, High Streets UK met in Liverpool for its first quarterly policy forum on business rates.
Key policy recommendations include conducting a full impact assessment of proposed multiplier increases; freezing any hike in the higher multiplier until 2027/28 to provide greater certainty; and ring-fencing rates for investment in the local flagship high street area, so those who pay the highest rates see a positive impact on services on their doorstep.
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Vape regulations and enforcement in Tunbridge Wells
Local Vape Action (LVA) is a partnership approach to tackling vaping issues at a local level. It brings together local authority partners as well as the vape sector via the Independent British Vape Trade Association (IBVTA), to identify and target specific areas.
LVA began with a pilot in Tunbridge Wells as identified by local authority partners in Kent. As part of the project retailers received visits from trading standards to check that they are meeting their statutory obligations, utilising targeted LVA guidance, including age-verification policies, in-store signage and retailer awareness of compliant vape products and vape takeback for used vapes. This builds on the positive work that Kent County Council has undertaken in tackling illegal vapes. A summary of activities between September and December 2024 included:
Trading Standards visits to more than 40 retailers of vapes across Tunbridge Wells.
Trading Standards recorded the proportion of vape retailers that offered some form of vape takeback for used vapes. Only 26% were meeting their statutory requirement. Many of the retailers said they needed clearer guidance on requirements to recycle used vapes.
Community safety week in late October a store takeover (pop-up) in Tunbridge Wells provided the opportunity to directly engage the local community utilising LVA branded materials and highlighting illegal vapes. Several stores were visited and illegal vapes seized.
Trading Standards conducted a test purchasing exercise in December 2024, with a pass rate of 20% amongst the 20 shops that were visited. No offence was committed as the young person was of age, but this highlights the issues around not asking for ID appropriately and the further work required around the sale of vapes to younger people.
Trading Standards seized non-compliant products from several independent shops across the pilot period leading to a reduction in the reported levels of illegal vapes sold.
Community Safety Team and Trading Standards attendance at a safeguarding event at a local Tunbridge Wells school in December.
LVA commissioned consumer research of 200 adults in the Tunbridge Wells area in December 2024
“This unique pilot has successfully brought together experts from the vape manufacturers, local councils and partner agencies to address specific issues in Tunbridge Wells, demonstrating effective collaboration and use of shared resources to ensure a trading environment which protects consumers, particularly children and young people, from harm and is fair to business," said Mark Rolfe, Head of Community Protection at Kent County Council. "Kent Trading Standards' involvement is crucial, particularly among smaller independent stores, by providing the necessary resources, time, expertise and engagement to ensure that the law is both understood and complied with in a way which supports legitimate businesses to trade and grow with confidence.
Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott added: “This has been an excellent and productive partnership, which has protected people, particularly young people, from illegal and often harmful vapes. By working together, the team has proved they can help protect places and businesses from unfair and unlawful practises. I’d like to thank everyone involved for their commitment to this innovative project."