Most people surveyed had made changes to their eating habits in the last year, with financial reasons being the biggest driver, a new survey has shown.
The latest wave of the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA) Food and You 2 survey, conducted between April and July 2022 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, reveals that the most common changes people have made to their eating habits include eating out less and eating fewer takeaways; cooking and eating at home more; buying items on special offer more; and changing what and where they buy to cheaper alternatives.
The survey indicates that one in five (20%) of households across the three nations are now food insecure, having limited or uncertain access to adequate food. This is the highest reported level of food insecurity since tracking began in 2020, the FSA added.
The research also reveals that food prices are the top concern for people (66%), with food waste (60%) and the amount of sugar in food (59%) also featuring in the top three prompted concerns.
“Food and You 2 provides FSA and the rest of government with robust data on what people think and do when it comes to food. We are seeing high levels of concern about food prices, as well as people making changes to their eating habits for financial reasons,” Emily Miles, chief executive at the FSA, said.
Key findings
Food-related behaviours and eating habits
Most respondents had made changes to their eating habits in the last 12 months. The most common changes related to what and where respondents ate, reducing food costs and increased food management behaviours
The main causes of reported changes in eating habits were financial reasons (69%), health reasons (47%), and because of COVID-19 and lockdown (41%)
Concerns about food
80% of respondents had no concerns about the food they eat, with 20% of respondents reporting they had a concern
When prompted, the most common concerns related to food prices (66%), food waste (60%), and the amount of sugar in food (59%)
Food security
Across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, 80% of respondents were classified as food secure (67% high, 13% marginal) and 20% of respondents were classified as food insecure (10% low, 10% very low)
80% of respondents in England reported high or marginal food security, with 78% in Northern Ireland, and 74% in Wales. Low or very low food security was reported by 20% of respondents in England, 22% in Northern Ireland, and 26% in Wales
Food shopping and labelling
83% of respondents reported that they bought food from a supermarket or mini supermarket about once a week or more often
51% of respondents reported that they bought food from independent shops (greengrocers, butchers, bakers, fishmongers) and 44% bought food from a local/corner shop or newsagents 2-3 times a month or less often
83% of respondents who go food shopping and take into consideration a person who has a food allergy or intolerance were confident that the information provided on food labelling allows them to identify foods that will cause a bad or unpleasant physical reaction
Online platforms
60% of respondents reported that they had ordered food or drink from the websites of a restaurant, takeaway or café, while 55% of respondents had ordered from an online ordering and delivery company (for example, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Uber Eats)
27% of respondents had ordered via an online marketplace (for example Amazon, Gumtree, Etsy), 10% had ordered food or drink through a food sharing app (for example Olio, Too Good To Go), and 8% had ordered via social media platforms (for example, Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor)
Confidence in food safety, authenticity and the food supply chain
Around three quarters of respondents (74%) reported that they had confidence in the food supply chain
86% of respondents were confident that the information on food labels is accurate
Belfast’s SPAR Cavehill closed out 2024 with a heartwarming community celebration, marking the 70th birthday of former store owner Norman Porter while raising £800 for two local charities.
The event, organised by the store’s current owners, Frank Quigley and Norman’s daughter, Jenny Reilly, brought together staff, customers, and local residents to celebrate the milestone birthday and support SPAR’s charity partner, Marie Curie, as well as the Community Fire & Rescue Service.
Norman, who owned and operated SPAR Cavehill for over 40 years, remains an integral part of the store’s daily operations even after passing ownership to Jenny and longtime store manager Frank in 2015. His longstanding presence in the community made the occasion particularly special.
“It was important to me and the whole team to celebrate dad’s 70th birthday,” Reilly said. “Having owned and run SPAR Cavehill for over 40 years, he is a well-known and respected figure in the local community, so our shoppers were delighted to join in the celebrations and show their appreciation.”
The in-store birthday party featured cake, coffee, and treats in exchange for donations, while customers also had the opportunity to win prizes with the SPAR Spinner. Special guest Sammy SPAR made an appearance, adding to the festive atmosphere. Volunteers from the Community Fire & Rescue Service attended to thank shoppers for their support and raise awareness of their vital services. Additionally, the Dale Farm van stopped by to distribute ice lollies in return for contributions to Marie Curie.
“Being a hub in the community, it’s always been important to us to show our support, so it was a no brainer to mark my dad’s birthday by fundraising for two local charities,” Reilly added.
“The celebrations were a great success, and we were thrilled to see so many of our community coming together to show their support, helping us raise a total of £800 for Marie Curie and Community Fire & Rescue Service. I want to extend a huge thank you to our shoppers and our team at SPAR Cavehill.”
Expressing his gratitude, Norman Porter said: “Thank you to the team at SPAR Cavehill, our shoppers and whole community for celebrating my 70th birthday with me. It has been a privilege to serve the community for so many years and we have appreciated their ongoing support for the store. A special thank you goes to my daughter Jenny for making it a birthday to remember.”
Philip Morris International (PMI) has forecast an increase of up to 12.5 per cent in adjusted diluted EPS for 2025, following a strong financial performance in 2024, driven by the continued expansion of its smoke-free product portfolio.
The company delivered a reported diluted EPS of $4.52 (£3.63), or $6.01 before a Canada non-cash impairment of $1.49, compared to $5.02 in 2023. Adjusted diluted EPS reached $6.57, representing growth of 9.3 per cent, and 15.6 per cent on a currency-neutral basis.
“2024 was a remarkable year for PMI,” said Jacek Olczak, PMI chief executive. “We delivered very strong full-year results driven by the continued growth of IQOS and ZYN in addition to a robust combustibles performance.”
Olczak highlighted the recent US FDA authorisation of all currently marketed ZYN nicotine pouches, calling it “further evidence of the compelling science supporting smoke-free products.” He also urged other countries to follow the US lead and embrace effective tobacco harm reduction measures, particularly where smoke-free alternatives are banned.
Quarterly shipments of heat-not-burn (HTU) and oral smoke-free products exceeded 40 billion units for the first time. Full-year net revenues for the Smoke-Free Business increased by 14.2 per cent (16.7 per cent organically), with gross profit up 18.7 per cent (22.7 per cent organically). Smoke-free products now account for 40 per cent of PMI's total net revenues and approximately 42 per cent of gross profit. The company estimates 38.6 million adult users of its smoke-free products.
IQOS continues to be a strong performer, strengthening its position as the second-largest nicotine ‘brand’ in markets where it is present. HTU adjusted in-market sales (IMS) volume was up an estimated 12.6 per cent for the full year. In Japan, ILUMA i fuelled IQOS growth, with adjusted IMS up around 13 per cent for both the full year and the fourth quarter. In Europe, IQOS HTU adjusted market share increased to 10.6 per cent in the fourth quarter. VEEV is also gaining traction as a top 3 pod brand in 13 European markets.
In the oral smoke-free products business, full-year shipment volume increased by nearly 28 per cent in cans (nearly 25 per cent in pouches). Fourth-quarter shipment volume increased by 25 per cent in cans (22 per cent in pouches), driven by ZYN nicotine pouch growth in the US.
Full-year net revenues grew by 4.0 per cent (5.9 per cent organically) in the combustibles business, primarily due to strong pricing.
For 2025 fiscal, PMI forecasts reported diluted EPS to be in the range of $6.55 to $6.68. Excluding adjustments, this reflects a 7.2 per cent to 9.1 per cent increase compared to 2024’s adjusted EPS of $6.57, or 10.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent growth on a currency-neutral basis.
The company anticipates total cigarette and smoke-free product shipment volume growth of up to 2 per cent, driven by smoke-free products. Net revenue growth is projected at around 6 per cent to 8 per cent on an organic basis.
“With strong momentum across all categories, we are confident that our smoke-free transformation and unparalleled brand portfolio will continue to deliver excellent performance and create value for our shareholders in 2025 and for the long term,” Olczak said.
The forecast assumes an estimated 1 per cent decline in international industry volume for cigarettes and HTUs (excluding China and the US), and an acceleration in US nicotine pouch shipment volume. It also factors in capital expenditures of approximately $1.5 billion, including further ZYN capacity investments in the US.
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Fujitsu, the tech company at the heart of the UK's Post Office scandal
Post office Horizon scandal campaigners have slammed the government for extending a post-Brexit contract worth £67 million with the controversial firm Fujitsu.
A recent report by The Independent stated that His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has granted a year-long extension to Fujitsu, which developed the faulty software leading to the wrongful prosecution of hundreds of subpostmasters for theft and false accounting, to run its Trader Support Service (TSS),
Fujitsu ruled itself out of bidding for government contracts in January last year due to its role in the Horizon Post Office scandal.
But the extension, worth £66.8m and detailed in documents seen by the media house, was approved because it is not a new contract.
Former sub post-mistress Seem Misra OBE has criticised the government over this move.
She stated on X, "We (SPMR) couldn't work due to wrongful convictions, yet Fujitsu—whose system destroyed lives—is expanding. What have they offered this time to stay quiet? Where's the justice?"
— (@)
Lord Arbuthnot, who campaigned for wrongly convicted sub postmasters, said it was “a worrying decision by the government on several levels”.
“First, it sends Fujitsu and other companies the message that the country doesn’t care about the unethical behaviour shown by Fujitsu in the Post Office scandal.
“Second, it weakens the government’s bargaining power in requiring Fujitsu to bear a substantial portion of the cost of that scandal.
“Third, it suggests that the government is uncomfortably dependent on Fujitsu. And fourth, it ignores the fact that Fujitsu’s capability on this contract may be no better than their Post Office capability," he told The Independent.
“Why didn’t they start work earlier on finding someone else?”
Meanwhile, HMRC said the extension was needed in order to “ensure a period of stabilisation” while new trading arrangements come into place under the Windsor Framework.
It has promised to run a procurement process in the coming months to replace Fujitsu in delivering the service.
Fujitsu in the past has won nearly £6.8bn in nearly 200 contracts from the public sector, including 11 for HMRC to the value of over £1bn, and 12 contracts with the Ministry of Defence for £582m.
High streets need to optimise for midweek office workers as Brits return to office, as shown by latest data on footfall, suggesting areas of focus for retailers such as extending trading hours in the evening and paying attention on grab-and-go meals.
According to the latest data from retail tech specialist MRI Software, retail footfall bucked seasonal trends in January, rising +1.4 per cent year on year across all UK retail destinations,
This marks the first annual increase in January footfall since 2016 (+1.2 per cent), outside of the pandemic period, suggesting that a stronger return to office work is driving retail visits as businesses push employees back to in-person work.
As expected, post-holiday footfall dropped sharply month on month, falling by almost -20 per cent across all UK retail destinations.
The decline was most pronounced in the second week of January, coinciding with schools and offices reopening, exacerbated by heavy snowfall and widespread travel disruptions.
High streets bore the steepest decline, with footfall plunging -22.4 per cent from December to January, followed by shopping centres at -21.7 per cent, while retail parks fared slightly better with a -16.5 per cent decline.
However, the shift back to office-based work was evident throughout January.
Weekday footfall rose by +1.6 per cent year on year, while weekend footfall dropped by -3.5 per cent, underscoring the growing weekday retail opportunity.
MRI Software’s Central London Back to Office benchmark showed a +1.4 per cent annual footfall increase, largely driven by a +4.4 per cent uplift during early evening hours (17:00-20:00). The trend suggests that after-work activity is picking up, offering retailers an opportunity to tap into office workers' midweek spending habits.
Data from MRI Software’s Consumer Pulse report reveals that evening shopping (post-5PM) is now the most common time for office workers to visit retail destinations, with 34 per cent preferring to shop after work.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays see the highest overlap between office attendance and retail activity, with 58 per cent of respondents working in the office on Tuesdays and aligning shopping trips for midweek convenience.
Additionally, 31 per cent of respondents reported visiting high streets during lunch hours—more than any other retail destination—highlighting the importance of proximity and convenience for office workers on their break.
Experts have raised warning over illegal high strength nicotine pouches saying they could cause inadvertent overdosing and harm to teenagers and young adults.
According to a recent BBC report, there has been an alarming rise in illegal nicotine pouches containing potentially dangerous levels of nicotine.
Trading Standards teams in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Dorset have made more than 1,500 seizures in the past year.
During the last 12 months, Oxfordshire Trading Standards has seized more than 900 packets of non-compliant nicotine pouches from retailers and launched several criminal investigations.
In Dorset, 844 seizures were made by officers and in Windsor and Maidenhead 21.
Since the products are fairly new there are no specific regulations covering advertising, strength or age restrictions.
Instead, they come under General Product Safety Regulations which means they need to be clearly labelled in English with safety guidelines.
"Nicotine is a poison, you need to know who to contact if something goes wrong, what to do if you swallow it, how many is safe to have over a period of time," BBC quoted Jody Kerman, head of Trading Standards at Oxfordshire County Council, as saying.
"If it's not in English, how are you supposed to know how to use it safely?"
Most pouches contain six to 20 milligrams (mg) of nicotine while some products contain 50mg.
Some illegal pouches claim to contain as much as 150mg of nicotine, although tests conducted on behalf of Trading Standards found actual levels varied greatly.
The government said new legislation would stop nicotine products being marketed to children and it was investing £30 million in enforcement.
Two of the largest companies, Japan Tobacco International and British American Tobacco that are behind brands such as Nordic Spirit and Velo, said their products were only meant for over-18s and they welcomed stronger regulations.
The Department of Health and Social Care said: "Snus is harmful and illegal to sell in the UK, which is why we are cracking down on illicit retailers by boosting funding for enforcement on the high street and at the border.
"Our Tobacco and Vapes Bill will put us on track for a smoke-free UK and stop vapes and nicotine products, including nicotine pouches, from being marketed to children."