British retail technology company, NearSt, today announces a new technology for UK convenience retailers that automatically connects their in-store inventory to major delivery platforms such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat.
NearSt’s solution connects directly with convenience retailer's existing EPOS systems, ensuring their full in-store product range is displayed live on delivery apps. This delivers five key benefits to convenience retailers:
Increased revenue – Display your full in-store product range across delivery apps, helping customers build bigger baskets and driving sales growth
Minimise failed orders – Cut cancellations by over a third through real-time stock accuracy, boosting customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Save valuable time – Eliminate hours of manual work and tedious data entry, freeing up time for you and your staff.
Grow a local presence – Show all your products with high-quality images, titles and descriptions on any last-mile provider with ease.
Get started quickly – Start seeing results immediately with simple integration to your existing systems.
Recent Mintel research shows 59% of UK consumers are now doing some grocery shopping online, so offering reliable last-mile delivery has become a competitive necessity for convenience stores. However, many retailers struggle with time-consuming manual updates, high failed order rates, and limited product offerings across last-mile menus.
"This technology represents an important step forward for convenience retail," says Nick Brackenbury, Co-founder and CEO of NearSt. "We're empowering local retailers with capabilities that were previously out of reach. With our extensive network of over 150 point-of-sale partners alongside our last-mile delivery integrations, we enable retailers to seamlessly transform their last-mile offering into a genuine competitive advantage and revenue driver."
Pricewatch Group’s results Pricewatch Group - operating stores under Morrisons Daily, Nisa, Gulf, and BP brands - was the first retailer to leverage NearSt’s real-time local inventory feeds with delivery platforms, starting in September 2024. Since, Pricewatch has seen significant results in streamlining operations, enhancing customer experiences and improving staff productivity:
913% sales growth across last mile platforms (first 11 weeks)
233% increase in Just Eat sales alone
59 hours per month saved in menu management
37% reduction in failed orders weekly
115% expansion in product range on last-mile menus
"We tried multiple digital partners and previously spent hours manually uploading inventory data. Then NearSt just comes along and makes it work. We've saved so much time and been able to reallocate it elsewhere to get much more done. From an operational time-saving aspect, NearSt has been invaluable.” says Tom Buckley, General Manager at Pricewatch Group.
Pricewatch x Just Eat menu:
"NearSt has made it achievable for us to run a cost-effective last-mile operation that's saving us a huge amount of time and money," says Claire Goddard, Marketing Manager at Pricewatch Group. "We now have a flawless and professional menu that rivals those of the major supermarket chains making it a dream for our customers to shop and buy on."
Polytag, a leading packaging solutions provider, has announced the achievement of two International Standards Organisation (ISO) certifications, reinforcing its commitment to the highest standards of quality, information security, and privacy management.
Polytag has been awarded ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications, demonstrating its dedication to both quality excellence and robust information security.
ISO 9001 underscores the company’s commitment to operational efficiency, continuous improvement and customer satisfaction, while ISO 27001 ensures strong data protection measures and compliance with international security standards.
Together, these certifications provide Polytag’s customers and partners with confidence in its ability to deliver secure, high-quality solutions at scale.
As a supplier of GS1 UK-approved QR codes and invisible UV tags, Polytag tracks packaging lifecycles through data collection and sharing, showing when, where, and how much consumers interact with and recycle packaging.
These ISO certifications validate the security and quality of Polytag’s technology, reinforcing trust among top brands and retailers.
By meeting these internationally recognised standards, Polytag empowers businesses to track packaging throughout the supply chain, enhance transparency, and drive progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.
Jon Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Polytag, said: "As we continue to scale our solutions for businesses worldwide, ensuring the integrity, security, and quality of our operations is paramount. Achieving both ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 certifications underscores our unwavering commitment to excellence.
"ISO 9001 reinforces our process-based approach, commitment to continuously improving our offering and dedication to our customers, while ISO 27001 ensures that we meet the highest security standards in managing sensitive information.
"Together, they provide our partners with confidence in our ability to deliver secure, reliable and high-quality solutions at scale.”
Last year in April, not-for-profit company DDRS Alliance, whose members include Circularity Solutions, Recycl3r, ACE UK, Tetra Pak and Valpak, joined hands with Polytag to accelerate the development and adoption of Digital DRS in the UK.
As the launch date for a DRS in the UK is reportedly delayed further until 2028, the two organisations have pledged to work collaboratively and leverage their experience and expertise to demonstrate the viability and convenience of a Digital DRS.
The move ensures alignment of the two leading organisations in the development of Digital DRS and underpins the approach to develop a global blueprint.
The timing of their alignment is motivated by a shared intention to deliver a viable solution for Digital DRS in the UK and other major European countries.
Majority of 1,200 crisps, nuts and popcorn snacks sold in stores contain such high levels of “hidden salt” that they fail to meet government’s criteria for healthier food, a new report has warned, raising alarm ahead of October 2025 advertising restrictions.
From October, there will be a pre-9pm television watershed on junk food adverts, as well as a blanket ban for online and social media ads.
The Action on Salt and Sugar research team, based at Queen Mary University of London, analysed sugar and salt in nuts, crisps and ready-to-eat popcorn on supermarket shelves.
According to the report released today (18) by the research group, one in three bags of ready-to-eat popcorn contain more salt than a packet of cheese and onion crisps.
Additionally, 77 per cent of crisps, 56 per cent of nuts and 88 per cent of popcorn would fall foul of healthy eating criteria.
The saltiest popcorn was Joe & Seph’s Sweet & Salty Popcorn, with 2.25g salt per 100g, higher than most crisps.
As well as often being too salty, 42 per cent of popcorn would also receive a red warning label for sugar content. The worst offender was Morrisons Market Street Toffee Flavour Popcorn with 59.1g of sugar per 100g.
Some crisps also continue to provide excessive levels of salt in our diets, with one in three products requiring a high (red) salt warning label on the front of the pack.
Among the worst offenders is Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon, which contains 3.6g of salt per 100g – a staggering amount that’s saltier than the concentration of seawater and exceeding the government’s salt target, states the report.
Meanwhile, plain nuts are naturally low in salt, but many flavoured varieties fail to meet healthier standards.
Nearly one in four flavoured nuts exceed salt targets, with Forest Feast Slow Roasted Colossal Cashews containing 2.60g of salt per 100g – more than double the government’s salt target, states the report.
Total sugar levels are just as concerning. Whitworths Shots Chocolate & Hazelnut packs an alarming 51g of total sugars per 100g10, meaning a small 25g serving contains over three teaspoons of sugars.
Whilst many snacks are high in salt and sugars, notably the data presents a wide variation in nutrition content demonstrating that, in many cases, it is unnecessary and they can be made with less salt.
The report adds that despite clear evidence that salt reduction is both achievable and necessary, only "eight companies have fully met the salt targets set for these snacks, with a further four achieving ≥95 per cent compliance".
Disappointingly, nine companies have failed to meet the targets in at least half their snacks portfolio, despite being given four years to succeed.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Impact and Research at Action on Salt, says, “It’s clear that voluntary efforts to improve food nutrition have largely fallen short. Yet this isn’t about feasibility as some companies have already shown that reformulation is possible.
"It's about time the government get tough with companies and implement mandatory targets with strong enforcement. Without this, the UK’s hidden salt and sugar crisis will persist, putting consumers at risk and leaving responsible brands at a disadvantage in an uneven marketplace.”
Dr Pauline Swift – Chair of Blood Pressure UK adds, “Reducing salt isn’t just a health recommendation – it’s a lifesaving necessity. Excess salt, often hidden in everyday foods, raises blood pressure, which is the leading cause of strokes, heart and kidney disease – all of which is completely avoidable.
"Without urgent action to cut both salt and sugar levels, we’re gambling with lives. The government must step up with enforceable targets to protect public health."
Philip Morris Limited (PML), the affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI) in the UK and Ireland, is stepping-up its fight against the illicit trade with the appointment of Catherine Goger to the role of Illicit Trade Prevention Manager.
In this new role, Catherine is responsible for co-ordinating operations to tackle the sale of illicit products in the UK, continuing the company’s working relationships with local authorities and supporting PML’s Field Force and retail partners.
Since joining PMI in 2022, Catherine has led the Fraud Prevention Team at Philip Morris Japan. Prior to PML, Catherine’s career involved fighting money laundering and corruption across Latin America, Asia, and Europe. She also held senior positions at Ernst and Young, HSBC and Prudential. Her background in fighting illegal activity makes her well-equipped to understand how illicit operations impact legitimate retailers’ businesses and strategies to overcome them.
“I am passionate about fighting illicit trade, as I have seen first-hand the—often horrific—outcomes from these illegal activities,” said Goger. “Spending time out in the field joining test purchases with our undercover team, I was astounded by the brazenness of irresponsible retailers – with illicit tobacco products openly available. These retailers sell sub-standard products – some of which have been infested with vermin droppings and asbestos – often to under-aged consumers and vulnerable people. There needs to be more awareness of the illicit trade and the negative impact it has on both responsible retailers’ businesses and on public health.
“We stand by our retail partners, aiming to provide them with guidance and support in the fight against illicit trade. From tackling the trade at the local level – with educational campaigns and test-purchase operations – to building intelligence on a global scale with international organisations; we are taking meaningful steps to cracking down on illicit trade.”
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Bakkavor has declined a £1.14 billion takeover bid.
The UK’s largest fresh-prepared food manufacturer Bakkavor has turned down a £1.14 billion takeover bid from Irish rival Greencore.
Greencore, Britain’s biggest maker of convenience food-to-go, from sandwiches to quiche, has been stalking its rival sandwich-maker Bakkavor Group to create a dominant food-to-go supplier with around £4 billion in annual revenue.
Both companies mainly sell through stores as well as forecourts including Shell or BP petrol stations, so a merger would give the combined group much more pricing power against some of the world’s toughest corporate customers.
However, Bakkavor has rejected two bids from Greencore, the latest of which would have valued the food manufacturer at 1.14 billion pounds, the companies said on Friday (14).
Bakkavor said the offer significantly undervalued it.
Greencore, which operates in the UK and Ireland, has benefited from resilient demand for its pre-packaged sandwiches, chilled soups, and prepared meals, but it faces higher labour costs after the British government raised contributions from employers.
Greencore said its last proposal, made on March 7, provided a "highly compelling value creation opportunity" for both companies, with bigger scale and cashflows if merged, adding that it was evaluating "all strategic opportunities".
Bakkavor, which operates in Britain, China and the United States, reported 4 per cent revenue growth for 2024.
Under the latest proposal, Greencore shareholders would own about 59.8 per cent of the bigger group and Bakkavor investors would own the rest.
Greencore has until April 11 to make a firm offer for Bakkavor or walk away, under British takeover rules.
Meanwhile, the industry experts feel that last week’s eruption of hostilities between Greencore Group and Bakkavor Group suggests a return to normality on Britain’s high streets, following Sainsbury’s revelation that it is seeing a revival of the weekly shopping habit as working from home begins to fade.
The food-to-go market is reckoned to be back to only "85 per cent of pre-Covid capacity", and trade sources suggest it may take another two years to be fully restored.
Greencore has been grabbing new clients such as Asda, and put a positive gloss on opportunities such as other retailers closing cafés and in-store prepared food services in favour of Greencore’s menu.
As UK retail crime continues to accelerate, retailers must have the correct loss prevention solutions that deter theft, says an industry expert, citing a recent report highlighting rapid crime levels and its impact on the economy.
A recent report from the think tank Police Exchange revealed that rapid crime levels are costing the UK economy £250bn a year.
Highlights from the report state that mass shoplifting and other crimes are hitting businesses, the public sector and individuals, with an economic cost of £170bn a year, or 6.5 per cent of the gross domestic product.
Thieves continue to terrorise retail staff, snatching high-priced goods, including joints of meat, alcohol and baby powder, whilst throwing verbal abuse at those around them, with an influx of people sweeping items into bags.
According to Harrison Retail, thieves are deterred from sweeping products in-store with effective loss-prevention solutions.
Daryl Bedford, Manager Director at Harrison Retail, said, ”UK retail crime continues to accelerate, and retailers must have the correct loss prevention solutions to enable their customers to interact with products and deter theft.
"Loss prevention solutions such as gravity risers and shelf pusher systems stop thieves from sweeping products physically, forcing them to take a product one at a time.
“The primary cause of stock shrinkage for UK retailers is shoplifting. Retailers can deploy innovative fixtures and systems to limit thieves’ accessibility to high-value merchandise, deterring them from visiting stores and reducing stock loss.
"Limited shelf access with dispensers is the way forward for retailers in their fight against shoplifters. These are designed to limit access to products, meaning the customer can only retrieve a product through a small opening at the front of a shelving unit, preventing multiple products from being taken at once.“
Harrison Retail will offer a live demonstration of its loss prevention solutions at Retail Risk 2025. In the immersion zone at the show, Harrison will showcase its loss prevention solutions in a temporary mock-up shop.
The solutions on show will include Gravity Risers, FSDU Surrounds, Dispensers for chocolate, medicine and scent booster capsules and slow-moving Shelf Pusher systems.
“Amid the cost-of-living crisis in the UK, shoplifting has continued to worsen, and retailers must safeguard their stock and staff. Loss prevention solutions such as Gravity Risers could be the difference between a loss of £1,000 and £100.
"Blockers are enough to deter shoplifters from targeting retail stores due to the inability to sweep stock”, concluded Bedford.