RH Amar is celebrating reaching the £2m milestone in its charitable giving. Over the past 10 years the company, which acts as a distributor for some of the UK’s best-loved food brands, has donated over £2m to charitable causes.
The milestone has been reached through RH Amar’s commitment to donate 10 per cent of its profits each year to charity – a commitment made in 2013 by RH Amar’s MD, Rob Amar. Charities which have benefited from donations over the past decade include local Buckinghamshire entities Rennie Grove Hospice Care and Heart of Bucks Community Foundation, industry charities such as GroceryAid and Farm Africa, and national charities including Macmillan Cancer Support and Guide Dogs.
RH Amar officially presented the donation that would take them across the £2m mark to the Heart of Bucks Community Foundation, which RH Amar has in fact supported for over 15 years. The special presentation was made to Henry Allmand, CEO, Heart of Bucks Community Foundation, at RH Amar’s HQ with RH Amar colleagues invited to celebrate the achievement.
“Our commitment to donate 10 per cent of RH Amar’s profits to charity each year is an extension and reflection of the values we hold as a business," said Rob Amar, MD, RH Amar. "We have been able to donate £2m to charitable causes over the past 10 years thanks to the hard work of our team and support of our customers and brand partners, and I know that being able to support so many worthwhile causes means as much to them as it does personally to me.“
Henry Allmand, CEO at Heart of Bucks said: “Businesses like RH Amar can play a vital role in supporting their local community and we are extremely grateful for their continued support as one of our Community Investors. Their kind donation will be directed where the need is greatest and will provide essential funding for local organisations committed to making Buckinghamshire a better place to live.”
Each year charities are chosen by RH Amar’s Doing Business Better team, which oversees all CSR activity at the company. Colleagues are also invited to personally nominate a charity of their choice to receive a donation from the company. Colleague-nominated charities this year included Aylesbury Food Bank, Spinal Injuries Association and Stokenchurch Dog Rescue.
In addition to its 10 per cent-to-charity commitment, RH Amar also offers donation matching to support colleague fundraising and supports foodbanks through stock donations from its distribution warehouse. The company also offers colleagues a volunteering day to spend helping a charity of their choice.
News wholesaler Smiths News said it has secured a new long-term contract with Reach Plc, publisher of over 120 media brands including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Sunday People, Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star, Daily Star Sunday and OK! magazine.
The new contract with Reach is for all of Smiths News’ current distribution territories in the UK through to 2029, representing revenues of around £160 million per year at current market values, the company said.
Smiths News has now formally secured long-term contracts with 91 per cent of its newspaper and magazine revenues.
“I am delighted that we have now formally concluded our new contract negotiations with Reach and look forward to ensuring the widespread access and availability of their titles for readers in communities across the UK,” Jon Bunting, Smiths News chief executive, commented.
“The extent of our contracts with major titles continues to demonstrate the pivotal role Smiths News plays in the early morning supply chain. We have now secured over 90 per cent of our newspaper and magazine revenues through to 2029 which provides underlying revenue stability in addition to creating a robust platform from which to support our growth ambitions for the business.”
KTC Food Group has launched a revamped corporate website, marking a significant milestone in its history and recent expansions.
This update follows KTC’s strategic acquisitions of Trilby Trading and Cardowan Creameries, reinforcing its position as one of Europe’s premier food oil specialists.
Cardowan Creameries, a leader in plant-based margarines and fats, and Trilby Trading, a top Irish importer of oils, have enabled KTC to broaden its product range and establish a stronger presence in the Irish market.
Since its founding in 1972, KTC has grown from a family-owned retail store in the West Midlands into a powerhouse in the food oil industry. The updated website showcases KTC’s capabilities across food service, manufacturing, retail, and export channels, serving customers throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe, and beyond.
Trade union Usdaw said it has suspended strike action at the Ashby-de-la-Zouch site of KP Snacks in Leicestershire, which was due to start on 9 December, following a restart in pay negotiations.
“Over the last few days, Usdaw has been in negotiations with KP Snacks in an attempt to reach an offer which we believe is acceptable to our members and find a resolution to the current pay dispute,” Ed Leach, Usdaw area organiser, said.
“Usdaw has therefore agreed to suspend current plans for industrial action.”
The trade union announced the strike action late last month after a formal strike ballot resulted in a nearly 80 per cent voting in favour.
KP Snacks, whose brands include Hula Hoops, McCoy’s and Butterkist, at the time assured customers of minimal impact in the event of industrial action.
Residents of Evington, Leicester, have reason to celebrate as their beloved local convenience store reopens with Nisa under new ownership.
Karan Gorania and his wife, Nisha, have breathed new life into the store, marking their debut in independent retail.
The store, previously operating under Morrisons Daily and Spar fascia under former ownership, returned to Nisa earlier this year and officially reopened its doors in mid-November.
Drawing from her childhood experiences in a family deeply rooted in convenience retail, Nisha expressed her long-standing connection to the industry.
Nisha said: "Many of my fondest memories are of spending time in family-run stores, surrounded by the hustle and bustle. When the opportunity arose to take over this store - just three doors from where we live - it felt like the perfect venture. We knew firsthand the store’s potential and its importance to our community."
For Karan, the store represented a new challenge and a departure from his previous 17-year career in warehouse operations.
Together, the couple decided to embrace this new chapter, supported by the knowledge and experience of their extended family. Situated in the heart of Evington, the store has always been more than a retail space; it’s a hub for the local community.
With three nearby Co-op stores having recently closed, the need for a reliable, locally focused convenience store has never been greater. Recognising this, the new owners prioritised stocking Co-op own-brand products, which have been warmly received by the community.
The store also continues to support beloved local suppliers, offering Italian bread, fresh produce from Hambleton’s Bakery, and meats from Joseph Morris.
"We’ve worked hard to bring back what the community values most," Karan shared. "The locals missed having a place they could rely on for fresh, quality products close to home, especially older residents who can’t easily access larger supermarkets. Their enthusiasm and encouragement have been incredibly uplifting."'
The decision to partner with Nisa was pivotal in the store’s transformation. The Nisa team provided extensive support, including a full store merchandising overhaul and a tailored planogram to optimise the layout. The newly refreshed fascia now proudly displays the Nisa brand, reinforcing the store’s commitment to quality and convenience.
Taranjit Singh Dhillon, Head of Retail at Nisa, commented: "We’re thrilled to see Karan and Nisha bring this store back to life. Their passion for serving the community aligns perfectly with Nisa’s ethos. With the tailored support we’ve provided and their dedication, the store is set to thrive as a cornerstone of Evington’s community."'
The couple inherited a store that had been left empty, with no stock on the shelves and reduced footfall. However, with determination and guidance from Nisa, the transformation has been remarkable.
"The support we’ve received from the Nisa team and the community has been overwhelming," Nisha noted. "Rebuilding the store was challenging, but seeing customers return and hearing their gratitude makes it all worthwhile. We’re excited to continue improving and serving our neighbours."
As the store establishes itself once again as a community hub, Nisha and Karan are exploring opportunities to further integrate with the neighbourhood through initiatives like Nisa’s charity, Making a Difference Locally.
With its refreshed appearance, thoughtful product selection, and committed ownership, the Evington Village Nisa store is poised to become a cherished part of the community for years to come.
Major food companies, including Kraft Heinz, Mondelez and Coca-Cola, were hit with a new lawsuit in the US on Tuesday accusing them of designing and marketing "ultra-processed" foods to be addictive to children, causing chronic disease.
The lawsuit was filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas by Bryce Martinez, a Pennsylvania resident who alleges he developed type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diagnosed at age 16, as a result of consuming the companies' products.
His lawyers at the firm Morgan & Morgan, a major US plaintiffs' firm, described the case as the first of its kind.
The other companies being sued are Post Holdings, PepsiCo, General Mills, Nestle's US arm, WK Kellogg, Mars, Kellanova and Conagra.
"There is currently no agreed upon scientific definition of ultra-processed foods," Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy for the Consumer Brands Association, an industry group representing food and beverage makers, said in a statement.
"Attempting to classify foods as unhealthy simply because they are processed, or demonising food by ignoring its full nutrient content, misleads consumers and exacerbates health disparities."
Evidence has grown in recent years that highly processed foods are linked to a wide range of chronic health problems. Food described by researchers as "ultra-processed" includes many packaged snack foods, sweets and soft drinks made with substances extracted from whole foods or synthesized artificially.
Current US Food and Drug Administration commissioner Robert Califf has said that ultra-processed foods are likely addictive. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services, has criticised the food industry and the FDA for failing to regulate it.
Martinez's lawsuit alleges that the food companies have long known their products are harmful and deliberately engineered them to be as addictive as possible. It argues that they are drawing from the same "cigarette playbook" as tobacco giants Philip Morris and R.J. Reynolds, which for a time owned the companies that became Kraft Heinz and Mondelez.
The lawsuit includes claims for conspiracy, negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation and unfair business practices. It seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages.