Leading news wholesaler Smiths News said its chief financial officer Paul Baker will be leaving the company.
Baker is set to join a large private business, operating in a different sector, the company said in a regulatory filing.
He will remain with Smiths News to ensure a seamless transition of responsibilities, as the company now commences the search for his successor.
“I would like to thank Paul for his significant contribution during his time with the business. He is leaving the business in a strong financial and operational position,” Jonathan Bunting, chief executive of Smiths News, commented.
“Paul has been a valued colleague who I have very much enjoyed working with, and I wish him every success in his next role and for the future.”
Baker joined Smiths News in late 2021 from Compass Group, where he was serving as the finance director for Europe. He previously worked at Bird’s Eye and Cadbury in finance director roles.
Hundreds of potential candidates have applied for the vape industry’s first ever Chief Misinformation Officer job, according to the employer who created the role.
The job vacancy was opened through quit smoking missionaries, Riot Labs, in a bid to tackle the “flood” of misinformation on vaping in recent months.
Since the job advert went live on Indeed and the Riot Labs careers page, over 200 prospective hires have applied for the role.
The “unprecedented” number of applications has been fuelled by influencers and KOLs, or Key Opinion Leaders, in the vape sector re-posting and sharing the job according to Riot Labs CEO Ben Johnson, who added:
“This is all part of our Riot Activist work to stand up for the vape sector and it’s clear the role we’re hiring for has struck a nerve within the industry. People are sick of having vape misinformation shoved down their throats.
“Lightweight research, unpublished reports that aren’t peer reviewed, and opinion pieces lacking facts are flooding into mainstream media and misleading adult smokers trying to quit.
“It’s a massive issue that will impact the long term health of smokers, which is why we felt the industry needs a Chief Misinformation Officer to fight for the vape sector.”
Since the Chief Misinformation Officer role went live at the start of the month, dozens of KOLs in the sector have reposted the advert including the head of the UKIVIA, John Dunne and Counterfactual founder, Clive Bates.
The successful applicant will be responsible for monitoring false information in the media, tracking and dissecting the latest studies, and drawing attention to misinformation to help provide a balanced counter argument for the benefit of the public - specifically adult smokers trying to quit.
— (@)
Riot Labs confirmed the application process is still open and the company intends to have the role filled with the perfect candidate for the start of the summer - as the UK braces for more vape legislation including the June 1st disposables ban.
Johnson, who founded Riot Labs in 2016, revealed the idea for the new job role was a reaction to a story that hit the mainstream in February on the “deadly” effects of vaping. The Chief Misinformation Officer role aligned perfectly with the company’s Riot Activist campaign work that sees them stand up for the vape sector and protect adult smokers trying to quit.
The damaging story was based on research from Manchester Metropolitan University, which Johnson says was “misleading”, adding: “Dig a little deeper and readers would find the cohort for the study was based on 20 vapers, wasn’t peer reviewed and was conducted over 3-months - nowhere near long enough to reach a solid conclusion.
“This stuff makes great mainstream headlines but it’s misleading and the vape sector should be fighting back to call it out.”
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, formerly Public Health England, backs vaping as the best tool for adults to quit smoking and is proven to be 95 per cent less harmful than cigarettes, while vaping is considered a vital tool to help achieve the government's own target of being SmokeFree by 2030.
The current “tsunami of vape misinformation in circulation is preventing access to reliable sources of information for those looking to quit”, claims Johnson, who added: “The successful candidate for the Chief Misinformation Officer role needs to be ready to roll up their sleeves and stand-up for retailers and consumers in the fight against vape misinformation.”
The Portman Group has welcomed Lucky Saint as an associate member, making them the first alcohol alternative member company in our history.
Lucky Saint was launched in the UK in 2018 by its founder Luke Boase with a 0.5 per cent unfiltered lager product. Since then, it’s become one of the most recognised and popular alcohol alternative brands, now featuring on draught in over 1250pubs in the UK and expanding their range to include a 0.5 per cent hazy IPA in January 2024.
"The Portman Group has long been an advocate of the low-and-no category, as we know from our own annual research with YouGov that alcohol alternative products have become a vital tool for helping people to moderate their drinking and to reduce alcohol harms such as drink driving," said Matt Lambert, CEO of The Portman Group.
Lucky Saint join Coca-Cola GB and Punch Pubs, the first dedicated UK pub company, who are also associate members. Suntory Global Spirits, who joined the Portman Group as associate members in August last year, have now become full members.
The associate member category was launched last year to further increase representation across the entire sector, bringing The Portman Group’s overall membership to 21 companies from across the drinks industry – the largest ever.
The new associate member tier allows more flexibility for companies who are keen to engage with and support the work of the Portman Group whilst tailoring the commitment level that is best suited to them. Associate members receive access to the latest alcohol news, policy summaries, insight into research, rapid 24-hour product advice and free Code training.
Luke Boase, Founder of Lucky Saint, said: “The Portman Group has long championed the growth of alcohol-free options, setting the standard for responsible marketing across our industry as the category continues to grow rapidly.
“We're incredibly proud to become the first dedicated alcohol-free member of the Portman Group, ensuring that brands like Lucky Saint – and the alcohol-free category as a whole – continue to be represented.
“Together we look forward to working with the Portman Group to help to shape the future of the industry moving forward, showcasing the positive role alcohol-free can play for individuals and the industry.”
Matt Lambert added, “We are thrilled to welcome Lucky Saint as our newest associate member, not to mention our first alcohol alternative member. As low and no products continue to grow in popularity it’s more important than ever for our membership to include this representation, and for both categories to work in partnership to market their products responsibly and be leaders in best practice across the drinks industry.”
“We’re also delighted to have Suntory Global Spirits becoming a full member, thereby demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices”
Chewing gum releases hundreds of tiny plastic pieces straight into people's mouths, researchers said on Tuesday, also warning of the pollution created by the rubber-based sweet.
The small study comes as researchers have increasingly been finding small shards of plastic called microplastics throughout the world, from the tops of mountains to the bottom of the ocean - and even in the air we breathe.
They have also discovered microplastics riddled throughout human bodies - including inside our lungs, blood and brains - sparking fears about the potential effect this could be having on health.
"I don't want to alarm people," Sanjay Mohanty, the lead researcher behind the new study which has not yet been peer-reviewed, told AFP.
There is no evidence directly showing that microplastics are harmful to human health, said Mohanty of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
The pilot study instead sought to illustrate yet another little-researched way that these mostly invisible plastic pieces enter our bodies - chewing gum.
Lisa Lowe, a PhD student at UCLA, chewed seven pieces each of 10 brands of gum, before the researchers then ran a chemical analysis on her saliva.
They found that a gram (0.04 ounces) of gum released an average of 100 microplastic fragments, though some shed more than 600. The average weight of a stick of gum is around 1.5 grams.
People who chew around 180 pieces of gum a year could be ingesting roughly 30,000 microplastics, the researchers said.
This pales in comparison to the many other ways that humans ingest microplastics, Mohanty emphasised.
For example, other researchers estimated last year that a litre (34 fluid ounces) of water in a plastic bottle contained an average of 240,000 microplastics.
'Tyres, plastic bags and bottles'
The most common chewing gum sold in supermarkets is called synthetic gum, which contains petroleum-based polymers to get that chewy effect, the researchers said.
However packaging does not list any plastics in the ingredients, simply using the words "gum-based".
"Nobody will tell you the ingredients," Mohanty said.
The researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five of natural gum, which use plant-based polymers such as tree sap.
"It was surprising that we found microplastics were abundant in both," Lowe told AFP.
David Jones, a researcher at the UK's University of Portsmouth not involved in the study, said he was surprised the researchers found certain plastics not known to be in gum, suggesting they could have come from another source in the lab.
But the overall findings were "not at all surprising", he told AFP.
People tend to "freak out a little bit" when told that the building blocks of chewing gum were similar to what is found "in car tyres, plastic bags and bottles", Jones said.
Oliver Jones, a chemistry professor at Australia's RMIT University, said that if the relatively small number of microplastics were swallowed, they "would likely pass straight through you with no impact".
"I don't think you have to stop chewing gum just yet."
Lowe also warned about the plastic pollution from chewing gum - particularly when people "spit it out onto the sidewalk".
The National Confectioners Association, which represents chewing gum manufacturers in the United States, said in a statement that the study's authors had admitted "there is no cause for alarm".
"Gum is safe to enjoy as it has been for more than 100 years," it said, adding that the ingredients were approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
The study, which has been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, was presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego.
A.G. Barr, the company behind popular UK beverage brands like IRN-BRU and Rubicon, has on Tuesday announced its decision to discontinue its Strathmore brand.
This announcement comes as the company reported its results for the year ended 25 January 2025, showcasing strong revenue growth and increased profitability.
The discontinuation of Strathmore could lead to the closure of the manufacturing site in Forfar, Scotland, subject to employee consultation.
Despite this, the company's overall performance has been robust. Revenue increased by 5.1 per cent to £420.4 million, driven largely by a 6.4 per cent growth in soft drinks. Rubicon and IRN-BRU were particular highlights, with distribution gains and successful new product launches contributing significantly to this growth.
Adjusted profit before tax saw a substantial increase of 15.8 per cent, reaching £58.5 million. The company's strategic programme to improve operating margin is reportedly ahead of schedule, with adjusted operating margin up by 130 basis points to 13.6 per cent.
A.G. Barr also reported a strong financial foundation, with net cash at bank of £63.9 million. Shareholders are set to benefit, with adjusted return on capital employed improving to 20.1 per cent and adjusted EPS up by 17.4 per cent. The company has also recommended a final dividend of 13.76p.
A.G. Barr said current trading aligns with expectations, and the outlook for the 2025/26 financial year anticipates continued revenue growth and margin improvement. This positive forecast takes into account the 53-week year, the proposed Strathmore discontinuation, and additional regulatory compliance costs.
“2024/25 was a successful year for the company,” Euan Sutherland, chief executive, said. “Looking forward, we have a refreshed strategy centred on growth and are committed to our long-term financial targets. I am confident that successful execution of our plans will see another year of positive progress towards our long-term goals.”
In February 2025, A.G. Barr announced an organisational simplification, integrating Barr Soft Drinks and FUNKIN into a unified operation.
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Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group relaunches to combat counterfeiting
The Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group (SAITG) has relaunched this month, with the aim of combating counterfeiting and intellectual property crime in Scotland.
Supported by the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO), the group brings together law enforcement, government and businesses to strengthen Scotland’s fight against this illicit trade.
According to IPO research, almost one in three of those asked (29%) across the UK have purchased counterfeit goods in the past. Almost one in five (19%) said they purchase them often, sometimes or on an occasional basis.
For 2021, the overall estimated value of imported counterfeit goods into the UK was over £7 billion.
The group will focus on developing best practice and enhancing collective strategies to tackle the supply of counterfeit goods across Scotland. They will form a coordinated response to protect Scottish products, businesses and consumers from the threat of IP crime.
“The Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group has an important role to play in disrupting the production and distribution of counterfeit and illicit goods," Scottish justice secretary Angela Constance said.
"As well as harming legitimate businesses, the profits of such activities fund other criminal activity. The Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, which I chair, will continue to work with the SAITG to do everything we can to tackle this illegal activity.”
Panel discussion at the relaunch of the SAITG on 3 March 2025
SAITG brings together members including the Scotch Whisky Association, Police Scotland, Trading Standards, The Wine & Spirit Trade Association and The Anti-Counterfeiting Group. Together, they will create a forum for distinct industry areas to share insight, intelligence and provide training and support for law enforcement agencies.
The group’s work will also help build a greater understanding among the wider public of the harms this trade causes, emphasising that counterfeiting is anything but a victimless crime.
“We are pleased to support the re-launch of the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group, which marks an important moment in tackling this significant threat to businesses and consumers in Scotland,” Miles Rees, the IPO’s deputy director of enforcement, said.
“Counterfeit goods not only harm those using them, but also cause wider harms to society, our economy and communities. Government, industry and law enforcement all have a crucial role to play in working together to combat counterfeiting and piracy, and the group represents a vital forum, helping drive action together.”
Rachel Jones, newly appointed chair of the Scottish Anti-Illicit Trade Group and founder of Snapdragon, said: “Counterfeiting is not a victimless crime. It is the second largest source of criminal income in the world, after drugs. I’m very honoured to chair this group as we bring together key partners to protect Scotland’s heritage brands and consumers.”
Alan Park, director of legal affairs at the Scotch Whisky Association, highlighted the importance of protecting Scotland’s premium products.
“Food and drink products strongly associated with their origin, like Scotch Whisky, carry a significant reputation based on their quality, authenticity and generations of investment,” Park said.
“Those who attempt to take fraudulent advantage of that reputation will always face strong action, and the formation of this group is a significant step to help serve a strong message that this illegal activity won’t be tolerated.”
Members of the public can report suspected counterfeit goods to Police Scotland by calling 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers.