Industry

Hospitality purchasing specialist Lynx Purchasing has warned that the high level of food inflation, which is causing significant challenges for out-of-home operators, is set to continue across the Autumn and into the peak festive trading period. 

Spiralling prices on a range of food and drink staples are adding to the higher costs already facing the sector in areas such as wages and national insurance contributions. The warning comes as Lynx Purchasing publishes the Autumn 2025 edition of its regular Market Forecast.

Manuela Miccoli and Alejandro Hernandez, who won the 2024 NHS Chef of the Year competition, will showcase healthy and nutritious hospital meals during a demonstration at the upcoming Public Sector Catering Expo.

The Public Sector Catering Expo is scheduled for 18–19 November at the NAEC Stoneleigh in Warwickshire. The event will feature an exhibition with over 100 suppliers, an engaging speaker programme, insightful cooking demonstrations, and the military catering competition Exercise Joint Caterer (EJC).

A UNICEF report warned that obesity has surpassed underweight as the more prevalent form of malnutrition this year, affecting one in ten (188m) school-age children and adolescents placing them at risk of life-threatening disease.

The Food Foundation and Veg Power, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, have announced the November launch of a new UK wide campaign to get people eating more beans, pulses and legumes.

The duo are behind the effective Eat Them To Defeat Them and Peas Please campaigns, which reached 36 million people since 2019 and led to over 1.1 billion additional portions of veg being sold in the UK respectively. 

Catering equipment and maintenance experts Hobart UK has announced the appointment of Scott Duncan as its new managing director.  

Duncan brings over 23 years of experience across foodservice equipment and a proven track record of delivering growth and strong customer partnerships.

The Government will consult on banning the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under 16s due to negative impacts on children's physical and mental health.

Around 100,000 children consume at least one high caffeine energy drink every day. There is evidence linking these drinks to harmful effects on children, including disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, poor concentration and reduced educational outcomes.

A new investigation by the Countryside Alliance has raised concerns over the lack of clear and consistent policies on British food procurement across public sector bodies.

Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were submitted to 19 central government departments, 215 local authorities and the British Armed Forces. The aim was to uncover how much food served in the public sector is British or locally sourced — and whether organisations are monitoring this at all.

Catering butchers Campbell Brothers has released a new responsible sourcing guide to elevate supply chain transparency and improve ethical sourcing within foodservice.

Designed for its customers, suppliers and key players within the meat industry, Campbell Brothers' new guide clarifies and spotlights its standards, reinforcing ethical and sustainable practices and ultimately supporting the development of a stronger, more transparent supply chain.

New research, commissioned by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), shows that millions of Brits could be missing out on the health benefits of fibre.

The research shows that just 7% of people know that they should be getting 30g of fibre a day, with the average Brit thinking they only need 12.4g of fibre a day – less than half of the Government’s recommendation.

Love British Food has released a special interview with Jayne Jones, chair of the Public Sector Catering Alliance and assistant director for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde.

With a career spanning both school and hospital catering as well as experience as former chair of ASSIST FM representing 32 Scottish local authorities, Jones brings unique insight into transforming public sector food procurement.