Industry News

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'The future of retail' takes centre stage at NOPEX

Natural & Organic Products Expo (NOPEX) has revealed its full speaker line-up for 2025.

Returning to Excel London on 12-13 May, the event will host two days of thought-provoking and industry-defining content.

This year's programme features influential voices from Planet Organic, Whole Foods Market UK, Soil Association Certification and The Vegan Society – alongside respected figures such as Patrick Holford, Dr Marilyn Glenville, Simon Wright and Lee Holdstock.

Renowned for delivering must-know insights to visiting retailers, buyers, and distributors, NOPEX tackles the hottest topics shaping the industry. From the challenges and opportunities in independent retail to the impact of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), sustainability practices, emerging retail trends, and much more.

For a full programme of talks on the Main Stage and to explore the complete speaker lineup, please visit: www.naturalproducts.co.uk/events.

Read our Spring issue NOPEX preview here.

2025 Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards winners unveiled

Winners of the 2025 Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards have been announced – the prestigious title of Retailer of the Year has been awarded to Delilah Fine Foods Ltd in Nottingham amid fierce competition from across the UK.

In an awards evening at the annual Farm Shop & Deli Show, held at the NEC Birmingham, Delilah Fine Foods not only claimed the top honour but also took home the award for Delicatessen of the Year and was recognised as the Midlands Regional Winner.

The Awards, presented in partnership with The Grocer and championed by Fieldfare, showcased an impressive lineup of nine category winners, six regional champions, and a highly coveted Newcomer of the Year award.

Field to Fork from Henley-In-Arden, Warwickshire, was named 2025 Newcomer of the Year. This category was fiercely competitive, with Kale & Corn from Belper, Derbyshire, and Must Be Crackers! Cheesemongers from Dunfermline, Scotland, receiving Highly Commended certificates.

UK needs more ‘healthpreneurs’

A campaign by Health Stores UK is calling on aspiring ‘healthpreneurs’ – entrepreneurs with a passion for health and wellness – to consider opening their own health store.

The association says the campaign is part of a wider mission to increase nationwide access to healthier food and nutrition choices in an environment that is caring and supportive.

“We want to see a thriving independent health store in every town in the UK to bring greater health and happiness to High Streets where there is little or no access to lifestyle advice and support,” says Health Stores UK committee member and health store owner, Cheryl Thallon.

“The health store sector offers a great opportunity for those with a passion for all things healthy to create a successful business in their town. Opening a health store is an important service to your community and is also an opportunity to own your own business in this growing sector.”

To help aspiring new health store owners kick-start their venture, Health Stores UK has published an information-packed 200+ page book called How to Open & Run a Successful Health Store. Authored by Thallon, the book draws on her 40 years’ experience in the health food trade but also incorporates insights and practical tips from 12 other successful health store business owners.

Thank you Avril!

Tributes have poured in for Avril McCracken who has retired after 15 years as Health Stores UK Administrator. Meanwhile, Head of Business Development, Dave Christie, is working on initiatives to boost the impact of the Association’s work for its members.

More details here.

Backward step in sustainable farming

Small farmers and the Soil Association have slammed the government’s decision to ditch the Sustainable Farming Incentives.

For decades support has been available for farmers going through the two-year conversion period to organic because of the many benefits that organic production offers to the environment.

Now these options have been frozen, with no assurances currently available for those wanting to convert to organic. This follows new data just released by Soil Association Certification, which saw its land in conversion double in 2024, alongside the 13th consecutive year of growth in the organic market.

Soil Association Chief Executive Helen Browning said: “This damaging move by government seriously risks the viability of the organic sector and threatens the supply of sustainable British food. It has frozen farmers out of the opportunity to meet the rising demand for organic food, which will instead continue to be met by imports.

“The government is disregarding what shoppers and farmers want, alongside the need to protect nature. This is a new low for sustainable food production in England, which will fall even further behind Scotland and other countries where there are targets to increase organic production.”

Zero impact

West Yorkshire-based worker co-op Suma Wholefoods has won the Sky Zero Footprint Fund Local Heroes competition in the North, securing a local TV advertising campaign through AdSmart from Sky.

Boom time approaches for organic

Soil Association Certification has teamed up with online retailer Ocado Retail to deliver the UK’s only organic awards, the BOOMs (Best of Organic Market).

Back for the eighth year, the BOOMs are expanding to celebrate excellence with new improved categories across organic farming, beauty & wellbeing, fashion & textiles and food & drink, reflecting the range of organic-certified businesses working to restore nature, health and a safe climate.

This year will see streamlined product categories, together with the new, free to enter, public-facing Organic For All Awards celebrating those who are making organic more affordable, available and accessible. Judging is in April and May with the awards ceremony taking place in July.

www.soilassociation.org/boomawards

Veganuary CEO moves on following 2025 success

Veganuary's 2025 campaign review launched on March 10 revealed its phenomenal global impact in which:

A staggering 25.8 million people gave up animal products during January globally, based on surveys commissioned by Veganuary
At least 1,480 new vegan products and menu options were launched worldwide during January
There were more than 12,250 international media mentions of Veganuary
Official Veganuary campaigns launched in Canada, Peru and Malaysia in partnership with local organisations, taking the number of countries with active Veganuary campaigns to 20, while a sister campaign, V-March, was launched by China Vegan Society with support from Veganuary

Stepping down after six years at the Veganuary helm, CEO Ria Rehberg is handing over the top job to Wendy Matthews who has been leading international partnerships and expansion.

Irish health food industry braves the 'storm of the century' for a successful annual event

Against the odds and in the wake of a devastating storm, Health Stores Ireland gathered up their member retailers, trade partners, service providers and advisors for their annual conference and award ceremony in Shannon Co. Clare.

Forty-five trade participants along with over sixty retailers packed out the events hall and it wasn't long before the room was filled with the hum of lively discussion, banter, laughter and no doubt, a few stories of blown-off roofs, fallen trees and blocked roads – none of which did enough to deter the gathering.

A panel discussion with Cheryl Thallon (Viridian), Dave Christie (Take on Goliath) and Joe Gavin (Xcelerate), hosted by dual MCs Finn Murray (Hopsack) and Hannah Dare (Organico) talked through the issues of trends, change and solutions.

The new-look New Natural Business Annual Awards for Retail were presented over a luncheon awards ceremony to winners who were nominated and adjudicated by an independent panel of industry partners.

Winners in each category were:

Merchandising & Window Display: Kim Douglas, Natures Cures Skerries, Co. Dublin
Community Engagement: Clair Whitty, Natural Health Store, Wexford
Training: Kierran and Aideen Hurley Evergreen, Galway
Environmental Initiatives: Hannah Dare, Organico, Bantry
Digital Marketing & Social Media: Finn Murray, The Hopsack, Dubin
Local Producer Champion: Rosemarie Bennis, Sonas Health Foods, Newcastle West

Special recognition awards were presented to:

Sally Smith, Open Sesame, Gort & Ennis, Service to Retail – A true original pioneering spirit and unstoppable force helping to transform her local community and independent retail.

Cheryl Thallon, Viridian Nutrition and Sheaf Street Health Store, Service to Industry for an unwavering commitment in supporting the health food trade and fellow retailers.