Industry News

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Grape Tree branches out

Health food retailer Grape Tree is planning expansion in a bid to take on Holland & Barrett in the UK, according to a report in The Grocer.

That growth is already rapid with 60 new stores opening since the beginning of 2024 at a rate of three a month, taking the total to 177.

Now the chain aims to reach 200 by early next year with 50 more planned for 2026. Grape Tree sees itself as capitalising on the UPF backlash with products such as bulk-buy pumpkin seeds, dried fruit and nuts together with VMS and healthier confectionery.

Founder and MD Nick Shutts is reported in The Grocer article saying: “We like to be near to a Holland & Barrett when we are choosing a store,” confessing there were synergies with the dominant chain. H&B has already embarked on its own expansion plan.

Last year, Grape Tree doubled the capacity of its Midlands packaging plant and distribution centre to 68,000 sq.ft.

Shutts led the Julian Graves chain in the early 2000s before selling the business to H&B. He then founded Grape Tree with Nigel Morris in 2013, buying out Morris’s share last year.

ASA junks Viridian advertising campaign

The Advertising Standards Authority has told Viridian to stop saying its products contain ‘no junk’ or are ‘pure’.

The ethical vitamin company has been running its ‘No Junk’ campaign in which it says it uses no fillers, binders or artificial ingredients in its products.

A complaint was brought before the ASA by the Health Food Manufacturers’ Association which said the claims were misleading and ‘discredited and denigrated’ other products.

Viridian, itself a member of the HFMA, acknowledged the decision and pledged to amend its advertising wording.

MD Holly Thallon Steenson said: “Our campaign clearly hit a nerve with our competitors who chose to persuade the HFMA council to lodge the complaint with the ASA.

“Using the terms ‘junk’ and ‘ultra-processed’, daring to spotlight label small print and shining a floodlight on the darker corners of food supplement manufacturing have been noticed.”

The ASA said: “Viridian had not provided evidence to show that the specific additives and other ingredients at the levels found in competitor products had negative effects on health. We therefore considered that the claims ‘pure’ and ‘no junk’ were misleading.

“We considered ‘junk’ to be a pejorative comment which suggested that consumers should avoid purchasing competitor products because they contained ingredients that were of little or no value. We also considered that the demeaning tone was added to by the mention of ‘ineffective fillers’.”

In a statement, the HFMA said it follows its own advertising CAP code, which mirrors advertising standards, and encourages members to adhere to it.

Half-price training offer

The Health Food Institute is offering all courses at half price until the end of August. Diploma Part One is £97.50 instead of £295 and Diploma Part Two is £175 instead of £350. And following founder Ray Hill’s retirement, the HFI is looking for new council members to help steer the industry’s training body to new heights.Currently, HFI Directors are John Frisby (Chair), Michael Hill, David Pollard and Secretary and Treasurer Alison Collingwood. Email [email protected] or phone Alison on 0115 9234534.

Dedication award tinged with sadness

Photo: Colin Tennant for Wigtown Book Festival

David Finlay from The Ethical Dairy Company received the Special Contribution Award in the Soil Association’s 2025 BOOM (Best of Organic Market) Awards recently.

This award recognises individuals who have dedicated their life to organic. David accepted the award on his own behalf, but also posthumously on behalf of his wife and business partner Wilma, who passed away earlier this year.

David and Wilma pioneered a technique at their dairy that keeps calves with mother cows, and Wilma was previously recognised with an MBE for her services to agriculture and tourism in Scotland.

Natrue's new top table

NATRUE, the International Natural & Organic Cosmetics Association, has appointed Professor Dr Florian Stintzing, Head of Science and Member of the Board at WALA Heilmittel GmbH, as President. Vice President is Jayn Sterland, Weleda UK's MD. They are pictured with Director General Mark Smith (right).

More than 10,000 cosmetic products and raw materials all over the world carry the NATRUE label.

UPF industry blocking healthier alternative promotion, says Soil Association

The ultra-processed food industry has blocked government attempts to push shops to put promotional deals on healthy foods, according to a Soil Association investigation.

Emails obtained by the charity via Freedom of Information requests reveal that the government retreated from plans to back "minimally processed and nutritious foods" after months of persistent lobbying by the food manufacturing sector.

The Department of Health and Social Care had planned to encourage retailers to shift the balance of price promotions towards minimally processed foods – which include fruit, vegetables, beans, wholegrains like rice and pasta, and unprocessed meat.

But the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) demanded this steer was removed from the guidance – despite overwhelming scientific evidence that this category of foods is crucial for a healthy diet. The FDF, which channels its members' views, said the government's promotion of minimally processed foods was a "real bone of contention" for the companies it represents. Their members include Coca-Cola, Nestle, Unilever, Mars, Cadbury, Mondelez, Danone, PepsiCo, and owner of Kellogg's – Kellanova.

Soil Association Campaigns Co-ordinator Cathy Cliff said: "This move to block discounts on healthy foods is clearly one which benefits the profits of UPF manufacturers more than the health of their consumers. The World Health Organization says healthy diets are based around unprocessed and minimally processed foods. We're concerned the UK Government has been prevented from saying the same and we are worried corporate profits are being put before public health."

In response to the investigation, the Soil Association and leading food and health organisations have written an open letter to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, demanding urgent action to make healthy, minimally processed foods more accessible and affordable. Signatories include the Obesity Health Alliance, which represents sixty leading health bodies, the British Dietetics Association, and the Association of Directors of Public Health. The Soil Association has also launched a petition based on the same asks for government.