Soil Association - food industry company news 
Comment: Organic sector should focus on quality to boost sales
30 March 2012
The continuing fall in demand for organic food in the UK is perplexing those in the sector, not least when sales of in another 'ethical' category, Fairtrade, have withstood the downturn and increased rapidly. Consumers buy organic for different reasons and the sector has lacked a true message to try to appeal to the mainstream. A focus on quality, Ben Cooper writes, could be the answer.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
26 March 2012
The Consumer Analyst Group of Europe investment conference in London dominated just-food's working week and we exclusively provided the news and views from the event.
In the spotlight: UK organic sector bemoans downbeat retailer view
22 March 2012
The Soil Association's Organic Market Report 2012 points to a lack of support from multiple retailers as a primary reason why organic sales continue to fall in the UK, while other countries are showing growth.
UK: "Lack of support" hits organic sales - Soil Association
5 March 2012
The continuing decline of organic sales in the UK during 2011 has been blamed on a lack of support from the country's retail multiples and the UK government.
In the spotlight: Industry welcomes EU-US organic trade agreement
1 March 2012
With the organic food sector, in many markets, in a state of exponential growth, the industry is hopeful that a new trade deal between the US and EU could significantly boost sales in both markets. MJ Deschamps reports.
UK: Recipe changes, NPD in Yeo Valley revamp
20 February 2012
New products and recipes are part of changes UK organic dairy firm Yeo Valley has made to its portfolio.
UK: Dibb named executive of Food Ethics Council
30 November 2011
The Food Ethics Council has today (30 November) appointed Sue Dibb as executive director.
Quote, unquote: CAP reform proposals
14 October 2011
The EU's plans to reform the Common Agricultural Policy, a challenging task, has drawn criticism from most parts of the food sector.
UK: Food Ethics Council executive, MacMillan to leave
29 September 2011
Executive director at The Food Ethics Council, Dr Tom MacMillan, has announced his intention to leave the company.
UK: Consumers open to nanotechnology - FSA
21 April 2011
Consumer sceptical about the use of nanotechnology in food are more likely to look on it favourably if they percieve a "real benefit" to them, according to the UK's Food Standards Agency.
UK: Organic sales drop in economic gloom
4 April 2011
Sales of organic products in the UK dropped by 5.9% in 2010, local certification body the Soil Association revealed today (4 April).
EUROPE: Eight organic organisations form alliance
23 March 2011
Eight European organic organisations have formed an alliance, called the 'Leading Organic Alliance' to promote organic farming in Europe.
In the spotlight – Feeding the world
28 January 2011
This week saw the publication of a major report from Foresight, the UK government think-tank, on the sustainability of global food production. Ben Cooper assesses what the new report contributes to the debate.
Quote, unquote: Foresight Report on Food and Farming Futures
24 January 2011
A UK government report, released today (24 January), said that the growing world population, increasing wealth, competition for land and climate change constitute a "major threat" that requires a "strategic reappraisal of how the world is fed".
UK: Organic food makers launch marketing drive
7 January 2011
UK organic food makers have launched a marketing campaign they hope will improve consumer understanding of the sector and boost sales.
UK: Cloned meat "hypothetically" safe - FSA
26 November 2010
The UK's Food Standards Agency has said that milk and meat from cloned cattle and their progeny is "hypothetically" safe.
The just-food interview - Paul Kaye, Plum Baby
30 September 2010
UK organic baby-food business Plum Baby is, quite literally, a baby brand. Founded in 2006, buy-out house Darwin Private Equity this year took control of the firm. In this month's just-food interview, Dean Best spoke with Plum Baby chief executive Paul Kaye about how he wants to see the company grow.
In the spotlight - the sale of UK organic dairy firm Rachel's
29 July 2010
As a business proud of its Welsh roots, it is unlikely the Stars and Stripes were ever hoisted above the Rachel's dairy farm in Aberystwyth.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
23 July 2010
Tengelmann's appointment of the second CEO of its US-based A&P chain in the US, its second in six months, piqued our interest, while the potential sale of UK biscuit and snack maker United Biscuits has captured the industry's imagination. Ocado's IPO finally got away, but not without the industry sounding off about its bleak prospects. The future of the Foods Standards Agency was sealed, and as expected, it lost its remit over nutrition and labelling. Here's the pick of what was said this week.
Editor's choice: the highlights on just-food this week
23 July 2010
The potential sale of UK biscuit and snack maker United Biscuits captured the industry's attention this week. Ocado's IPO finally got away, but not without a great deal of controversy, once again highlighting the difficulties online grocery retailers face trying to build a profitable business model. The future of the Foods Standards Agency was sealed, and as expected, it lost its remit over nutrition and labelling.
UK: Soil Association predicts organic growth
20 July 2010
The UK organic sector is still in decline but growth is predicted as consumer confidence returns, according to The Soil Association.
UPDATE: UK: Organic needs global co-operation, says Holden
29 June 2010
Organic bodies around the world need to work together more closely to promote the environmental benefits of sustainable farming, the departing director of the UK's Soil Association said today (29 June).
UK: Soil Association chief Holden to step down
29 June 2010
The lead director at UK organic certification body The Soil Association is to the step down from the role, it was announced today (29 June).
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
4 June 2010
Food firms remained upbeat this week as they delivered their latest results. Russia's Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods said its margins from dairy would improve as the year progressed, while UK food and drinks firm Innocent insisted it was not struggling but growing market share. Elsewhere, new marketing is set to hit UK screens with a new-look Flake advert from Cadbury and a pizza push from Northern Foods, which conceded its Goodfella’s brand had not performed as expected. Here is the best of who said what this week.
UPDATE: UK: FSA plays down GM food body resignation
2 June 2010
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has played down the second resignation of a member of its steering group set up to gauge the public mood on GM food.
US/UK: Dean Foods "puts Rachel's Organic on the block"
1 June 2010
US dairy giant Dean Foods has appointed advisers to look into the possible sale of UK unit Rachel's Organic.
Quote, unquote: just-food's week in words
16 April 2010
From Asda's Andy Bond explaining his departure from the UK retailer's hot seat, through the UK organic sector insisting things are looking up, to UK food group Uniq standing by its proposed deal to tackle its pension deficit, many in the industry were on the back foot this week. Here is a flavour of who said what about the top stories in the food sector.
UK: Whole Foods "confirms UK expansion plans"
14 April 2010
US natural and organic retailer Whole Foods Market has reportedly confirmed its ambition to expand further into the UK market.
COMMENT: Organic needs to get on message
13 April 2010
You may think otherwise but there is optimism in organic at the moment.
UPDATE: UK: Soil Association points to organic green shoots
12 April 2010
The UK organic sector is showing signs of recovering from the slump in sales endured in 2009, The Soil Association insisted today (12 April).
Related research
Organic Food & Drink 2010
Although organic food and drink overall are estimated to account for only around 2% of the value of the total grocery market, organic baby and toddler foods have achieved a leading 45% share of the total branded baby foods market.
Food Provenance - UK - April 2010
This report reveals that while no single food issue chimes with the whole of Britain, animal welfare has become the most widely shared concern. British and local origin of food rank close behind, broadly on a par with purity of food, but well ahead of considerations like organic and carbon footprint.
The Future of Sustainability in Food and Drinks
Consumers increasingly expect companies to take a lead role in addressing sustainability concerns, and are more willing to act on their sustainable values and shop ethically. This report aims to understand consumer attitudes towards sustainability, and the latest trends in the market for sustainable food and drinks, in order to identify key opportunities for innovation and growth.
