NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 4 APRIL 2025
The UK government should
extend its sugar tax beyond soft
drinks to cover all types of foods,
according to a major new report
published this week.
The Transforming UK Food
Systems Programme study
highlights how the existing soft
drinks levy has reduced sugar
content in beverages by 44%,
and suggests a similar approach
expanded across all food types
could help tackle the UK’s
obesity crisis.
Introducing a new salt levy,
similar to the sugar tax, is
another proposal put forward in
a comprehensive set of
recommended regulations,
which are suggested not only to
transform public health in the
UK but also to deliver nation-
wide environmental benefits.
Professor Chris Hilson, lead
author of the report at the
University of Reading, said,
“Extending the sugar tax to all
processed foods is vital.
“The current levy has
successfully cut sugar in soft
drinks, but we need to see the
same success with products like
milkshakes, biscuits, yogurts
and breakfast cereals to improve
public health.
“Mandatory measures on
the food sector, such as a salt tax,
should be considered by MPs.”
The report calls for more
stringent regulations for the
food sector and a move away
from the current approach,
which relies more on voluntary
measures.
The authors argue that
stronger policies would also
support economic goals rather
than hinder them, as a healthy
environment and workforce are
essential for long-term growth.
Other recommendations
include setting greenhouse gas
targets for agriculture, adding
dairy and beef farms to environ-
mental permit schemes and
requiring large food businesses
to report on their sales of
unhealthy products.
Sugar tax now seen as template to tax everything edible
Call raised to bring-in soft
Call raised to bring-in soft
drink-like sugar tax universally
drink-like sugar tax universally
European-style fruity beer is
increasingly popular in the
UK, emerging as the
Britain’s fastest growing
beer trend.
According to Tesco,
demand for these lighter
thirst-quenching beers,
which have a typical
strength of around 4% ABV,
has seen sales volume grow
by 250% in the last year.
These fruity beer styles
have long been popular in
western Europe and are
associated with “after
sport” refreshment, particu-
larly skiing and cycling.
Over the last 15 years,
various European beers with
fruity profiles have gradually
become more popular over
here such as Belgian straw-
berry brews Fruli and
Bacchus Kriek, and more
recently Radler, a shandy
style beer from Germany
and Damm Lemon from
Spain.
Tesco beer buyer Ben
Cole said, “The soaring
demand for fruit-led brews,
particularly lager, has taken
the UK drinks market by
storm and is the biggest
trend to hit the beer scene
since the craft boom started
more than 15 years ago.
“For many people the
craft movement changed
the perception of what a
beer could taste like and
opened many drinkers’
palates to a wider range of
styles.”
Fruity beer emerges as biggest
trend since craft boom
The Real Yorkshire
The Real Yorkshire
Pudding Co taken over
Pudding Co taken over
The Compleat Food Group has
acquired The Real Yorkshire Pudding
Co for an undisclosed figure.
A leading supplier of own-label
and branded chilled Yorkshire
puddings in the UK, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co has driven
consistent double-digit growth to
reach £33m turnover.
This is the latest strategic
acquisition by The Compleat Food
Group as it continues its journey to
become the UK’s leading chilled
prepared food company. It follows the
group’s acquisition of SK Foods and
Zorba Foods, and Harvey & Brockless,
a speciality producer and distributor,
in 2024.
Shoplifters jailed
Shoplifters jailed
for stealing nearly
for stealing nearly
£20k in goods
£20k in goods
Two prolific shoplifters who stole
almost £20,000 worth of goods have
been sentenced after being caught
with stolen items in their car.
Thomas McDonagh, 21, of
Headington, Oxford, was jailed for 16
months after admitting to eight
counts of theft across Essex. Martin
Stokes, 23, of Bletchley received a
16-week jail term, suspended for 18
months.
The duo was stopped by police
while driving on the A12. Ofcers had
linked them to multiple thefts from
Boots and Next in the Stane Park retail
area in Stanway, Colchester.
Highland Spring secures
Highland Spring secures
£50m new funding
£50m new funding
Highland Spring Group, producer of
natural source waters, has completed
a competitive process to refinance its
business.
The company announced that
Bank of Scotland and Barclays will
provide support as it progresses
towards its ambition of £200 million
sales by 2030.
In 2023, the business grew its sales
in the year by 15.5% to £130.6m and
the brand consolidated its position as
the UK’s number one plain water
brand for a seventh successive year.
The company said the financial
backing will further accelerate the
evolution of the brand.