NEWS
6 ASIAN TRADER 17 OCTOBER 2025
Food inflation held steady
in September after seven
consecutive months of
rises, according to the
latest figures.
Food inflation was
unchanged at 4.2% year on
year in September, against
growth of 4.2% in August.
This is above the 3-month
average of 4.1%.
Fresh Food inflation was
unchanged at 4.1% year on
year in September, against
growth of 4.1% in August.
This is above the 3-month
average of 3.8%. Ambient
Food inflation was un
changed at 4.2% year on year
in September, against
growth of 4.2% in August.
This is below the 3-month
average of 4.5%.
Commenting on the
figures, Helen Dickinson
OBE, Chief Executive of the
British Retail Consortium,
said, “Food inflation held
steady after seven
consecutive months of
rises but increased labour
and energy costs continue
to push up input prices.
“Households are
finding shopping increas
ingly expensive. The
impact on retailers and
their supply chain of both
global factors and higher
national insurance and wage
costs is playing out in prices
for consumers.
“The new packaging tax,
set to take effect in October,
will put further upward
pressure on inflation.”
Food inflation holds steady
after rising for months
The vanity of vodka – we
The vanity of vodka – we
can make it work harder
can make it work harder
Nick Gillett is
Co-founder
and Managing
Director of
successful
spirits
distributor
Mangrove Global, as well as
an industry expert and
commentator. In his column
for this issue, Nick explains
how to make your vodka
range really zing
I would bet my life that there’s not a
booze shelf out there – off trade or
on trade – that doesn’t have at least
one variety of vodka upon it. Vodka
is the biggest spirits category in the
world by volume but isn’t it, well, just
a little bit dull? There’s absolutely no
doubt there are some great brands
doing exciting things but compared
to other categories, you have to look
quite hard to find them. Here’s how
to inject some excitement into your
in-store vodka range …
You probably stock a staple
vodka or two that you know will
always sell. But where’s the
excitement in that? Trialling an
independent brand or two, at a more
premium price point, will bring some
interest to the range and perhaps
even encourage an upgrade. There
are some great British producers
doing good work in this space, like
East London Liquor Company, FAIR,
and Portobello Road Distillery. And
some of these brands are bringing
sophisticated flavoured varieties
too, such as Toasted Coffee Bean
vodka from Portobello Road – an
other good way to expand and
diversify your in-store range.
Beyond that, we’re seeing a huge
uptake in ready-to-drink and
ready-to-serve products (expected
to grow at a volume CAGR of 6% up
until 2027) – covering the full
spectrum from premixed cans
through to premixed cocktails. If
your customers like convenience,
RTDs are worth trying out, and
remember to keep them cool so
they’re ready to sip. Mick Jagger
said, “There are no absolutes in life
– only vodka,” but that doesn’t mean
we can’t do a little more with it!
One in five Scots say that they
are less likely to vote Labour if
the generational smoking ban
goes ahead, compared with only
one in 11 who are attracted by
the policy, according to The
Freedom Association
According to a new opinion
poll, Labour’s dominance of
Scottish politics is imperilled by
the Government’s bid to phase
out smoking.
Labour holds 36 of the 57
Westminster seats in Scotland,
but in the latest opinion polls it
trails the SNP and is being
challenged for second place by
Reform UK.
The survey conducted by
Whitestone Insight for The
Freedom Association finds that
6% of Scots are somewhat less
likely to vote Labour if the ban
goes ahead and that 14% are
much less likely to do so. This
compares with 6% somewhat
more likely to back the party
and 3% much more likely.
The equivalent figures for
the UK as a whole in a previous
poll are 14% less likely to vote
Labour and 10% more likely –
suggesting the ban goes down
particularly badly with Scottish
voters.
The generational smoking
ban is part of the Tobacco and
Vapes Bill currently before the
House of Lords. It means that
anyone born after 2008 will not
be able to buy tobacco legally.
Initially only teenagers will by
affected but in time people in
their twenties, thirties and so
forth will be banned from
smoking.
New Zealand is the only
country in the world to try to
phase out smoking this way and
it ditched the policy after just
one year.
The Freedom Association
poll found that the Scottish
public backs the ban in theory
but opposes it in practice.
Scottish voters would rather quit Labour than cigarettes
Generational smoking ban
Generational smoking ban
threatens Labour’s grip
threatens Labour’s grip
NEWS/COMMENT