Retail, Recycling & Regen : The Top Stories in Food & Drink

Tesco: How Can Retailers Adapt to Shifting Consumer Habits?

The turbulent economic landscape and ongoing societal shifts are fundamentally reshaping how consumers make purchasing decisions, presenting both challenges and opportunities for retailers navigating an increasingly complex marketplace.

As uncertainty pervades daily life (from fluctuating prices to geopolitical instability and the disorienting rise of artificial intelligence) shoppers are recalibrating their relationship with brands and rethinking what drives their loyalty.

According to Tesco Media's third annual trends report, "We Know the Nation 2026", these shifts are sustained behavioural changes that demand strategic responses from retailers.

Amcor & Alter Eco: Recyclable Chocolate Packaging

Global packaging solutions leader Amcor has joined forces with organic food producer Alter Eco to create more environmentally conscious wrapping for the company's chocolate products.

Amcor's collaboration with Alter Eco centres on introducing recyclable paper-based packaging that mirrors the sustainable values of the organic chocolate it contains.

The initiative could help Alter Eco decrease packaging weight whilst maintaining the premium aesthetic and tactile quality expected by consumers.

McCain: Regenerative Agriculture for British Potato Farmers

McCain Foods, which purchases approximately 20% of the British potato crop from 250 farmers across the country, making it the largest buyer in the market, has revealed plans for a new Farm of the Future.

The research site will be used to develop and trial regenerative agricultural practices.

According to Max Koeune, President and CEO at McCain Foods, the UK site represents a significant development in the company's efforts to scale regenerative agriculture globally. "Each site helps us test real solutions with farmers, understand what works and share that knowledge across our network," he says.

"This is how we strengthen the resilience of our farms, support our partners and build a more sustainable food system for the long term."

Ball, Münsterland & Spongebob's Sustainable Packaging

From takeaway cups to single-use bottles and wrappers, packaging waste has become one of the clearest symbols of our disposable culture. The world now produces over 300 million tonnes of plastic packaging each year, yet only about 9% is recycled — leaving huge amounts destined for landfill, incineration, or the environment.

In the EU, packaging waste surpassed 80 million tonnes in 2022, equal to more than 180 kg per person, despite increasing policy pressure and major investment in recycling systems. Meanwhile, demand for packaging waste management continues to grow, with the global market expected to exceed 100 billion dollars by the mid‑2020s as regulators, consumers, and brands alike drive the shift toward circularity.

Faced with this challenge, many companies are exploring lower-impact formats and more creative, purpose‑driven on‑pack storytelling to encourage better choices.

Suntory's £2.5m Community Fund for Positive Impact in GB&I

Suntory Beverage & Food GB&I (SBF GB&I) has unveiled its Together for Good: SBF GB&I Community Fund, a new initiative designed to deliver measurable positive impact across local communities.

The company, which manufactures well-known brands such as Lucozade and Ribena, has committed to invest up to £2.5m (US$3.4m) into communities throughout the UK and Ireland by 2030.

The fund represents a significant step in the company's ongoing commitment to supporting the areas where it operates.