British Retail Consortium

Joyce Farms Receives Coveted AA+ Rating, the Highest Accolade, in Latest BRC Food Safety Audit

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 21, 2024

The AA+ rating is the highest possible score, affirming Joyce Farms' unwavering commitment to excellence in food safety and quality.

Key Points: 
  • The AA+ rating is the highest possible score, affirming Joyce Farms' unwavering commitment to excellence in food safety and quality.
  • The BRCGS Global Food Safety Standard is an internationally recognized quality and food safety certification program.
  • It provides benchmarks for food safety management systems, designed to ensure the integrity of the supply chain and provide assurance to consumers.
  • "Receiving the AA+ rating in the BRC food safety audit is a testament to the collective commitment of every member of the Joyce Farms team," says Joyce Farms' Quality Assurance Manager, Jennifer Hamby.

Sargento Foods Inc. Announces New CSR Platform, Real Impact, Alongside 2022 Impact Report

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 15, 2023

PLYMOUTH, Wis., Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Sargento Foods Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of "Sargento Real Impact," a corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform that encompasses the company's ongoing philanthropic and sustainability efforts.

Key Points: 
  • PLYMOUTH, Wis., Nov. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Sargento Foods Inc. is pleased to announce the launch of "Sargento Real Impact," a corporate social responsibility (CSR) platform that encompasses the company's ongoing philanthropic and sustainability efforts.
  • Sargento Foods is pleased to announce the launch of Sargento Real Impact, a corporate social responsibility platform
    "'Sargento Real Impact,' represents a new chapter in our CSR efforts while building on my grandfather's longstanding commitment to give back and use resources responsibly," said Louie Gentine, third Generation CEO of Sargento Foods.
  • "Real Impact means committing – not just to our community through hunger, housing and educational initiatives – but also to our planet through sustainability practices."
  • Throughout 2022, the impact of Sargento was seen broadly across all company efforts, as detailed in its Annual Impact Report .

How data protection law can help retailers tackle shoplifting

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

As statistics show that shoplifting is up by 27% across ten of the largest cities in the UK*, more retailers are turning to technology to protect their business.

Key Points: 


As statistics show that shoplifting is up by 27% across ten of the largest cities in the UK*, more retailers are turning to technology to protect their business.
Data protection law enables retailers to share criminal offence data such as images to prevent or detect crime as long as it's…

Shop theft has been building for years – here's how to tackle retail crime and keep workers safe

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Retail crime cost UK shops £1.76 billion in the year to April 2023, according to the British Retail Consortium.

Key Points: 
  • Retail crime cost UK shops £1.76 billion in the year to April 2023, according to the British Retail Consortium.
  • The increase in theft from UK grocery and convenience shops is often blamed on the cost of living crisis.
  • But this situation has been building for many years because overburdened policing and criminal justice systems can’t cope with a rise in organised crime and drug-fuelled stealing.
  • I interviewed a shop manager who had been threatened by a customer for a 2019 report.
  • But the resulting lack of police data also makes it difficult to identify who exactly is committing theft and where.

Is the cost of living crisis to blame?

    • Research shows 70% of shop theft is committed by frequent users of class A drugs.
    • Those using shop theft to support a drug addiction report they typically generate around one third to a half of retail price when they sell stolen goods.
    • Where the cost of living crisis might be contributing to the uplift in theft is in people’s willingness to buy stolen goods, particularly through online marketplaces, or at car boot sales, pubs, clubs and even in other shops.

Systems in crisis

    • For offenders that are caught, the average custodial sentence for a shop theft is two months (automatic release means half of this is served in prison).
    • Adults released from custodial sentences of less than or equal to 6 months have a proven reoffending rate of 56.5%.
    • Businesses known to be in receipt of stolen goods need to be investigated and online marketplaces better regulated.


    Retailers must make sure awareness of the risk of shop theft is company-wide. But they should also accept that approaches might have to differ at store level, depending on location. Regardless, taking action to protect staff and products should be their top concern.

Nuts For Cheese™ Achieves BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Certification

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

BRC Global Food Safety Certification is a leading global quality and food safety certification program that is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).

Key Points: 
  • BRC Global Food Safety Certification is a leading global quality and food safety certification program that is recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI).
  • Certification is only awarded to organizations that have fully embraced a top-to-bottom food safety culture and approach throughout their company.
  • From our wholesome ingredients to house-made cultures and sauces, our mission is to make delicious cashew-based cheese for cheese lovers everywhere," said Margaret Coons, Founder & CEO of Nuts For Cheese™.
  • "Food safety is an important focus as part of our commitment to quality and this achievement validates our continuous efforts to uphold the highest standards.

Iconic Argentine Winemaker Susana Balbo Introduces a New, Low-Alcohol Chardonnay and Organic Malbec to the U.S. Market

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 22, 2023

NEW YORK, June 22, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Susana Balbo–one of Argentina's most iconic and pioneering family wineries, located in Agrelo, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza--introduces the new Crios sub-line: 'Sustentia'. Translating to "sustenance," Sustentia will include wines that respond to the global need for products that take care of both our land and the people that inhabit it. The low-alcohol Crios Sustentia Chardonnay and Crios Sustentia Organic Malbec will be the first two wines from the line to enter the U.S. market.

Key Points: 
  • The low-alcohol Crios Sustentia Chardonnay and Crios Sustentia Organic Malbec will be the first two wines from the line to enter the U.S. market.
  • I am passionate about applying my winemaking knowledge to novel products and ideas," explains Winemaker Susana Balbo.
  • "The Crios Sustentia line is the direct result of a winemaker and her team's passion to constantly evolve.
  • The Crios Sustentia Chardonnay and Organic Malbec will be nationally distributed by Folio Wine Partners and the suggested retail price will be $18.99.

TriMas Announces the Acquisition of Aarts Packaging

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 1, 2023

“We are excited to announce the addition of Aarts Packaging to the TriMas Packaging family of businesses,” said Thomas Amato, TriMas President and Chief Executive Officer.

Key Points: 
  • “We are excited to announce the addition of Aarts Packaging to the TriMas Packaging family of businesses,” said Thomas Amato, TriMas President and Chief Executive Officer.
  • Aarts Packaging also provides products for food packaging and medical applications, expanding our existing presence in those core end markets.
  • We expect Aarts Packaging’s customers to benefit from TriMas Packaging’s broad product offering, expanded design resources, global manufacturing footprint and continued investment in Aarts Packaging’s production capabilities.”
    Located in Waalwijk, Netherlands, Aarts Packaging provides packaging solutions for the beauty, food, medical and pharmaceutical end markets.
  • Fabio Salik, President of TriMas Packaging, commented, “We are pleased to welcome the management team and employees of Aarts Packaging to TriMas.

El Coto de Rioja Receives the "Winery for Climate Protection" Certificate

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 11, 2023

OYON, Spain, Jan. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of El Coto de Rioja's policies of continuous improvement and commitment to the environment, El Coto de Rioja winery now holds the certificate of 'Winery for Climate Protection'.

Key Points: 
  • OYON, Spain, Jan. 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of El Coto de Rioja's policies of continuous improvement and commitment to the environment, El Coto de Rioja winery now holds the certificate of 'Winery for Climate Protection'.
  • "This certification confirms El Coto de Rioja's commitment to its environment," says Victor Fuentes, newly named Director General of Grupo Baron de Ley.
  • Group Baron de Ley, the parent company of El Coto de Rioja Winery, was founded in 1970.
  • El Coto de Rioja is the leading Rioja brand in Spain in the categories of White, Rosé, Crianza and Reserva wines.

Leading Retail, Grocery AI Company Enters UK Market

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, November 16, 2022

This entrance into the UK market comes at a time when retailers need it most.

Key Points: 
  • This entrance into the UK market comes at a time when retailers need it most.
  • Earlier this year, the number of job vacancies in the UK exploded to a record high of nearly 1.3 million.
  • Given the UK's current labour and supply chain crises, Focal Systems has seen huge demand for its technology in the UK market over the past year.
  • Now that COVID restrictions have relaxed, the brand is setting itself up to support UK retailers and help them adopt AI and automation quickly.

Retailers under pressure to provide value amidst falling retail sales

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, November 8, 2022

LONDON, Nov. 8, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Retailers are being forced to build on their value credentials as consumer budgets are squeezed further into the festive season.

Key Points: 
  • But today's BRC figures reiterate that retail businesses should be braced for a hard winter as squeezed consumers cut down on spending and increasingly demand value from their favourite shops.
  • Value credentials have become much more important in determining which retailers consumers choose to shop with.
  • The RPI crowned Card Factory, Aldi and Lidl as the UK's favourite retailers in terms of low prices and value for money in 2022.
  • All Rankings of the 2022 Retail Proposition Index can be found here: https://www.occstrategy.com/media/3250/05276-occ-ip-rpi-uk-all-about-val...
    *British Retail Consortium Retail Sales Monitor data, 8th November, 2022
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