Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Barcode Festival raises record £900,000 for GroceryAid

Barcode Festival raises record £900,000 for GroceryAid

Barcode Festival, held at Magazine, London on 7 July, has raised a record-breaking amount of over £900,000 for the industry charity GroceryAid.

More than 4,500 FMCG colleagues from throughout the trade returned to the industry’s music, food and drink festival.


“Barcode Festival has quickly become a key event in the trade with a record number of colleagues and sponsors attending this year. We are grateful that the industry has embraced the event and bought their enthusiasm and creativity to make it, once again, a memorable event,” Steve Barnes, GroceryAid chief executive, commented.

“We have provided 61 per cent more instances of support versus last year and we are busier than we ever have been. We are proud that we are helping so many colleagues when they are facing crises. Ultimately that is the purpose of Barcode, to ensure we as a trade can raise the money to carry on our life-changing work for colleagues in need.”

Barcoders were able to enjoy complimentary food, drink and giveaways from over 80 sponsors. Supporters created incredible activations throughout the showground with a range of drinks bars and food stands. The entertainment included live performances from Steps, Tinie Tempah, Bastille, BBC Radio One DJs Rickie and Melvin and rugby legend James Haskell with his Ibiza DJ set.

“We were delighted to be a part of Barcode Festival once again this year, with a strong sustainability message from Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and an exciting Schweppes bar that everyone enjoyed! It means a lot to us to support Grocery Aid with such engaging events and it’s always a great opportunity to connect with others and engage new consumers,” said Carinna DeOliveir, Shopper Marketing, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

Next year’s Barcode Festival will be held at Magazine, London on 6 July 2023. Tickets are now available.

More for you

Sybren Attema, and Betty Eekchaut

Presidents Sybren Attema, FrieslandCampina, and Betty Eekchaut, Milcobel

Yazoo parent FrieslandCampina announces merger with Belgian rival Milcobel

Dutch dairy collective FrieslandCampina has agreed to merge with smaller Belgian rival Milcobel, creating a leading dairy cooperative.

FrieslandCampina, whose brands include Yazoo and Chocomel, said the merger will provide the foundation for a future-oriented organisation that has dairy front and centre for member dairy farmers, employees, consumers, and customers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Retail Shoplifting. Man Stealing In Supermarket
Photo: iStock

Home Office reaffirms commitment to abolish £200 shoplifting threshold

The UK government has pledged stronger measures to combat anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which it acknowledges as serious crimes that disrupt communities and harm businesses.

Addressing a House of Lords debate on Monday, Home Office minister Lord Hanson detailed plans to abolish the controversial £200 shoplifting threshold and to introduce a new offence for assaults on retail workers.

Keep ReadingShow less
post office store
Photo: Post Office Ltd

Post Office launches wellbeing hub to support postmasters amid rising retail crime

In response to the mounting pressures faced by postmasters across the UK, the Post Office has unveiled a centralised wellbeing platform aimed at simplifying access to support resources.

Post Office said the surge in shoplifting and violent incidents, documented in the 2024 ACS Crime Report, has only intensified the demand for comprehensive support.

Keep ReadingShow less
Independent retailers face mixed outlook for 2025 – Bira
iStock

Independent retailers face mixed outlook for 2025 – Bira

Independent retailers have weathered one of their most challenging years in 2024, with multiple headwinds affecting the sector, according to the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira).

With pressures mounting throughout the year, independent retailers have faced an increasingly difficult trading environment marked by changing consumer behaviour and economic uncertainties.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bottle of Perrier mineral water
Photo: iStock

Nestlé Waters faces Perrier production stoppage over contamination concerns

Nestlé Waters is facing a potential halt to its production of the iconic Perrier mineral water in southern France due to health risks, French media reported.

A confidential report published by French newspaper Le Monde and Radio France revealed that health authorities are recommending a production stoppage due to concerns over the sanitary quality of the water source.

Keep ReadingShow less