Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Country Choice lines up for labelling change

Country Choice lines up for labelling change

Country Choice has developed a comprehensive initiative that will allow its customers to comply with the Government’s calorie labelling regulations in the out of home sector, which are coming into force on April 6 this year.

The mandatory regulations apply to businesses with 250 or more employees. If such a business is selling food for immediate consumption that is either loose, pre-packed for direct sale, or made to order, it must display two key messages: the energy content of the food in kilocalories (kcal) with reference to the portion size to which the calorie information relates and the calorie needs statement that "adults need around 2000 kcal a day". This information can be provided on a label or menu either next to, or in close proximity to, the item.


In response to the new regulations Country Choice has amended its printer labels, adding the calorie information, serving sizes, and needs statement under the ingredients and descriptor. The plain 40mm and 80mm shelf-edge labels also now carry the relevant messages, prominently displayed alongside the usual information. At the same time, the company’s menu templates have been updated to include calorie content per serving size beneath each item. All new, compliant labelling and packaging will be distributed from early March, ready for the April changeover.

“The new regulations, instigated as part of the Government’s drive to tackle obesity by helping the public to make healthier choices when eating out, have the potential to create a lot of extra work for our customers,” said Country Choice’s Head of Marketing, Phil Carratt. “Our labelling solutions, which will be rolled out in plenty of time for the changes, have tackled the requirements head on and made it easy for our customers to comply with the rules in the simplest and quickest way possible.”

More for you

Fyffes Trudi’s ethical bananas in SPAR North of England store 2025

SPAR North of England launches new Trudi’s brand in UK exclusive

SPAR North of England has launched Fyffes’ new ethical trade brand Trudi’s in a UK exclusive for bananas.

The large premium bananas are free of plastic packaging and are available in a paper banded pack of five or loose, including as part of SPAR Meal Deals. This is meeting shifting customer demands and is driving sales in store.

Keep ReadingShow less
UK food and drink manufacturing facing -47% confidence drop in 2025
iStock image

Food and drink makers call for government action as confidence drops

A food and drink makers body is calling on the government to work with industry to boost growth and the competitiveness after a recent survey drop in the confidence among the maker as inflationary pressures including energy, labour and raw material costs gain pace.

According to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), business confidence plummeted to -47 per cent in the final three months of last year, down from -6 per cent in the previous quarter, as companies in the sector were hit by measures announced in the October budget.

Keep ReadingShow less
Hemanshu Patel representing Fed’s response to Payzone fee hike 2025

Fed’s national deputy vice president Hemanshu Patel

The Fed

Payzone services at risk after fee rise, Fed warns

Independent retailers will seriously think twice about providing Payzone services in their stores following the news that the company is increasing its fees by 3.5 per cent from April, the National President of the Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has warned.

Letters advising of the increase have been arriving with members since the beginning of this month. They state that the increases to its weekly charge to £5.54 - and to £8.85 for those offering card processing - are in line with its annual retail index price adjustment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Police at Johnson Newsagents in Colchester after knifepoint robbery 2025
iStock image

Arrests made in multiple convenience store thefts

Active police response was seen across the country in the past couple of days , resulting in the arrest of alleged thieves targeting convenience stores.

According to local reports, a man has been charged after three convenience stores in Norwich were raided with a crowbar.

Keep ReadingShow less
​D&I in Grocery LIVE! event

D&I in Grocery LIVE! takes place on 26 September 2025

GroceryAid’s D&I event announces 2025 host and keynote speaker

GroceryAid’s D&I in Grocery LIVE! has announces that award-winning journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern will host this year’s event on 26 September 2025.

Award-winning presenter, journalist, content creator, speaker and disability activist, Lucy Edwards, will also join Steph on stage as the keynote speaker, offering an immersive and experiential session which brings to life the commercial value of D&I alongside its role in shaping culture.

Keep ReadingShow less