The US Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday it is reviewing concerns raised by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer against PRIME energy drink.
Schumer said earlier this month that PRIME, a beverage brand started last year by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI, should be investigated due to the high caffeine content in the energy drink, adding that it was also being marketed to children.
Prime Energy contains 200 milligrams of caffeine per 12 ounces, equal to six cans of Coca-Cola or nearly two Red Bulls.
Canadian health officials told Reuters on Wednesday the energy drink should not be sold in Canada as the product exceeds the acceptable caffeine limits.
According to Canadian regulations, energy drinks must not contain more than 180 mg of caffeine in a single-serving container and require cautionary statements to protect sensitive subpopulations, including children.
The Canada health agency is aware that some stores in Canada may be selling Prime Energy without approval and it is actively working to address this issue, a spokesperson said.
The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
According to a warning on the company's website, Prime Energy is not recommended for children under the age of 18, women who are pregnant or nursing, and individuals who are sensitive to caffeine.
The company also sells a non-caffeinated hydration drink. Schumer previously said the packaging and marketing of the two drinks were so similar that parents were unknowingly buying the highly caffeinated energy drinks for their children.
The US health regulator said it will respond to Schumer directly regarding his concerns.
Younger drinkers are driving the emergence of the premium cream liqueur category in the UK, according to new data from Irish cream challenger brand, Coole Swan.
The brand’s sales data shows 20 – 40-year-olds as the core consumer of Coole Swan, a demographic significantly contributing to the brand’s 67 per cent growth in the UK in 2024.
Coole Swan CEO, Mary Sadlier, believes this growth to be an untapped opportunity for the trade.
Data shows that Coole Swan consumers spend 84 per cent more instore than the category average and 70 per cent of its consumers come from outside the category, preserving the growth of the popular value end of the cream liqueur category.
Mary Sadlier commented, “Consumers are willing to pay more for premium alcohol, especially the younger consumer. It’s well documented that post millennials are drinking less, but when they are drinking, they’re opting for a better-quality liquid, with the finest ingredients and no additives.
"They might be buying less volume, but they’re spending more on quality, enjoying it for longer and really appreciating the liquid.
"For the trade, these new consumer habits mean better margins and repeat custom from proven higher spending consumers. It’s a real growth opportunity that doesn’t cannibalise the value end of the market, given that nearly three quarters of our consumers are discovering the brand from outside the category. ”
The global cream liqueur market is projected to register a CAGR of 10.5 per cent from 2023 to 2029. Global data shows that growth is largely driven by premium brands, which are growing faster than the rest of the category in Europe and the US.
Sadlier continued, “Irish Cream Liqueurs are having their day and Coole Swan is here to disrupt as the next generation cream liqueur. Blended with care, Coole Swan has fresher ingredients, a smoother finish and a cleaner taste and has won multiple, prestigious awards globally, to prove it.
"It’s hard to believe that a brand created in a shed in County Meath has gone on to create such disruption in the market. We don’t have big budgets behind us, simply loyal, satisfied customers who keep coming back.”
As well as maximising strategic price promotions throughout the year, Coole Swan also expects to secure brand growth through new retail and wholesale listings, working with its UK distributor. The brand is also investing in digital marketing to further tap into this younger, engaged audience.
Food sales continued to see an uptick last month against overall dip in sales as shopper confidence rose a little as retailers brace of additional costs and legislative changes in the coming months, shows industry data released today (11).
According to British Retail Consortium (BRC), total retail sales increased by 1.1 per cent year on year in February, against a growth of 1.1 per cent in February 2024. This was below the 3-month average growth of 2.4 per cent and above the 12-month average growth of 0.8 per cent.
Food sales increased by 2.3 per cent year on year in February, against a growth of 5.6 per cent in February 2024. This was level with the 3-month average growth of 2.3 per cent and below the 12-month average growth of 2.8 per cent.
Non-Food sales were flat year on year in February, against a decline of 2.7 per cent in February 2024
Commenting on the figures, Helen Dickinson OBE, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said, “Retail sales saw more modest growth in February. While sales growth across non-food categories was generally muted, it was propped up by online purchases, particularly in computing and electronics.
"Jewellery, watches and fragrance sold well thanks to Valentine’s Day, reversing declines seen last year, and furniture also returned to growth. Fashion performed poorly due to the gloomy weather throughout the month, but retailers are hopeful the early March sunshine kickstarts spending on Spring and Summer wardrobes.
“This weak performance makes many retailers uneasy, especially as they brace for £7bn of new costs from the Budget and packaging levy in 2025, as well as the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill.
"The industry is already doing all it can to absorb existing costs, but they will be left with little choice but to increase prices or reduce investment in jobs and shops, or both.
"The focus of the Employment Rights Bill should be on unscrupulous employers but instead the industry faces ongoing uncertainty and a trajectory that risks punishing responsible businesses who provide valuable employment, particularly at entry level. It is time for government to course correct to ensure investment and growth are not undermined.”
Regarding the performance in food and drink sector, Sarah Bradbury, CEO at IGD, said, "Despite upcoming cost challenges, shopper confidence rose to 2 (from -3 in January) due to wage growth and the impending rise in the National Living Wage.
"Early February saw positive retail value sales, likely from Valentine’s promotions, but overall, February's volume sales dipped. Shopper confidence is expected to remain volatile in response to the external environment."
Over the past year, the UK’s local shops have recorded an estimated 6.2 million incidents of shop theft, compared to 5.6 million in the previous year.
The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has released its 2025 Crime Report today (10), revealing another record level of theft committed against convenience store retailers.
Key figures from this year’s report include:
Crime cost retailers an estimated £316m over the last year
Retailers have spent over £265m on crime prevention and detection measures in their store over the last year
Taken together, the cost of crime and investment in crime prevention amount to a 10p crime tax on every transaction in a convenience store
There were over 59,000 estimated incidents of violence in the convenience sector over the last year, and 1.2million incidents of verbal abuse
59 per cent of retailers believe that incidents involving organised crime have increased over the last year
Behind every figure in the report is a retailer and their colleagues, working hard in a community to provide essential services but facing crime on a regular basis. Two retailers featured in this year’s report have been subject to robberies, abuse, theft and physical violence.
Amit Puntambekar, who runs a Nisa Local in Fenstanton, was attacked and injured when he attempted to challenge a thief and has been dealing with violent threats for months.
Speaking in the report, he said, “When your staff are threatened with a hammer, when someone threatens to kill you who lives near your shop and the police don’t take it seriously, what’s the point?”
Ian Lewis, who runs a SPAR store in Minster Lovell, had his store targeted by two ram raid attacks in recent months, the second of which between Christmas and New Year where thieves ripped out the stores’ cash machine.
Speaking in the report, he said, “My business was ram raided by criminals in a Land Rover and the cash machine ripped out. My parents live above the shop, I will never forget the voicemail that I got from my parents when this happened.”
The report comes as parliament considers the Crime and Policing Bill at Second Reading stage today (10). The Bill aims to introduce a separate offence for assaulting a shopworker, to scrap the £200 threshold for shop theft offences, and to increase police powers to deal with anti-social behaviour, among other measures to deal with prolific offenders effectively.
ACS has backed the Crime and Policing Bill as a long-overdue turning point on retail crime, and is urging everyone involved in the justice system, from local forces to Police and Crime Commissioners, to make tackling retail crime a priority this year.
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive James Lowman said, “The levels of theft, abuse and violence experienced by retailers over the last year makes for shocking reading, but it will not surprise our members who are living it on a daily basis.
"Criminals targeting local shops without fear of reproach cannot be allowed to continue, which is why we’re fully supportive of the Government’s Crime and Policing Bill.
"In our Crime Report, we have set out ways that retailers and the police have made a positive difference, putting in place strategies that work to keep retailers and their colleagues safer, and we need stronger legislation to back that up.
"This must be the moment we commit to ending the retail crime crisis, through Government, police and retailers working together.”
Retail footfall rebounded last week from the week before in high streets and retail parks whereas shopping centres continued to see a decline, shows the latest figures.
The rise in high street activity is being attributed to warmer weather, and schools reopening following the half term break across the UK which will also signal a return to the office.
According to MRI Software, footfall rose on four out of seven days last week peaking on Sunday and Wednesday in all UK retail destinations, however the drop in activity came on Friday which was far more significant in shopping centres.
High streets benefitted from the warmer weather on Saturday with a rise in footfall recorded however retail parks and shopping centres saw a drop in activity on this day compared to the week before.
All town types seemingly benefited from the milder weather conditions with footfall rising from the week before, especially in coastal towns and Greater London where double digit rises were recorded from the week before.
Market and historic towns also witnessed strong activity, alongside MRI Software’s Central London Back to Office benchmark. Apart from the West Midlands, regional footfall in all UK retail destinations remained strong particularly in the East of England and the South West.
Retail footfall rose by +1.8 per cent overall last week from the week before driven by a +4.2 per cent rebound in high street activity and by +0.1 per cent in retail parks.
Shopping centres, however, saw a -1.6 per cent decline in footfall, reflecting cautious consumer behaviour ahead of Mother’s Day and Easter, which fall two weeks later this year than in 2024. This suggest shoppers may be planning purchases more intentionally.
Week on week, Sunday and Wednesday were the strongest days with footfall in all UK retail destinations but driven predominantly by high streets experiencing strong rises.
This upward trend continued into the weekend with activity rising by +4% on Saturday whereas retail parks and shopping centres saw a much quieter day with footfall declining, a sign of milder weather conditions encouraging people to outdoor retail destinations.
Coastal towns also benefitted from the improved weather conditions as footfall rose by +11 per cent week on week, a double digit trend which was also echoed in Greater London (+10.6 per cent). The return to office was evident in Central London.
Compared to 2024 levels, high street footfall remained flat whereas shopping centres and retail parks saw a footfall decline.
With seasonal shifts in major events that typically drive retail footfall, including Mother’s Day and Easter moving to later in March and into April, these annual fluctuations are expected to level out over time.
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Croydon town centre facing anti-social behaviour and shoplifting issues
Croydon town centre has been thrown into turmoil after a group of school-aged teenagers engaged in shoplifting, vandalism, and anti-social behavior, prompting police to enforce special dispersal powers.
Local businesses and residents have been left distressed, with reports of a lit firework being thrown into a store, MyLondon reports.
Section 35 Dispersal Zone has been put in place across Broad Green and Fairfield Wards, allowing officers to exclude individuals from the area for up to 48 hours, while those under 16 can be taken home or to a place of safety.
In one instance, a lit firework was thrown into a store. The residents told the publication that there had also been instances of teenagers waving lit fireworks around market sellers in the area.
They said that things have improved recently due to a larger police presence, but they still have to remain vigilant.
South Area Croydon police stated, "The order is being used because a group of school-aged teenagers has been repeatedly engaging in shoplifting, anti-social behavior, criminal damage, and general nuisance in Croydon Town Centre.
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"Their actions are disrupting businesses and causing distress to the public," states the police.
Business owners from this area have been reporting antisocial behaviour in their area with teens coming in groups and picking things and running away.
Mark Oram, who works at Dabners Pet Store, told MyLondon that while he hadn’t experienced issues with school-age children, antisocial behaviour in the area was still a huge problem.
“We’ve got a lot of drunks and drug addicts,” he said. “It's lawless, absolutely lawless. There’s so much crime which you don’t even hear about. Stabbings are by the hour.”
In the South East, shoplifting figures rose by 42.6 per cent in Surrey, 8.5 per cent in Kent and 13.5 per cent% in Sussex, according to ONS figures.
This comes a couple of weeks after businesses across the South East reported similar incidents, saying shoplifting has become "much more brazen" with staff being shouted at and abused.
Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner Katy Bourne said she welcomed the shoplifting figures as she said it showed businesses were reporting more retail crime.
She added, "I feel quite aggrieved for local business people – shop theft should never have got this bad and it should have been tackled a long time ago.
"The abuse shopworkers are getting is horrible.
"People take their chance because they think police forces are turning a blind eye. It's very important that police forces like Sussex continue a real focus on this."