Sussex warm weather means strawberries will be ready for Easter
Mr Darnes added: "Strawberry plants love the English spring and summer climate; not too hot, not too cold with warm days and cool nights. This is why we produce the best strawberries in the world."
Mr Baker said: "The arrival in stores of the first spring-grown British strawberries of the year creates a feel-good factor because it signifies the start of the UK fruit season and that summer is on the way."But their availability also brings a cheer from shoppers because British-grown strawberries are considered to be the best in the world because of our climate."Strawberries taste naturally sweeter when ripened in periods of sunny weather because it boosts their natural sugars."Dry conditions also enhance the flavour of the strawberries, making them firmer and more flavourful, he said.Additional reporting by PA Media.
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Scotsman
26 minutes ago
- Scotsman
One in three Brits will picnic 'no matter the weather' - come rain or shine
One in three Brits will picnic 'no matter the weather' | SWNS One in three Brits will picnic 'no matter the weather' - come rain or shine - resorting to eating in the car or under an umbrella. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A poll, of 2,000 adults, found 20 per cent said unpredictable weather adds to the 'fun' of summer meals. A third (31 per cent) believe going ahead with an outdoor plan, despite the rain, is just part of being British. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The typical picnicker will enjoy three a year - although 19 per cent of them are fully expected to be disrupted by weather. And the best foods to survive a picnic downpour were revealed to be fruit, crisps - and chocolate bars. The research also uncovered just how much thought goes into the contents of a picnic basket - for 30 per cent, nostalgic British treats are a must-pack, with chocolate bars and coffee among the top summer staples. A spokesperson for Nestlé UK and Ireland, which commissioned the research, said: "There's something quintessentially British about a picnic - whether it's blazing sunshine or a stubborn grey sky. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We'll still lay out the blanket, unpack the homemade sandwich, break off some chocolate and make the best of it, as the study shows. 'And that sense of British comfort hits a little harder when so many of our go-to picnic treats come from brands that are part of Britain's heritage too.' The research found more than half (52 per cent) said they're more likely to buy food and drink if they know it's made in Britain, while 29 per cent say they often check the packaging to confirm its origin before buying it. The top reasons cited for buying British items include product quality (61 per cent), supporting the economy (55 per cent) and backing local jobs (47 per cent). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Separately, almost a third (31 per cent) say picnics are among their favourite British summertime childhood moments. Of those who'll find an alternative place to eat if the weather interferes with a picnic, 47 per cent are keen not to waste the prepared food. With 28 per cent of those polled, via OnePoll, just determined to have a picnic of some sort, while 12 per cent chase that nostalgic feeling. The Nestlé spokesperson added: 'It just proves that for many of us, summer picnics are about feeling connected - to our favourite memories, our national quirks and everything the British summer season has to offer. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'What makes those moments even more special is the familiar food and drink that brings it all together. 'There's a real sense of pride in choosing British-made products that have been part of our summer traditions for generations. 'Many of the treats we reach for in those moments are made right here in Britain – something the research shows us people are especially proud of.
Fashion United
an hour ago
- Fashion United
AI start-up ChatBlu raises 500,000 US dollars in pre-seed funding
London-based artificial intelligence start-up ChatBlu, which bills itself as the first autonomous AI agent for multi-platform inventory management, has raised 500,000 US dollars in pre-seed funding. The round was led by Matador Venture Capital, with participation from angel investors associated with Google and Amazon Web Services. The funding will support ChatBlu's product development and go-to-market rollout, which is planned for September 2025. Initially, the AI technology will serve English-speaking markets, with expansion into the Hispanic e-commerce sector planned for 2026. The start-up, founded by 20-year-olds Kristian Lukauskis and Alexander Dillon, aims to solve a widespread pain point in digital commerce: syncing listings, managing stock, and adjusting pricing across storefronts like Shopify, Amazon, Etsy, and WooCommerce by enabling store owners to issue simple, natural-language commands for all backend tasks autonomously across channels. Industry research estimates that poor inventory coordination results in 1.8 trillion US dollars in lost revenue for retailers every year. ChatBlu's team believes its product can help merchants increase conversion rates by up to 20 percent through intelligent listing optimisation and real-time inventory control. Dillon said in a statement: 'E-commerce has evolved, but inventory management hasn't kept up. ChatBlu is here to change that and set a new standard for how stores operate across platforms.' The company was developed within the 2024–2025 cohort of the Genoa Entrepreneurship School, a European accelerator programme that boasts a 75 percent funding success rate.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Tesco is hiking the price of its meal deal again from tomorrow
For Clubcard members, the cost of the popular lunchtime option will increase from £3.60 to £3.85, while the price without a Clubcard is rising from £4 to £4.25 Tesco is increasing the price of its meal deal again from this Thursday. For Clubcard members, the cost of the popular lunchtime option will increase from £3.60 to £3.85. The price of a Tesco meal deal without a Clubcard is rising from £4 to £4.25. Currently the most popular items in the supermarket meal deal are the Tesco Chicken Club Sandwich for main, Tesco Egg Protein Pot as the snack, and Coca-Cola 500ml. These would currently cost £6.50 when purchased separately, giving Clubcard members a saving of £2.65. The price of the premium Tesco meal deal will increase from £5 to £5.50 for those with a Clubcard, and from £5.50 to £6 for those without. It marks the third time Tesco has raised the price of its meal deal for Clubcard members, and the fourth time for those who are not signed up to its loyalty scheme. Initially, in February, the price rose from £3 to £3.50 for non-Clubcard members, while the Clubcard price remained at £3. Later that year in October, Tesco increased the price again, making it £3.40 for Clubcard holders and £3.90 for non-Clubcard holders. It then rose again to £3.60 for Clubcard members, and £4 for those without, in August 2024. Tesco said it will be introducing new products into its premium meal deal in the coming days. These include new finest sushi mains including a new Finest Salmon Konbini Roll and Finest Gochujang Konbini Roll. The supermarket said more than 80% of its customers currently use a Clubcard when buying a lunchtime meal deal. A Tesco spokesperson said: 'Our meal deal remains great value and the ideal way to grab lunch on-the-go at just for a main, snack and drink when bought with a Clubcard. 'With more than 20m possible combinations the Tesco meal deal has got something for every taste, from a classic Chicken Club Sandwich to Tesco Korean Style Chicken Dragon Rolls.' It comes as Tesco is urging Clubcard members to check their receipts to see if they have won a brand new car. The supermarket is giving away one new Vauxhall Frontera Electric as part of its 30 years of Clubcard celebrations. Shoppers need to scan a QR code that will appear on selected receipts and on screens in store or by visiting There will be a few questions to answer, with the winner then picked at random from Tesco Clubcard members with correct entries. The competition closes on August 31. The car up for grabs is a Frontera Electric GS 44kWh 113PS with the optional Ultimate Pack and Canyon Orange metallic paint that retails at £25,995 OTR (after the Electric Car Grant).
