Latest news with #supermarkets
NHK
2 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Supermarket rice prices in Japan drop for 9th week
The average rice price at supermarkets in Japan has fallen for a ninth straight week. The agriculture ministry released its weekly survey on about 1,000 supermarkets nationwide. The average price of a 5-kilogram bag came in at 3,585 yen, or roughly 24 dollars. That's a decline of one-tenth of a percent from the previous week. Officials began tapping national reserves of rice after prices almost doubled in the space of a year. Following a sharp decline, the sticker price has been dropping at a slower pace in recent weeks. Orikasa Shunsuke, Principal Researcher at Distribution Economics Institute of Japan, said: "People who want to save money are buying from the government stockpiles, and those who prefer other varieties are buying brand-name rice. The decline in prices is slowing down as more consumers start choosing what they want." Orikasa points out that unusually hot weather during the recent rainy season may also affect supply. He said the lack of rainfall could reduce this year's new harvest.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cranswick says review ‘well advanced' after pig farm abuse claims
Meat giant Cranswick has said an independent review into its animal welfare policies and procedures is 'well advanced' following abuse claims at a pig farm run by the business earlier this year. The boss of the company added that it has strengthened its animal welfare practices and checks further in recent months as a result. Cranswick suspended using Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire in May after covert footage emerged appearing to show workers at the site abusing piglets. Workers were filmed appearing to hold piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 'piglet thumping'. Major supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco suspended Northmoor Farm as a supplier, and Cranswick shortly afterwards launched the independent review into its animal welfare policies and livestock operations. Adam Couch, chief executive of the firm, said: 'In line with the commitments we made on May 20, we have further strengthened our animal welfare compliance practices and checks. 'The independent expert veterinarian led review of these policies and procedures is well advanced, and we look forward to receiving its recommendations. 'We will provide a further update on this review in due course.' The update on Monday came as the East Yorkshire-based company also revealed that revenues grew by 9.7% over the 13 weeks to June 28, after a boost from the acquisition of sausage maker Blakemans and export growth. Like-for-like revenues grew by 7.9% as it was also boosted new business wins and a strong performance from its 'premium added-value ranges'. Export revenues were 'strong' on the back of higher volumes and pricing after the China export licence for its Norfolk fresh pork site was reinstated late last year. Poultry revenues also grew strongly, while its pet products revenues grew after rolling out more products for Pets at Home. Cranswick said it is currently on track to meet it financial expectations for the current financial year. Mr Couch added: 'We have made a strong start to the year, delivering volume-led revenue growth across all product categories. 'Our continued positive progress reflects the substantial ongoing investment in our asset base and the quality and capability of our colleagues across the business.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Cranswick says review ‘well advanced' after pig farm abuse claims
Meat giant Cranswick has said an independent review into its animal welfare policies and procedures is 'well advanced' following abuse claims at a pig farm run by the business earlier this year. The boss of the company added that it has strengthened its animal welfare practices and checks further in recent months as a result. Cranswick suspended using Northmoor Farm in Lincolnshire in May after covert footage emerged appearing to show workers at the site abusing piglets. Workers were filmed appearing to hold piglets by their hind legs and slamming them to the ground, using a banned method of killing the animals known as 'piglet thumping'. Major supermarkets Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco suspended Northmoor Farm as a supplier, and Cranswick shortly afterwards launched the independent review into its animal welfare policies and livestock operations. Adam Couch, chief executive of the firm, said: 'In line with the commitments we made on May 20, we have further strengthened our animal welfare compliance practices and checks. 'The independent expert veterinarian led review of these policies and procedures is well advanced, and we look forward to receiving its recommendations. 'We will provide a further update on this review in due course.' The update on Monday came as the East Yorkshire-based company also revealed that revenues grew by 9.7% over the 13 weeks to June 28, after a boost from the acquisition of sausage maker Blakemans and export growth. Like-for-like revenues grew by 7.9% as it was also boosted new business wins and a strong performance from its 'premium added-value ranges'. Export revenues were 'strong' on the back of higher volumes and pricing after the China export licence for its Norfolk fresh pork site was reinstated late last year. Poultry revenues also grew strongly, while its pet products revenues grew after rolling out more products for Pets at Home. Cranswick said it is currently on track to meet it financial expectations for the current financial year. Mr Couch added: 'We have made a strong start to the year, delivering volume-led revenue growth across all product categories. 'Our continued positive progress reflects the substantial ongoing investment in our asset base and the quality and capability of our colleagues across the business.'
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Fonterra says meeting with Nicola Willis 'constructive'
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell . Photo: Fonterra says its meeting with the Finance Minister was "constructive", following a discussion about butter prices. But the substance of the discussions is still to be revealed. Nicola Willis had alerted Fonterra, as a courtesy, that she planned to speak about the price of butter in one of their regular meetings. Willis had earlier said the conversation would look at what goes into the cost, and whether supermarkets are to blame , pointing out Australia seems to have cheaper butter than New Zealand. She said Fonterra was transparent about how it determined milk prices, but it was less clear to her how that then translated to butter. "What we're talking about here is at the margin - 10 or 20 cents - but 10 or 20 cents really matters when you're a Kiwi family at the supermarket checkout." The meeting happened at Parliament on Tuesday evening. Willis' office declined to comment on the outcome. Fonterra's chief executive Miles Hurrell also would not comment on the meeting when RNZ approached him outside Parliament. But a Fonterra spokesperson said Hurrell "had a constructive meeting with the Finance Minister" and he would talk to media later in the week. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Campaign to make supermarkets pay for misleading pricing
food economy 25 minutes ago A campaign has been launched to force supermarkets to cough up when shoppers are out of pocket because of misleading pricing. Jon Duffy spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
