AGP Executive Report

Sugary Drinks: Germany’s cabinet has approved a proposed levy from July 2027, with higher rates for drinks containing more sugar; the bill still needs parliamentary approval. Food Supply Risks: A cyberattack on refrigeration controls disrupted hundreds of French supermarkets, spoiling food and prompting a national investigation. Novel Foods: A new EU learning platform will let up to 10 companies share lessons from the approval process, though it offers no faster route to authorisation. Food Safety: Ireland’s food authority reported 12 closure orders in September, citing issues including pests, poor cleaning and unsafe food handling. Industry Investment: Foyle Food Group is investing £15 million in automation at its Omagh site to boost productivity and skills. Spanish Seafood: A new partnership with the Basque Culinary Center will study how chefs and consumers in Spain assess Ecuadorian shrimp, including its quality and sustainability.

Retail Cybersecurity: A cyberattack on refrigeration systems at hundreds of French supermarkets spoiled meat and frozen food, exposing how connected equipment can threaten retailers and supply chains. Irish Milling: Construction has begun on a 300-tonne-a-day flour mill in County Wexford, a project aimed at cutting Ireland’s reliance on imported flour and strengthening local grain supply. Sugar Policy: Germany’s cabinet approved a sugar tax on soft drinks, due to take effect in July 2027. UK-EU Trade: A food and drink deal is on the agenda for the November UK-EU summit, with supporters saying it could reduce supermarket costs and trade delays. Italian Food Business: Preserves maker Citres has been sold to a private equity firm, in another sign of investor interest in Europe’s food sector.

Retail Cybersecurity: French investigators are probing an attack that disrupted refrigeration at hundreds of supermarkets, with at least 350 stores affected and spoiled food discarded. Outdated Danfoss systems may have been vulnerable; no group has claimed responsibility. Spain’s Costs: September inflation reached 4.9%, driven largely by rising fuel prices. Diesel is up 34% year on year, adding pressure on households and food businesses. Food Industry Outlook: SIAL Paris, opening October 19, will focus on food sovereignty, AI, personalised nutrition and supply-chain change. Organic Farming: England’s new action plan aims to grow organic farmland from 3.4% to 10% by 2036, while helping producers reach expanding markets. Greek Exports: Food exports have more than doubled in a decade, topping €10 billion, with yoghurt, feta and olive oil among the products driving growth. UK Expansion: French frozen-food group Picard will bring five bakery and pastry lines to more than 150 Sainsbury’s stores from October 26.

Cybersecurity: A refrigeration-system hack affected about 700 French supermarkets, overheating chillers, spoiling food and triggering fires. Investigators are probing the attack; Danfoss said some compromised controllers were legacy models no longer receiving security updates. Farm Funding: Irish beef and sheep farmers warned a proposed 24% cut in Common Agricultural Policy payments could undermine incomes and Europe’s food-producing capacity. UK-EU Trade: Leaders are due to meet on November 20, with a deal on agricultural and food trade among the priorities for resetting post-Brexit ties. Supply Risks: UN officials warned that Black Sea attacks on commercial ships could disrupt food shipments and push up prices, while fertilizer-route and El Niño concerns are adding pressure to global markets. Food Safety: UK authorities issued an alert over Salmonella in imported Ukrainian eggs, amid reports of a wider European outbreak.

Retail Cybersecurity: A cyberattack sent refrigeration systems soaring to 50°C at hundreds of French supermarkets, spoiling food and sparking fires. Retailers face losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros; outdated, internet-connected controls are under scrutiny as authorities investigate. Cultivated Meat: Scotland’s Roslin Technologies and Israel’s Ever After Foods report a productivity advance, combining cell technology with a food-grade process designed to produce structured meat at scale. Paris Market Fire: A blaze destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges, a covered food market dating to 1615. Seventeen food businesses were wiped out; authorities say vendors will be relocated and the site rebuilt. Food Safety: An EU alert over salmonella linked to Spanish eggs reports 13 people ill, renewing concern over cross-border food safety.

Retail Disruption: A cyberattack sent refrigeration units in hundreds of French supermarkets soaring to 50°C, spoiling fresh and frozen food and sparking fires. Intermarché, Coopérative U and Carrefour were among those hit; losses could reach millions of euros. Investigators say outdated Danfoss software may be involved, and France is coordinating with European partners. Market Loss: Fire destroyed Paris’s Enfants Rouges, the city’s oldest covered food market, established in 1615. The blaze engulfed the historic building, and officials are investigating its cause. Food Safety: Thirteen people fell ill in a salmonella outbreak linked to Ukrainian eggs, prompting a European alert and product withdrawals in Spain. Household Spending: Greek households spent an estimated €25.7 billion on grocery products in 2025. Food spending rose 4.1%, while alcoholic drinks climbed 8.1%, as grocery costs outpaced household budgets.

Market Loss: A fire has gutted Paris’s Enfants Rouges, the city’s oldest covered food market, founded in 1615. Around 20 traders lost their stalls. Product Innovation: Germany’s Symrise has expanded its AI platform to link consumer and trend insights with product concepts and design, aiming to help food and beverage makers develop products faster. Farm Pressure: Reports warn that mounting strain on UK farmers is putting food security at risk, with critics also questioning Britain’s preparedness for a food crisis. Food Safety: A European study found TFA in all 110 blood samples tested, prompting renewed calls for a ban on PFAS pesticides. Food Waste: Greece discards more than two million tonnes of food each year, highlighting the scale of the waste challenge.

Food Waste: Greece discards more than 2 million tonnes of food a year, including about 930,000 tonnes from households, while 12.7% of the population faces food insecurity. Supermarket leaders are calling for better tracking, more donations and clearer date labels. Drinks Industry: Latvia’s Amber Latvijas balzams, maker of Riga Balsam, may face insolvency. Falling alcohol sales, higher excise duties and a tax debt above €28 million have strained the producer’s finances. Food Safety: UK health officials have urged consumers to discard eggs from Ukraine after Salmonella was detected in an outbreak linked to 36 infections. Farm Resilience: UK farmers warn mounting pressure threatens food security. EU farm groups say proposed budget changes could put Common Agricultural Policy support at risk, while delays in pesticide approvals add to growers’ concerns. Beer Market: Europeans are drinking less beer, prompting Heineken’s Europe boss to seek ways to counter the downturn.

Food Safety: UK authorities warned consumers and food businesses not to use Ukrainian eggs from Yasensvit, code 3UA1012066, after Salmonella Enteritidis was detected; the eggs are mainly sold through small retailers, wholesalers and caterers. EU Approvals: Around 200 pesticide substances are awaiting renewal, with roughly half delayed by more than five years, the European Commission’s food-safety director said. The backlog could also slow approval of newer biocontrol products. Crop Nutrition: A new report says key minerals in some common UK crops have fallen by 20% to 50% over six decades, raising concerns that higher yields have not guaranteed more nutritious food. Retail Prices: Bulgaria’s consumer watchdog reported markups of up to 125% on butter at one chain and said dairy prices in the country are the highest in Europe, citing Eurostat. Plant-Based Labels: A UK survey found 94% to 96% of respondents correctly identified meat-free products, challenging claims that shoppers are confused by names such as “sausages” and “chicken.”

Food Safety: UK authorities urged shoppers and caterers to discard eggs stamped 3UA1012066 after products from Ukrainian supplier Yasensvit were linked to 36 salmonella cases. Farm Funding: Ireland’s EU budget proposal holds the next CAP at €293bn, 24% below the current period; farm groups warn the cut could squeeze support as Brussels confirms drought damage to 2026 crops. Trade Pressures: EU plans to limit Ukrainian farm access after accession are drawing criticism from Kyiv, while farmers in Paris rallied against the EU-Mercosur deal and import fears. Industry Rules: The EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is now applicable, adding new requirements for food businesses. France has also proposed extending its sugar tax to high-sugar processed foods. Drinks Market: Europeans are drinking less beer, prompting Heineken’s Europe chief to outline a plan to counter the downturn.

Food Processing: Albanian businesses are urging the government to cut VAT on food processing and exempt manufacturing machinery and raw materials from taxes, arguing the measures could lower costs and help firms meet EU standards. Alcohol Policy: Poland is weighing new alcohol restrictions as the industry pushes back, while Scotland’s whisky sector is described as being at a “delicate” stage of recovery. Food Supply: Lithuania wants the EU to ban Russian grain transit through its ports, as Europe’s potato sector also weighs market and cultivation challenges. Food Waste: Spain has launched a “Nothing is thrown away here” campaign at a major food fair, putting waste reduction in the spotlight.

Food Waste: Spain launched its “Nothing is thrown away here” campaign at a record-breaking Fruit Attraction fair. The country produces more than 26 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables a year, with 44% destined for export. Dairy: Arla Sweden is ending contracts with 52 farms as demand for organic milk falls. Market Outlook: Südzucker expects sugar prices to recover, while Europe’s potato sector weighs market and growing challenges. Regulation: EFSA says it needs more expertise and clearer rules for novel foods; Poland is considering alcohol restrictions amid industry pushback. Farm Trade: EU plans for tighter limits on Ukrainian agricultural access are drawing objections from Kyiv, while Lithuania is proposing a ban on Russian grain transit through EU ports.

Product launches: Rude Health has introduced an organic coconut barista drink, while Freiberger’s Ernie’s frozen pizzas are rolling out across 375 Asda stores. Supply Resilience: Construction has begun on a new flour mill in Wexford, Ireland, designed to produce about 80,000 tonnes a year and reduce reliance on imports. Farm Trade: Hundreds of farmers rallied in Paris against the EU-Mercosur pact and import concerns, as Kyiv objected to proposed limits on Ukrainian farm access during EU accession talks. Foodservice: Travel caterer SSP says weaker passenger numbers linked to the Iran war will leave annual profit slightly below plan, despite like-for-like sales growth of 4% in the latest quarter.

Grain Trade: Lithuania is pushing for a ban on Russian grain transiting the EU and tighter checks on grain origin, citing concerns about stolen Ukrainian grain entering supply chains. Crop Protection: A fungus found inside wheat seeds suppressed Septoria tritici blotch in a study. The disease can halve yields in severe outbreaks and is a major threat in Northern Europe, where fungicide resistance is growing. EU Labelling: Plant-based food producers are urging the EU not to extend restrictions on plant-based product names, keeping labelling rules in focus for the sector. Beer Market: Europeans are drinking less beer, prompting Heineken’s Europe leadership to outline a plan to counter the decline. Climate Risks: Forecasts of a particularly strong El Niño are raising concerns about disrupted rainfall, food supplies and energy costs in Britain and beyond. Greek Dining: The MICHELIN Guide is expanding to Thessaloniki and Santorini, alongside its return to Athens, highlighting Greece’s ambitions as a year-round food destination.

Food-Tech Funding: French microalgae startup Edonia raised €15 million to scale its spirulina-based protein ingredient for food manufacturers and foodservice; it says pre-orders have reached €30 million. Alcohol-Free Drinks: ProWein is expanding its Zero+ section for 2027 with tastings, expert sessions and discussions on the fast-changing no-alcohol market. Restaurant Strategy: Subway’s new EMEA Blueprint will add breakfast, coffee, grab-and-go and evening options as it refreshes restaurants from January 2027; established-store sales rose 4.5% in the past year. Retail Pressures: Tesco narrowed its profit outlook amid consumer uncertainty, while UK experts warn the country lacks a clear plan to maintain food supplies in a crisis. Seafood Sourcing: At Spain’s Conxemar fair, Ecuadorian shrimp processors reported cost pressures as Spanish firms widened their squid sourcing.

European Food Business: Müller plans to close two factories in Germany, while Danish Crown is shifting its focus towards Europe in a wider revamp. Packaging Innovation: Tetra Pak is piloting a paper-based ice cream wrap, as food brands look for alternatives to conventional packaging. Food Security: More than 38 million Europeans could not afford meat, chicken or fish in 2025, sharpening concerns about food affordability and the future of EU farm funding. Ingredients & Regulation: French startup Edonia raised $16.8 million to expand production of ground spirulina protein; France has also proposed extending its sugar tax to high-sugar processed foods.