A new limited-edition KitKat Chunky flavour, the KitKat Chunky Funky, is launching in Ireland this month. This bar features a crispy cocoa wafer enrobed in a blend of milk chocolate and a marbled white coating.
Shoppers can find the KitKat Chunky Funky in stores nationwide, starting this week. Maria McKenna, confectionery marketing manager at Nestlé Ireland, highlighted the product's eye-catching design and the familiar KitKat chocolate and wafer.
Nestlé emphasised that KitKat products are made with cocoa sourced through their income accelerator programme, which supports cocoa farmers by helping them increase earnings, plant trees, and promote school enrolment for children.
UK-based independent regional cooperative Southern Co-op has decided to sell 22 of its directly operated food convenience stores following a period of challenges in the sector.
Twenty stores are being sold to two third-party retailers, and two will be converted to operate under its Welcome franchise.
Southern Co-op added that colleagues at the affected stores will transfer to their new employer under TUPE regulations.
The cooperative will work closely with the acquiring parties to ensure a smooth transition, providing full support to colleagues throughout this process.
Simon Eastwood, chief operating officer for retail at Southern Co-op, said, “As a food business, we continue to evolve and develop our offering to meet the changing needs of our customers and members.
“The sale of these stores reflects our ongoing efforts to optimise our store portfolio and strengthen our long-term operating model and in no way reflects the hard work of colleagues.”
Edeka and WWF are expanding their decade-long partnership to promote sustainability in banana farming with the ‘Boahnane’ programme in Germany.
This initiative extends sustainable farming practices to more partner farms across four countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Cameroon.
The will help the retailer to offer affordable and responsibly grown bananas accessible to a broader range of consumers. These bananas feature the WWF panda logo, highlighting their joint cultivation programme.
Initially, Boahnanen will be marketed using volume compensation, meaning bananas from participating farms may be mixed with those from offset farms that meet minimum sustainability standards, such as Rainforest Alliance certification.
In due course, these offset farms will be upgraded to farm standards set by the joint cultivation programme by 2030.
Tesco is boosting its commitment to Scottish sourcing, aiming to offer 100% Scotch beef and fresh salmon in its stores in Scotland by spring of 2026.
The move follows a 23% increase in Scotch beef volume over the past year and significant growth in its Finest Scottish Salmon range.
Tesco believes that sourcing additional Scotch beef will inject £30 million (€35 million) into the Scottish economy.
The retailer operates Sustainable Beef Groups, including one with 59 Scottish farmers, that promote fair pricing, knowledge sharing, and innovation trials aimed at reducing emissions and protecting biodiversity.
Tesco also works with nearly 200 local Scottish suppliers and employs around 50,000 people directly or indirectly in Scotland.
