News on Food Trends from United Kingdom

The 2025 Fight Against Blight campaign begins with new tools to track late blight in UK potatoes, warning of evolving fungicide resistance and urging growers to stay vigilant.

GB Potatoes has joined HCP to secure vital crop protection authorisations for the UK seed potato sector, using AHDB levy funds. A new technical group will prioritise needs, ensuring sustainable, high-quality seed and ware potato production.

Scientists, led by Dr Rob Hancock, Deputy Director of the Hutton’s Advanced Plant Growth Centre, have been working as part of a European consortium to develop tools for the development of multi-stress tolerant potatoes

Join the James Hutton Institute's webinar on May 30, International Day of Potato, to explore UK potato production challenges and innovations in breeding, sustainability, AI tools, and pest control. Hosted by NPIC and Professor Ingo Hein.

KMC has partnered with UK-based Daymer Ingredients to expand its potato-based solutions in the UK. The collaboration focuses on clean label starches and aims to support sustainable, plant-based innovations for food manufacturers.

GB Potatoes funds the FAB project for 3 years, boosting UK efforts to monitor and combat potato late blight. Led by James Hutton Institute, FAB provides vital real-time insights on blight strains and resistance, strengthening sector resilience.

The 2025 Hutchinsons Potato Trials Results Day at Worth Farms, Lincolnshire, showcased key field trials and research to help tackle major potato industry challenges, including PCN, herbicide safety, wireworm, catch crops, blight, and Alternaria.

Fera Science’s Enigma I project is advancing to its second phase, focusing on sustainable wireworm control. Agri-food organizations are invited to join as co-funding partners for tailored research and practical solutions.

Emerald Research Ltd (ERL) and a leading potato grower in South West England have won an eighteen-month Innovate UK project to tackle the ever-growing problem of wireworm damage in potatoes.

The Fresh Potato Suppliers Association (FPSA) was established in 2009 to represent the fresh sector of the potato industry bringing together fresh packers and suppliers to retail.

Greenvale’s Golden Kings launched ‘Move Over Maris’ with Great British Chefs to promote climate-friendly, high-yielding potatoes needing less irrigation and pest control, urging consumers to switch varieties.

Subway® is trialling a new range of freshly made, hot, fluffy, jacket potatoes in select restaurants across the UK. Over the past few years, the jacket potato, a warm and comforting classic, has undergone a renaissance and recently found fame on social media

Lamb Weston launches Frenzy Fries, a unique 3-sided, skin-on fry designed to enhance sensory dining experiences and help UK foodservice operators stand out. With a 20-minute hold time and extra crispy texture, they offer innovation, quality, and reduced waste.

Spudmania shows no signs of abating and singing stars and crowds in the Spudarmy continue to flock to the centre of Tamworth to sample Ben Newman's humble jacket potatoes.

They’re one of the UK’s most loved staples, providing around half of our carbohydrate intake as a nation and supporting over 20,000 farm, transport and manufacturing jobs.

The British Potato Industry Event 2025 is back this November, uniting professionals from across the potato supply chain for two action-packed days of networking, innovation, and industry insights.

AKP Group, one of the UK’s leading potato supply chain specialists, has announced the acquisition of Yorkshire-based Whole Crop Marketing Ltd (WCM), further enhancing the group’s position as a trusted partner in the UK potato sector.

Leading potato supplier Branston is once again encouraging schools to sign up for the Grow Your Own Potatoes programme this year, as one of the sponsors of the primary school-based farm-to-fork initiative.