Lidl has announced a major £500million commitment that will shape how it sources British berries over the next five years, in a move that aims to strengthen ties with UK growers and boost homegrown produce available on supermarket shelves. The discount retailer said the investment is part of new long-term agreements with British berry suppliers, designed to give farmers greater stability at a time when the sector is under pressure from rising costs, labour shortages and unpredictable weather conditions.

Under the plan, Lidl will increase the volume of UK-grown berries sold in its stores, with the £500million figure representing the total value of sourcing contracts expected over the next five years. The move comes as the German-based retailer reported that demand for berries at its supermarkets continues to grow, with sales of British blueberries having increased by more than 200% and blackberry sales by almost 93% over the past three years. Volumes of its Deluxe Blush Strawberries range, meanwhile, increased by 50% last year.

Lidl said it recorded the largest year-on-year increase in berry sales in the market last year and was recently named British Berry Retailer of the Year, according to the Grocery Gazette.

According to British Berry Growers chair, Nick Marston, Lidl’s British berry volumes increased from around 11,500 tonnes in 2023 to more than 15,700 tonnes in 2025 – a growth of more than 36% in two seasons. He added that the retailer now accounts for around 12.6% of all British berry tonnage sold through the industry body’s members.

“We are backing British farming with a £500million vote of confidence in our British berry growers,” said Lidl GB chief commercial officer, Richard Bourns. “By extending our long-term agreements, we’re providing the security suppliers need to build a resilient future.

“It is our clear ambition to be the first-choice partner for British growers. By building a framework providing long-term security, we enable our growers to confidently invest, innovate and scale alongside us.

“And by investing in these partnerships we are making fresh, healthy produce more accessible to our customers – offering the best British berries at unbeatable prices.”

From Ukraine’s Odesa region, this limited edition wine duo from Lidl offers drinkers something very different. With wine lovers seeking out new experiences, this brand new Pinot Grigio and the popular Saperavi from Eastern Europe showcase wines from an historic but lesser-known region and its extraordinary terroir. The duo includes a red made from a Georgian grape Saperavi, and a Pinot Grigio – which will land for the very first time on UK supermarket shelves.

Hailing from southwest Ukraine, Bolgrad is the country’s most popular wine brand and a benchmark producer within one of Europe’s most historic yet under-the-radar wine regions. Located near the Black Sea, the area benefits from unique soil, hot summers and low rainfall, delivering wines with depth, balance and vibrant character. The region’s winemaking heritage dates back to ancient Greek settlements at Boristhenis and Tyras. Today, Bolgrad builds on this legacy with a modern approach, combining indigenous varieties with internationally recognised grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as native Easter European varieties. 

Selected by the experts at Kingsland Drinks, which supplies wines to UK supermarkets, the two wines in this exclusive Lidl bundle offer a warming red and a refreshing white – perfect for winter dining and discovering something a little different. Bolgrad Pinot Grigio 2024 | 12.5% | £8.49. Pale lemon in colour and light-bodied, this fresh, expressive Pinot Grigio offers lively acidity alongside ripe citrus, white blossom and a subtle hint of lychee. Aged on its lees for three months, it’s an ideal match for chicken, creamy pasta dishes and fish.

Bolgrad Select Saperavi 2024 | 14% | £8.49 is a medium-bodied, fruit-driven red that will appeal to fans of Malbec. Bright ruby in colour, it wafts aromas of red and black berries, prunes and spice, with fine tannins, a balanced palate and a long, satisfying finish. A versatile food wine, it pairs beautifully with winter casseroles, braised lamb and chilli con carne. The limited-edition Bolgrad wines will be available exclusively at Lidl while stocks last. Last time there was a delivery it fast became a sell-out. www.lidl.co.uk, www.kingsland-drinks.com 

All things to all men – grooming brand Rock Face is getting close with sensationally scented, premium quality ranges at mass-market prices that are sustainably produced in Britain too.

There’s none of the bigging up of six-pack, costly celebrities to promote its products here, rather disrupter Rock concentrates on elevating everyday essentials with a selection of body sprays, face washes, shower gels and moisturisers. Its standout refillable natural deodorant – good for 48 hours – is a UK men’s first and a new aftershave is nosing its way on to shelves. Perfect as gifts Rock has a bag crammed with goodies for around £25. Signature scents, featuring spicy, oriental Power, sophisticated Refined wafting heady cedar and sandalwood notes and citrusy, invigorating Original for warmer climes, are the cornerstones of its collections.

Slotting into an innovative scent systems model, customers can maximise their chosen fragrance across multiple toiletries. Today Rock is a retail superstar. Stockists include Tesco, Morrisons, Waitrose, Amazon, Sainsburys and Asda. Most recently WH Smith travel concept stores have also come on board. Direct to consumer sales are incentivised through subscriptions and exclusive kits.

This autumn the company saw a 308% sales surge and is forecasting a £12million turnover next year followed by £20million in 2027. First a skincare family business, in 2021 it pivoted into general grooming with son James Wilkinson, previously a fine fragrance developer for Armani and L’Oréal, its chief executive and business partner James Langdon the strategy advisor. 

When looking at the market, “we found that male toiletries smelt cheap and the lacked the depth of quality aftershave, a stagnant category dominated by big players,” explains Wilkinson. “Men’s care brands weren’t speaking to men in a real way. There was a huge gap between the intimidating luxury players and the overly functional options. We set out to bridge that and create the greatest scents. We’re a life hack brand that men can genuinely relate to. That’s why we partner with the world’s best fragrance houses. Our products are down-to-earth and high performing and supermarket chains have really helped with their openness to a smaller brand.”

Smell is widely regarded as the most under-rated of the senses, yet has an extraordinary power to evoke memories. But bringing new scents and products together takes time and effort. Rock’s pioneering deodorant took 48 iterations. However using AI and 3D printing “makes innovation more viable than ever before”, observes Wilkinson. 

The company kept to accessible pricing during recent price hikes in natural ingredients and packaging thanks to supportive suppliers. As shifting trading landscapes are now stabilising, a recent £2.5 million investment is the runway for Rock’s new product development, marketing and growing its team of 12.

A further raise is also on the cards for next year when expertise in international markets will be sought as Wilkinson considers the Middle East as Rock’s first port of call. Then his ambition is to create a series of companies with strong eco credentials in other categories – animal lovers get ready for rocking pet apparel. Rockface4men.co.uk 

Welcome to new house of fun Left-Field Toys, an early stage producer playing to its strengths developing ranges strong on engagement and innovation. Rare both for being British and a small independent in an industry  dominated by huge global brands, “we surprise shoppers with toys that don’t play by the rules, break conventions, spark debate and are shareable, unexpected products that have potential to become bestsellers and go viral,” declares co-founder and owner Daniel King.

The company’s focus on quality toys that look good with affordable price tags has paid off since launch in two years ago, and in 2027 Left-Field is aiming for a £5 million turnover. A major sales partnership with TGJones, formerly WHSmith, along with other retailers including Amazon is contributing significantly to its success.

“Having products in TGJones’ stores so customers can touch and try before buying really helps,” observes King. While young customers are broadly in the eight-to-15 years sweet spot, Left-Field is also at the heart of the all-ages, booming Kidult toys category with construction and collectibles the two main categories for its 30 product lines

Among its star sellers are Clutching at Straws, a fast-paced reaction game encouraging family connectivity that’s easy to set up and get going. Blokee’s action figures, including licensed Transformers, fall into the desirable collectibles sector while Magnetics’ tile building fosters concentration and creativity, two key attributes for skilling up next gen engineers and technicians. Selling tiles with bags so parents have products that are super portable and have no need to hunt for missing pieces has also proved immensely popular.

Hubble Bubble offers machines and kits for parties and sensory play while Cute, one of the biggest cultural trends and styles globally, features too in the shape of My Kawaii plushies (soft toys) and its interactive fun dolphin claw machine that helps improve hand-eye coordination and motor skills. “Rather than focus on traditional toys we focus on ones that engage using creativity and problem solving to get beyond just relying on a traditional distribution model,” explains King.

Toys are designed in the UK with manufacturing in China before being third-party distribution in the UK and Ireland. “We did try making domestically but the costs weren’t viable or machinery capable,” says King, an experienced toy industry insider for over two decades, whose strong contacts network convinced him solo success was possible. 

With an operation that’s fast to react and be first to market, AI programmes now help the design and modelling processes improving efficiency by 50 per cent and cutting costs. Currently employing one other team member, up to six more hires re scheduled going forward and in a major move there’s a plan to raise up to £500,000 external investment. Associated with that Left-Field is potentially seeking an angel investor with specific expertise in taking smaller businesses into international markets. For the company that could be the US and Middle East.

On the new product development front King, always observing how children interact and how that is changing, is now considering squeezy stress toys with sweet themes and more opportunities in the party games sector. Others include a new version of Clutching at Straws and Blokee 2. Toys have a special, unforgettable place in most people’s affections. For King it’s “a toy monkey with a music box inside that my nan made”.

Leftfieldtoys.com , tgjonesonline.co.uk, The Toy Fair in London January 20, 2026, www.toyfair.co.uk

Hosts can sweep the boards this Christmas by wowing guests with artisanal cheeses crafted by maker and distiller Charles Martell & Son whose pungent creation Stinking Bishop is a sure way to liven up festive gatherings by delighting many and deterring others. Washed in perry, a fermented juice from a special pear variety grown on the Gloucestershire-based business’s Hunts Court Farm, the Bishop’s delicate creamy texture and nutty hints are in spectacular contrast to its pong.

Its historic name, referencing a native pear and a bad tempered local, still finds fame having featured in Wallace & Gromit’s The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. But while that’s all marketing gold, Royal Warrant holder Martell’s production of seven other cheeses and four spirits is extraordinary too, collectively embodying powerful themes of heritage, survival, environmental protection and revolution. In the latter’s case that’s being part of the artisan-led transformation of the UK into a premium cheesemaker respected the world over.

Building the business from a rundown property in 1972 and in 2010 starting spirits production after discovering a 17^th century distilling house, Martell has reinvented the farm with a herd of Gloucester cows its stars. Less critically endangered than they were but still at risk, Martell’s original motivations were to save the breed by making cheese and encourage others to stock them. Today the cheeses use their milk and that produced by other local farms minimising transport impacts and helping other enterprises.

The company’s triumphant Single Gloucester, now awarded Protected Designation of Origin status, can be only made on Gloucestershire farms with a herd of Old Gloucester cows. Martell has also revived the full fat hard Double Gloucester cheese that died out and remains tricky to make. Pastures are no-till, a practice that conserves soil structure increasing biodiversity and 87 bird species now visit. “Being mindful of our environment is in our DNA, we were planting hedges and heritage varieties of apple, peak and plum when everyone else was ripping them out,” says Martell.

Hulla Baloo is the latest cheese, a zesty, full fat semi soft blue good in sauces and salads. Among the others chopped nettles coat the rind of its May Hill Green adding an enigmatic flavour and Slack-ma-Girdle, which takes its name from a local apple, is delicate and lemony.

With a £600,000 turnover forecast for 2026/27 the operation has a team of seven and sells to cheese wholesalers and retailers nationwide as well as being distributed in 32 countries including Ukraine.

“Now the distillery needs to catch up,” says Martell who, as a satisfied farmer, is a rarer thing these days. “We get support for our orchards,  our product names arouse interest in customers of all ages, we’ve been unbelievably lucky and are always culturally opportunistic, looking at ideas for the next 300 years.” www.charlesmartell.com

It’s been a fast and furious debut for Full Send, a new motor racing themed venue where state-of-the-art, bespoke simulators featuring thrilling experiences are wowing long term lovers of the sport, new fans and gamers. Founded by 19-year-old Felix Baggott, a successful Formula 3 driver, he became a first-time entrepreneur after seeing a gap in the market in his home area of Hampshire for a place with the latest tech where people could race and socialise.

“Enjoy, compete, belong: that’s our appeal to guests,” he declares and it’s one revving up backers too with Baggott securing £270,000 of angel investment to kickstart the venture earlier this year. Well positioned in Portsmouth’s Gunwharf Quays shopping centre with the university nearby, the lounge – whose name in racing means no holds-barred commitment – offers eight simulators. These can run together for groups or individually, with 60 car brands ranging from a balanced Dallara to a lightning speed McLaren. Among 100 track choices is the Azerbaijan street circuit, an ultimate test of precision and focus.

The simulators, made according to Baggott’s wishlist, are produced by cutting edge developer Pro Racing Simulators in Dorset. Underpinned by Baggott’s own motorsport cred, Full Send is delivering a premium, but affordable package with session prices from £15. For 2025/26 the firm, which has a team of seven including students and Baggott’s brother, is forecasting a £300,000 turnover then 50% to 100% growth after that as it expands its services and clientele.

Its Arrive and Drive packages that encourage repeat visits, corporate team-building events and membership programmes with special benefits have all proved really popular. It’s hoped the latest addition of gift cards will solve a few gift headaches.

“The rise in competitive socialising made it a good moment for our launch. First customers were motorsport and gaming enthusiasts but now we are seeing a broader audience of casual groups, families, corporate clients and the nightlife crowd,” explains Baggott. “We’ve increased dwell time with good food and drink and the launch of Track of the Month, our first in-house competition really boosted footfall.Unlike arcades or bars, we’re a destination venue offering realistic, competitive racing for many in a comfortable, stylish environment. We bridge the gap between a home simulator and the real thing.

“Males as expected were our first customers but now this is changing with more female. The age range is wide too – from 10-year-olds to those in their 80s. We can vary the experience, tailoring it to the customer, for example adjusting the steering to make it lighter or reducing braking to intensify the challenge.”

Collaborations with esports (competitive video gaming) league teams and potentially schools are now on the agenda with a further investment raise planned for early 2026.

“Full Send is about memorable moments but I know from my own journey beginning with go-karting and training on simulators how they are terrific at building skills,” says Baggott. “For us it’s about the UK’s next generation of motorsport stars and the engineers who keep them on track. We’re a powerful pathway for that.” www.fullsendracinglounge.co.uk

A shining light in a flourishing UK wine sector, maker Two Beacons Vineyard is set to sparkle ever brighter as more bon viveurs discover its quality and difference. Among an award-winning array taking on the world are its citrusy white Bacchus with a hint of pepper perfect for festive plates, an elegant Pinot Noir sparkling rosé and an early ripening variety, its trail blazing, rounded red Pinot Noir Précoce.

With a terrific harvest this year producing strong sugar levels all augurs well for future sales as the business, based in fertile Herefordshire and taking its name from high points in local hills, plans its next expansion moves driving greater brand recognition.Co-founded by Ceri Phipps on family owned, warm south-facing land, the vineyard concept was triggered by potential opportunities following the Brexit vote. In spring 2018 vine planting began, then severe frosts and lockdowns persuaded Phipps to delay the first harvest, which in hindsight improved the quality of its star red. More recently interest in locally sourced food and drink has also driven demand.

Unsure at first if this was a large-scale hobby or a business, a couple of years ago “we recognised not only could we grow good grapes, but also make incredible wines, that was a turning point for us becoming more commercial”, explains management expert Phipps, formerly in the energy sector who has also prioritised maintaining nature-friendly habitats on the site.

Now the business has 16,000 vines, adding Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier varieties that extend the range of traditional method sparkling wines when production starts in 2027. A premium version of this range will also happen this year using burgundy barriques, special oak barrels where interaction with the wood increases the complexity of the wines’ vanilla, spicy flavours.

“But our red wines have surprised the most,” observes Phipps. “They are definitely as high quality as anything coming from the more established wine producing counties predominantly in the south and east. Wine production takes time and sparkling wine especially can be three years minimum before release.”

A £100,000 turnover is forecast for 2026/27 as volumes increase and so far the project has taken £350,000 of self-funded investment going into planting and building stock. Targeting efforts in the three counties of Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire one aim is to sell through local shops, pubs and restaurants. Other options actively being explored, following success with a pop-up shop in Malvern, include a wedding venue, holiday cottages and “a permanent, visible site” adds Phipps who is also weighing up whether it would be better to have a series of tasting rooms in towns or one visitor centre. Increasing footfall and getting significant cellar door sales which produce the best margins remain constants however.

All of Two Beacons wines save one have won awards. “We are up right up there with our peers,” declares Phipps, “the good harvest has raised our spirits – more outstanding vintages are to come.” www.twobeaconsvineyard.com 

SMEs received only 5% or £100m of the £2bn in tax breaks claimed last year that are intended to encourage businesses to file more patents, says intellectual property (IP) law firm Mathys & Squire. The UK’s patent box tax relief can save companies tens of millions of pounds by reducing corporation tax on profits from patented inventions to 10%, down from the standard 25%. It was introduced to encourage business to invest in R&D and then patent their inventions and bring them to market. 

SMEs are estimated to generate 52% of the turnover of all UK businesses. Mathys & Squire says SMEs face higher barriers to claiming the tax break because of high compliance costs and uncertainty over whether their claims will be approved by HMRC. This can even deter them from investing in R&D in the first place. Andrea McShane, partner at Mathys & Squire, says: “Patent box can save businesses very significant amounts of corporation tax but in our experience only few smaller companies pursue this tax break. For many SMEs the costs and uncertainties of getting into the patent box regime simply outweigh the benefits.
“Some SMEs develop genuinely exciting inventions but give up on protecting them, potentially making it easy for competitors to imitate them, but also losing out on their patent box opportunity.”

McShane says patent box claims can be very complex, making it disproportionately costly for SMEs to pursue them. “Patent box claims can be challenging to prepare, which puts smaller businesses at a clear disadvantage compared to larger ones,” she explains. “Larger companies can afford more extensive protection of their IP, more sophisticated tax advice and accountancy tools to set up systems to track income relating to relevant patent rights. Small businesses working on tight budgets may not be able to afford that.”

McShane says the government must do more to help smaller companies benefit from the relief if it wants to improve the UK’s low level of R&D spend. Currently, spending on R&D in the UK is estimated to be 2.9% of GDP and behind countries such as the US (3.6%), Japan (3.4%) and Germany (3.1%). This could be achieved by removing requirements on SMEs specifically. It can also be more generous, for example through subsidies. SMEs could receive help in covering the costs of patenting inventions so smaller innovators are not discouraged by the expense of developing and protecting inventions.

The London Snow Show is re-launching with a host of exhibitors in Olympia from October 18 to 19 after 15 years away from its former home that is currently being revamped as a world class cultural venue. The largest consumer ski and snowboard event of the year showcases a lengthy list of destinations, tour operators, brands and snowsports organisations. There’s also celebrity speakers, talks and advice sessions, comedy and après style parties with live music.   

Special features and installations include a family area, the Red Bull action zone, luxury and wellness sections with speakers and live yoga classes, kit and instruction places, information theatre, photo competitions, Alpine Stroll, themed Après Ski (with Après Ski Bands), Ski Bar Comedy and a talks stage hosted by former World Cup Alpine ski racer Chemmy Alcott. Among some of the exhibitors already confirmed are tour operators Crystal, Inghams and Ski Club Freshtracks along with destinations such as Norway, Andorra, Colorado, St Anton, Gurgl and groups Vail Resorts and Ikon Pass. After a break leading retailer Ellis Brigham is making a welcome return as well as others including Ski Exchange. The event will take place in the Olympia’s National Hall, both on the main ground floor area and the mezzanine floor above, a large space that allows for a lot of light and atmosphere as the nights draw in ahead of the 2025-26 winter snowsports season.

In keeping with the revitalised new era there’s a new ownership in charge. Last year The Mountain Trade Network acquired the Snow Show brand and is behind the new re-launch of the event. Its founder James Gambrill said: “We’re really excited to be bringing the Snow Show back to its home at Olympia. Many skiers and snowboarders have great memories of the show over the years and we hear so much enthusiasm for the venue. But we are also bringing new elements to the event, creating a fun, action packed weekend, with lots to do and see, as well as plenty of opportunities to book holidays and buy equipment. Tickets to the London Snow Show will all be sold at a great value price point, for either one day or two, with a special price for families.”

Adult day tickets cost £10, weekend tickets £15 and Family Day tickets £25 (2 adults + up to 4 kids aged under 18). To sign up and keep in the know visit: London Snow Show  and https://londonsnowshow.com/newsletter

New era renewable energy business Synth Solar is generating stellar growth as it introduces smart tech and reliable services that keep customers supported and in control. Founded last year by first time entrepreneurs Max Lines and Tom Elvidge the company with a team of six designs, installs and monitors green systems for UK homes and businesses. Now a trusted partner of leading supplier Octopus Energy that has further cemented its reputation for competence in a sector which, despite regulatory safeguards, still harbours a patchy record for high standards and consumer fair play.

This year Synth, which holds MCS quality and safety assurance accreditation, is forecasting a £1million turnover and £8million in 2027 based on its current install pipeline and regional expansion plan. It’s a position that after bootstrapping the operation makes Lines and Elvidge ready to consider external investment. With £400,000 to £500,000 in mind this would go towards doubling staff numbers and further building the tech. “We would welcome strategic investors, angels or a technology company that know about solar and are aligned with our mission,” confirm the pair.

They became friends while working together scaling tech operations at Uber and say “we saw how software could transform broken industries slow to respond to changing times”.

For energy those were prices rising because of the Ukraine invasion, people’s environmental concerns, no VAT on domestic installations and technology advances lowering hardware costs. “We believed the same tech start up efficiency approach was needed for solar,” they explain, “so fast response times, beautiful tools, customised videos, clear communication and registration documents and a relentless focus on improvement. We’re reinventing a traditional industry bringing software discipline to field execution and we will stay with a customer for as long as the panels last, so 25 years plus.”

Sourcing the best accredited and guaranteed equipment via wholesalers, Synth’s crown jewels are its apps, developed in-house. The SunMapper quoting tool uses satellite imagery and weather data to generate instant solar designs and pricing for any rooftop. Unlike some contractors, Synth makes no difference in price about installing on slate surfaces.The company’s optimising SunDial live performance dashboard is updated every few minutes showing customers how exactly their system is producing and saving energy. This enables Synth to fix any problem as soon as possible. “We can spot trouble before our clients,” says Elvidge. “Property owners get the best experience with our solar and batteries so they save the most money and carbon, we sweat our systems,” adds Lines.

New forecasting tech coming soon will guide customers as to when it’s best value to charge the system or export power back to the grid.Domestic fits can take just a couple of days with bird mesh protection included. Recent commercial expansion includes installations for farms, transport depots and small businesses. Zero-emission bus company Ember was able to scale its fleet charging capacity after a deal was brokered with a neighbouring storage company whose roof now hosts Synth’s panels. “The creative tech mindset was applied very successfully,” observes Lines.

“Tech is an industry built on collaboration. Over time we want Synth to be the go-to platform for home energy transformation and full electrification. Solar is just the first step.https://synth.solar/