Aldi milk bottles are being fitted with tags to allow experts to track empties. The retailer is piloting a scheme to track the journey of empty bottles from homes to recycling centres, in a bid to better measure how many arrive for recycling.

As part of an eight-week project with dairy cooperative Arla and tech firm Polytag, selected Aldi bottles will have invisible, fluorescent tags printed on their labels. Once any empties reach recyclers, the tags will be scanned and their arrival recorded.

Aldi and Arla plan to use the data gathered to better understand where the bottles go after they are thrown away. The scheme should also help them gain a more accurate measure of recycling rates.

Customers don’t need to do anything differently and are encouraged to continue recycling as usual.

Luke Emery, Aldi’s plastics and packaging director, said: “This next phase with Polytag represents an exciting step forward in how we use data to drive our sustainability strategy.

“By integrating this advanced traceability technology into our packaging, we can gain deeper insights into the lifecycle of our materials.”

This latest pilot comes after Aldi, Arla and Polytag teamed up for a previous scheme, which used pressure-sensitive labelling.

Polytag’s chief executive, Alice Rackley, said the latest phase showed that UV tagging technology could be used on a larger scale.

She said it offered brands a cost-effective way to obtain more comprehensive information about recycling.

Sun Chemical developed the fluorescent ink used on the labels. Stefaan D’Hoore, its director of business development for speciality inks and coatings, said it was the first commercial use of its fluorescent ink with Polytag’s tech.

The trial will run for eight weeks, after which the companies are expected to assess the recycling data gathered by the tags.

Morrisons upped hourly pay at its UK stores second time in 2026 last month. In May, the grocery giant announced that a proposed pay deal for store and manufacturing workers been given the greenlight by USDAW union, which negotiates pay for large sections of Morrisons’ workforce.

It paved the way for implementing pay rises for all eligible hourly-paid staff across three phases. It started with hourly rates for all Customer Assistants rising to £12.81 (backdated to March 30), with all other established hourly rates for eligible roles seeing a 10p uplift. From Monday, July 20, 2026, customer assistants at Morrisons stores saw their pay going up from £12.81 to £13.00, while all other established hourly rates for the other roles rose by 19p.

The final increase will come into effect from Monday, October 26, 2026, when the hourly rate will rise from £13.00 to £13.11, with pay for the other roles seeing an 11p increase.

In the May announcement, Morrisons said in addition to the pay rises, all eligible hourly paid colleagues would receive a one-off fixed payment of between £25 and £175 based on their contractual hours.

Jodie Keating, group people director of Morrisons, said at the time: “We’re pleased that we can now implement the pay proposal and increase pay for our colleagues to reward them for the contribution they make to our business.

“I would like to thank all our colleagues for everything they continue to do for Morrisons.” It came as rival supermarket chains also upped workers’ pay this year to retain and attract staff, as cost-of-living pressures continue to hit British households.

Morrisons is just one of several retailers who introduced pay increases this year, as retailers look to attract and retain staff.

For example, Sainsbury’s previously brought in an above-inflation pay increase of 5% for hourly paid workers in March, with hourly pay pushed up to £13.23 per hour nationally, whilst in London it rose to £14.54 per hour.

In London, entry-level store workers had their pay increased to £14.80 per hour, while the hourly rate for experienced staff can rise up to £15.35.

The following month, Store Assistants working at Aldi’s UK branches also saw their pay rise (to £13.50 per hour nationally, with those working inside in the M25 getting £14.88).

These pay rates rise to £14.47 and £15.20, respectively, based on length of service.

Store closures are no longer just a problem facing Britain’s high streets. Across the world, major retailers are shutting branches as rising costs, changing shopping habits and economic pressures continue to reshape the industry. Now, one of America’s biggest supermarket chains, particularly in the Northeast, is pressing ahead with another wave of closures.

Over the past 18 months, a major US grocery chain Stop & Shop has closed dozens of locations and will continue with the closures throughout the year. At least four more Stop & Shop locations will disappear as part of the company’s broader push to improve performance. Across the northeastern US, Stop & Shop has more than 350 stores spanning five states: Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The retailer offers groceries, pharmaceutical needs, and home delivery.

A Stop & Shop spokesperson told Inc.: “Each decision was made independently and is not part of a broader plan to close multiple locations. We do not have plans to close additional stores in this market at this time.”

The added that all the affected employees at the closing stores will be given the option to transfer to other locations within the company. However, the closures will affect the towns with fewer grocery options, forcing residents to rely on alternative stores further away.

Earlier this year, Stop & Shop also shut seven e-commerce fulfillment warehouses across four states, shifting instead toward having store-level employees fulfill online orders directly.

It comes amid rising grocery prices due to increased operations costs. In June, grocery bills in the US rose 2.7%, according to the Consumer Price Index and are expected to rise 2.9% in 2027, according to a US Department of Agriculture forecast.

Tesco is bringing back its free fruit giveaway for children this summer, with shoppers able to pick up complimentary apples in more than 800 stores across the UK from July 20. The supermarket’s Free Fruit for Kids scheme will run until August 30 in England and Wales, with children able to collect free apples at checkouts in more than 800 large Tesco stores and 77 larger Tesco Express branches.

Selected Click & Collect customers will also be able to pick up free apples for their children. The giveaway is part of Tesco’s wider support for families during the school holidays, when many children who receive free school meals in term time face extra pressure.

Alongside the free fruit, Tesco will continue its Kids Eat Free offer in 317 cafés across the UK. Families can claim one free children’s meal, breakfast or Pick ‘n’ Mix deal when an adult buys an item from as little as 60p and shows a Tesco Clubcard or Clubcard App.

The retailer is also encouraging shoppers to support food banks by purchasing pre-filled donation bags, costing between £2 and £4, with the contents going to charities Felix and Trussell to help families in need.

Christine Heffernan, chief communications and sustainability officer at Tesco, said: “We want to be able to support our charity partners to help those needing a little extra support this summer. Our partnerships with Felix and Trussell are central to this aim.

“When you’re out doing your weekly shop this summer, dropping a few tins into a food collection point, picking up a food donation bag in our stores or rounding up our grocery bill, can make a difference to the lives of thousands of children in communities across the UK.”

Matthew van Duyvenbode, co-chief executive officer at Trussell, said: “Our community of food banks distributed more than 900,000 parcels for children last year, demonstrating the unacceptable levels of hunger and hardship so many families are currently facing.”

Charlotte Hill, CEO at Felix, added: “We know from speaking to charities receiving food via our network that demand for food support is growing as people across the UK face cost-of-living pressures. During the school holidays, families will be facing additional financial burdens as they juggle the cost of childcare and food.”

Morrisons is relaunching its popular food counters in phases after receiving “widespread backlash”. The major retailer scrapped its 35 meat and 35 fish bars, impacting 70 UK stores in a bid to cut costs last year.

It also closed all 18 of its Market Kitchen sites, 52 cafes, 13 florists and four pharmacies. The removal of these counters was felt by many Morrisons customers as a loss of personal interaction. Now, Morrisons is set to reopen several Market Street locations in the coming months. Signs have also appeared in stores reading “fresh cuts are back on the block” with “skilled butchers” returning.

According to The Grocer, senior bosses acknowledge that the cost-cutting might have been exaggerated at the time. The reopening proposals are part of Morrisons’ relaunch of its Magic strategy, which it outlined at its annual IGD conference in June. The counters will still feature the “traditional” manned service; however, they will also include flatbeds and more grab-and-go options as part of the upgrade.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “Our Market Street counters are part of our DNA. They are at the heart of our offer and a real differentiator for Morrisons.”

The retailer also noted that the time since the closures was used to enhance counter-operation efficiency, specifically by improving waste yield. As part of the Market Street revival, a digital modernisation will be introduced, including the installation of electronic ordering screens at pizza counters.

While further rollouts are expected over the coming months, the relaunch has already taken place at several locations, including Thornbury, Herne Bay, Newcastle’s Great Park, and Yeadon in Leeds.

Speaking on the return of the counters, one person took to Facebook and wrote: “They add to the customer’s experience, choice and interaction.”

Customers slammed the closures last year. One person wrote on Reddit: “‘It is a shame as it does take the human element out of serving, which a lot of customers love.’

Another added: “The one thing Morrisons had going for itself was its pizza/dessert/deli counters.”

Asda has increased its hourly rate for store-based workers from today, (July 5) following a previous rise in April. On April 1, the supermarket chain boosted the hourly rate for workers outside the M25 from £12.60 to £12.71.

Those working inside the M25 saw hourly pay jump from £13.82 to £13.93. The increases were the first part of a two-step pay uplift, with the second increase coming into effect from today. The hourly rate has now increased to £13.10 for those outside the M25, and to £14.35 for those working within it. Asda, which has more than 1,000 stores across the country, said at the time of the phased increase announcement that it would result in 110,000 hourly‑paid retail colleagues receiving a 4% above‑inflation pay rise.

The pay reward represented an £80million investment, the chain said.

James Goodman, chief people officer, Asda, said at the time: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to give them an above‑inflation pay award and invest in this way. I’d also like to thank them for their continued hard work and commitment to making Asda better every day.”

Asda is among a number of other supermarkets that announced increases to the hourly rate for shop floor workers to retain and attract staff, as cost-of-living pressures continue to hit British households.

For example, Sainsbury’s brought in an above-inflation pay increase of 5% for hourly paid workers from March, with hourly pay rising to £13.23 per hour nationally, whilst in London it rose to £14.54 per hour.

In London, entry-level store workers saw their pay upped to £14.80 per hour, while the hourly rate for experienced staff can rise up to £15.35.

The following month, Store Assistants working at Aldi’s UK branches also saw their pay boosted (to £13.50 per hour nationally, with those working inside in the M25 getting £14.88).

These pay rates rise to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively based on length of service. Others major chains improved pay included Lidl, Primark, Morrisons, Waitrose, and Tesco.

Morrisons will be upping hourly pay at its UK stores later this month for the second time in 2026. In May, the grocery giant announced that a proposed pay deal for store and manufacturing workers been given the greenlight by USDAW union, which negotiates pay for large sections of Morrisons’ workforce.

It paved the way for implementing pay rises for all eligible hourly-paid staff across three phases. It began with hourly rates for all Customer Assistants increasing to £12.81 (backdated to March 30), with all other established hourly rates for eligible roles seeing a 10p uplift. From Monday, July 20, 2026, customer assistants at Morrisons stores will see their pay going up from £12.81 to £13.00, while all other established hourly rates for the other roles will rise by 19p.

The final increase will come into effect from Monday, October 26, 2026, when the hourly rate will go from £13.00 to £13.11, with pay for the other roles seeing an 11p increase.

In the May announcement, Morrisons said in addition to the pay rises, all eligible hourly paid colleagues would get a one-off fixed payment of between £25 and £175 based on their contractual hours.

Jodie Keating, group people director of Morrisons, said at the time: “We’re pleased that we can now implement the pay proposal and increase pay for our colleagues to reward them for the contribution they make to our business.

“I would like to thank all our colleagues for everything they continue to do for Morrisons.” It came as rival supermarket chains also upped workers’ pay this year to retain and attract staff, as cost-of-living pressures continue to hit British households.

Morrisons is just one of several retailers who introduced pay increases this year, as retailers compete to attract and retain staff.

For example, Sainsbury’s previously introduced in an above-inflation pay increase of 5% for hourly paid workers in March, with hourly pay boosted to £13.23 per hour nationally, whilst in London it rose to £14.54 per hour.

From March 1, Lidl increased hourly pay for store assistants outside London to £13.45, a rate that increases to £14.00 depending on length of service.

In London, entry-level store workers had their pay upped to £14.80 per hour, while the hourly rate for experienced staff can rise up to £15.35.

The following month, Store Assistants working at Aldi’s UK branches also saw their pay increase (to £13.50 per hour nationally, with those working inside in the M25 getting £14.88).

These pay rates rise to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively based on length of service.

Marks and Spencer is set to open a new store in the south west of England six months earlier than it originally planned. Shoppers will soon be welcomed to a new superstore at Weymouth Gateway Retail Park in Dorset on July 15.

M&S is known for its quality food, homeware and clothing, with more than 1,000 stores across the UK. The new shop will be home to a food hall and cafe as well as housing clothing, home and beauty items.

It will also feature the chain’s in-store bakery which sells a range of pastries, cakes, cookies, breads and doughnuts.

Charles Pinner, the regional manager at M&S, said: “We are excited to reveal that our brand-new Weymouth Gateway full-line store will open this summer.

“We expect the opening to create 50 new local jobs and are looking for colleagues who are passionate about serving customers and raising the bar in retail to join the team.”

Around 60 staff members who already work for a nearby M&S will be offered a role at the shop.

In 2024, the planning application was approved by Dorset Council, reports The Sun.

M&S are running a multi-million pound relocation project with investments into its supermarket stores. The new store will replace the St Mary Street branch.

M&S first started in 1884, when Michael Marks came to the north of England and managed to secure a stall at Kirkgate Market in Leeds.

He built his success using the slogan “Don’t ask the price, it’s a Penny”. The stall, which sold simple homewares, was soon thriving.

To support his growing business, Michael joined forces with Tom Spencer, a cashier from wholesalers Dewhirst.

From this partnership, the business began to take shape and eventually turned into the M&S we know today.