New certified organic sun lotion from ORGANii

British brand ORGANii has launched a new SPF 30 mineral sun lotion, which is certified natural and organic and is suitable for sensitive skin.

The new SPF 30 Sun Lotion blends easily into the skin and offers instant protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays, compared to chemical-based sunscreens that need to be rubbed in and take around 20 minutes before they shield the skin.

The medium-protection formula has a fluid consistency so there is no residue left on the skin after application, while protecting your skin from the UVA and UVB rays naturally and safely. Non-nano zinc oxide and non-nano titanium dioxide sit on top of the skin, reflecting the sun’s rays and creating a protective barrier. The sun lotion is also enriched with organic aloe vera, green tea leaf extract and coconut oil that will leave your skin soft and supple.

The ORGANii Sun Range consist of four products, three SPFs and an after sun cream, all of which are AIAB certified organic, suitable for vegans and do not contain colours, fragrances, artificial preservatives (like parabens) or chemical synthesised sun protection boosters.

The ORGANii SPF 30 Sun Lotion is available now from all good wholesalers, RRP £19.95.

Why is a mineral sunscreen better?
Traditional conventional sunscreens use chemical ingredients designed to absorb sun rays and release their energy as heat. Such ingredients can cause skin irritation, and many of these chemicals have also been linked to disrupting the endocrine system, which regulates the hormone function in the body.

Perfect for sensitive skin, including babies’, the ORGANii sun care range offers a safer and gentler alternative. It uses organic ingredients such as karanja oil with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide that creates a protective shield on the skin, scattering and reflecting UVA and UVB rays.

Whilst a chemical-based sun cream only works 20 minutes after application, a mineral sun product works instantly as it creates a barrier between the sun and the skin rather than being absorbed into the epidermis.

Fall in inflation welcomed but charity warns of struggles UK households still facing

News that inflation has fallen to 3.2 per cent has been welcomed but warnings remain of the cost pressures still facing UK households.

The latest CPI inflation figures for March have revealed that inflation fell to 3.2 per cent, with food inflation falling one percentage point to four per cent.

Responding to the figures, Shona Goudie, Policy and Advocacy Manager at The Food Foundation, cautioned: “As inflation continues to ease, it is important not to lose sight of the struggles that many people across the UK are still experiencing. Even though we are seeing lower inflation figures, this does not necessarily mean that prices are coming down, but instead that prices are increasing more slowly. The Food Foundation has been tracking food prices on our Basic Basket Tracker for two years showing that despite inflation falling, this has not yet been reflected in the cost of a weekly shop. In fact, since we began tracking, the price of a weekly shop has increased by approximately 25 per cent. Concerningly, the price of the vegetables in the basket has increased by more than the average, up by 39 per cent.

“Our recent food insecurity data showed that eight million adults live in households experiencing food insecurity in January 2024 and 44 per cent of households who had experienced food insecurity reported to have purchased less veg.  The price of food remains a significant barrier to eating the healthy diet that everyone deserves. This is why we are calling on all political parties to commit to ensuring that everyone in the UK is able to access and afford healthy food as we approach the next general election.”

Also commenting was Kris Hamer, Director of Insight of the British Retail Consortium, who said: “Cost pressures on households eased in March as inflation dropped to its lowest level since September 2021. Energy prices remain deflationary, while falling inflation rates for clothing and household furniture and equipment were also key in driving down the headline figure. Consumers benefitted as food inflation fell once again, marking 12 months of consecutive drops. This was helped by falls in the cost of a roast dinner as the price of beef, pork and potatoes all fell.

“As some cost pressures in the supply chain begin to ease, retailers have worked hard to pass on savings where they can and offering their customers the best value for money. In a year of elections, politicians, both locally and nationally, must recognise retail’s role in the economy, providing jobs and investment in every corner of the country and helping deliver government policy through its scale and reach. Competition between retailers has played a key role in bringing down inflation for the public and it is vital that politicians consider the inflationary impact of new policies which might reverse this progress and result in higher prices for consumers in the long run.”

And Karen Betts, CEO at The Food and Drink Federation, also commented “Food and drink price inflation fell again in March, to four per cent from five per cent in February. This corresponds to input price inflation that manufacturers experience, which also continues to ease. This is good news for consumers – with food and drink price inflation rates now much lower than they were a year ago and with some prices in shops falling. However, risks remain, including the increasing instance of extreme weather, which is impacting agriculture globally. This has been very visible in the UK in recent weeks with this winter’s wet weather causing widespread flooding on farmland. Inevitably, lower or poorer crop yields caused by bad weather have the ability to impact food prices.

“In this context, we welcome the Prime Minister’s intention to hold another farm to fork summit at No 10 next month. Food security should be a focus of this, and how all parts of the food system work together – and with government – to ensure the UK has a secure supply of good quality food and drink.  A central part of this is regulation, and ensuring this fosters investment in the UK, including in innovation and food science. Unfortunately, current government plans for ‘not for EU’ labelling will have the opposite effect, as will current government plans for Forest Risk Commodity regulations, where industry want the same outcome as government, but current proposals are not well designed and will create unnecessary burdens for supply chains. Both could lead to a disinvestment in UK food and drink over time. We hope the summit will help to resolve problems such as these with forward-looking solutions that are well within our reach.”

Suma announces two new chilled products

Suma Wholefoods has announced the launch of two brand new chilled products – Suma Kimchi and Sauerkraut. The new releases are handmade, organic and traditionally fermented using organic and seasonal ingredients.

Sauerkraut is the Godfather of fermented foods, turning the humble cabbage into a tangy, crunchy delight. While kimchi is Korea’s fiery, funky answer to sauerkraut with a spicy twist. It’s just the right side of spicy, full of tasty fermented flavours and unpasteurised cultures. Whereas the Sauerkraut is made to a classic recipe using only organic cabbage and sea salt. They’re great served straight from the jar, and perfect in salads, slaws, stews, topping noodles, in a toastie or served on the side.

Kate Willis, Brand Co-ordinator at Suma, commented: “We’re cabbage fans at Suma! We have members who love to make their own fermented foods and we were excited to launch our own brand of Suma Culture Club fermented products to join our popular kombucha range. We worked closely with our UK-based supplier to make organic, seasonal and UK-grown versions to call our own.

“Following taste tests on Suma members, we added a little chili kick and a little tamari to the kimchi for depth and umami. We wanted a simple straight-forward Sauerkraut that would give a wholesome crunch to your vegan hotdog! As with all our Suma brand products, we aim for sustainability, so the glass packaging is fully recyclable and the outer packaging is recycled cardboard. We hope you love them as much as we do!”

Taste tested on humans at Suma HQ, they’re perfect for customers interested in gut health. Supplied in cases of 6, these squat 300g glass jars have colourful and vibrant packaging, they’re at a great price point too, RRP £4.40 Kimchi and £4.20 Sauerkraut. Available to order from www.wholesale.suma.coop

HayMax wins second Global 100 Award

HayMax, the organic drug-free allergen barrier balm for hay fever, dust and pet allergy sufferers, has just won its second Global 100 Award. The brand now has over 60 awards to its name.

Max Wiseberg, Managing Director of HayMax, commented: “I can’t quite believe that my business, that I created nearly 20 years ago, has been recognised in these Global 100 Awards. I am very chuffed!”

The Global 100 Awards celebrate excellence in business, spotlighting the year’s top 100 firms and individuals shaping the global professional landscape.

Leading the way for almost two decades, HayMax has now won over 60 awards, including for 2023 a Soil Association BOOM Award, British Made Award, Enterprise Award, BizzieBaby Award, Global 100 Award and Corporate America Today Annual Award.

In addition, the brand has recently started making a positive contribution to reduce climate change. HayMax has switched to using sugar cane to make their pots (using up CO2 instead of producing it), have reduced the amount of material used in the pots by just over 54 per cent, and have switched from plastic labels to paper ones. HayMax pots are now recyclable with your roadside collection.

HayMax is available from wholesalers including Hunts Foods, Jumla, CLF, Hampdens and Sundrelle. The HayMax range is supported by national PR and advertising campaigns. POS materials, including giant display boxes, CDUs, leaflets, posters and shelf barkers, are available from many wholesalers or direct on 01525 406600 or https://haymax.biz/trade-information/

Natural & Organic Products Expo reveals speaker line-up

Natural & Organic Products Expo (NOPEX) has announced this year’s seminar programme for when it returns to ExCeL London on 14-15 April. With over 50 industry experts confirmed, including senior professionals from Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, Planet Organic, Marks & Spencer, Abel & Cole, ScoreApp, Soil Association, and IFOAM Organics, the show organisers have stated that it is their “best ever” speaker line-up.

All talks at the show are free to attend and will cover topics like Net Zero, inclusivity, sustainable retail, organic farming, vegan shopping, global product trends, and more – offering buyers and industry professionals an insight into the fast-moving trends within natural, organic and sustainable food and health.

Unmissable headliners
Retail expert, broadcaster and author Mary Portas will headline the show, as well as Planet Organic’s founder Renée Elliott. Co-founder of ScoreApp and best-selling author, Daniel Priestley has also been confirmed.

Sponsored by Viridian Nutrition, Daniel Priestley will advise how indie retailers can use their skills and experience to create a loyal and committed following in a community. By spotlighting issues that mean something to a target audience, this talk will help attendees become a key person of influence (14 April, 1pm).

Big name retailers
Leading retailers like Holland & Barrett and Waitrose will also take to the stage.  Titled ‘How to Keep a 150-Year-Old Business Alive,’ Rachel Chatterton, Head of Food and Beverage Development at Holland & Barrett, will explore the challenges on the UK high street and will share insights into how H&B approach food development, the criteria for working with new suppliers and where they plan to take their food range in the future (15 April, 2:15pm).

Oliver Chadwyck-Healey, Branded Innovation Manager at Waitrose & Partners will give a brief insight into the way buyers and the Branded Innovation team at Waitrose work – in his session titled ‘What makes Waitrose, Waitrose’. He’ll talk about the retailer’s targets and motivations that they work to, as well as the pressures and constraints (15 April, 11:15am).

Attendees should also attend a session with Mike Barry, Former Director of Sustainable Business at Marks & Spencer. Mike Barry will delve into what it looks like to build a sustainable food system for the future. He’ll also look at trends that bigger businesses are already adopting and what else can be done to see change at the rate that we need it (14 April, 2:30pm).

Panels on timely topics
As well as keynotes, attendees can look forward to engaging with some of the industry’s most influential names and discussing cutting-edge topics in a range of panel sessions. With Net Zero targets to think about, Lee Holdstock (Soil Association Certification); Charles Redfern (Organico Realfoods); Ed Ayton (Abel & Cole), and Matthew Unerman (Compassion in World Farming) will be on an important panel titled Net Zero and Beyond (14 April, 4pm).

European organic advocates, IFOAM will host a panel on the organic market. Hear from organic experts Soil Association Certification the highlights of the 2024 Organic Market Report and join leading voices from the organic movement in Europe to hear how they are supporting the organic sector and the industry wide vision making organic accessible and affordable for all (15 April, 3pm).

Joanna Wierzbicka, Deputy Director of IFOAM Organics Europe: “IFOAM Organics Europe is pleased to cooperate with Natural and Organic Products Expo. Our partnership combines knowledge and passion to promote the growth of the organic sector in the UK, and beyond. I am looking forward to the session, where we will be delving into European market data and engaging in discussion on challenges and opportunities of the organic industry growth in the UK. IFOAM Organics Europe proudly joins the event, committed to strengthening our organic community.”

Lastly, visitors can join an exciting panel titled ‘Breaking Barriers: Empowering Black Founders in Retail’ to hear the challenges and opportunities that three business leaders have faced and their top tips for success (15 April, 4pm).

For more information and to view the full schedule, visit www.naturalproducts.co.uk/seminars-main-stage.