Everyone’s favourite US chicken chain, Chick-fil-A, has exciting plans to return to British shores. The fast-food giant, which launched and closed a branch in Reading within six months back in 2019, announced its intentions for a grand comeback.

In a bold move, Chick-fil-A revealed plans to open five “locally owned and operated restaurants” across the UK from early 2025. With over 2,800 branches in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada alone, this popular chicken sandwich chain promises great things for food fanatics here in Blighty.

• The exact launch sites have yet to be confirmed but locations are being closely evaluated across all corners of the UK.
• Each new restaurant will create between 80 and 120 jobs – an excellent boost for local employment opportunities.
• A whopping £76 million investment (the equivalent of $100m) is planned over the next decade as part of their expansion process.
• Farm-to-table enthusiasts will be thrilled; all chicken will hail from farms right here in the UK or Ireland! A great win for sustainability measures within fast-food operations.

Despite its brief stay previously amid backlash from LGBT activists due its reported support towards anti-LGBT rights groups, Chick-fil-A is set on making amends with this new venture. Anita Costello, Chief International Officer at Chick-fil-A expressed her excitement about bringing new jobs and opportunities throughout the UK as part of their community-focused enterprise ethos.

This mighty American chain’s return surely adds some extra ‘spice’ into Britain’s ever-growing fast food market! Keep your eyes peeled for these red-and-white themed restaurants near you in the coming years.

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Bacon lovers beware! The cost of your favorite crispy treat is about to go up even more as wholesale pork belly prices reach record highs. Here’s what you need to know:

• Pork belly prices have increased by over 100% this year, soaring from 131.59 cents per pound in January to 270.89 cents per pound at the end of July.
• The surge in pork prices can be attributed partially to a new animal welfare law in California, known as Proposition 12, which bans the sale of pork from farms that confine pregnant sows in small enclosures.
• Complying with Proposition 12’s regulations will require expensive construction upgrades estimated to cost $3,400 to $4,000 per sow.
• Many small and medium-sized farms may not be able to afford these costs, leading to a decrease in pork production and higher prices for consumers.
• Experts predict that the spike in wholesale pork belly prices will translate into higher retail and food service prices for bacon.

Adding to the price increase is the seasonal demand for bacon during “BLT season” when consumption is high and tomato harvests are bountiful. Additionally, hog slaughter rates typically decline during this time of year further tightening the supply of fresh pork bellies on the market.

If you’re a fan of bacon, prepare yourself for higher prices in the coming months. It seems that your favorite breakfast indulgence may soon become a luxury item on your grocery list.

Action on Sugar, a group based at Queen Mary University in London, has called on brands to remove appealing packaging from products that contain high or medium levels of sugar, salt, and saturated fats. Their plea is based on new findings that compared the sugar content of popular cereals and yoghurts in the market.

The research revealed alarming results – almost half (47%) of the examined cereals and 65% of yoghurts contained a third of the recommended maximum sugar intake for children aged four to six years old. Brands such as Lidl, Aldi, and Nestle had the highest average sugar levels among the selected products.

What’s concerning is that these sugary products are often adorned with attractive packaging featuring cartoon characters, animations, and vibrant colors. Action on Sugar argues that this kind of packaging misleads parents and contributes to the unhealthy consumption habits of children.

It’s worth noting that there has been some progress in reducing sugar levels in breakfast cereals and yoghurts over recent years. Between 2015 and 2020, there was a decrease of approximately 14.9% in sugar content for breakfast cereals and 13.5% for yoghurts. However, this falls short of the UK Government’s Sugar Reduction Programme target of a 20% reduction within the same timeframe.

Dr Kawther Hashem, campaign lead at Action on Sugar, emphasized the urgency to address this issue as childhood obesity rates continue to rise. She stated: “Given the soaring numbers of under-18s suffering weight-related health problems and tooth decay being the leading cause of child hospitalization, now is the time for companies to be forced to remove child-appealing packaging from products that are misleading parents and making our children unhealthy and sick.”

PA News has reached out to Lidl, Aldi, and Nestle for comment on these findings.