Due to the conflict in the Middle East, we felt it right to put together some information for members of the BFFF to give an understanding on the Global Supply Chain, specifically relating to Nitrile Gloves. You may well have seen price increases already and limited supply from Manufacturers, this is down to the raw materials utilised to manufacture Nitrile Gloves.

Crude Oil is the ‘base’ for NBR which is the material used in the production of Nitrile Gloves. You may have seen on the news that the price on Crude Oil has surged by approximately 110% and as of last week was trading at $113 per barrel, nearly double previous stable pricing. With Asian countries purchasing over 50% of their materials from the Middle East the scarcity of resources has caused pricing to increase, at an exceptionally fast rate.

UK Manufacturers have in the main, limited stock supplies to Distributors and increased pricing from April, with most looking to increase again in May based on continued increases at source.

I don’t want this notification to cause panic in the market and feel it important to highlight that availability in the UK Glove Market is still healthy, we wanted to give the best possible picture so informed decisions can be made.

If you wish to discuss this further or if you wish to seek support, please don’t hesitate to reach out and I will help where I can.

• McManus@Just1Source.com
• 07764233674 / 01653 617718

I look forward to supporting the BFFF Members in the coming months & years, so please do utilise me and my team to improve protection, reduce costs & improve employee satisfaction.

We encourage our retail members to become Martyn’s Law prepared – the only thing you need to do at the moment is to calculate whether you are in scope for your retail stores (above 200 people at any one time including staff) and whether you fall into standard tier (200 – 799), or enhanced tier (800+).

 

Our primary authority Wakefield Metropolitan District Council has made us aware of excellent ‘play on demand’ webinar from the Protect UK Alliance, this will guide you in the method of calculating your numbers.  Whichever method you choose, the decision making process must be documented. See below link to ‘play on demand’ webinar:

 

Calculating Numbers for Martyn’s Law

 

The Home Office is aiming for further guidance to be published by the 9^th anniversary of the Manchester arena attack therefore April/May this year and full implementation of The Terrorism (Protection of Premises Act 2025) is expected by April 2027.

 

For more information on Martyn’s Law, Primary Authority or our Health & Safety Services, contact simonbrentnall@bfff.co.uk

Smurfit Westrock UK has been named a finalist in the Green Business of the Year category at the 2026 British Business Awards, recognising the company’s leadership in sustainable, innovative packaging and its contribution to the UK economy.

With a significant UK workforce operating across more than 45 facilities nationwide, Smurfit Westrock plays a vital role in supporting British manufacturing while being part of a wider global network committed to circular, paper-based packaging solutions.

The Green Business of the Year award celebrates organisations demonstrating outstanding environmental responsibility and measurable impact. Winners will be announced on 30 April 2026 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), during a ceremony featuring a special appearance from award-winning actor and humanitarian George Clooney.

Finalists across all 21 categories will also feature in the inaugural British Business Leaders List, recognising organisations that are setting the benchmark for modern enterprise. This year’s shortlist reflects the strength of British business, with more than 400 companies entering across all categories and eight organisations shortlisted for Green Business of the Year, assessed against business performance, innovation, workforce and culture, customer impact, and contribution to society.

Smurfit Westrock’s shortlisting reflects its ongoing commitment to delivering circular packaging solutions that reduce environmental impact and support customers as they navigate evolving regulatory and consumer expectations.

Eddie Fellows, CEO of UK & Ireland at Smurfit Westrock, said: “Being shortlisted for the Green Business of the Year award is a proud moment for everyone at Smurfit Westrock. It reflects the strength of our people and partnerships, and our ambition to help shape a more sustainable future. While packaging is at the heart of what we do, our focus extends to working closely with customers to reduce environmental impact and drive meaningful innovation.”

Lianne Pemberton, UK & Ireland Sustainability Lead, added: “Sustainability sits at the core of our business and our customer relationships. This shortlisting highlights the importance of reducing waste, decarbonisation and the role packaging plays in supporting a more sustainable future.”

This recognition reinforces Smurfit Westrock’s commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of packaging through circular, paper-based solutions that reduce waste and lower carbon impact.

Yarde Farm, the Devon-based ice cream brand exclusive to foodservice, has teamed up with Jimmy’s Iced Coffee to create and launch a new flavour, Jimmy’s Latte ice cream.

 

A smooth, dairy ice cream infused with the distinctive taste of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, made with single-origin, Rainforest Alliance certified Arabica coffee beans from Colombia; this new flavour blends Yarde Farm’s traditional, artisan approach with a modern, on-trend twist, helping businesses keep menus fresh, fun, and exciting.

 

Yarde Farm works with some of the nation’s favourite brands to create flavours that balance contemporary trends with its seaside ice cream heritage. By teaming up with well-loved, recognisable names, the brand keeps its range fresh and innovative, while crafting high-quality ice cream in the UK using real ingredients and West Country cream.

 

Previous collaborations have included Reese’s and Biscoff®, with Yarde Farm the only foodservice brand to have exclusive use of the Biscoff® logo. With more than 40 irresistible flavours now available, Yarde Farm gives businesses the flexibility to refresh and tailor menus season after season.

 

Designed to appeal to consumers of all ages, Jimmy’s Latte ice cream delivers a familiar yet distinctive flavour with strong brand recognition, helping businesses create standout dessert and impulse treat options that feel both current and comforting.

 

Tony Hackley, Managing Director at Yarde Farm, said: “We love dreaming up new flavours for our customers, and this collaboration with Jimmy’s blends tradition with trend. Jimmy’s Latte ice cream lets us bring something genuinely exciting to the range while staying true to our roots as a traditional British ice cream maker. This new flavour helps businesses keep menus fresh and fun, giving customers something a little different to enjoy.”

 

Nick Waring, Head of Brand at Jimmy’s Iced Coffee, added: “We’re super excited to partner with Yarde Farm on this launch – it’s an exciting way to bring our single origin coffee to more people in a soft serve ice cream, just in time for a cracking summer!”

SPAM® brand’s high impact TV campaign went live in March across the United Kingdom.

Following on from successful campaigns over the past 3 years, the iconic SPAM® Brand launched a refreshed ATL campaign, with the aim of driving new consumers to the category.

Building on the insight that sometimes we’re just looking for that quick, no-faff meal that really delivers on flavour and satisfaction, the creative brings in the knowledge that everyone loves watching a TV chef, even if their recipes can sometime be a little unpractical.

The campaign features a no-nonsense British man Nigel who loves watching and taking inspiration from TV chefs. However, he likes to take everything with a large pinch of salt as the chefs’ complicated ways, plus fancy and hard to find ingredients are just not realistic for everyday people. The films see our home chef visiting his sister “down south” in the UK and creating his signature SPAM® burger to help cheer them up. The overall campaign celebrates the great taste and versatility of SPAM® products through easy to make and delicious SPAM® meals, not to mention poking a little fun at those celebrity chefs.

Throughout the campaign, our protagonist, Nigel, shares a variety of delicious SPAM® recipes from SPAM® burritos to new SPAM® Asian fusion recipes like SPAM® ramen to inspire our audience.

The campaign tagline, ‘Keep It Real,’ sums up perfectly Nigel’s down-to-earth approach to delicious homemade meals showing how SPAM® chopped pork and ham can be a tasty, versatile, and convenient ingredient, without any pretentiousness.

The campaign will roll out across TV, social media, gaming advertising, and retail media, and will be supported by ongoing PR efforts with several influencers creating their own tasty and accessible SPAM® recipes guaranteed to inspire consumers’ next mealtime idea.

 

Video link: Keep it real with SPAM® Burgers

kff, the Kent‑based regional foodservice wholesaler, has launched a comprehensive new support programme designed to help care homes deliver high‑quality, nutritionally balanced meals for their residents. The campaign offers caterers a full suite of tools, resources, and expert guidance, all available through kff’s dedicated Care Home Catering Hub.

Bringing together a wide range of specialist materials and services, the initiative ensures care homes can easily access everything they need to meet the diverse dietary, operational, and wellbeing needs of residents. Through the Hub, care home teams can explore a detailed brochure featuring product information, menu inspiration, operational tips, and sector‑specific guidance—providing a clear overview of kff’s extensive range developed specifically for the care environment.

To further support varied nutritional needs, kff supplies a series of easy‑to‑use dietary factsheets covering allergens, texture modification, specialist diets, and other common requirements in the care sector. These resources help chefs and care teams make informed decisions that can significantly enhance resident wellbeing.

Structured menu cycles are also available to streamline planning, maintain consistency, and ensure residents enjoy balanced, seasonal meals every day. These thoughtfully designed cycles reduce workload, support compliance, and help maintain high dietary standards across care settings.

The campaign includes access to training opportunities that equip catering staff with the knowledge and confidence needed to deliver exceptional meal services. Care homes can also benefit from the expertise of kff’s development chefs and nutrition specialists, who provide tailored menu advice, recipe ideas, and hands‑on support to ensure meals are both enjoyable and nutritionally sound.

kff’s comprehensive product range—covering fresh produce, prepared meals, bakery items, dairy, frozen ingredients, catering supplies, and more—has been carefully curated to meet the unique needs of the care sector. With consistent quality, next‑day delivery, and strong partnerships with trusted suppliers, kff offers care homes a dependable source of both ingredients and professional support.

Commenting on the launch, Neil Williams, Managing Director at kff, said: “Catering teams in care homes work incredibly hard under growing pressures, and they deserve reliable support that genuinely helps them deliver the best possible experience for residents. Our new programme brings together everything they need—from expert advice to easy‑to‑use resources—in one place. We’re committed to being more than just a supplier; we want to be a trusted partner who helps care homes provide nutritious, comforting, and consistently high‑quality meals every day.”