Briefs

n High street spending continued to grow in the first half of August, but at the slowest rate since last November, the CBI said in its latest Distributive Trades Survey this week. Some 42% of retailers said year-on-year sales volumes were up in August, while 26% said they were down.

n Food sector employees will be put through their paces during a two-day mock disaster exercise on October 4 and 5. Held at the Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association in Gloucester, it will be based on an imaginary crisis at a fictitious food manufacturer, which 40 participants will tackle.

n Frozen foods supplier Central Foods has awarded a delivery contract to Christian Salvesen’s Temperature Controlled Business Unit. The contract, operated through Christian Salvesen’s Nuneaton distribution centre, will involve collection and delivery of frozen foods to more than 200 independent wholesalers and major groups.

n Discounter Aldi has launched a price-cutting campaign on 130 items in its range of 900 core lines.

n Iceland’s Bakkavör Group, which owns bakery companies including New Primebake, has acquired Exotic Farm Produce Group, a produce and fresh prepared foods company. The company, located in Lincolnshire, employs 370 people.

n Last week’s British Baker published an article called ’Further flour price increases predicted as costs rocket’ (page 4-5). Due to a technical problem, the end of the last sentence was missed off, which read: "Greggs also indicated price increases of up to 10% could be needed."