== Coffee shops need better food focus ==

Seventy-seven per cent of executives asked said coffee shops need to enhance their food offering, according to Allegra Strategies UK’s Executive Insight Report, published last month. There are now only 890 food-focused coffee outlets in the UK, compared to 2,900 coffee-focused companies, it added.

== £1 sandwich offer ==

Poundland is looking to roll out its £1 sandwich offer across 150 stores before the end of the year. The move follows successful trials with eight sandwiches at three stores. The range - prawn mayonnaise, ham and cheese, coronation chicken, egg mayonnaise, cheese and onion, ham salad and tuna - is now being rolled out to another 19 stores.

== Allied volumes hit ==

Volumes at Allied Bakeries in the UK were affected by the loss of low-margin own-label and some branded business in the third quarter, according to a statement issued by parent company Associated British Foods. But profit was ahead in the quarter, as margins increased with further improvement in the baking operations.

== Firms join forces ==

Style Café has joined forces with its major supplier Crem International Holding to form Crem International UK. The firm, based in Colne, Lancashire, offers traditional espresso machines, as well as filter, instant and commercial bean-to-cup machines.

== Spar revamp ==

Bakery products, such as quiches, savouries and sandwiches, are at the heart of a new ’lunchtime eating’ range of own-brand products from Spar. The products are part of a project to relaunch Spar’s 900 own-brand lines.

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