== Dalesman extends ==

Seasonings manufacturer The Dalesman Group has recently completed an extension at its head office in West Yorkshire. The 7,000sq ft of additional warehouse space, fitted out with push-back racking, gives the firm an extra 650 pallet spaces, and takes the total size of the factory and office suite to 40,000sq ft. The firm produces bespoke blends of sausage, burger, pie, pasty, gravy and sauce mixes and its Country Fayre range of sausage mixes.

== Starbucks closures? ==

It has been reported that Starbucks plans to close 31 UK stores. A spokesperson for the coffee chain said its current priority is to prepare for the continued uncertainty in the economy and ensure it has a strong business for the future. "We are discussing options with landlords for a small number of our UK stores," she said. "But we do not have any specific announcements at this time."

== Greencore growth ==

Greencore said its food-to-go sandwiches and quiche bakery business has delivered a "good sales performance" in its interim management statement. Good weather in early summer helped drive sales of sandwiches, salads and sushi, it said. Within its UK portfolio, cakes and desserts saw a fall in sales.

== Raisins on the rise ==

California Raisin imports into the UK fell by 14% in the 2008-09 season, with tonnage down to 22,655 from 26,456. However, the market has grown for California by 68% since the 2006-07 season when 13,518 tonnes was imported, due to crop losses in other countries. Peter Meadows, marketing director for the California Raisin Adminis-trative Committee in the UK, said: "Despite the economic conditions, the final result, at 22,655 tonnes, is a very strong performance in this market."