Overview
- McBride, which supplies Tesco and Sainsbury’s, announced temporary price increases and customer surcharges to recover higher costs tied to the conflict in the Middle East.
- Executives said chemical and packaging suppliers are raising prices as petrochemical feedstocks get pricier and energy-heavy production becomes more expensive.
- The company reported that conditions have shifted from minor fuel-related haulage increases to broader cost spikes, with oil above $100 a barrel and global shipping disrupted.
- Major retailers, after Wednesday’s meeting at No 11 with Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, agreed to explore ways to limit the hit to shoppers, with the British Retail Consortium calling the talks constructive.
- Alongside the pricing update, McBride announced a £34.5 million deal to buy Eurotab, a French maker of cleaning tablets, underscoring how companies are pursuing deals even as they pass through short-term cost rises.