MULTS

That's why leading sports nutrition bar Grenade - newly on the block (p10) - also eschewed supermarkets for such a long time, trialling recipes, establishing demand, and building up its supply chain expertise via gyms and clubs, then Holland & Barrett, before nally approaching the mults.

Earlier this month, growers warned recent extreme weather - including record June rainfall across Lincolnshire - was likely to lead to brassica shortages across the mults.

Almost all of the major mults signicantly increased promotional activity on fresh produce compared to the same period in 2018, the data shows.

Flamingo Produce, which supplies fresh flowers, plants and veg to the mults, shrugged off difficult market conditions to almost double its profits last year.