Kickstart Coffee has made its supermarket debut in Aldi UK stores nationwide after securing a first-time listing in the retailer’s Specialbuys range, following a £100,000 reinvestment into education and community infrastructure in Uganda.

JDE Peet’s has published a Nature Transition Plan, setting out a science-based roadmap to protect ecosystems, strengthen farmer resilience and support the long-term viability of coffee production.

The UK Deposit Management Organisation (UK DMO) has unveiled Exchange for Change as its new trading name, marking a key step in preparations for the launch of the UK’s Deposit Return Scheme.

Here’s a look back at the news that defined the year.

Representatives from the Automatic Vending Association (AVA), the European Vending & Coffee Service Association (EVA), the Water Dispenser & Hydration Association (WHA) and Zenith Global offer their insights into how technology, consumer behaviour and legislation will shape the future of automated retail and hydration.

Sustainable packaging provider Go-Pak UK and parent company SCG Packaging (SCGP) have launched Go-Recycle, a closed-loop recycling program for old corrugated cardboard (OCC).

WRAP has confirmed the first 53 organisations to sign the UK Packaging Pact, a new ten-year voluntary agreement set to launch in April 2026 and replace the UK Plastics Pact.

Bixolon Europe has partnered with Polish IT company iMedia and systems integrator Hant to supply receipt printing technology for GreenBottle, a nationwide network of reverse vending machines collecting PET bottles and cans.

Grumpy Mule has introduced a new limited-edition coffee range in the UK: Fresh Crop.

Buffalo Biodiesel (BBD), a used cooking oil recycler and renewable fuel producer based in Buffalo, New York, has entered a $300 million capital and growth partnership with Verite Capital Partners (VCP) to accelerate its expansion across the eastern US.

Epta unveils its new Iarp Alba display cases at HostMilano 2025, designed for frozen desserts and beverages with improved efficiency and sustainability.

Hulo, a Netherlands-based water technology company developing AI tools to identify leaks in water networks, has raised €2.3 million in seed funding to support international growth.