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Scottish holiday cottage owners urged to protect margins as costs climb

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Scottish holiday cottage owners urged to protect margins as costs climb

Scottish self-catering businesses are being encouraged to take a closer look at the costs they can control as operators navigate a difficult 2026 trading environment. Rising overheads, regulatory changes and less predictable booking trends are putting additional pressure on independent accommodation providers, according to the founder of a Scottish holiday cottage platform.

The warning comes as independent operators contend with the impact of the 2026 non-domestic rates revaluation, the introduction of visitor levies and weaker forward bookings.

Figures from the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers’ Autumn Barometer Survey, based on responses from 444 operators, found that only 7% of operators reported stronger forward bookings, while almost half said winter bookings were worse or much worse than the previous year. 43% described themselves as pessimistic about the next 24 months, while 91% identified the rising cost of doing business as a moderate to major challenge.

The impact of the latest rates revaluation is also causing concern, with industry leaders warning that some businesses could face substantial increases. Analysis published alongside the ASSC put increases for some property managers as high as 400%.

At the same time, Edinburgh’s visitor levy came into effect on 24 July 2026, with other local authority schemes expected to follow.

However, Alasdair Walker, founder of Scottish self-catering directory Best Scottish Cottages, believes owners should also look at the costs they have more direct control over.

Alasdair said: “An owner can write to their MSP about the rates revaluation, and they should, but they cannot vote it away this season, and they cannot opt out of the levy.

“The one line on the profit and loss they can genuinely move is commission. Most of the large platforms take somewhere between 15% and 25% of a booking, and once you factor in preferred placement and promotional tools the effective rate climbs higher again. On a property doing thirty weeks a year, that is the difference between being viable and not.”

He also argues that the issue extends beyond the commission itself, as bookings made through third-party platforms can leave owners without direct access to the customer relationship.

“You also hand over the guest’s email address,” he said. “The guest remembers the platform, not the cottage. So next year you pay to acquire the same person twice.”

Walker said booking behaviour was also changing, with travellers increasingly either booking at short notice or securing popular dates well in advance.

“School holiday weeks are going early and going fast, because those are the dates families cannot move,” he said. “Almost everything else is being decided at the last minute.”

Best Scottish Cottages operates as an advertising directory rather than a booking agent, allowing guests to contact accommodation owners directly without the platform taking a percentage of bookings.

The curated directory currently features 154 Scottish properties and recorded 8.8 million organic social media content views during 2025. Of those, 7.2 million came from people who did not already follow the platform. The platform also runs Match, a concierge service at match.bestscottishcottages.co.uk that connects guests with suitable owners directly when search alone has not worked.

“Not a penny of that was paid for, and more than eight in ten of those views reached someone who does not follow us,” Alasdair said. “That is the part that matters to an owner. Putting a cottage in front of an audience that already follows a Scottish holiday account is the easy half. Getting it in front of people who have not started looking yet is the hard half, and it is the half an owner cannot do alone from their own page.”

Walker said the figures demonstrated the importance of reaching potential guests before they begin actively searching for accommodation.

“Owners who read a soft forward book as a demand problem and start discounting on the platforms are paying commission to solve something that was never the problem. The ones who come out of this season in reasonable shape will be those who spent the quiet months building a channel they own rather than paying to rent one.”

Alan Hodgkiss Uses New Audiobook to Call for Change in UK Political Culture

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Alan Hodgkiss Uses New Audiobook to Call for Change in UK Political Culture

WEST SUSSEX, UK. September 14th, 2026: A new audiobook from author Alan Hodgkiss is using one man’s deeply personal experience of caring for his late wife to question the way politics works in the UK, calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham and political leaders to put the needs of citizens ahead of party competition.

The Party’s Over is presented as an open letter to the Prime Minister and explores what Hodgkiss believes are wider failures within the systems designed to support older people, people with disabilities and their families. The audiobook draws heavily on his experiences caring for his late wife Rita, who lived with mixed dementia before suffering a fatal stroke last year.

One of the issues explored in the book is the legal restriction on tandem mobility scooters being used on public pavements and roads. Hodgkiss says the restriction made it difficult for him and Rita to maintain their independence and spend time together outside the home during the final years of her life.

He argues that the issue extends beyond his own circumstances, affecting thousands of couples who do not have access to a car or cannot afford to rely on taxis whenever they want to travel together or enjoy a day out.

The audiobook also examines the difficulties faced by elderly couples who want to remain together when one or both partners require residential care. Hodgkiss recounts receiving quotes ranging from £1,000 a week for the option of sleeping on a chair at the foot of his dying wife’s bed, to £1,500 a week for a separate room within the same care home.

According to Hodgkiss, these experiences point to broader problems within the UK’s health and social care systems. He argues that political parties can become more focused on opposing one another than addressing issues affecting the health, welfare and quality of life of the people they represent.

The book draws a historical comparison with George Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address, in which the first President of the United States warned about the dangers of political “factions” and the potential for party interests to take precedence over the public good.

“I wrote this book because I could not stand by and watch the same things happen to other couples,” Alan Hodgkiss said. “Time is precious, especially for people living with dementia or disability. I will devote the rest of my life to fighting for a government system that puts its citizens before itself.”

“The Party’s Over” is now available from most major audiobook retailers, including Chirp.

Directors Warned Cyber Security Gaps Could Leave Businesses Exposed

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Directors Warned Cyber Security Gaps Could Leave Businesses Exposed

ESSEX, UK. September 14th, 2026: UK company directors are being encouraged to take a more proactive approach to identifying weaknesses in their cyber and physical security, as criminals continue to develop new ways of exploiting vulnerabilities across technology, people and premises.

The Government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025/26 found that 43% of participating UK businesses had experienced a cyber breach or attack during the previous 12 months, equivalent to around 612,000 businesses.

Despite this, only 41% of small businesses had conducted a cyber-security risk assessment. Just 52% had a formal cyber-security policy, while 44% had a business-continuity plan that addressed cyber risk.

Under the Companies Act 2006, company directors have a duty to exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence when managing business risks, including cyber security.

The importance of effective protection has been highlighted by a recent incident in which a small UK power plant was forced to shut down following a cyber-attack. Although the Government confirmed that the UK’s wider energy system was not placed at risk, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero subsequently contacted power companies to highlight the ongoing threat posed by cyber-attacks.

Steve Cross, Group Technical Director at PIB Insurance Brokers, said: “Over the last few years PIB have found that many organisations simply don’t know what ‘good’ looks like when it comes to fundamental cyber-security and controls.

“At the same time, small and medium-sized enterprises continue to emerge as the hidden victims of cyber-crime, often targeted by opportunistic hackers but ill-prepared to defend against or recover from attacks.”

The threat landscape is continuing to evolve, with cyber criminals using increasingly sophisticated tools and methods to overcome existing defences. Stolen information has also become a valuable commodity within a wider criminal economy, supporting activities ranging from online fraud to ransomware. Criminal organisations can buy and sell personal data and access to compromised networks through underground online marketplaces.

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence are also expected to increase the capabilities available to cyber criminals. Generative AI is already being used by criminals, including through AI-powered chatbots capable of producing increasingly convincing phishing messages and social engineering scams.

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Mark McSweeney, Director of Security Operations at risk and security specialists R5 Global, said: “We provide intelligence-led physical penetration testing that assesses how security measures perform against real-world threats, not just compliance standards. By replicating attacker tactics, techniques and behaviours, we identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited and give organisations practical recommendations to reduce risk.”

R5 Global’s services can include intelligence-led physical penetration testing alongside broader response testing. This can examine physical security arrangements, the actions of security personnel and how the wider organisation identifies, escalates, communicates and coordinates during a realistic incident. The objective is to uncover weaknesses throughout the response process before they are exposed during an actual security event.

Cyber insurance, D&O insurance and commercial property policies are designed to address different areas of risk and each can contain specific conditions and requirements. Businesses need to understand their policies and meet the relevant requirements to ensure protection remains available when it is needed.

Leading insurance agency Bespoke Risk Solutions is encouraging company directors to review their existing insurance arrangements and establish exactly what their policies cover.

Peter Collins, Director of Bespoke Risk Solutions, said: “On several occasions, we have carried out audits and found that directors had not read the small print in their policy wordings. In some cases, that left the company’s financial future at risk because there was no effective insurance protection.

“Insurance is important and should form part of every company’s disaster planning. If a major cyber incident, theft or security failure occurs, directors may need to explain what protections were reviewed, what vulnerabilities were identified and what action was taken. Using the excuse of ‘We assumed someone else had it covered’ may be a difficult answer for shareholders to accept.”

Kerry Ellis Leads West End Talent in Ambitious New Musical Thriller for Audio

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Kerry Ellis Leads West End Talent in Ambitious New Musical Thriller for Audio

LONDON, UK. September 14th, 2026: West End favourite Kerry Ellis is joining an acclaimed ensemble of musical theatre performers for Following Jimmy Valentine, a new audio production that aims to bring the scale, drama and emotion of a musical directly to listeners through an immersive, screen-free experience.

The audiobook blends cinematic storytelling, original music and powerhouse vocal performances to create a format that sits between a traditional audiobook, radio drama and fully realised musical.

Kerry Ellis, one of the West End’s best-known musical theatre performers, has described her involvement in the project as a “dream come true”. Her extensive West End and Broadway credits include acclaimed productions such as My Fair Lady, We Will Rock You, Les Misérables and Wicked.

The 47-year-old, from Suffolk, said: “I remember as a child growing up, I had audiobooks on cassette and I had The Snow Queen, which I would listen to over and over again. It wasn’t a musical, but it was an audiobook and I fell in love with it. It was the magic of being transported by this audio story.

“You could place all the characters and I loved every second of it. So when something full circle comes around and you get to be a part of something like that, years later, it’s a bit like a dream come true.”

Alongside Kerry, the production features Hadley Fraser, David Hunter, Celinde Schoenmaker, George Blagden and acclaimed jazz vocalist Jacqui Dankworth. Together, the cast brings some of the UK’s leading musical theatre talent to a production that occupies the space between audiobook, radio drama and full-scale musical.

Created by New York composer, writer and performer Jeff Flaster, Following Jimmy Valentine has been described as “the book that sings”. Dialogue, songs, music and sound design are combined to create a cinematic listening experience designed to immerse audiences without the need for a screen.

The production is based on O. Henry’s classic story A Retrieved Reformation and centres on notorious jewel thief Jimmy Valentine, played by Hadley Fraser, as he attempts to leave his life of crime behind.

His plans for a fresh start are complicated by determined detective Jen Price, played by Kerry Ellis, who is closing in on him. His relationship with Annabel Adams, played by Celinde Schoenmaker, also gives Jimmy a reason to reconsider his past and embrace the possibility of a different future.

The story combines crime, romance, redemption and second chances with an original score influenced by jazz, classical music and classic rock.

Rather than taking O. Henry’s story and adapting it for the stage or screen, Flaster has created Following Jimmy Valentine specifically with modern listening habits in mind, allowing audiences to experience the story through headphones, smartphones and streaming platforms.

The production also has another unusual feature: it was recorded entirely remotely.

This approach raises an interesting question for the entertainment industry: could future musicals be developed specifically for listeners, rather than audiences watching from a theatre seat or screen?

Creator and writer Jeff Flaster described the project as a passion-led reimagining of musical storytelling. He said: “I wanted to create something where the boundary between speech and song disappears completely, where the listener doesn’t just hear the story, but experiences it as a living, breathing musical world.”

Flaster, a New York-born composer and former MIT chorale performer, took inspiration from classic literature alongside his long-standing interest in musicals driven by strong narratives.

The project is designed to push the boundaries of what an audiobook can be, combining the storytelling of a book with the performance, music and soundscape of a musical.

Flaster added: “This isn’t just a narrated musical. It’s a fully staged performance without a stage. Every sound is intentional, every moment is composed.”

eXroid urges greater awareness of urological symptoms during Urology Awareness Month

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eXroid urges greater awareness of urological symptoms during Urology Awareness Month

KENT, UK. September 14th, 2026: To coincide with Urology Awareness Month, eXroid is urging people to take notice of changes in their urinary and intimate health and to seek professional advice rather than dismissing symptoms or feeling embarrassed about raising concerns.

Urological symptoms can affect comfort, confidence and day-to-day life, but people may put off discussing them for a variety of reasons. Embarrassment, uncertainty about whether a symptom is significant, or simply hoping it will disappear can all lead to delays in seeking advice.

Symptoms such as changes in urinary frequency or urgency, discomfort when urinating, difficulty emptying the bladder or blood in the urine can have many different causes. Experiencing one of these symptoms does not necessarily indicate a serious condition, but persistent or unusual changes should not be overlooked and should be discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Dr Mark Hudson-Peacock, Medical Director at eXroid, said: “Recognising changes and seeking advice early can provide reassurance and help ensure people receive the right support when it is needed. Knowing what is normal for your own body can also make it easier to identify when something has changed.

“For many people, the greatest barrier is not noticing a symptom, but feeling able to discuss it. Urinary, bowel and other intimate health concerns can still be surrounded by unnecessary embarrassment or stigma, which can discourage people from asking questions or seeking medical advice.

“Urology Awareness Month is an opportunity to challenge that stigma and promote more open conversations around personal health. Healthcare professionals are used to discussing intimate symptoms, and people should not feel that embarrassment needs to stand in the way of accessing information, reassurance or appropriate care.

“Intimate health symptoms can sometimes be uncomfortable to discuss, but recognising changes and seeking appropriate advice is an important part of maintaining overall health. Increasing awareness can help people feel more confident starting these conversations and accessing the support they need.”

Although haemorrhoids are not a urological condition, eXroid regularly supports people experiencing another form of intimate health concern where embarrassment can contribute to delays in seeking help. The company aims to reinforce the message that symptoms affecting intimate areas of the body are not something people should feel they simply have to live with.

eXroid is encouraging people to use Urology Awareness Month as an opportunity to become more familiar with their bodies, recognise changes that may need attention and avoid letting embarrassment or uncertainty stop them from seeking appropriate support.

For more information about eXroid’s haemorrhoid treatment and homecare service, visit www.exroid.com.

Press Release Distribution and AI Search: How Digital PR Can Improve Brand Visibility

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Press Release Distribution and AI Search: How Digital PR Can Improve Brand Visibility

Search is evolving. People are increasingly using AI-powered platforms to find businesses, compare products, research services and answer questions. Instead of simply looking through traditional search results, users can now ask an AI tool for a direct recommendation or summary.

For businesses, this creates a new challenge: being visible where people are searching increasingly means being understood across the wider web.

This is where digital PR and press release distribution can play a valuable role. By creating newsworthy content and distributing it to relevant publications, businesses can increase the amount of credible information available about their brand online.

How AI Search Finds Information About Businesses

AI search tools use information from numerous sources to understand people, organisations, products and subjects. Depending on the platform, these sources can include websites, news publications, industry articles and other publicly available information.

A company’s own website is obviously an important source, but it is not the only one that matters.

Third-party coverage can provide additional context about a business. Articles, news stories and press coverage can demonstrate that a company exists beyond its own marketing channels and is being discussed elsewhere online.

Professional press release distribution services provide one established route for communicating company news to publishers and journalists.

When a release is relevant enough to be published by third-party outlets, it can create additional references to the business and its activities.

Why Third-Party Mentions Matter

Consumers are naturally more likely to trust information when they can find it in multiple places.

The same principle applies to a company’s broader online presence. If important business information is available only on a company’s own website, there are fewer independent sources providing context.

Digital PR can help change this.

A company might use press releases to communicate:

  • New products and services
  • Company launches
  • Business expansion
  • Senior appointments
  • Partnerships
  • Awards and achievements
  • Research and industry insights
  • Major business milestones

When these announcements generate legitimate coverage, they add new references to the company across the online ecosystem.

Creating a Stronger Brand Footprint

One of the biggest benefits of consistent press release distribution in the UK is the opportunity to build a larger digital footprint over time.

Consider a company that publishes one announcement every few months about genuinely newsworthy developments. Each piece of coverage can add another reference point for audiences researching the organisation.

Over time, these references can create a much richer picture of the business.

This does not mean that publishing press releases automatically makes an AI system recommend a company. There are no guarantees of that kind. Instead, the objective should be to build a credible and comprehensive online presence that search engines, journalists, customers and AI-powered tools can understand.

The Importance of Accurate and Consistent Information

Businesses should pay particular attention to consistency.

Company names, leadership information, product descriptions and key business facts should be accurate wherever they appear online.

A well-written press release can help reinforce this information by clearly communicating the facts surrounding a company’s latest announcement.

For example, rather than using generic promotional language, a release could explain exactly what a company has launched, when it launched, who it serves and why the development matters.

This creates useful content for readers while also making the information easier for search technologies to interpret.

Good PR Starts With Good Writing

Distribution is only one part of an effective press release campaign.

The underlying content needs to be useful.

A strong release should have a clear news angle, informative headline and concise opening paragraph. It should provide factual supporting information and include quotations where they add genuine insight.

Businesses using a press release writing service UK should also ensure that the copy sounds like news rather than an advertisement.

Overly promotional language can weaken the story. A factual, reader-focused approach is more likely to appeal to publishers and journalists.

Press Releases and Traditional SEO

AI search is not replacing traditional SEO overnight.

Businesses still need well-optimised websites, useful content, strong technical foundations and relevant search terms.

However, digital PR can complement these activities.

Press coverage can generate brand mentions, referral traffic and, where editorially appropriate, links. More importantly, it can extend a company’s visibility beyond its own website.

This creates a more comprehensive approach to online marketing.

Why Long-Term Distribution Matters

Businesses should avoid viewing press release distribution as a one-off SEO tactic.

The strongest digital PR strategies are ongoing.

Every genuinely newsworthy announcement provides an opportunity to communicate with a new audience and potentially generate further coverage.

Over time, this can help establish a company as a recognisable participant within its industry.

Preparing Your Brand for AI-Powered Search

AI is changing the way people discover information, but the fundamentals of building online authority remain familiar.

Businesses should focus on being:

  • Useful
  • Accurate
  • Consistent
  • Relevant
  • Credible
  • Visible across appropriate third-party sources

Press release distribution can support these objectives by helping businesses communicate their news beyond their own websites.

For companies such as PR Fire, the opportunity lies in combining traditional PR principles with the changing realities of digital search.

The future of search may be increasingly conversational, but brands still need something for those systems to discover, understand and reference. Building a consistent body of credible published information is therefore likely to remain an important part of an effective digital visibility strategy.

MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA launches April 22, 2027 with new trailer and first hands-on demo

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MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA launches April 22, 2027 with new trailer and first hands-on demo

TOKYO, JAPAN, September 12, 2026 – ANIPLEX Co., Ltd. has announced that MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA, the latest entry in its 2D fighting game series, will arrive on April 22, 2027. Alongside the release date announcement, the company has unveiled a new promotional trailer showcasing the upcoming title and some of its playable fighters.

Store pages for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam are now available worldwide.

MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA has been comprehensively revamped for the new release, introducing an enhanced battle system alongside new characters joining the roster as the game’s story unfolds once again within a dream.

The newly released announcement trailer highlights fresh combat footage featuring several playable characters, including Len, as well as fan favourites such as Shiki Tohno, Red Arcueid, and Ciel. The trailer also provides the first look at White Len’s new visual design, created by character designer Takashi Takeuchi. The announcement video is now available on YouTube.

ANIPLEX will also showcase the game at Tokyo Game Show 2026, where further details about the title will be revealed ahead of its 2027 launch. For the first time, attendees will be able to experience MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA through a hands-on demo. Tokyo Game Show 2026 will take place at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to September 21, 2026. Visitors can find the game at the ANIPLEX Booth in Hall 4, 04-C04, and the HAPPINET Booth in Hall 6, 06-N04.

MELTY BLOOD is a series of 2D fighting games set within the world of Tsukihime, the long-form fantasy visual novel created by TYPE-MOON. The first game launched on PC in 2002, with the series subsequently expanding to arcades, PlayStation, and Steam. MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA is a revamped edition of MELTY BLOOD: TYPE LUMINA, which originally launched in 2021.

Drawing from the world of the fantasy visual novel Tsukihime – A Piece of Blue Glass Moon, the game features a story by TYPE-MOON’s Kinoko Nasu and character designs by Takashi Takeuchi. The updated title features an improved battle system as well as new playable characters for players to discover.

ANIPLEX is expected to provide additional information about the game’s development as the April 2027 release date approaches.

Product Information

Title: MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA

Genre: 2D fighting game

Platforms: PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Nintendo Switch™ 2, Nintendo Switch™, Xbox One, Steam®

No.of Players: 1 to 2 players (online)

Release Date: April 22, 2027

Supported Languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, Portuguese

Note: Voiced language in Japanese only

Official Site: https://meltyblood.twilumina.com/

Official X (Twitter): https://x.com/MB_LUMINA

Copyright: ©TYPE-MOON / Project LUMINA

Original Work: Kinoko Nasu / TYPE-MOON

Development: Soft Circle French-Bread

Distribution: ANIPLEX

Property investors could be missing out on more than £1m in finance leverage by failing to compare lenders, Brickflow finds

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Property investors could be missing out on more than £1m in finance leverage by failing to compare lenders, Brickflow finds

LONDON, UK. September 11th, 2026 – New research from Brickflow, the UK’s leading specialist property finance comparison platform, suggests that investors and developers may be tying up substantial amounts of capital unnecessarily when they source property finance without comparing the wider lending market.

The report, titled “The UK’s Most Expensive Mistakes“, highlights the significant differences in lending terms available across the market and shows how relying on manual loan sourcing can constrain cash flow and limit the ability to pursue further property acquisitions and development projects.

Brickflow analysed 300 simulated finance searches covering bridging loans, commercial mortgages, and development finance, comparing lender responses to identical borrowing scenarios.

The research found that on a £1.4m purchase, there was an average £250,000 difference in net lending between manually sourcing finance and using a comparison platform. For a £1.5m commercial mortgage purchase, the difference increased to £306,000, while development finance showed a gap of £842,000 on a £3.7m project with a £5.2m GDV.

The findings were consistent across all products and asset classes examined. Within bridging finance, the smallest gap recorded across the dataset was £55,000, while pure residential purchases showed an average difference of more than £251,000.

For bridging finance on a £1.4m residential purchase in London, the strongest net loan offer reached £979,265, compared with £646,106 from the least competitive lender. The £333,159 difference means one lender was willing to advance 52% more than another against the same property.

For commercial mortgages, based on a £1.5m retail purchase in the North West, net loan offers varied from £1,125,000 to £750,000. This £375,000 gap equates to a 50% reduction in the deposit required from the borrower who secured the more competitive finance.

In development finance, for a £3.7m residential project with a £5.2m GDV in Wales, the most competitive lender offered £3,371,262, compared with £2,340,936 from the least competitive lender. The resulting £1,030,326 difference was recorded against an identical development scheme and equates to 94% higher ROCE for the investor who obtained the stronger terms.

The report also examines the impact of these differences over time. In the £3.7m development scenario, the lowest deposit required was £450,000, while the highest was £1.4m for the same deal. With £1.4m of equity available, an investor securing the most competitive terms could allocate that capital across three projects, while one accepting the least competitive terms would use the entire amount on a single project. Repeated over a career, this could represent the difference between completing 30 projects and 10.

Ian Humphreys, CEO of Brickflow, said: “Looking at a single lender or a handful of lenders is the industry standard for many borrowers and brokers not using technology. The reality is that this manual approach is costly. Borrowers can tie up hundreds of thousands of pounds in unnecessary equity on every deal by sourcing finance manually.

“If that capital were freed up and reinvested, the additional property transactions completed each year could be substantial. Manual loan sourcing is holding brokers and their clients back. We built Brickflow to help brokers close more deals for their clients, with less capital tied up in each one.”

The full report, including methodology and detailed data breakdowns, is available here.

European organic products take centre stage at Natural & Organic Food Show 2026

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European organic products take centre stage at Natural & Organic Food Show 2026

LONDON, UK. September 10th, 2026 – Visitors to the Natural & Organic Food Show will have the opportunity to explore an extensive collection of organic food and drink from across the European Union when the event returns to ExCeL London on 16–17 September 2026.

The EU’s More Than Only Food & Drink campaign will host a dedicated stand (NF151), bringing together 40 products representing all 27 EU Member States. The collection includes wine and spirits, fruit and vegetables, bakery, confectionery, meat and dairy, with 37 products certified organic and several carrying Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) or Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status.

Recognised as a leading UK trade event for the natural, organic and sustainable products sector, the show brings together retailers, buyers, distributors, wholesalers and food industry professionals. The campaign stand will give visitors the opportunity to taste products from across the European Union while discovering more about their origins, production methods and commercial potential.

A packed programme of tastings

Each day will feature three general sampling sessions alongside two category-specific, advisor-led tastings. These will include a cheese tasting with pairings led by cheese expert Patrick McGuigan, as well as a fruit and vegetable session hosted by fresh produce consultant Kelly Shields.

The sampling sessions will showcase products from a wide range of countries and categories, including meat, dairy, beer, wines and spirits, bakery and confectionery. The specialist tastings will present selections chosen to reflect each advisor’s expertise. Visitors will be guided through the tasting counter while learning more about provenance, production and quality.

Among the products available to discover will be:

  • Organic cheeses, including Comté PDO from France, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO from Italy, Halloumi PDO from Cyprus and Queso Manchego PDO from Spain.
  • Organic wines and spirits, including Melnik PDO wine from Bulgaria, Douro PDO red wine from Portugal, single-vineyard Xynisteri PDO from Cyprus and Polish Vodka PGI.
  • Organic Styrian Pumpkin Seed Oil PGI from Austria, highlighting a distinctive regional ingredient with a protected link to its place of production.
  • Organic traditional European charcuterie, including Prosciutto di Parma PDO and Spanish chorizo, alongside Greek apaki and Croatian kulen.
  • Organic bakery products, including Swedish sourdough rye bread, German pumpernickel and Dutch Gouda cheese biscuits.
  • Distinctive fruit, vegetable and store-cupboard products, such as Estonian wild blueberry powder, Hungarian sweet paprika, Romanian pear juice and Slovakian rosehip and sea buckthorn tea.

Explore European cheese with Patrick McGuigan

Award-winning cheese writer and educator Patrick McGuigan will join the stand to host guided cheese tastings and discuss the different cheesemaking traditions represented across Europe.

Speaking about the show, he said: “The most exciting thing about European cheese is that there is always a story behind the flavour. Comté PDO, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Halloumi PDO and Queso Manchego PDO are all shaped by their local landscapes, raw materials and generations of cheesemaking expertise, yet each offers a completely different tasting experience.

“The guided tastings will give visitors the chance to explore these differences firsthand and understand what organic production and protected status mean in practice. For buyers, that combination of distinctive flavour, authentic provenance and a story that can be clearly communicated is particularly compelling.”

Expert insights into EU Fresh Produce with Kelly Shields

Kelly Shields, fresh produce policy expert and industry consultant, will offer specialist insight into the EU fruit and vegetable sector. She said: “Europe’s fruit and vegetable sector is incredibly diverse, shaped by different climates, landscapes and growing traditions. The tasting will give visitors the opportunity to discover products from across the EU and explore how provenance, organic production and thoughtful processing can create distinctive flavours and formats.

“For buyers, products such as Estonian wild blueberry powder, Hungarian sweet paprika, Romanian pear juice and Slovakian rosehip and sea buckthorn tea demonstrate the potential of fruit and vegetables far beyond the fresh produce aisle. They offer interesting opportunities across retail, foodservice and product development, while giving businesses strong stories to tell around origin, quality and production.”

Alongside the tastings, the stand will showcase the EU’s approach to organic agriculture, food quality, traceability and sustainable production. Visitors will also be able to discover more about the regions represented and the producers combining established traditions with innovation and new approaches to responsible production.

For more information visit enjoy-its-from-europe.campaign.europa.eu.

ENDS

Teresa Fogarty Looks Back on Seven Decades of Change in New Memoir

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Teresa Fogarty Looks Back on Seven Decades of Change in New Memoir

NORTH KERRY, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND. September 10th, 2026 – More than 70 years after leaving her childhood home in North Kerry, Teresa Fogarty is now sharing the story of a life that unfolded across education, religious service, marriage and international travel. Her new book recalls the experiences that shaped her after she departed Ireland as a teenager and ultimately brought her back to the place where she was born.

Teresa Fogarty’s book, Teresa “No Little Flower”, charts a journey that began in rural North Kerry during a time of poverty and limited opportunity before taking her to England, a career in education, years of religious life, marriage and adventures around the world.

Now back in the community where she was born, Teresa has reflected on the very different Ireland she left behind more than seven decades ago.

Teresa said: “This story is a reflection on a generation for whom emigration was often unavoidable, compared with the opportunities available to young people in Ireland today.”

The book explores themes including faith, courage, resilience, friendship, love and loss, while reflecting on the unexpected turns that can alter the course of a person’s life.

Teresa was one of 11 children and grew up in an Ireland where financial hardship affected many families and access to further education was limited.

She eventually emigrated in search of greater opportunities and continued her studies at a convent boarding school in England. Two of her sisters worked as teachers at the school, and one helped pay for Teresa’s education after having previously contributed towards the education of two other siblings.

At 20, Teresa followed a different path when she entered the convent and began training as a primary school teacher.

By the age of 30, she had been given responsibility for establishing and leading St Thomas More Catholic Primary School. She remained at the school for 16 years, developing her career while also contributing to the wider community.

Teresa subsequently returned to Ireland and took on the role of Director at a retreat centre in Navan, Co. Meath.

As she neared her 60th birthday, another chapter began when she left the convent and retired.

Six years later, Teresa reconnected with Owen Fogarty, the architect behind the design of St Thomas More School. Their renewed friendship eventually led to marriage, and they shared 20 years together.

The couple also developed a love of travel, visiting destinations such as the United States, China, South Africa and Peru. Teresa’s two widowed sisters often accompanied them, adding a family dimension to their overseas adventures.

Following Owen’s death in 2018, Teresa made the decision to return to North Kerry, 74 years after leaving her birthplace.

Coming home allowed her to reflect on the extraordinary changes Ireland had experienced during her lifetime and the contrast between the country of her childhood and the Ireland of today.

Teresa remains positive about the path her life took, despite the difficulties along the way.

She added: “The little girl who left rural Ireland could never have imagined the life that awaited her, from teaching and religious service to marriage, international travel and eventually returning home.

“The title No Little Flower reflects my belief that humble beginnings never limited what my life could become.

“Ultimately, I hope the book will remind readers that extraordinary lives do not always begin in extraordinary circumstances.”

White Magic Studios designed the book, providing professional book cover design and book layout services to support the project. Maple Publishers, a UK-based publishing company focused on promoting compelling literary works, published the release.

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