Tesco Trials Laser-Etched Avocados to Reduce Plastic Waste
Tesco has initiated a trial to mark some of its avocados with lasers instead of using traditional stickers. This move aims to reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste. Westfalia Fruit, Tesco's main avocado supplier based in Spalding, Lincolnshire, is implementing the technology. The avocados will have their size and variety information etched by a high-powered laser, a process that takes a third of a second and was confirmed to have no adverse effects on the fruit's quality, shelf life, or taste.
The trial is currently limited to extra-large avocados due to the thickness of their skins. If successful, Tesco plans to expand this practice to other sizes and varieties. In addition to laser etching, Tesco is exploring replacing plastic tray packaging with recyclable cardboard for some of its avocado lines. The trial spans approximately 270 stores in southeast England, with potential full-scale implementation across the Tesco network based on customer feedback.
Tesco's initiative could potentially save more than 20 million pieces of plastic tray packaging and nearly a million plastic stickers annually. Tesco’s avocado buyer, Lisa Gilbey, expressed enthusiasm about the trial, emphasizing the company's ongoing efforts to innovate and reduce plastic waste. Westfalia Fruit’s general manager, Graham Isaac, highlighted the company's commitment to improving environmental performance and reducing plastic use.
Customers participating in the trial will find laser-etched avocados progressively available in the selected stores.
Historic Staffordshire Home Auction Starts at £140,000
A two-bedroom house in Norbury near Stafford, Staffordshire, set to be auctioned with a starting bid of £140,000 has not been lived in for 44 years. The property, engulfed by nature and requiring significant modernization, will be sold without any viewings due to its dilapidated state. The auction is scheduled for June 21.
Local residents believe that the house was last occupied in the 1980s and inherited by two brothers who later moved to a care home. The 0.30-acre plot includes the house and a wrap-around garden. The remote property offers an opportunity for substantial redevelopment in a popular location.
Third Man Charged in Greater Manchester Attempted Murder Case
Following an incident on May 22 in Oldham, Greater Manchester that resulted in gunshot and stab wounds to two individuals, a third man, McCauley Brooker, 23, of Eccles, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The other two men involved have also been charged with attempted murder.
The incident investigation, led by Greater Manchester Police's Major Incident Team, remains active, with appeals for more public information. Detective Chief Inspector Mark Davis has emphasized the importance of community assistance in solving the case.
84-year-old Woman Killed in Bank Queue Altercation in Welwyn Garden City
Courtney Richman has been sentenced to a 16-month suspended prison term after pushing 82-year-old Myra Coutinho-Lopez during an argument at Lloyds Bank in Welwyn Garden City. The elderly woman, suffering from dementia, fell and later succumbed to her injuries. The incident, which occurred in December 2021, began over the time Myra was taking at the counter. Richman pushed the woman after being hit with a handbag, resulting in Myra's fatal fall. Richman was also given a rehabilitation requirement and ordered to complete unpaid work.
Wrexham’s Holt Lodge Hotel to Undergo Major Refurbishment Under New Ownership
Steven Hesketh and Daniel Gillon, the new owners of Holt Lodge Hotel in Wrexham, plan to capitalize on the city's rising profile due to Wrexham AFC's success by investing over £250,000 in refurbishing the hotel. Built in 1995 and located between Holt village and Wrexham city, the hotel will see upgrades to its 37 rooms and function suite. The new owners aim to enhance local engagement by offering off-site hospitality for sports events and community functions.
Joe Bickerton from Wrexham Council supports the renovation, highlighting its potential positive impact on Wrexham’s visitor economy. The refurbishments are expected to conclude with a relaunch party in June.
Plans Submitted to Convert Former Hanley Primary Care Access Hub into Apartments
An application has been submitted to Stoke-on-Trent City Council to convert the closed Hanley Primary Care Access Hub on Stafford Street into 15 self-contained apartments. The facility, shut down in 2022 to save the NHS £1.2 million annually, has remained vacant since. The proposed development includes one, two, and three-bedroom flats with three commercial units retained on the ground floor. The council's decision is expected by June 10.
Armenian-Australian Woman Remembers Being in the Womb Due to Rare Memory Condition
Rebecca Sharrock, an Australian with highly superior autobiographical memory (H-SAM), claims to recall her experiences from as early as being a fetus. Diagnosed at 21, Rebecca can remember 95% of her life's events, including an incident when she was 12 days old. Despite requiring therapy for trauma and experiencing insomnia, she uses her exceptional memory positively, becoming fluent in French and Spanish within two months.
Sharrock’s condition allows her to recall events with extraordinary detail, viewing it both as an asset and a challenge that necessitates constant mental health management.