Speciality Food Magazine - April 2026

8 The Feed. Technology Free insight-ledAI tool announcedby Square Square’s all-in-one POS system has been supporting businesses to save time and enhance productivity by managing inventories, boost customer relationships and simplify payments, and the platform has now announced the launch of a free conversational AI assistant – built into the existing platform – to allow businesses to use their own data to make clearer, faster decisions. Square AI will provide deeper business insights, combining a business’s data with relevant local information to assist with staffing, Age impacts payment tools Source: myPOS UK 38% Younger consumers are leading the charge of mobile- first payments – 38% of British shoppers aged 34 and under regularly use their phone to pay 14% 14% of British consumers use cash as their primary payment method 54% Older shoppers prefer to use contactless debit and credit cards – 54% of those aged 35 and over use cards for everyday purchases In the UK , over 40 percent of Gen Z consumers are forecast to be using Augmented Reality while shopping Source: Statista “For businesses, offering flexibility at the checkout is key to keeping every customer happy and ensuring everyone can pay in the way that suits them best." Michael Ault, managing director at myPOS Lab-grownmeat to be approved for consumption by 2027 A story by The Times has stated that the Food Standards Authority (FSA) is conducting safety evaluations for cultivated meat from four businesses and hopes to have completed the process by February 2027. The news follows an FSA report entitled Thematic Report on Emerging Food Innovations in the UK, co-published with Food Standards Scotland (FSS), which positions lab-grown meat as a solution for issues around supply chains, year-round demand and climate challenges. The FSA has grouped the technologies required into three tiers which bring into account the regulatory work involved in bringing them to market, their potential for safe adoption, and their ultimate impact on the UK’s food system. Thomas Vincent, deputy director of innovation at FSA, said, “The food system is always evolving, and as a regulator, we need to keep pace with that and keep pace with the industry so that we can help ensure that new products are safe.” promotion and inventory decisions; simple communication and access to insights, real time information, conversation history and mobile access. The launch comes after research commissioned by Square demonstrated that only 30% of UK small businesses use AI regularly, despite over half (53%) of small businesses stating that they use it. The study also showed that half of UK small business owners describe themselves as instinct- led, compared with 17% who describe themselves as data-led, but 74% stated that they feel most confident when instinct is supported by insight. “Across our markets, we’re already seeing businesses use Square AI to get a clearer view on their performance, make faster decisions, and spend less time buried in reports,” said Willem Ave, global head of product at Square. “Businesses generate enormous amounts of data every day through payments and commerce. For a long time, turning that data into real insight has been something reserved for larger organisations with analysts and operations teams. “Square AI levels the playing field by bringing powerful analytics into the flow of running a business, allowing businesses of every size to combine their instinct with real data, without complexity.” “UK businesses are operating in a tough environment right now, with rising costs, staffing pressure, and little margin for wasted time. Where Square AI comes in is backing everyday decisions with clarity and confidence, while giving owners meaningful time back each week. It’s built to feel practical, familiar, and trustworthy, because that’s what UK businesses need to keep moving forward” John O’Beirne, CEO and executive director of Square International