A delicious selection of ice creams brought smiles to the faces of all ages. We steered away from popular brands we had tried before, aiming this time at more luxury, and adult tastes, except for inviting one discerning eight-year-old.

Vegan start-up Fiid aims to make the most of a flexitarian approach to food intake amid climate concerns, writes Trish Dromey.

Irish Staff and shopping centres in Ireland have been dealt a blow after the group that owns the Dorothy Perkins-Evans-Miss Selfridge stores said it was closing six shops, including in Cork, Dublin, and Galway.

Online fashion retailer Asos said its new US warehouse struggled to cope with demand in its latest quarter, hitting sales there and adding to challenges in France and Germany.

Marks & Spencer and Ocado are discussing a joint venture that could expand the retailer’s home-delivery operations and further shake up the rattled UK grocery sector.

UK online supermarket Ocado said investment in its partnership deals would hit short-term profits, while remaining tight-lipped about media reports of tie-up talks with Marks & Spencer.

UK online supermarket Ocado has clinched a game-changing deal with Kroger as its exclusive partner in the US, securing its entry into the world’s biggest market and sending its shares soaring more than 80% at one stage.

Gluten-free foods contain more fat, salt, and sugar than their gluten-containing equivalents, and are more than twice as expensive, a study has found.

Wholesale and retail company Musgrave is to “invest heavily” in online grocery shopping as Irish shoppers adjust their shopping habits, its chief executive has said.

UK grocery prices rose slightly from November to December, according to data from tracking website www.mySupermarket.com

Bord Bia have organised a two-day market study visit to London coinciding with the Natural and Organic Products Show in April.

Some of the quirkiest stories from around the globe

Discount retailer Aldi reported a fall in its UK profits today as the supermarket price war there took its toll on earnings despite sales surging to a new record level.

Some of the best beauty products are easy on the planet as well as our skin. Claire Spreadbury selects her favourites.

Children’s and baby wear retailer Kiddicare has become a victim of the troubles at Morrisons – just three years after it was taken over by the supermarket.

An Irish bakeryhopes to double its workforce and take a major slice of the global bakery market after making a major food technology breakthrough which is poised to revolutionise the sector.

Buoyant banks helped the FTSE 100 Index return to winning ways as shares in state-backed Lloyds Banking Group passed a key threshold today.

Eight south Cork food and drink companies estimate that they gained a collective €500,000 in new UK sales from their attendance at the IFE 2013 food and drinks fair in London.

Nearly 700 jobs are at risk in the UK at Morrisons as the supermarket cuts costs after a fall in annual profits.

Eight leading Irish artisan food and drink producers hope to expand their export channels on foot of meetings with leading UK retailers in London yesterday.

Tesco has been voted the worst supermarket and Waitrose the best in an annual poll of 11,000 consumers by UK watchdog Which?

London's blue chip index failed to find direction today as investors sat tight ahead of news from the eurozone and economic data this week.

Doubts over the ability of EU leaders to deliver measures to ease the region’s debt crisis triggered a 2.5% slump for London’s leading shares index today.

London's leading shares index ended the week on a high today as fresh evidence of growth in the United States boosted traders' confidence.

Banking stocks led strong gains on the London market today as optimism surrounding the global economic outlook strengthened.

GLENILEN FARM in West Cork has been hailed by Bord Bia as one of the success stories of the growth of Irish food exports.

Investors started 2012 with a burst of optimism today as upbeat manufacturing data from all corners of the world triggered a rally on London’s top shares index.

A successful Spanish bond auction and strong German economic data eased fears over the eurozone crisis and drove world markets higher today.

UK banking stocks lost ground today after British business secretary Vince Cable said proposals for a radical industry shake-up would be accepted in full.

London’s leading shares index fell into the red today after a report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that time was running out to tackle threats to the economic recovery.

The London market slumped 2% today as the increasing likelihood of a Greek debt default shook investor confidence.

Fears over the global economic climate troubled traders today as European markets fell further into the red.

London’s blue chips recovered more ground as markets across Europe ended a volatile week on a rising note.

The FTSE 100 Index made further gains today despite increasing oil prices as traders predicted strong economic data from the US.

Online grocer Ocado today said it continued to turn in a profit after trading well over Christmas and the start of 2011.

Libya’s ongoing crisis sent the London market into the red today as oil prices continued to surge.

Takeover talk buoyed medical devices firm Smith & Nephew today, but the wider market remained in the red as Wall Street opened with sharp losses.

Medical devices firm Smith & Nephew soared to the top of the FTSE 100 Index today after reports of a takeover approach from US rival Johnson & Johnson.

Online sports betting firm Betfair today fired the starting gun on a flotation expected to value the firm at around £1.5bn (€1.8bn).

News of changes at the top of banking giants Barclays and HSBC received a lukewarm response from investors today as the wider market ended its recent strong run.

Online grocer Ocado’s difficult start to life as a public company continued today after new sales growth figures failed to impress the City.