Going Bonsai

When "big" is struggling to cope with the shocks sent their way, I'm intrigued by the idea of "bonsai businesses." Businesses that are perfectly formed yet small enough to handle. It's just a metaphor, but the Bonsai in my study keeps my attention.

When Heinz glibly tells us to get used to paying more for food, and large businesses are forming disorderly queues in Westminster to persuade the government to intervene in all parts of the extended, fragile business ecosystem they have created, I wonder where all is this might end up. It's a fascinating thought experiment.

Ever since I worked in the food sector, I have been very conscious of provenance, particularly source and quality. I have an unforgettable memory of being told how much extra margin we could make using "mechanically recovered meat" in products. MRM is a process of stripping the final remnants of meat of a carcase using heat and pressure, which I will not describe further in deference to your breakfast. It was not just the …