Cosmic Crisp

A new variety of apple is being launched with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign. It is starting to hit grocery shelves in the US, and then overseas early in 2020, is a new American-born apple that its backers are convinced will become the new global bestseller - the Cosmic Crisp. "The stars are aligning for this apple," says Kathryn Grandy, marketing director of US fruit firm Proprietary Variety Management (PVM), the company handling the $10m (£7.9m) launch of the new variety. A cross-breed between two existing apples - the Honeycrisp and the Enterprise - advocates of the Crisp describe it as some sort of apple holy grail. It is said to be sweet, crisp and juicy. But as importantly, it is said to have a previously unheralded shelf life, staying fresh for up to a year if kept chilled. The first apples are now on sale in the US for $5 per pound (per 454g), this is more than three times the cost of standard varieties. More than 467,000 40lb boxes are now projected to be shipped before the end of this year, rising to two million in 2020, and 5.6 million by 2021. The apple even has a trademarked slogan - "Imagine the possibilities".

Cosmic Crisp

HMV Vault

The world's largest HMV store has opened its doors to shoppers just months after the chain announced dozens of branch closures. Spanning 25,000 sq ft across one floor - almost the size of 12 tennis courts - HMV Vault in Birmingham promises to become a "nirvana for music and film fans" with dedicated spaces for vinyl, CDs and DVDs as well as a performance area for bands to take to the stage. But less than a year since the company called in administrators for the second time in a decade, and closed a raft of existing stores, can this ambitious new site help restore its fortunes in an age when digital purchases apparently rule? The move is all part of new owner Doug Putman's vision to "simplify the offer" for HMV's customers, combining "clicks and mortar" in time to mark the firm's centenary on the high street, in 2021. HMV said it would also stock an "unparalleled" range of specialist music titles, plus movies, books, posters, T-shirts and exclusive merchandise.

HMV Vault

Pizza Express Still Making Dough

In a quick piece of savvy marketing, the chain told customers: "We're still making dough", trying to reassure the legions of parents and savvy, voucher-wielding customers who had expressed concern that another family-friendly, mid-priced restaurant chain could disappear from the High Street. Pizza Express was responding to reports it had hired advisers to negotiate with lenders over a £1.1bn debt pile. The news saw the almost 55-year-old pizza chain become the latest High Street eatery to have its money troubles splashed across the financial pages. But what separates Pizza Express from the likes of Jamie's Italian, which went under in May, and Carluccio's and Prezzo, which have both closed dozens of restaurants, is its customers' response to news of the financial troubles. Pizza Express won a place in UK diners' hearts by managing to appeal to both adults and children. But more recently, it has gained popularity for its special offers, which are nearly always available. Some feel Pizza Express falls squarely into the "middle market" category of chains that have failed to differentiate themselves from their competitors. 

Pizza Express

Dyson Scraps Electric Car

Dyson, the technology company best known for its vacuum cleaners, has scrapped a project to build electric cars. The firm, headed by British inventor Sir James Dyson, said its engineers had developed a "fantastic electric car" but that it would not hit the roads because it was not "commercially viable". Dyson had planned to invest more than £2bn in developing a "radical and different" electric vehicle, a project it launched in 2016. It said the car would not be aimed at the mass market. Dyson wanted to make something revolutionary - but also needed to make it pay. And the sums simply didn't add up. Sales of electric cars are climbing rapidly. Yet they still cost more to make than conventional cars, and generate much lower profits - if any. Dyson has concluded it simply can't afford to play with the big boys - although its efforts to make a quantum leap in battery technology will continue. The first cars had already been developed and were being tested. But in an email on Thursday, Sir James revealed that Dyson was closing electric car facilities both in the UK and Singapore. The project employed 523 people, 500 of whom were in UK, and Sir James praised their "immense" achievements. "This is not a product failure, or a failure of the team, for whom this news will be hard to hear and digest," Sir James wrote.

Dyson Electric Car

£32.50 Fish & Chips

It might sound pricey, but £32.50 is reasonable for fish, chips and curry sauce if it is turbot caught that day and the finest quality potatoes individually hand-cut, the chef Tom Kerridge has insisted. But he said there was no comparison. “This was fresh dayboat turbot,” adding that if a diner had pan-roasted turbot with pomme puree and a sauce gribiche for £32.50, “no-one would question anything”. His chips were individually hand-cut from “incredibly expensive” potatoes, he said. “If you break it down, it is easily justifiable,” Kerridge said. “From my point of view, fish and chips is one of the greatest dishes in the world. There are Japanese three-Michelin star restaurants that are doing tempura, that are specialising in amazing pieces of fish that are deep fried and served and cost the earth. Would you pay the price?

Fish & Chips

Amazon Walk Out

Amazon warehouse workers in the US are protesting about their working conditions in the latest battle between the company and its workforce. The unrest follows allegations that the company terminated the employment of one worker who was in hospital with a dying relative and that it is suppressing working hours in order to prevent staff claiming for medical insurance. Staff in the company's Sacramento and Minnesota fulfilment centres - where orders are packaged and dispatched - walked out for short periods this week. According to their complaint, part-time staff are only permitted 10 days' unpaid leave a year - regardless of the reason for that leave - and if staff breach this limit by a single hour, they are fired. One worker said: "We are told this is only part-time work, but they are still hiring more. We need more hours. We have no value here, they treat us like we are not human beings. Tonight we stand together to say no more!"

Amazon Walkout

India Plastic Problem

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on the nation to work towards ending the use of plastic. It comes after India shelved a blanket ban on single-use plastics saying it was too disruptive during an economic slowdown - the proposal had already spooked businesses and manufacturers. India has a mammoth plastic waste problem and no easy way to dispose of the 9.4 million tonnes it generates each year.

India Plastic Problem

Fudge Tester Required

Yorkshire-based sweet subscription service STIRRD is recruiting a professional fudge taste-tester. The business is looking for someone to join them as their first Chief Chewing Operator (CCO) – yep, that’s the official job title. The role will involve taste-testing a number of sweet treats straight off the production line, to ensure they are of a high enough standard. So the right candidate will need to have an excellent palette and, of course, a sweet tooth. STIRRD says it’s ideally looking for ‘a passionate confectionery connoisseur with a sophisticated palette to join the team and aid the development of its good-for-the-soul flavours.’ The chosen candidate will collaborate with the development team on some of the company’s upcoming seasonal products, including salted maple and mince pie fudge.

Work For STIRRD