Terry's Goes Vegan

 

Terry’s has launched a vegan Chocolate Orange bar. The NPD, which has been approved by The Vegan Society, contains rice syrup in place of dairy. It has rolled into Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Nisa and other selected convenience stores (rsp: £2.50/100g). The team at Terry’s had aimed to “make the taste as close as possible to the original” and had used the same real orange oil to create the citrus flavour, it said. Terry’s brand manager Victoria MacDonald said the brand aimed to be “accessible to as many people as possible, so launching a plant-based Terry’s bar was a must for us”. “We absolutely did not want to compromise on taste, and after months of development, we think we have found the perfect recipe.” The NPD – wrapped in fully recyclable packaging – was a “win-win” for eco-conscious consumer, offering “even more options for sweet-toothed vegans”, said the Vegan Society. However, not all vegan chocolate bars have had staying power. Take Mars, whose entire vegan range was delisted from Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons earlier this year. It is understood this was because Mars couldn’t state its bars were 100% dairy-free.

Terrys Vegan

Apple Switches Production

Apple says it has started making its iPhone 14 in India as it diversifies its supply chains away from China. The company makes most of its phones in China but has shifted some production outside the country as tensions rise between Washington and Beijing. China's 'zero-Covid' policies, that have triggered widespread lockdowns, have also caused major disruptions for businesses during the pandemic. Taiwan-based Foxconn, which manufactures the majority of Apple's phones, has had an operation in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu since 2017, where it makes older versions of the handsets. But now, Apple is betting big to make in India its newest product - the iPhone 14. By betting on India, Apple is also looking to increase its footprint in the country. As of last year, its market share was about 4% there. The US giant has been struggling to compete with the much cheaper South Korean and Chinese smartphones that continue to dominate the Indian smartphone market. But manufacturing in India does not mean the phones will be cheaper in the country because of high import duties on components and other taxes. So while Indians might be looking at the 'Made in India' tag on their iPhone they will still have to pay a hefty sum to own it. Apple's announcement marks its latest move towards diversifying supply chains to avoid disruptions as tensions rise between China and the US over Taiwan and trade.

Apple Production Switch

Netflix Games

 

Netflix is setting up its own video game studio, as it intensifies its efforts to establish itself in the gaming industry. Based in Helsinki, Finland, it will be led by former Zynga and Electronic Arts executive Marko Lastikka. Netflix has previously purchased small gaming companies, such as Oxenfree developer Night School Studio. But the streaming giant is now going further and creating a studio from scratch. In April, Netflix announced a loss of 200,000 subscribers, it first quarterly loss since 2011. Its share price dropped by 35%, wiping more than $50bn (£46.5bn) off the firm's market value. Netflix has had a growing interest in the gaming industry in recent years. It has released several series based on games, such as Arcane (based on League of Legends) and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (based on Cyberpunk: 2077). Netflix is also working closely with Ubisoft, which will see both a live-action Assassin's Creed television series developed, and a Netflix-exclusive mobile game. It is unclear whether the Netflix studio intends to develop games exclusively for mobile, or if it will also target the home console market.

Netflix Games

Not So Mini Budget

 

The new chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has set out the government's spending plans for the next few months. Mr Kwarteng was given the role of chancellor when Liz Truss became prime minister, and his new job means he's responsible for how the UK government spends money. Once a year, the government writes a document called a budget which explains how it will spend its money, but this 'mini' one has been announced to help tackle the cost-of-living crisis. Mr Kwarteng said that plans to help households and businesses with rising energy prices will cost up to £60 billion over six months. To afford this, the government plans to borrow money rather than raise it through tax. The chancellor's plan revealed some of the biggest tax cuts in 50 years. Some people are happy with what the government are doing, and say that making people pay less tax will help prices go down. People who disagree say they are worried about how the governments borrowing will be paid for.

Mini Budget

Apple iPhone 14

 

Apple has unveiled the iPhone 14, with emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology, at a launch event in the US. The company revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic. It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable - the Watch Ultra. The iPhone 14 is priced from $799 (US), £849 (UK) and the new handsets are capable of sending an emergency call for help via satellite. The tech giant announced a new 12-megapixel camera, capable of taking photos of fast-moving subjects, and the company claims a 49% improvement in low-light capturing. The front camera also included auto-focus for the first time, to help sharpen selfies. According to Apple, iPhone users took more than three trillion photos in the last 12 months. The BBC's Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman, has been testing out the latest Apple smartphone.

Apple iPhone 14

Tesla Recall

 

Tesla is recalling nearly 1.1 million cars in the US because the windows might close too fast and pinch people's fingers. Documents produced by American regulators show the windows may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk criticised the description as a recall calling it "outdated and inaccurate". The car giant says a software update will fix the problem. The world's largest electric-vehicle manufacturer has had repeated run-ins with federal safety regulators, whom Mr Musk calls "the fun police". Tesla shares were down 3.5% on Thursday afternoon trading.

Tesla Recall

Billionaire Boss Gives Company to Charity

The billionaire founder of the outdoor fashion brand Patagonia has given away his company to a charitable trust. Yvon Chouinard said any profit not reinvested in running the business would go to fighting climate change. The label has amassed a cult following due to sustainability moves like guaranteeing its clothes for life and offering reasonably priced repairs. It is famous for an advert titled "Don't buy this jacket" asking shoppers to consider costs to the environment. The brand's website now states: "Earth is now our only shareholder." Mr Chouinard has always said he "never wanted to be a businessman". A rock climbing fanatic, he started out as making metal climbing spikes for himself and his friends to wedge into rocks, before moving into clothing and eventually creating a hugely successful sportswear brand with a cult following. Founded in 1973, Patagonia's sales were worth around $1.5bn this year, while Mr Chouinard's net worth is thought to be $1.2bn. He claimed that profits to be donated to climate causes will amount to around $100m (£87m) a year, depending on the health of the company.

Patagonia

 

Aldi Breaks Into Top 4

 

Aldi has overtaken Morrisons to become the fourth-largest UK supermarket for the first time, according to data from research firm Kantar. Discounters are grabbing more market share as shoppers take steps to manage their budgets, Kantar said. Food prices are rising quickly as energy and fuel costs soar, and the war in Ukraine squeezes grain production and pushes up fertiliser costs. Kantar said food price inflation hit a record 12.4% in August. Milk, butter and dog food prices were rising especially quickly. Inflation in the UK has been rising at its fastest rate for 40 years as food prices climb with living costs eating into household budgets. Aldi UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said shoppers were "voting with their feet by choosing Aldi over full price traditional supermarkets". In these challenging times, Aldi and Lidl are benefiting from cash-strapped shoppers trying to manage their budgets, and they are on the march again.

Aldi

Gymshark Opens Store

 

Gymshark has revealed that the doors to its highly anticipated flagship store at 165 Regent Street will open on Saturday 1st October. The gym wear giant‘s first-ever permanent bricks-and-mortar 18,000sq store will feature a sweat room, pro brench where experts will offer up fitness advice and more. The retailer said that while the store will sell Gymshark merch and apparel, it will be “a place for our community to experience the essence of Gymshark”. In a statement, the business said, “despite many forecasting the death of the high street and bricks & mortar in retail, we don’t buy into that.” Gymshark has also teamed up with Joe And The Juice to create a space that will offer hot and drinks, sandwiches, protein shakes and exclusive products. Chief executive and founder Ben Francis said: “I keep having to pinch myself that we’re going to have a flagship store on one of the most prestigious streets in the world. And now, we have an opening date, it’s all getting very real.

Gymshark Store

Royal Rebrand

 

After 70 years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II had become an intrinsic part of our everyday lives. We're accustomed to seeing her portrait, profile and coat of arms on letters, in our loose change and on cereal boxes. All 29 billion coins in circulation in the UK have the Queen's head on them. The Royal Mint won't say how or when it will start issuing coins with King Charles III's head on them, but it's likely that the Queen's coins will remain in circulation for many years, and that the process to replace them will be a gradual one. Royal Mail will now stop producing Queen Elizabeth II stamps - although they can still be used on letters and parcels - and will begin the process to create new ones. Finally from tomato ketchup to packets of cereal to perfume, chances are you will have seen the Royal Arms alongside the words, "By appointment to Her Majesty the Queen" on some of your groceries or other items in your home. These are products which have been granted a Royal Warrant, meaning that the company who makes them supplies the Royal Households on a regular basis.

Royal Rebrand

Business Energy Help

 

On Thursday, the government announced a plan to help households with their energy bills for two years. Businesses will be protected from steep energy price rises for six months. And business groups have also voiced concern over the lack of detail explaining how the new price cap will work for firms. The Federation of Small Businesses said the plan was "sparse on detail". While the government has promised support for the most vulnerable industries, highlighting the hospitality sector, it has said there will be a review in three months' time to decide where the help should be targeted. Small firms warned they cannot remain in "limbo" for the next three months. Pub and restaurant venues say the plans announced so far are too vague, leaving unanswered questions, meaning they can't plan ahead.

Energy Prices

Coca Cola Mystery

 

Coca-Cola has unveiled a limited-edition “mystery” drink it claims is inspired by “the playfulness and brightness of dreams”. Called Coca-Cola Dreamworld, it has rolled out in 250ml cans featuring “whimsical shapes and electric colours to create dream-like optical illusions”, according to the brand (rsp: 77p). However, the soft drinks giant was keeping “the exact taste profile of the new flavour under wraps” to add to its air of “mystery”, it said. In support of the launch, Coca-Cola has partnered with digital fashion platform DressX, to offer a “Dreamworld-inspired digital wearable fashion collection for the metaverse” that can be downloaded as a shareable outfit of the day. It has also launched an augmented reality music experience in collaboration with electronic dance music festival Tomorrowland, which shoppers can access by scanning a QR code on the cans. The launch follows the UK release of two limited-edition cans over the past 12 months under its new “global innovation platform” Coca-Cola Creations.

Coca Cola Dreamworld