Toney Chocoloney Recall

 

Tony’s Chocolonely ,the Dutch company which is famous for its USP of having irregular chunks (5 of the chunks are made to have represented west African countries), is asking customers for a recall on certain batches of 3 specific products as they have been found to contain foreign objects (small stones) in the product. The chocolate market is worth over US$162 million (the chocolate market is worth over US$130 billion) a year and is a classic example of an oligopoly. Even though the bar is above the average selling price, it is ethical because it aims to prevent child slavery and to do this it encourages competitors to source cocoa from its established, child labour-free farms in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. The company has recently expanded by introducing advent calendars and had teamed up with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream brand to create “Chocolate Love A-Fair". In the past Tony’s has been found to be controversial. This is due to its pledge to pay all the workers involved with farming the raw materials a higher ‘living’ wage but in 2021 was removed from the list of ethical chocolate companies because Barry Callebaut, one of the companies it worked with, was found to employ and make use of child workers. Customers have been advised to check their lot code and to return the product to the store where you bought it from in exchange for a refund or replacement. Other chocolate bars without the mentioned lot code are safe to consume. The company asked for the recall on the 1st of April 2025 after getting reports from the US and Canada from 12 customers complaining about small stones in the products. Tony’s Chocolonely believes that the stones were a byproduct of the almond harvesting process and in a statement posted how the product was not filtered during third party almond harvesting and processing.

BBQ - What issues will Tony’s Chocolonely face after this recall?

Tony's Recall

Party Rings New Biscuit Shape

 

Fox’s Burton’s Companies (FBC) has unveiled a new addition to the Party Rings range, introducing a new shape for the first time in the brand’s 42-year history. The new Under The Sea Minis will offer the same iced shortcake taste of a Party Ring in fish shapes. They will be available in packs of six for £1.50 and are launching exclusively in supermarket giant Asda on 24 April for 12 weeks. The new format looks to attract the family shopper and boost basket spend, and follows strong performance of the manufacturer’s Mini Party Rings range which is now worth £13.5m, according to NIQ and Kantar data. The launch also marks the first in a pipeline of shaped biscuit innovation for the brand. FBC head of category insight Robin Norton said: “Under the Sea Minis is an exciting milestone for the Party Rings brand. It may be the first time we’re changing the format of the biscuits, but they come with the famous flavour and fun of traditional Party Rings. “In initial testing, the products performed incredibly well with consumers, outperforming industry standards by 24%, so we’re confident they will be a hit when they land on shelves later this month.” The innovation comes as the manufacturer recently launched a brand-new look and feel for the range, alongside a new limited-edition Strawberry flavour.

BBQ: What segment of the market is this product positioning itself for?

Party Rings New Shape

M&S Online Disruption

 

Marks & Spencer has suffered a "bruise" to its reputation after it was forced to stop taking online orders following a cyber attack, an analyst has said. The retail giant has paused orders on its website and apps since Friday as it attempts to restore operations. But analysts say M&S stands to lose out if the problem is not resolved quickly, with shoppers likely to turn to rival brands when buying summer clothes. Kate Hardcastle, consumer specialist at Insight with Passion, said the incident was "a bruise to M&S's trusted brand image".However, she added that because M&S had responded quickly and been open with its communication the long-term damage should limited. About a third of the retailer's clothing and household goods' sales in the UK come from its online operations. Natalie Berg, retail analyst at NBK Retail, said such incidents "erodes consumer trust in the brand". Customers began reporting problems last weekend - with people struggling to use contactless payments, click & collect, and gift cards - and on Tuesday the retailer confirmed it was facing a "cyber incident". Then on Friday M&S said it was pausing taking orders through its UK & Ireland websites and apps and some international websites. With warmer weather due this week, and shoppers turning their thoughts to summer, analysts said M&S could be missing out on sales at a critical time, as people were likely to turn to rival retailers to get what they want. M&S's sales and profits have improved in recent years and it has been seeking to expand its online operations. Last year, out of £3.9bn of sales in its clothing and home business, nearly £1.3bn came online.

BBQ: Would an issue like this cause you to loose trust in a brand? Why is this particularly important to M&S?

M&S Cyber Attack

NI Tax Rises To Hit Prices

Cosmetics company Lush and car repair chain Kwik Fit are among firms which have warned they will raise prices due to an increase in employers' National Insurance (NI). Other firms have told the BBC they will reduce how much profit they make, freeze hiring or in some cases cut jobs to cover the higher costs. From Sunday, employers will have to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100 currently. The Treasury said the billions raised will be spent on public services, including the NHS. Lush told the BBC that with 3,600 employees in the UK and Ireland, it would have to find an extra £2.7m per year. Kasey Swithenbank, Lush's retail head for the UK and Ireland, said: "We are going to be taking small incremental price changes. Kwik Fit, which employs about 5,000 people, estimates the NICs rises will cost it £5m. This will have a knock-on effect on prices, and recruitment, said Mark Slade, its managing director.  The rate that employers pay in contributions will rise from 13.8% to 15% on a worker's earnings above £175 per week. The government expects about 940,000 firms to pay more, 250,000 companies to pay less, and 820,000 to see no change.

BBQ - How would you deal with the NI increase if you ran your own business?

NI Increase

 

Percy Pig USA Adventure Cut Short?

Percy Pig, the beloved British gummy candy, recently embarked on its biggest journey yet—crossing the Atlantic to make its debut in the United States. Available at Target stores nationwide, Percy Pig quickly captured the hearts of American candy lovers. However, this sweet adventure may be short-lived as Marks & Spencer (M&S) faces challenges from the latest Trump tariffs. Percy Pig has been a staple in British households for nearly three decades, known for its delightful berry and grape flavors and perfect balance of foam and jelly. The candy's arrival in the US was met with enthusiasm, with fans eagerly grabbing bags off the shelves at Target for $3.99 each. Despite the initial success, Percy Pig's US adventure faces uncertainty due to the sweeping tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. These tariffs, aimed at boosting US manufacturing, have placed significant pressure on companies importing goods from abroad. In response to the tariffs, M&S is exploring various strategies to mitigate the impact on Percy Pig's US presence. This includes negotiating with suppliers, adjusting pricing, and potentially scaling back the distribution of Percy Pig in the US market. Percy Pig's US adventure has brought a taste of British sweetness to American shores, but its future is uncertain as M&S navigates the complexities of Trump tariffs

BBQ - Why would a tariff impact the sale of Percy Pigs in America?

Percy Pig

Lynx Africa April Fools

 

The announcement that Lynx Africa was being discontinued sent shockwaves through its fanbase, with many taking to social media to express their dismay. The iconic scent, which has been a staple in British bathrooms since 1995, was initially declared discontinued by Lynx's official Twitter account This sparked a frenzy, with fans mourning the loss and even stockpiling cans in fear of its disappearance. However, Lynx soon revealed that this was all part of a clever marketing stunt designed to promote a product upgrade. The brand clarified that Lynx Africa isn't going anywhere; instead, it's getting a fresh new look and improved formula. The new design and enhanced fragrance are set to hit stores across all formats, including body spray, shower gel, antiperspirant, roll-on, and stick deodorants. Additionally, Lynx has reformulated its body sprays to last even longer and upgraded its antiperspirant range to include new "no white marks" technology. This playful approach not only created buzz but also highlighted Lynx's ability to engage with its audience in a fun and memorable way. So, rest easy, Lynx Africa fans—your favorite scent is here to stay, just with a new twist!

BBQ - Discuss the impact of Lynx's marketing stunt on consumer behavior and brand loyalty. How might this approach influence the company's sales and market positioning?

Lynx Africa