Proteinflation

 If you’ve restocked your protein powder lately, you’ve probably noticed a major hit to your wallet—what industry experts are now calling “proteinflation.” Over the past few years, the price of standard whey protein has skyrocketed, with wholesale costs more than quadrupling and a typical large bag doubling from around £60 to well over £100. Why the massive jump? It turns out it’s a classic case of supply and demand economics. Protein is no longer just for bodybuilders; food companies are slapping high-protein labels on everything from bagels and cereals to water. Combined with a surge in demand from people using weight-loss drugs like Ozempic who need to preserve muscle, everybody wants a piece of the pie. Meanwhile, because whey is a byproduct of cheese production that requires expensive, specialized facilities to refine into powder, farmers and manufacturers simply can't expand supply fast enough to keep up. The result? You’ll likely be paying top dollar for those gains—or seeing brands swap out whey for cheaper alternatives like soy and pea protein.

BBQ - Will the price increase reduce the demand for whey protein by much?

Proteinflation

Lidl Banned From Selling Copyright Sandals

 

Lidl must stop selling copycat versions of Birkenstock's famous sandals in the Netherlands, a Dutch court has ruled. The discount supermarket chain faces a fine of €5,000 (£4,200) per day if it fails to comply and must also hand over sales data to Birkenstock, according to the ruling. Lidl must also compensate Birkenstock and pay its legal fees, with the amount to be decided in separate court decisions. Birkenstock said the judgement sent a clear message that "copycats must not be allowed to free-ride on [our] creativity and innovation". The ruling, which can still be appealed against, means Lidl cannot sell its copycat versions of Birkenstock's Arizona, Madrid, Gizeh, Boston, and Florida models across the Netherlands, after the court found the discount grocer infringed on the brand's trademark "footbed design".Europe's highest court ruled everyday commercial products can hold copyright if they represent creative design choices, a decision which Birkenstock said was relevant to its "iconic" sandals.

BBQ - How important is copyright law for businesses like Birkenstock?

Lidl Copyright

KFCereal

 

KFC UK and Surreal have launched KFCereal, a limited-edition breakfast cereal flavored after the fast food chain’s Original Recipe chicken. The pairing swaps the usual splash of milk for KFC gravy, marking KFC’s first move into the cereal aisle. Flavor leads the spec sheet. The crunchy cereal is seasoned with KFC’s closely guarded blend of 11 herbs and spices, giving it a savory profile far removed from the sweet, fruity and chocolate varieties that usually fill the category. The nutrition leans on Surreal’s high-protein formula. Despite its fried chicken inspiration, KFCereal delivers 19g of protein and only 1g of sugar, keeping it in line with the functional positioning Surreal is known for.Then comes the gravy. Rather than milk, KFC recommends topping the cereal with its signature gravy, and it positions the release squarely at die-hard fans, curious cereal eaters and anyone bold enough to make the switch. KFC brand manager Elspeth Allen framed the idea simply: “Our 11 herbs and spices have been doing a pretty good job on chicken,” she said, explaining that the team wanted to test the seasoning at breakfast. The cereal is currently only available directly from Surreal and is priced at £6 a box.

BBQ - Is this a well thought out product or simply a PR stunt?

KFCereal

Greggs Bitesize

 

Greggs has opened its first supermarket Bitesize Greggs at the Tesco Southwark Superstore, marking an expansion of its smaller shop format.This move is part of the food-to-go retailer’s plan to offer its popular range to customers in compact units in high-footfall locations.The new location will be open seven days a week and has created 10 local jobs in the area. The Greggs Bitesize store offers a full selection of products, including sausage rolls, steak bakes, sweet treats and fairtrade hot drinks. This move follows successful openings of ‘Bitesize Greggs’ locations across London Bridge Station, Sevenoaks Railway Station, Dartford Station and Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet. This move is part of the retailer’s broader estate growth plans to open smaller format stores which support the Greggs’ traditional, larger locations.This year the retailer expects to open around 100 to 110 new shops and aims to open 3,500 UK shops over the long term.

BBQ - Is this a good long term strategy for Greggs?

Greggs Bitesize

Golden Twirl

Cadbury is adding an exciting twist to its Twirl range with the launch of Twirl Golden Dipped, a limited-edition offering designed to give shoppers “a rich and indulgent way to enjoy the brand’s iconic chocolate curls and swirls,” it said. The chocolate bars are dipped in a layer of caramelised white chocolate designed to “flood your mouth with delicious flavours as it melts.” The launch follows the success of other recent limited lines, such as Orange, Caramel, Mint and White Dipped - which became the top new singles new product launch in 2025. Sabina Sabova, brand executive for Cadbury Twirl at supplier Mondelēz International, said: “Limited-edition innovations continue to play an important role in driving shopper engagement for Cadbury Twirl. ”Building on the success of our previous launches, Cadbury Twirl Golden Dipped is designed to recruit new shoppers to the brand and give our existing fans something new to try, tapping into our recent campaign messaging and sending them from Zero To Chocolatey In Milliseconds. “By combining the much-loved Cadbury Twirl with a caramelised white chocolate coating, we’re bringing a fresh twist to a trusted favourite we know shoppers will be eager to get their hands on.” Cadbury Twirl Golden Dipped will be available from the end of this month across grocery and convenience channels.

BBQ - What limited edition twist on a chocolate bar would you like to see?

Golden Twirl

 

Pokémon Turns 30

The Japanese brand has become one of the most recognisable in the world, with its colourful creatures appearing in video games and on shop shelves across the globe. But perhaps most synonymous with the Pokémon phenomenon is its trading card game, which has been played, bought and sold between collectors for the last three decades. Wednesday marks the release of Pokémon's 30th anniversary range - a day one collector described as the brand's biggest day "in the last decade, if not more". Pokémon's popularity has exploded over the years, with some cards originally worth just a few pounds now selling for eye-watering amounts. Hall said a box that may have been worth £200 in the late 1990s would now sell for about £35,000. Pokémon, originally called Pocket Monsters, began as a game released for the Nintendo Gameboy in Japan in 1996. Millions of copies were sold worldwide and the name was eventually shortened to Pokémon. Following the success of the first games, a company called Media Factory released the Pokémon Trading Card Game in October that year. Like the game, the cards exploded in popularity. Since then, more than 85 billion cards have been produced, a world championship tournament established, and an ultra-rare card sold for $16.5m (£12m).

BBQ - What makes something collectable? How can a brand use this?

Pokemon

McVities Expand to China

 

McVitie’s is stepping up its ambitions in China with a strategy that looks beyond the biscuits that made the British brand famous, as owner pladis seeks to build McVitie’s into a £1 billion global brand. While limited McVitie's biscuits are already available in China, pladis is now expanding the brand through locally developed snacks designed specifically for Chinese consumers. The move marks a new phase for one of Britain's best-known food brands. While McVitie’s remains synonymous with Digestives in places like the UK and Ireland, pladis believes future international growth will increasingly come from expanding the brand beyond its traditional biscuit range. In other markets, that evolution is already underway through products such as McVitie’s Joy in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, underscoring the brand’s ability to flex across formats and occasions internationally. China is one of the brand's biggest long-term growth opportunities. As part of that strategy, pladis will launch a locally developed McVitie’s Flipz range this August, produced in China and developed for local tastes. Rather than exporting existing products from Europe, pladis has developed the range around Chinese tastes and shopping habits, from flavours and portion sizes to how the products are made and sold.

BBQ - How important is it to understand the market when developing new products?

McVities China

Apple First Foldable Phone

Apple has launched its most expensive iPhone ever - a foldable handheld that costs at least £1,999 and marks the first major iPhone design change in almost 20 years. The iPhone Duo is a gamble by new boss John Ternus, who took over from long-time chief executive Tim Cook this month. Apple is entering the foldable phone market comparatively late, following the likes of South Korea's Samsung and China's Huawei. Ternus told an audience at Apple's California headquarters: "Others have created foldables that just feel like two phones awkwardly stuck together." Apple's model, he claimed "redefine[s] the experience of using a foldable phone". In the US, prices start at $1,999, but can go up to $3,200. It has taken eight years to develop, something Ternus was directly involved in after spending many years as a top executive inside Apple's hardware division. When unfolded, it looks like a small iPad and a wider iPhone when it is folded. But the product is facing established competitors. "The real fight is China, where Huawei owns nearly 80% of foldables." said Francisco Jeronimo, vice president for data and analytics, devices at IDC EMEA. Altering the design of the iPhone may address some criticism that Apple has yet to land a major product hit or truly exciting innovation since the first iPhone came out in 2007. Apple also revealed on Wednesday the new iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, which in the US start at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively.

BBQ - Is there enough of a market for a foldable phone?

Foldable Phone

Primark Finally Launching Home Deliveries

 

Primark has said it plans to launch a home delivery service in Britain, four years after it made its first foray into e-commerce. The retailer did not say when it expects to launch the service, but it has bought a warehouse in Sheffield from to enable it to ship products to homes. The company said there was "opportunity for profitable growth" through home deliveries, which could help boost trade after Primark reported subdued sales following the recent hot weather. Analysts said the decision to offer home delivery after years of resistance - including through the pandemic - indicated that Primark was facing major challenges from ultra-fast-fashion brands such as Shein. Primark did not sell goods online until 2022, when it launched a click-and-collect service which meant shoppers still had to travel to pick up their purchases. The fast-fashion chain is struggling to compete with brands such as Shein and Boohoo, as well as alternative platforms such as TikTok Shop and Vinted, and in July said it was lowering prices on hundreds of clothing items. Retail analyst Julie Palmer said that "Primark has been playing catch up for years" and launching home deliveries "is as much about defence as growth". The brand will need to absorb additional costs of returns, which tend to be higher than in-store purchases as customers cannot try clothes on before buying them.

BBQ - Do you think Primark are too late to move fully into e-commerce?

Primark Online

Business Fail To Pay Properly

 

DIY store B&Q and the fast food chain Five Guys are among hundreds of UK businesses named by the government for paying staff below the minimum wage. More than 600 employers were ordered to pay affected workers the outstanding wages, with £4m returned to workers, according to the Department for Business and Trade. The firms have also been issued penalties worth £7m. The list of 658 businesses includes shops, restaurants, nurseries, social care providers and a handful of NHS trusts. The period of underpayments covered by the list varies depending on the employer, but overall spans from 2013 to 2025. Minimum wage is £12.71 for staff aged 21 and over. For 18 to 20 year olds the rate is £10.85, and for under 18s and apprentices it is £8. B&Q underpaid 4,530 workers a total of more than £456,000, according to the government. The list marks the first "naming round" since the Fair Work Agency was set up in April under the Employment Rights Act. As well as enforcing the minimum wage, the agency also will soon tackle practices of denying workers holiday and sick pay.

BBQ - What is the impact for the businesses for this?

Minimum Wage

Ikea Cuts Prices

 

Swedish furniture giant Ikea is cutting prices across hundreds of products in Europe to woo customers struggling with deepening cost-of-living pressures. Ikea has seen revenue decline over the past two years as the rising cost of living reduces people's ability to invest in new furniture and home renovations. The company is spending €1.2bn (£1bn) on the price cuts to items including the Billy bookcase and Kallax storage units, with reductions of up to 28% on certain products. Ikea said it could make the cuts by making savings throughout the supply chain, such as packaging costs, but acknowledged profits may take a hit. Ikea has reduced its prices several times in recent years, even as it caused a hit to the company's revenue and profit in its most recent earnings report. The latest specific reductions vary slightly by country. Price cuts for British customers include the Kallax shelving unit going from £60 to £49 and the Billy bookcase being cut by £10 to £25.Ikea is also trying to attract new customers by opening smaller stores in central areas, such as London's Oxford Street and Churchill Square in Brighton.

BBQ - Is cutting prices a better strategy to increased advertising to increase demand?

Ikea Price Cut

Sweet Inspired Fragrance

 

An unusual twist from sweet maker Swizzels and Spanish home fragrance producer Cristalinas has been announced. The pair have teamed up to launch three new sweet-scented diffusers and room sprays inspired by Swizzels’ Squashies Bubblegum, Squashies Strawberries & Cream, and Lemon Refreshers. Starting from an RRP of £1.99, the range includes 25ml and 35ml reed diffusers and 250ml room sprays. Developed to help retailers benefit from the continued growth of the home fragrance category, the collection will appeal to “shoppers seeking nostalgic, sweet-inspired scents,” Swizzels said. With strong brand recognition from Swizzels and an accessible price point, the range offers an opportunity to encourage impulse purchases and attract both confectionery fans and home fragrance shoppers. The partnership brings together two brands that share a commitment to creating sensory experiences. Cristalinas has long received positive feedback from consumers who state that its fragrances evoke the scent of confectionery, making the collaboration a natural fit. As one of the UK’s most trusted confectionery brands, Swizzels has built a strong legacy through its much-loved products, while Cristalinas has established itself as one of the UK’s fastest-growing air care brands.

BBQ - Can you think of any other brand extensions for Swizzles?

Swizzles Fragrance

Aldi US Expansion

 

Aldi' is embarking on a $9bn US expansion plan to add 800 new stores over five years, specifically targeting dense urban hubs like Manhattan. It marks a massive scale-up for the German supermarket, which first entered the US in 1976 and has steadily grown its footprint to nearly 2,800 storefronts. The aggressive real estate blitz signals a bold shift for a brand traditionally associated with suburban strip malls and lower-end consumers. Incumbent US grocers may look with some concern at the insurgency Aldi pulled off since it entered the UK market in the 1990s. However, while Aldi is rapidly ascending the ranks of American grocery consciousness, it is not, and may never aim to be, Walmart. Aldi currently holds just 2.9% of the US grocery pie, while Walmart controls about 20%. Data from location analytics firm Placer.ai reveals Aldi is capturing middle- and higher-income shoppers with household incomes between $75,000 and $125,000. Walmart pours more than $20bn a year into its business, the bulk of it into technology, automation, and its supply chain, with robots moving product through its warehouses and AI setting its forecasts on delivery routes. Aldi targets a lean, highly efficient model that provides about 80% of what a traditional big-box retailer carries, but at a much lower cost. Can this be the key to winning more US customers?

BBQ - Do you think Aldi will continue to be successful in the US?

Aldi USA

Jigsaw Sales Climb

Demand for mindful activities like completing puzzles has led to a spike in jigsaw sales, one firm says. The trend has prompted Great British Jigsaws, founded online in 2020 by a husband and wife team, to open a physical store. The Stafford-based firm's operations director said: "There's been a massive movement, I feel, with people wanting to turn away from digital, people wanting to escape their screens." Commenting on the trend, games expert Christopher Headleand said: "People aren't necessarily rejecting screens, but they are proactively searching for balance." An example of what is driving sales, she said, came from an older customer who explained she and her friends were completing jigsaw puzzles as their "dementia prevention". Prof Headleand, head of the games institute at the University of Staffordshire, continued: "As more and more of our lives is screen-dominated, then the ability to escape from that and do something different is becoming more important."Part of the joy of a jigsaw was the tactile nature of it, something that is not replicated in the same way in a digital game, he added.

BBQ - How important is it for business to adapt to social changes?

Jigsaw Boom

The Fake Portable Air Cooler

 

Online adverts have been appearing for portable air conditioners claiming to be "designed by former Nasa engineers" and able to "cool a room in 90 seconds". The adverts have emerged on platforms including Facebook and YouTube, but the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has now warned the products are often "too good to be true". YouTuber Stuart Matthews, who bought several devices to test on his Proper DIY channel, told the BBC that despite paying £70 for one machine, it turned out to be "a small, simple fan worth only a few pounds". The ASA told the BBC that some of the adverts it had seen online in recent weeks made exaggerated claims, including that a small device could cool an entire home within minutes or used very little electricity. It also said the adverts frequently featured fake customer reviews describing dramatic temperature drops or exceptional performance. The adverts direct shoppers to websites selling the devices, typically for between £70 and £120. Many of the adverts also appeared to be AI-generated, using visuals such as copper coils and metallic boxes to make the products seem more sophisticated. The watchdog advised consumers who were unsure to research the retailer and check it provided genuine contact details and a business address. Customers should also look for independent reviews rather than relying solely on testimonials on the seller's website.

BBQ - How do you check the trustworthiness of products you see online?

Cool In 90 Seconds

Tech Price Rises

Apple is increasing the price of MacBooks and iPads worldwide due to rising memory and storage chip costs. The iPhone maker has hiked the prices of some laptops and tablets by almost 20%, saying the electronics industry is facing an "unprecedented challenge" due to an "extraordinary surge" in demand for chips to power AI data centres. "We have never seen a component price increase this much, this quickly," the company said - adding it was working to find solutions. Not long after Apple's announcement, Xbox said it had decided to significantly raise the price of its popular gaming console for the second time in less than a year due to the current "components crisis". The Microsoft-owned company said on Thursday that the price of its basic console will go up by $100 (£75) to $499, while the price of a console with more memory will go up by $150, to $749. New prices will take effect from August. Xbox previously hiked the price of its consoles in October by $20-$70, meaning the price of a new console will be 30% to 40% more expensive than it was this time last year.The company added that while the cost of memory and storage has already more than doubled, it expects the costs to double again by 2027. That seemingly leaves the door open for Xbox to further raise prices. Apple's and Xbox's price hikes follow a slew of firms increasing device prices to help them absorb rising hardware costs.

BBQ - How much will price rises impact the sales?

Tech Price Rise

VAT Cut on Family Days Out

 

Families are expected to get cheaper access to theme parks, zoos and museums as well as kids' meals as a temporary VAT cut comes in to force on Thursday for the school summer holidays. Ticket prices at various attractions are among the activities where VAT will be reduced from 20% to 5% in what the goverment said would help with the cost of living. But families, charities and firms said the measure will do little to help squeezed budgets, with some doubting the tax saving would be passed on to customers. VAT will be reduced on children's meals served in restaurants as well as kids' and family tickets for cinemas, theatres, concerts, shows. and exhibitions. Also included are adventure parks, nature reserves and wildlife parks. There will be free bus travel for children aged between five and 15 in England. The government said the scheme will cost around £300m. Businesses can choose whether or not to pass on the discount to customers. Pub chains Wetherspoons and Greene King, as well as Nando's will be among those who say they will pass on tax savings to customers in the form of cheaper meals.

BBQ - Why might businesses not pass on the savings to customers?

VAT Cut

Ferrari Boss Quits Over Luce

 

Ferrari's marketing boss has quit after 16 years at the company just weeks after a backlash over the launch of the supercar maker's first-ever electric car, the Luce. The firm announced this week that Enrico Galliera would leave the role of chief marketing and commercial officer. He will be replaced by former BMW Italy head Massimiliano Di Silvestre in July. The new Ferrari Luce, the brainchild of iPhone designer Sir Jony Ive, is unlike anything the Italian carmaker has ever created - so is the backlash it is facing. But internet critics, investors and even politicians have hit out at the Luce - which is Italian for "light". The firm's shares fell 8% the day after the unveiling, as a host of memes mocked the $640,000 (£475,625) car, which is also its first five-seater. It comes as the global motor industry faces a number of major challenges, including fierce competition from Chinese carmakers. The Luce is certainly as fast as many supercars: 0-60mph (96km/h) in about 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of more than 190mph.But it is the way it looks that has drawn the most criticism. Former Ferrari chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo told reporters on Tuesday that the Luce is "risking the destruction of a legend" and the firm should remove its iconic badge from the car.

BBQ - Do you like the new design of the Ferrari Luce?

Ferrari Luce

Ashley Bid to Takeover Boss

Businessman Mike Ashley's Frasers Group has made a takeover offer for German fashion brand Hugo Boss. The retail group already owns just over a quarter of Hugo Boss, having steadily built up the stake since 2020, but said on Wednesday it wanted to buy the rest of it for €1.98bn (£1.73bn). Hugo Boss said it would "thoroughly examine the offer and issue a reasoned statement". Frasers, formerly known as Sports Direct, owns House of Fraser, Game, Jack Wills, Evans Cycles and many other brands. It is also the largest shareholder in Boohoo but has had a frosty relationship with the firm. Because it has grown its shareholding so much, Frasers is now close to the 30% ownership level that German law requires it to make an offer for the whole company. The deal would value Hugo Boss at €38 a share, higher than the €36.5 it closed at on Wednesday.

BBQ - Why do you think Mike Ashley wants to complete this takeover?

Hugo Boss Takeover

SpaceX Goes Public

 

Last Friday for the first time investors will be able to buy and sell shares in Elon Musk's Texas-based SpaceX, a company that is planning to colonise Mars and put artificial intelligence (AI) data centres in space. It is set to be the biggest ever public sale of shares and will make SpaceX one of the US's top 10 largest listed firms. A higher-than-usual proportion of those shares is being made available to individual investors, but its sheer size means many investment funds will end up with a stake in SpaceX too. SpaceX is currently owned by Musk and other private investors, but they are launching what is known as an initial public offering, or IPO. On Friday, millions of new shares in the company will start trading on the stock market. The IPO has raised at least $75bn and gives investors the chance to buy into a business whose activities range from space exploration and satellite communication to the social media site X and the controversial AI platform Grok. SpaceX is separate from Musk's most well-known company, the electric car maker Tesla, although it is thought the two may end up merging next year. There are more than 550 million shares available, which will start trading at $135 (£100) each. Investors must decide if they think the shares are worth that much. And once they start trading their value could quickly rise or fall depending on whether the wider market thinks that initial price was too low or too high.

BBQ - Would you buy a share in SpaceX?

SpaceX Shares

Metrocentre for Sale

 

One of the country's biggest shopping centres has been put up for sale, ahead of a major redevelopment. The owners of the Metrocentre in Gateshead have confirmed the centre has been put on the market to "support the next phase of its development", which includes plans to build thousands of homes around the site. Reports suggest Frasers Group - owned by former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley - is in talks to buy the shopping centre, but the company has declined to comment on any potential interest. The company said it had invested £60m in the centre since 2020, which had helped increase footfall to 16 million for the first time since the pandemic. A target sale price has not been made public, but the centre is expected to fetch upwards of £500m. The Metrocentre and its surrounding brownfield land has been earmarked to become a major new neighbourhood known as Metro Riverside. The plans are a collaboration between the Metrocentre Partnership and Gateshead Council and would see thousands of homes built on land near the River Tyne. It is not known how the sale of the Metrocentre will affect the MetroRiverside development. However, the development is still at an early stage and no plans have yet to be formally approved.

BBQ - What is the future of shopping centres?

Metrocentre

Cod Prices Increase

 

Fishing quotas in the Atlantic and conflicts around the world have pushed the price of cod higher than ever before, meaning chippies are having to diversify. More and more takeaways are now offering alternative fish species, such as hake, pollock, and monkfish, as lower-priced options. But even with changing menus, there has still been a deluge of chippies closing. At its peak around a century ago, there were approximately 35,000 fish and chip shops across the UK. There are now about 10,000, and industry leaders are concerned more could disappear as prices rise.Margins are tight, and businesses are having to think of new ways to balance the books. It is also difficult to convince the paying public to change their habits, even when a portion of hake is priced at £6.50 compared to £8.20 for cod. As well as diversifying by adding different species of fish to menus, some restaurants believe concentrating on customer service and retaining loyal diners is the key.

BBQ - What price would be too much for fish and chips or is it already too high?

Cod Prices

Hot Sauce Shortages

 

Hot pepper sauce in Caribbean cuisine is as pervasive as ketchup in the US. The fiery flavouring is a staple of dining tables regionwide, the obligatory accompaniment for everything from rice and peas, to curries and stews. And as international palates continue to heat up to the potent taste, a growing number of brands are exported to North America, Europe and Australia, appearing on the shelves of major supermarket chains, from the US's Walmart, to the UK's Tesco, and Woolworths in Australia. But a shortage of the particular chilli pepper used to create the quintessential Caribbean condiment is threatening to stifle supply, while sending costs for the region's producers soaring.A confluence of extreme weather, disease and pests is making core ingredient Scotch bonnet peppers particularly hard to source. The temperamental little, yellow fruit with its susceptibility to heavy rain and viruses can be tough to grow, while devastating hurricanes in Jamaica, a prime producer of Scotch bonnets, delivered a further blow. The Jamaican government has been working to help farmers get back on their feet. That included supplying Scotch bonnet seeds to 650 growers. As the warmer months are now arriving - peak season for both Scotch bonnets and storms - hot sauce manufacturers are keeping their eyes on the weather as well as their profit margins.

BBQ - What would you do if there was a shortage of chili peppers?

Hot Sauce Shortage

World Cup Crisps

 

Ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Walkers, Doritos and Wotsits are set to launch a major on-pack promotion, alongside football legend-themed Walkers packaging and new flavours. Selected promotional packs of Walkers, Doritos and Wotsits will feature a QR code giving shoppers the chance to win instant prizes. These include FIFA World Cup 2026 merchandise, home viewing bundles and food delivery vouchers, as well as entry into a high-value grand prize draw of 2 x £10,000 (or € equivalent). To further celebrate the partnership, a line-up of new, globally inspired flavours is launching across Walkers, Doritos and Wotsits. The range includes three new, limited-edition Walkers flavours: Walkers English Bangers & Mash, Walkers Wavy Spanish Queso and Walkers Max Portuguese Chorizo & Onion. A new Doritos flavour – Mexican Beef Taco – will also be unveiled, which will remain as a permanent addition to the Doritos range following the tournament. Also, Wotsits Golden Balls will launch a limited-edition, Smokin’ Cheese flavour snack.

BBQ - Do these promotions help drive your interest in trying and buying more products?

World Cup Crisps

Playstation Plus Price Rise

 

PlayStation Plus subscribers will be hit with price rises in some regions, the gaming company has said, citing "market conditions". A basic monthly subscription to the gaming service will rise by £1, $1 (75p), and €1 (87p) to £7.99, $10.99, and €9.99 respectively. Meanwhile, a basic three-month subscription will go up by £3, $3, and €3 to £21.99, $27.99, and €27.99 respectively. PlayStation did not specify where the rises would apply, but said they do not apply to current subscribers, except in Turkey or India, unless the existing subscription changes or lapses. The video game industry has been hit with supply problems due to the US-Israel war with Iran and the price of memory chips has skyrocketed because of the artificial intelligence (AI) boom. In March, PlayStation, which is owned by Sony, the PlayStation 5's price would rise by £90 in the UK and by $100 in the US due to "continued pressures in the global economic landscape" PlayStation's rival Nintendo also announced this month that it will hike the price of its Switch 2 console $449.99 to $499.99 in the US, and €469.99 to €499.99 in most European countries. For the year to March 2027, the game division is expected to enjoy higher profits despite falling sales, Sony said in its results.

BBQ - Will a price rise cause Playstation to lose any customers?

Playstation Plus

Robo Top

 

They assemble cars, perform surgery and even handle cargo at airports. But give most robots a needle and thread, and they would probably come undone. That's why practically all the clothes sold in the world today are still made by hand, often by very low-paid workers in Asia. Those workers may use tools such as sewing machines, but fully automating such labour is difficult. "You have a problem if it's sewing," says Cam Myers, founder and chief executive of California-based CreateMe, a robotics company. "You have to keep [two pieces of fabric] in alignment under motion." His company takes another approach. Forget sewing – glue the pieces of fabric together instead. "Once the adhesive is laid down, you simply line something over it and stamp." CreateMe has designed robots that do this and the firm is already making women's underwear this way. It will begin producing t-shirts, too, in the coming months. Mass production could follow next year. Roboticists have eyed the garment manufacturing industry for decades. If machines could ever take over such work, clothes-making could come back to countries in the West, and the environmental footprint of garments might be slashed in the process. But millions of textile workers could also be out of a job.

BBQ - Would the impact of these machines be overall positive on the planet?

CreateMe - Robot T-Shirt

, external, externa

The Royal Pop Frenzy

The launch of an exclusive pocket watch has sparked a frenzy that forced stores worldwide to close and in some cases saw police officers and security deal with huge unruly crowds. The Royal Pop watch collection, a highly anticipated collaboration between Swatch and luxury brand Audemars Piguet (AP), went on sale on Saturday in selected stores around the world. Similar to past sales of its kind, some people queued for days to get their hands on one of the eight models. But the ferocity of interest in the product, both online and on the high street, has split opinions about responsible marketing and whether the watches are even worth it. Better known for its colourful watches from the 1980s, AP Swatch has described the Royal Pop collection as "a disruptive collaboration between two icons of Swiss watchmaking". While original sales of the collection were exclusively in selected stores - with people only able to buy one £335 (€385; $448) watch per person - they have been driven by an online campaign that has lasted months. The company has been criticised by some people, who say the watches should be available on its website and police resources had been unnecessarily diverted. While there have been reports of Royal Pop watches being resold for huge sums online, the UK watch business magazine WatchPro cautioned that some of these were fake.

BBQ - Is this unethical marketing from Swatch to drive so much hype?

Royal Pop

Mars £80 Factory Investment

 

Mars is investing £80m into its factory in the home of its confectionery business in the UK. Up to five million chocolate bars a day can now be made in Slough, Berkshire, after a major upgrade in production lines and facilities – double what the business did in 2025. Mars Wrigley UK & Ireland General Manager, Adam Grant, said: "That's enough to stretch all the way from Slough to Edinburgh." The firm said it is the single biggest investment ever made at its site and is paying for new technology - including robots - to move large boxes of chocolate around the factory floor. It is the second largest Mars factory in Europe, behind Belgium. The first ever Mars bar was created in Slough in 1932 when Forrest Mars Sr set up a small kitchen on the Slough Trading Estate. Before entering the production area, there are reminders of the history of the past 94 years with photos of memorable moments on the walls. The multi-million pound investment at the factory will pay for advanced manufacturing processes, digital innovation and workforce development. It includes major upgrades to production lines, infrastructure improvements and the introduction of new digital systems designed to improve efficiency, quality and sustainability. The firm says it will help it to deliver the "perfect" Mars bar every time. Alongside factory renovation, new training and development programmes are being introduced to upskill the workforce in automation, digital and AI-enabled roles.

BBQ - How important is investment to improve quality?

Mars Factory

Honda Makes First Loss in 70 Years

 

Japanese car giant Honda made its first annual loss in 70 years as its investments in the electric vehicle (EV) market failed to pay off. Demand for EVs has not been as strong as the company forecast, with Honda reporting a total operating loss for the year ending March 2026 of ¥423bn ($2.68bn: £1.99bn.). The firm said it was scrapping some of its EV production targets and would source parts from China, where prices are lower, to keep costs down. It cited changes in US policy as adding to its losses, including tax incentives having been taken away for US consumers purchasing EVs, and the imposition of tariffs. US consumers could previously receive up to $7,500 (£5,500) in tax credits if they purchased a new EV, but this was scrapped by President Donald Trump in September 2025. His tariffs on imported cars and auto parts in 2025 also bruised profits at several major auto manufacturers, despite a reduction in the tariffs from 25% to 15%. Honda, which was first listed on the stock market in 1957, has grown over the years to become Japan's second largest car firm. Analysts said its huge size and legacy nature make it difficult to adapt quickly to fast dips and rises in EV demand. Honda said it was now going to focus on growing its successful motorcycle business, its financial services and its hybrid vehicle manufacturing.

BBQ - What is the biggest factor influencing car purchases?

Honda Loss

Back To Black & White

 

Japanese snack giant Calbee says it will temporarily switch to black and white packaging for some of its best-known products as supplies of an ingredient used in ink have been disrupted by the Iran war. The firm says new-style packets for 14 of its products, including crisps and prawn crackers, will start to appear in shops in Japan from 25 May. In recent weeks, companies around the world have warned that supply disruptions to things like fuel, plastics and helium are pushing up costs for their businesses. Calbee said in a statement that the design change is a response to "supply instability affecting raw materials amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East." "This measure is intended to help maintain a stable supply of products," said Calbee. Oil and gas prices have surged since the conflict started on 28 February as shipments through the Strait of Hormuz halted. Supplies of naphtha, a byproduct of oil refining used in ink and plastics, have also been hit hard. Naphtha prices in Asia have almost doubled since the conflict started, pushing up costs for businesses in the region. Before the war, around 40% of Japan's naphtha was imported from the Middle East, Japan's deputy chief cabinet secretary Kei Sato told reporters on Tuesday. Asian countries have been hit particularly hard by disruptions to shipping through the Gulf as they are heavily reliant on the Middle East for energy and other oil-related products.

, external that the design change is a response to "supply instability affecting raw materials amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East."

BBQ - Why does this show why it is so important to carefully manage your supply chains?

Black & White Packaging