Slovakia Becomes Number One Car Manufacturer

This is the European factory of Korean car company Kia, just outside the city of Zilina in the north of Slovakia. It represents, Kia says, an investment of €2.5bn ($2.9bn; £2.2bn). Volkswagen also produces cars in Slovakia. So does Stellantis (formerly Peugeot-Citroen, Fiat and Chrysler), and Jaguar Land Rover. Volvo is opening an electric car factory here in 2027. Slovakia, which is home to 5.4 million people, makes almost a million cars a year. This is a small number compared to the world's largest producers, such as the biggest, China, which manufacturers a whopping 31 million cars per annum. Yet Slovakia is the number one producer on a per capita basis - relative to the size of its population.  Kia says the average salary at the facility is €2,400 per month. That is substantially higher than the country's average monthly salary across the entire economy, which official figures show but at the same time it is considerably lower than the EU-wide average of €3,417. Car industry expert Peter Prokop says that back then the labour costs in Slovakia were 20% of those in Germany. Kia Europe's outgoing chief executive, Marc Hedrich, says that Slovakia's car manufacturing industry also benefits from the country's central location. "Slovakia is really in the heart of Europe, quite well-connected to the big markets," he says. Another important Slovak advantage is its dense network of car industry suppliers. Some 360 companies work for the car industry. "The supplier base is enormous," says Mr Hendrich, "this is critical". Kia didn't want to go into details about the incentives it received from the Slovak government to start production in the country back in 2006. Yet Hedrich did say it received a tax credit of €29m for transforming its Slovak production lines for its new electric vehicles, the total cost of which was €108m. The Slovak government offers these incentives to carmakers because the benefits for the country are enormous.

BBQ - What is the biggest benefit for being a car manufacturer in Slovakia?

Slovakia Car

, external was €1,403 in 2023

Tango Redesign

Tango GenZ has been reintroduced with a bold and disruptive redesign aimed specifically at appealing to a younger, Gen Z audience. The refreshed packaging features vibrant, high‑contrast colours, expressive typography, and playful visual elements that reflect individuality, creativity, and self‑expression—qualities that strongly resonate with this demographic. This modernised look helps Tango stand out on crowded shelves and aligns with wider Gen Z preferences for brands that feel energetic, authentic, and socially relevant. Alongside the new visual identity, the GenZ range reinforces Tango’s established irreverent tone, while using contemporary design to reposition the brand as fresh and exciting. The bold redesign supports Tango’s broader marketing strategy by increasing brand recognition, stimulating impulse purchases, and strengthening its connection with younger consumers in an increasingly competitive soft drinks market.

BBQ - Is this a good extension strategy by Tango to increase sales?

Tango Redesign

Toy Sellers Concern With Social Media Ban

UK toy sales have risen for the first time in five years, but sellers are braced for the potential impact of any social media ban for under-16s. The value of toy sales rose by 6% last year, compared with the previous year, according to research company Circana, bringing some much-needed cheer for a sector that has struggled since the pandemic. The rebound has been driven by the so-called kidult market - which relates to players over the age of 12, some of whom are influenced by trends on social media. Kidults accounted for 17% of the toy market in 2016, but this had risen to 30% by last year. Building sets, predominantly Lego, has appealed to adults, but trends amplified on social media have also led to a 12% growth in collectibles across generations. Pokémon, K-Pop Demon Hunters, and Hello Kitty have all proved to be "market-moving trends", according to Circana. Symonds said the industry would be considering the impact of the social media ban for under-16s in Australia, and the potential for a similar ban in the UK. She said manufacturers and retailers may need to reconsider how some of these toys were marketed if bans were brought in more widely.

BBQ - Do you think a social media ban for U16s will impact the sale of toys?

Toy Sales

Deliver Who?

 

Independent restaurants have accused global corporations of being "sneaky" and "a killer" to family businesses by masquerading as indies on delivery apps. Chain restaurants including Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, Frankie & Benny's, Las Iguanas and Barburrito have brands on apps such as Deliveroo and Just Eat, giving them different names and the appearance of being small or independent businesses. Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats all said virtual brands could be utilised by any business, including independents. It added that it was transparent with customers as they could see the address of where they were ordering from, "to help them make informed choices". Bird Box and Stacks were from Frankie & Benny's, Mother Clucker was TGI Fridays, Wing Street was Pizza Hut, Hot Chick was Coyote Ugly and Badass Burritos was Barburrito. Independent restaurants want to see legislation about transparency around what kitchen people's food comes from and the parent company behind it.

BBQ - Do you think virtual brands should declare themselves to be actually a big chain?

Deliverwho?

TGI Friday Closing Further Stores

TGI Fridays has closed 16 of its UK restaurants, putting 456 employees out of work. The American-inspired casual dining chain's remaining 33 restaurants will continue to operate after the business was sold in a rescue deal. Interpath was appointed as administrator to Liberty Bar and Restaurant group, which managed the operations of TGI Fridays' UK restaurants, on Tuesday. TGI Fridays' business and assets were immediately sold to a company owned by Sugarloaf, the manager of the global TGI Fridays brand. Some 1,384 jobs were safeguarded in the deal, administrators said. Over summer 2025, casual and fast-food restaurants saw a 6% drop in customers compared to the previous summer, according to research from Worldpanel by Numerator. In December, trade body UKHospitality warned the hospitality sector could lose a further 100,000 workers as a result of the Autumn Budget. The government has said it is "protecting pubs, restaurants and cafés with the Budget's £4.3bn support package". Last month, the High Street food chain Leon said it will close 20 restaurants and cut jobs as part of a major restructure. Its co-founder said he believed the company had drifted from its core values under EG and Asda's leadership, and also cited internal challenges, changing work patterns driven by the Covid pandemic and tax increases – all of which have affected the broader hospitality sector.

BBQ - Should the government do more to support the hospitality sector or do businesses need to improve their strategy?

TGI Friday

Labubu Toy Manufacturer Exploited Workers

 

A labour rights organisation claims it has found evidence of worker exploitation in a Chinese factory that makes the viral Labubu dolls. China Labor Watch (CLW), a US-based non-governmental organisation, alleges that its investigation found that one of Pop Mart's suppliers made employees work excessive overtime shifts, sign blank or incomplete contracts and did not give them paid leave. The furry Labubu dolls have surged in popularity around the world in recent years and are best known for selling toys in "blind boxes", which hide its content from buyers until it is opened. The Beijing-based toy retailer Pop Mart said it appreciated the details from the review and that it will "firmly" require companies making its toys to correct their practices if the allegations are found to be true. Pop Mart added that it conducts regular audits of its suppliers, including yearly independent third-party reviews carried out by internationally recognised inspectors. CLW said its researchers conducted 51 in-person interviews with the factory's employees to discuss matters of recruitment, contracts and their working conditions. The factory is a "core manufacturing facility" of Pop Mart toys and employed more than 4,500 workers, according to CLW. The organisation flagged labour issues at Shunjia Toys Co Ltd's factory in Xinfeng County, including what it said were illegal overtime hours, unclear contract practices and a lack of safety training and protections.

BBQ - What might be the consequences for Pop Mart following this investigation?

Labubu Exploitation

Walkers Crisps Brand Refrsh

Walkers has unveiled a major brand refresh inspired by its farm‑to‑crisp story, introducing a new sun‑inspired logo that puts real ingredients and 100% Great British potatoes at the heart of the pack, alongside the signature of founder Henry Walker to honour its heritage dating back to 1948. The relaunch is supported by flavour innovation, with the introduction of a new non‑HFSS Hot Honey variant from 12 January, expanding its Flavours of the World range, and a four‑week ‘Golden Potato’ promotion from 26 January offering over 500,000 prizes to drive in‑store excitement. The new identity also rolls out across Walkers’ Better‑For‑You portfolio, including the newly renamed Walkers Oven Baked range with two new flavours and sharing‑bag formats, as well as Walkers 45% Less Salt, which will become Walkers Lightly from mid‑February. Together, the redesign, new products and promotional activity mark a significant step forward for the brand as it reinforces its heritage, quality credentials and leadership in flavour innovation across the grocery channel. Walkers suggest this is their biggest brand refresh in 80 years!

BBQ - What are the benefits of a brand refresh for a well‑known company like Walkers?

Walkers Refresh

Lego Smart Brick

Lego has unveiled Smart Bricks - tech-filled versions of its small building blocks - which it says will bring sets to life with sound, light and reaction to movement. However, the new product range has got a mixed reaction from play experts, who say it risks undermining what makes Lego distinct for children in an increasingly digital world. Lego says its new tech-enabled products, launching in March with a new Star Wars set, are its "most revolutionary innovation" in nearly 50 years. Lego says its Smart Bricks can sense motion, position and distance, allowing the models to respond in various ways during play. Measuring 2x4, the brick itself contains sensors, lights, a small sound synthesiser, an accelerometer and a custom-made silicon chip enabling it to detect movement and react to it.

BBQ - Do you think Smart Bricks could "undermine what was once great about Legos" - harnessing children's own imagination during play?

Lego Smart Brick

Weight Loss Jab Affecting Greggs

The boss of Greggs said there was "no doubt" hugely popular appetite suppressing drugs have led to people looking for "smaller portions", affecting the company's bottom line. People are also looking for "protein and fibre", and generally healthier options, Roisin Currie said, adding the bakery has been introducing products to tap into that market. Greggs has previously said people's dietary changes led it to move away from its usual fare of hearty and high-fat pasties, cakes and pastries. The bakery chain said in July it would target customers on weight loss drugs by rolling out smaller portions and protein-rich products, after which it launched its egg-pot alongside its popular "eggs at Greggs" ad campaign. Several firms have said customers appetites are changing as a result of weight loss drugs. Tesco said on Thursday a trend towards healthier eating had contributed to growth in its fresh produce sales. Chief executive Ken Murphy said the group was watching customer habits "very closely" alongside the rise in weight loss medication and said the supermarket had a range of "GLP-1 friendly" products.

BBQ - What risks and opportunities do weight‑loss drugs pose to the long‑term revenue growth and store expansion plans of food retailers like Greggs?

Greggs

Candy Kitten Launches Smittens

Candy Kittens is making its plant-powered treats more accessible with the exclusive Tesco launch of Smittens, a new "lifestyle" range designed to offer a lower price point without compromising on quality. Retailing at approximately £1.60 per bag—a significant drop from their flagship gourmet line—Smittens features three vibrant flavor edits: Strawberry, Blueberry, and Sour. By maintaining the brand’s commitment to being 100% vegan and palm oil-free while positioning the product for the everyday "on-the-go" shopper, Candy Kittens is effectively bridging the gap between premium confectionery and mainstream affordability. The launch of Smittens represents a major strategic pivot for Candy Kittens as it seeks to transform from a niche "gourmet" player into a high-volume supermarket powerhouse. This move into the mass-market "lifestyle" category is underpinned by the brand's recent acquisition of Graze from Unilever, a deal that has increased the company's overall footprint by 300% and signals their ambition to become the "Unilever of challenger brands." Despite a recent dip in short-term profits due to the high costs of expanding grocery distribution, the Smittens launch leverages the brand's B Corp status and plant-powered credentials to meet the rising consumer demand for ethical, affordable treats, positioning Candy Kittens for a significant revenue surge as they scale across the UK.

BBQ - Do you think this move by Candy Kittens will be a success?

Smittens

BYD overtakes Tesla

China's BYD has overtaken Elon Musk's Tesla as the world's biggest seller of electric vehicles (EVs), marking the first time it has outpaced its American rival in annual sales. Tesla car sales dropped by nearly 9% in 2025 to 1.64 million vehicles sold worldwide, the carmaker said on Friday - its second consecutive year of falling car deliveries. Those figures placed Tesla behind BYD, which said on Thursday that sales of its battery-powered cars rose last year by almost 28% to more than 2.25 million. The US firm has faced a tough year with a mixed reception to new offerings, unease over Musk's political activities and intensifying competition from Chinese rivals. The Shenzhen-based company's rapid expansion - especially in Latin America, South East Asia and parts of Europe - comes despite many countries imposing steep tariffs on Chinese EVs. In October, BYD said the UK had become its biggest market outside China. The firm said that its sales in Britain surged by 880% in the year to the end of September, driven by strong demand for the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U sports utility vehicle (SUV). Tesla's car sales fell 16% during the last three months of 2025. The drop was partly due to the repeal of a government subsidy that had helped knock as much as $7,500 (£5,570) off the price of certain battery electric, plug-in hybrid or fuel cell vehicles. Chinese firms such as Geely, MG, and BYD - now the country's largest electric car company - have put pressure on Western rivals by pricing their vehicles below established brands.

BBQ - What do you believe is the biggest reason that Tesla car sales have dropped?

BYD vs Tesla

Junk Food Advert Ban Starts

Junk food adverts will be banned on television and online from Monday as part of a drive to tackle childhood obesity. The UK-wide ban will stop food and drinks high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) being advertised on TV before 21:00 and at any time online. It applies to products considered to be the biggest drivers of childhood obesity, including soft drinks, chocolates and sweets, pizzas and ice creams. As well as more obviously unhealthy foods, the ban will also cover some breakfast cereals and porridges, sweetened bread products, and main meals and sandwiches. Decisions over which products fall under the ban will be based on a scoring tool, balancing their nutrient levels against whether they are high in saturated fat, salt, or sugar. Firms can still promote healthier versions of banned products, which the government hopes will lead to food makers developing healthier recipes. It is estimated obesity costs the NHS more than £11bn every year. Evidence shows children's exposure to ads for unhealthy food can influence what they eat from a young age, in turn putting them at greater risk of becoming overweight or obese.The government estimates the ad ban will prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity.

BBQ - Do you think the ban will be effective in reducing obesity?

Junk Food Ban