Poppeggs!

Valeo Foods UK has announced the launch of Poppeggs, a new seasonal chocolate product under its Poppets brand, arriving in stores for Easter 2026. Poppeggs were designed to meet growing shopper demand for affordable, smaller-format seasonal treats, suitable for multiple occasions including snacking, sharing and gifting. The product’s straightforward format and familiar taste profile make it an easy, low-risk addition to the Easter aisle. Available in an 80g bag (£1.50 RRP), Poppeggs sit firmly within the mainstream Easter chocolate price bracket, offering strong value compared with similar solid chocolate products. The format supports impulse purchase as well as family sharing, helping retailers maximise basket spend across the seasonal period. The launch reflects continued growth in shareable and value-led seasonal confectionery, particularly as shoppers remain price-conscious. Marketing support will focus on in-store visibility, seasonal aisle activation and retailer digital channels, supported by light social activity to drive awareness and footfall. 

BBQ - With a price almost one third cheaper than Cadburys will people switch brand?

Poppets

Aston Martin Must Adapt

It is the firm famed for making the car James Bond drives, but its history has been almost as turbulent as some of the adventures of the Ian Fleming hero. Aston Martin confirmed this week it would be cutting a fifth of its workforce, after the firm's net losses jumped by more than 50% last year. Bosses at the luxury car firm blamed its woes on US president Donald Trump's tariffs in a statement made last month. Experts believe Aston Martin, which is headquartered in Gaydon, Warwickshire, was particularly susceptible to those headwinds but believed there were opportunities for its fortunes to be revived once again. Its troubles come at a time when the car industry is facing one of the most difficult periods in its history, according to former Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer. He said car makers were having to adapt to manufacturing electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, as well as changes in consumer behaviour. He added that China was the largest automotive market in the world and that vehicles produced there were now competing within the luxury market traditionally occupied by the likes of McLaren and Aston Martin. Sales of Aston Martin vehicles helped make the West Midlands the UK's largest exporting region to America. The firm's success was also critical to supporting the wider supply chain in the region, with many local firms providing parts for the vehicles. He believed Aston Martin would now need to collaborate more with larger companies like Mercedes, to access technology it would otherwise struggle to develop on its own, in order to return it to a more profitable position.

BBQ - What will happen if Aston Martin fail to adapt?

Aston Martin

Seedance

A new artificial intelligence (AI) model developed by the Chinese company behind TikTok rocked Hollywood this week - not just because of what it can do, but what it could mean for creative industries. Created by tech giant ByteDance, Seedance 2.0 can generate cinema-quality video, complete with sound effects and dialogue, from just a few written prompts. Many of the clips said to have been made using Seedance, and featuring popular characters like Spider-Man and Deadpool, went viral. Major studios like Disney and Paramount quickly accused ByteDance of copyright infringement but concerns about the technology run deeper than legal issues. Seedance was launched to little fanfare in June 2025 but it is the second version that came eight months later that has caused a major stir. Many industry experts and filmmakers believe Seedance is a new chapter in the development of video-generating technology. Seedance has run into trouble over copyright issues, a growing challenge in the age of AI. Experts warn that AI companies are prioritising technology over people as they make more powerful tools and use data without paying for it. In the year since Beijing has put AI and robotics at the core of its economic strategy, investing heavily in advanced computer chip production, automation and generative AI as it bids for a technological edge over the US.

BBQ - How worried should Hollywood be about the continued advancement in AI?

Seedance