Galaxy Salted Caramel

Salted caramel flavour has gone mainstream with the launch of a new Galaxy bar. Available from 22nd February, Galaxy Salted Caramel is a new permanent brand extension that will be sold as a single bar and a tablet. Mars communications manager said "The salted caramel food trend is here to stay and we're confident that the new bars will be popular among consumers who want to try something new". The new brand will be backed by a £12m media campaign in 2015 including 44 weeks on TV. Mars has redesigned the Galaxy Caramel Collection to boost standout and differentiation between variants.

Salted Caramel

Billionaire World

There are now 2,089 billionaires in the world with at least 67 countries home to a person who is valued at more than $1,000,000,000. USA is home to the most billionaires and also 6 of the top 10 including the wealthiest person in the world in Bill Gates who is worth $85bn. Footballers have also been in the spotlight after a study by Deloitte showed the average wage for Permier League players rose to £1.6m which equates to 31,000 a week, which is more than the average UK worker earns in a year.

Billionaire World

Sky Mobile

Pay-TV firm Sky is launching a mobile phone service next year in partnership with O2's Spanish parent Telefonica. Sky will use Telefonica UK's wireless network, enabling the satellite broadcaster to offer mobile voice and data services for the first time. It takes Sky into the battle for "quad play", adding mobile to its existing services of internet, landline and TV. Offering all four services is seen as the next big UK growth area for telecoms firms and broadcasters. Sky already serve 20 million customers in three of Europe's four largest markets.

Sky Mobile

Apple & Sour Cherry Fanta

Coca Cola has introduced a new Apple and Sour Cherry variant to the Fanta Brand. It will replace Fanta Peach and Apricot and will be available in the typical variety of pack formats from 330ml to 2L bottles. The launch will be supported by sampling and a supporting outdoor media campaign. Marketing director Caroline Cater said "We remain committed to helping retailers drive sales with new products that appeal to shoppers and Fanta Apple and Sour Cherry scored extremely well in consumer research".

Fanta Brand Expansion

Shake Shack Shaking Up Wages

The minimum wages paid to fast-food workers have been a focus of intense national debate in the US, where activists and unions have been organising fast-food workers into day long protests agitating for so-called "living wages" of $15 per hour. Earlier this month when Shake Shack filed the company for public stock sale it stated it paid workers workers in New York City a starting salary of $10 per hour - significantly higher than the New York State minimum wage of $8 per hour. The Shake Shake motto is that "When you pay more you can attract a more qualified set of employees, you can reduce your employee turnover cost, and you can encourage them to work harder to keep their jobs. If you have great employees, and if you have great operations that take advantage of them, then you can use your employees to reduce your cost and improve your service and sales."

Shake Shake Shake Up

Super-Size Biscuit

Jammie Dodgers has made its debut into the cake category. Its celebration cake is the first licensed product in this market from the Burton's Biscuit Company and they confirmed further innovative and exciting products were in the pipeline. Aimed at the family market, the iced sponge resembles a large Jammie Dodger and comes complete with a jam filled centre. The cake is available from Tesco & Asda priced at £7.

Jammie Dodgers Cake

Give Lovin', Get Lovin'

McDonald's latest promotional campaign launches tomorrow: for the next two weeks staff will accept "Lovin'" as payment. Customers who order items during pre-selected times will be asked to pay with nothing but affection, which can be expressed in a number of ways. Some customers may choose to ring their mothers, share loved-up selfies, some may hug a stranger, others could offer the humble fist-bump by way of payment. They are set to launch the promotion using an ad during the Superbowl which costs $4.5 million for 30 seconds.

Pay With Love