F1 Kit Kat

KitKat’s new global partnership with Formula 1 marks a strategic move to align the brand with one of the world’s fastest‑growing sports, strengthening its visibility across key international markets. By launching an industry‑first chocolate product shaped like an F1 car, Nestlé is showcasing its investment in advanced R&D and high‑precision manufacturing—differentiating KitKat through innovation and reinforcing its position in a competitive confectionery landscape. The collaboration also unlocks significant consumer‑engagement opportunities, with integrated activity planned across trackside branding, retail promotions, social media, exclusive merchandise and targeted advertising around Drive to Survive. This 360° approach aims to deepen brand relevance among younger audiences and drive incremental sales throughout the 2026 season. With nationwide distribution for the new product in the UK and Ireland, KitKat is positioning itself for strong commercial impact as the partnership rolls out.

BBQ - Do you think this will be a successful product for Nestle?

F1 Kit Kat

Pepsi Swipe At Coca-Cola in Superbowl Ad

While excitement circles around the event’s musical performances and the match between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, there’s certainly a viewer or two eager to see what the commercial lineup is. Pepsi’s Super Bowl LX spot, “The Choice,” directed by Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, puts taste to the test as a cola‑loving polar bear takes the iconic Pepsi Challenge—and chooses Pepsi Zero Sugar. The spot brings the Pepsi Paradox to life, proving once again that when labels disappear, Pepsi wins on taste. According to Pepsi, the idea for the bear’s taste test came from real data from its 2025 Pepsi Challenge. Last year, the company conducted Pepsi Challenges across 34 markets, with 66% of participants preferring Pepsi Zero Sugar to Coke Zero Sugar in taste tests. Showcasing the brand’s success, Reyna noted that Pepsi Zero Sugar had 30.8% growth in the Zero Sugar Cola category in 2025. The marketing exec explained that the polar bear in the ad is “just another cola lover that represents the vast majority of Americans.”  Last year, when the Kansas City Chiefs met the Philadelphia Eagles, a record audience of 127.7 million people tuned in. Ahead of Super Bowl LX on NBC, which will be contested between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on February 8, Bloomberg reports that the cost of a 30-second ad has reached a high of $10 million.

BBQ - Is the cost of a SuperBowl Ad worth it? How would you prove it?

Pepsi Advert

Viral Crying Horse

A frowning horse plush has become a viral bestseller ahead of Lunar New Year celebrations for the year of the horse in China. The sad-looking soft toy was originally made in error after a worker sewed a smile on the horse upside down. Zhang Huoqing had expected to have to issue a refund to the customer who bought the toy, but after an image of it started circulating online the horse began selling out. The newspaper says the horse is about 20cm (7.8in) tall and costs 25 yuan (£2.62). It is red for good luck, with a golden collar and bell around its neck, and has the phrase "money comes quickly" embroidered on its body in golden letters. "A lot of customers like it, and they said it makes sense: that it suits the spirit of today's corporate slaves," Zhang said. "This crying horse really fits the reality of modern working people," she added. "People joked that the crying horse is how you look at work, while the smiling one is how you look after work." Zhang's factory has surged production to meet demand - including from other countries, according to media reports. Lunar New Year will be celebrated in February to usher in the year of the horse - one of 12 animals repeated in a cycle under the Chinese zodiac calendar.

Crying Horse

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?