Ryanair Trolling Goes Wrong

A Ryanair attempt to make fun of British Airways on Twitter after a flight mistakenly went to Edinburgh instead of Düsseldorf has backfired. Ryanair's official Twitter account said it had a "present" for BA - a copy of Geography for Dummies. But Twitter users made a number of suggestions of books Ryanair could read, including "Customer Service for Dummies". In January Ryanair was again named the UK's least-liked short-haul airline. On Monday, a British Airways flight that was supposed to go to Germany ended up in Scotland after the wrong flight plan was used. Ryanair trolled BA in a tweet that afternoon with the suggested reading material. BA replied to the tweet saying: "No-one is perfect". But Twitter users quickly came back with book suggestions lampooning the low-cost airline, including "Employment Law for Dummies". In 2018 Ryanair was forced to cancel hundreds of flights after strike action by pilots and staff who were complaining about conditions. Many Twitter users poked fun at Ryanair over its practice of flying to airports that are some way from the supposed destination, for example, flying to Beauvais, which is more than 50 miles north of Paris, instead of a closer airport to the French capital

Ryanair Troll

Work Harder

Two years ago, former professional rugby player Alistair Hargreaves and teammate Chris Wyles, aged 30 and 33 respectively, launched Wolfpack Lager. “For us, being involved in a business that we’d built was really important. We wanted each day to be a new experience,” says Wyles. He says that the key to success both on the pitch and in business is to make your team happy. Take a look at this short clip where Alistair explains the importance of having motivated staff working towards your company goal. Do you agree with Alistair?

Happy Workers

Free Nandos

Nando's has announced a super-size competition that's sure to be a hit with diners. The PERi-PERi restaurant will be launching a series of huge billboards  featuring huge loyalty cards, which food fans can literally tear down, and haul to their nearest Nando's. The loyalty cards are a colossal 3x2m in size and say to 'grab nine mates and get ready to nab our giant Nando's card'.  Don't hang about as t his could be your chance to dine like kings, for nothing at all. Nando’s fans in London and Manchester should look out for billboards in Bethnal Green and Manchester Printworks between 29th-31st March. The billboard will also be up in London's White City, between 4th-6th April, during the hours of 11.30am-7pm on Friday and Saturday, and 12pm-7pm on Sunday.  If you aren't close to Manchester or London, then don't fear, there's still a chance to claim a free meal - other locations will be revealed on Nandos social media. The news also comes as Nando’s reveals there are currently 1.8 million rewards sitting unclaimed on Nando’s Cards. That's the equivalent of over £13 million worth of PERi-PERi chicken.

Giant Loyalty Card

It's Show Time

 

Invitations to an event at its Cupertino campus on Monday simply saying "It's show time" have sparked speculation that the tech giant could be about to announce its next TV steps. Apple needs to diversify and find new ways of bringing in cash as iPhone sales slow down, analysts say. But in an unforgiving media landscape, Apple is expected to launch a challenge to the likes of Netflix. Apple has built up relationships with major movie studios and TV networks, and these are "critical" for it to launch a subscription service, Mr Stanton says, because it needs to have more content than just its own original shows. Apple has been on a $2bn spending spree, signing up stars such as Oprah Winfrey, for original content. Jennifer Aniston and Reece Witherspoon are also widely reported to have been signed up. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has said he wants to focus the company on selling services rather than just hardware in a major shift in strategy. Tom Harrington of Enders Analysis adds: "iPhone sales are slowing so it makes sense for Apple to further diversify its business.

Apple TV

Tooty Frootie Axed

Tooty Frooties are to disappear from shop shelves after 60 years of being one of the nation’s favourite sweets, it has been confirmed by their manufacturer. Nestlé discontinued the multicoloured fruit sweets at the start of the year as part of a shake-up, but have only recently confirmed their departure from shops. “Sweet tastes and trends change over the years and Tooty Frooties have become much less popular in the decades since their launch,” a Nestlé spokesman said. The news hasn’t gone down well on Twitter, with confectionery fans expressing dismay at the loss of the sweet. The sweets have been around since 1963, and were first produced by Mackintosh’s of Halifax. Nestlé said they would instead by focusing on “new products under the Randoms brand”, saying that “in 2019, people prefer the jelly and foamy sweets.”

Tooty Frootie Axed

Jollibee Take on KFC

Filipino firm Jollibee takes on US fried chicken chains. When you think of fast-food firms, it's natural for an American name to spring to mind. After all, the top 10 global fast-food brands are from the US. Famous for its crispy fried chicken, Asia's biggest fast-food company, Jollibee Foods Corporation, plans to shake things up. It is rapidly expanding globally and has identified the US and China as key markets for growth. It currently has more than 4,500 outlets and operates 13 brands around the world.

Jollibee

What Went Wrong at Superdry?

From a small stall in Cheltenham market, it went on to become a truly global phenomenon and a commercial success.  But 16 years after its founding, the firm started by James Holder and Julian Dunkerton is on the decline.  Its shares have lost more than 70% over the past year. In December it issued a profit warning, and last week the company announced it would cut up to 200 jobs. Mr Holder left the company in 2016 and Mr Dunkerton stepped down last year citing "other demands on his time", although more recently he blamed "my fundamental disagreement" with the company's strategy. Mr Dunkerton is the company's largest shareholder with 18%. He and Mr Holder have a combined stake of 28.5%. Since Mr Dunkerton's departure Superdry's fortunes have declined. Mr Dunkerton criticised the retailer's "misguided strategy" - including a reduction in stock both in stores and online - which he claimed he had always predicted would fail, and has set up a website Save Superdry. On it he launched his business plan saying Superdry had undergone a "dramatic shift from being a design-led business with innovative creative input, a strong brand identity and an innate understanding of the customer, to follow a misguided consultant-led business model" Superdry said that its fall in profits were due to unseasonably warm weather and tough competition from discounters. In his business plan Mr Dunkerton said "The weather isn't the issue, the strategy is."

Superdry

Junk Food

Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before the watershed as part of Government plans to fight childhood obesity. Plans for ads to be taken off screens before 9pm have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. One in three children leaves primary school overweight or obese and the number of children classed as seriously obese is at a record high, according to the DHSC. Adverts for foods high in fat, sugar and salt will be consulted on, with the proposed pre-9pm ban affecting TV programmes, online streaming sites and social media companies, the DHSC said. Junk food adverts during children's TV shows have been banned since 2007 but research by broadcasting regulator Ofcom claimed youngsters spend 64% of their TV viewing time watching shows not aimed specifically at them. Top spending crisp, confectionery and sugary drinks companies in the UK spend £143 million a year on advertising compared to just £5 million spent annually by the Government on its healthy eating. McDonald’s has been accused of launching a “grotesque marketing strategy” that endangers public health by encouraging customers to eat more fast food in exchange for prizes such as fries, desserts and fizzy drinks.

Junk Food Ban

KFC Open Kitchen

Fast-food giant KFC is opening its kitchens to members of the public this month, with over 300 of its restaurants inviting in fans who want to see the chicken frying process for themselves. KFC’s Open Kitchen event takes place on Saturday 30 March, allowing chicken connoisseurs behind-the-scenes access to get a hands on experience for just £5. Once you’ve secured your place, you’ll be able to witness first hand just how KFC’s famous Original Recipe chicken is made. If you get a ticket, you won’t just be standing around watching, you’ll be getting stuck in yourself – hand-breading chicken, frying it up and then building your own burger. You’ll also be given a KFC hat and apron to make sure you look the part, and once you’re finished producing your poultry paradise, it’ll be served to you with fries, some Original Recipe chicken, and a side and drink of your choice. You’re essentially paying to work in a branch of KFC for an afternoon – a shrewd business move – although the £5 fee does go to the KFC Foundation, which supports local charities working with developing and nurturing young people.

KFC Open Kitchen

John Lewis Under Pressure

John Lewis has paid out its lowest bonus to staff since the 1950s as profits plunged last year amid "challenging" trading. The retail partnership - which includes Waitrose supermarkets - said staff would receive a 3% bonus, the lowest since 1953 when workers got no bonus. Profits at the partnership sank last year by more than 45% to £160m. It blamed poor home sales, discounting, higher IT costs and the cost of opening two new stores last year for the drop. John Lewis' famously promises that is "never knowingly undersold", meaning it matches its High Street rivals' prices. The partnership said "near constant discounting" from rivals had hit profits, particularly in its department store shops. John Lewis' structure is unique. It is owned by its staff, known as partners. Typically in profitable years, staff at the 350 Waitrose and 51 John Lewis stores receive a share of the profits. In the very best years, these bonuses can add the equivalent of a few months' worth of pay. But the annual staff bonus has been reduced every year for the past six years due to difficult trading conditions. Sir Charlie Mayfield, chairman of the John Lewis Partnership, said the lower bonus would help the company to preserve cash and invest "to cope with the continuing uncertainty facing consumers and the economy".

John Lewis

Greggs On A Roll

Greggs' sales in 2018 have topped £1 billion for the first time, while the launch of its vegan sausage roll has helped sales surge in 2019. The British bakery chain posted a 15% rise in pre-tax profits to £82.6 million in 2018, with sales rising 7.2% to just over £1 billion. It also said the publicity of the snack helped sales surge 9.6% in the seven weeks to 16 February. Greggs said while the first half of 2018 was impacted by extreme weather, it was able to bounce back and perform ahead of expectations. Greggs’ reaction to becoming a £1bn company was ever-so Greggs - “We’ve hit new records,” chief executive Roger Whiteside, “breaking £1bn in sales for the first time in our 80-year history – slightly longer than it took Kylie Jenner, but we got there eventually.” Formed in Newcastle by John Gregg in 1939, Greggs opened its first shop in Gosforth in 1951 and expanded gradually over the decades, acquiring other chains as it became the country’s largest bakers. It floated on the Stock Exchange in 1994 and continued to grow throughout the 20th century. 

Greggs

Build Your Own Easter Bunny

Ikea is famed for its reasonably-priced furniture, although they often come with the added challenge of having to assemble them yourself. This year, Ikea have taken their flat-pack furniture idea to new heights and transformed it into an Easter-themed challenge. Ikea's latest invention, the self-assembly milk chocolate bunny is available to buy in Ikea stores across the UK for £2.95, just look for the VÅRKÄNSLA Milk chocolate bunny. The chocolate bunny comes dismantled in three separate parts, so you can easily build it before eating it. They will be available until Easter, which falls on April 21 this year. But we think these will be quick to fly off the shelf, so go and get one before they've all been snatched up!

Flat Pack Bunny

The Brick Is Back

A new Energizer phone promises its battery will last up to 50 days on one charge. The snappily named Power Max P18K Pop, made by Avenir Telecom, is certainly on the chunky side. Its makers say users can watch two days of video and listen to 100 hours of music before they'll need to recharge. It's been a talking point of the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC), where Avenir revealed the phone. Because of the Energizer name, some speculated there was something under the hood that was helping the handset hold its charge. Makers say that apart from its size, the Power Max P18K Pop has all the features you'd expect from an Android smartphone in 2019. Some people believe this phone is an attempt to make sure handsets can keep up with users expectations of the tech in their pocket.

Energizer Power Max

Kit Kat Goes Green

 
The chocolate coating is an Instagrammable – if lurid – lime green, with the promise of a “sweet and fragrant” flavour. Fifteen years after it went on sale in Japan to squeals of acclaim, the matcha green tea KitKat will hit UK supermarket shelves from this month as its manufacturer, Nestlé, brings the cult snack to a wider European audience – albeit with its flavour modified for our less-refined tastebuds. The matcha white chocolate four-finger bar is the most popular flavour of the mindboggling 350-plus KitKat varieties – including cherry blossom, edamame bean and sweet potato – which have been developed for the Japanese market. The powdered green tea has gone from niche Japanese speciality enjoyed at traditional tea ceremonies to one of the UK’s most popular flavours. Selfridges says it is one of the bestsellers on its grocery aisle, with sales up nearly 80% year on year. 

Matcha Kit Kat

Ribena Frusion

 
Ribena is getting ready for summer with the introduction of its new Ribena Frusion flavoured water range. Available from 4 March, the new drinks line-up marks the first time the brand has entered the enhanced water sub-category. The products are made using blackcurrant water, naturally infused with fruit and botanicals. Created using no sweeteners or preservatives, Ribena Frusion is aimed at young, adult consumers looking for a healthier drinks option that is low in calories and contains vitamin c. The range will be supported throughout the rest of the year with a  £6.2m campaign, activated on TV, out-of-home, digital, sampling, and in-store platforms. Kicking off from May, the support is designed to establish the Frusion brand ahead of the possible launch of additional fruit flavours. The 420ml bottles, made from 100% recycled plastic, will also roll-out as a £1.09 price-mark which includes a two for £2 deal, offering retailers a range of pricing option to suit their business and customers.

Fusion