UK Bans BOGOF Junk Food

The UK government has banned “Buy One, Get One Free” deals on unhealthy food and drinks in shops and online, aiming to curb rising obesity rates. The new rules, effective from 1st October 2025, also stop free refills of sugary drinks in restaurants. Items like fizzy drinks, crisps, cakes, and certain pizzas are affected. Health experts say these promotions encourage overeating and poor dietary choices. The ban is part of a wider strategy, including restrictions on junk food advertising before 9pm, expected to help prevent thousands of cases of childhood obesity. While some retailers had already limited such deals, the law now ensures consistency across the UK. Retailers and food manufacturers may now need to rethink their promotional strategies. With multi-buy offers restricted, businesses could shift towards healthier product bundles, loyalty schemes, or price reductions on nutritious options. This change could also influence consumer behaviour, encouraging more mindful shopping and healthier eating habits.

BBQ - Explain one way this change could affect marketing strategies used by supermarkets.

BOGOF Ban

Jellycat Plush Profits Double

British soft toy maker Jellycat is set to reward its owners with a staggering £110 million dividend after its profits more than doubled in 2024. The company, famous for its quirky plush creations like smiling peanuts and sad-faced eggs, reported pre-tax profits of £139 million—up from £67 million the previous year—alongside a 66% surge in revenue to £333 million. Founded in London in 1999, Jellycat has grown from a niche brand into a global sensation, selling in over 80 countries and appearing in prestigious retailers like Harrods, Selfridges, and Colette in Paris. Its success is largely driven by viral popularity on social media and a surprising trend: adults buying toys for themselves. This shift in consumer behaviour has helped Jellycat tap into a broader market, blending nostalgia with modern design. The planned £110 million dividend marks a 75% increase from the previous year’s payout, reflecting the company’s confidence in its continued growth. As Jellycat races to meet global demand, it remains focused on quality, sustainability, and delighting customers of all ages.

BBQ - Analyse how changes in consumer behaviour and marketing strategies may have contributed to Jellycat’s financial success.

Jellycat

Sneaker Wars

 

Disney+ has just released the three-part docu-series, Sneaker Wars: Adidas v Puma, which plunges viewers into one of the most intense and enduring rivalries in business history. The documentary unpacks how the personal feud between two German brothers, Adolf ("Adi") and Rudolf ("Rudi") Dassler, led them to split their successful family shoe business and found separate, globally dominant sportswear companies: Adidas and Puma. Set in the backdrop of their divided hometown, the series reveals how their decades-long competition—from vying for exclusive athlete endorsements like Pelé to pioneering key product innovations—fuelled both incredible business growth and a fierce sporting culture that is still felt today, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in marketing, brand identity, and the relentless drive of competition.

BBQ - Analyse two ways in which the intense rivalry between Adidas and Puma (non-price competition) would have a direct, positive impact on a customer. Use business terminology in your explanation.

Sneaker Wars

Amazon Closes UK Supermarkets

 

Amazon is set to close all 19 of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores across the UK, marking a significant U-turn on its cashierless brick-and-mortar experiment. The stores, known for their 'Just Walk Out' technology, failed to gain enough traction to compete with established UK supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury's after launching in 2021. This decision is part of a strategic shift to refocus investment on the area where Amazon is strongest: online grocery delivery. The company plans to double down on its partnerships with retailers like Morrisons and Co-op to expand its online offering and will convert five of the closing Fresh sites into its more upscale Whole Foods Market stores, suggesting a pivot to the premium end of the physical grocery market. This move demonstrates that even a tech giant like Amazon must adapt its strategy when a new business venture fails to achieve the necessary sales volume and market share against powerful incumbent competitors.

BBQ - Explain a reason why Amazon's decision to convert some Amazon Fresh stores into Whole Foods Market stores?

Amazon Go Goes

Labubu Counterfit Crisis

The viral collectible Labubu dolls, created by artist Kasing Lung and popularised by Pop Mart, have become the target of mass counterfeiting, with fake versions accounting for a staggering 90% of all counterfeit toys seized at the UK border this year. Authorities have intercepted around 236,000 fake Labubu dolls, part of a haul valued at over £3.5 million. This seizure highlights the serious issue of intellectual property (IP) infringement and consumer safety, as three-quarters of the fake toys failed critical safety tests. These dangerous counterfeits often lack the required UKCA or CE safety markings, posing significant risks such as choking hazards from loose parts and exposure to banned toxic chemicals. Consumers are urged to buy only from reputable retailers, as the low price of a fake can come with devastating real harms.

BBQ - Explain two ways in which this widespread counterfeiting, which infringes on their intellectual property rights, is likely to negatively impact the marketing mix (4 Ps) of the genuine brand.

Labubu

The Golden Flake

High-street bakery giant Greggs has made a playful jump into the hospitality sector by opening its first-ever pub, The Golden Flake Tavern, located within the Fenwick department store in Newcastle. This limited-time pop-up, running until February, is the latest in a series of highly successful marketing ventures that aim to elevate the brand beyond its famous sausage rolls. The pub features a menu of Greggs-inspired pub classics, such as a Steak Bake Mixed Grill and a Sunday Carvery where a Greggs bake is the centrepiece. Additionally, the bar serves exclusive, novelty draught beers like the Pink Jammie Pale Ale, alongside Greggs-themed cocktails. This creative move is a shrewd public relations (PR) stunt designed to generate massive media buzz, refresh the brand's image, and offer a unique, premium experience to its loyal fanbase. It’s a clear example of experiential marketing—creating a memorable, shareable event that keeps the brand relevant and exciting.

BBQ - What are the risks of a public relations stunt?

The Golden Flake

Meta Smart Glasses

Facebook's parent company, Meta, has unveiled its latest generation of AI-powered smart glasses in collaboration with Ray-Ban and Oakley. The new lineup includes the Meta Ray-Ban Display, which features a discreet, full-color screen built into the lens, and an accompanying "Neural Band" wristband that allows users to control the glasses with subtle hand gestures. This innovation is part of Meta's long-term strategy to shift consumer habits away from smartphones and towards AI-driven wearable technology. By combining everyday eyewear with cutting-edge artificial intelligence, Meta is aiming to create a new category of consumer electronics that offers hands-free access to information, from real-time translations to video calls, directly within a person's field of vision.

Meta is launching its new smart glasses with a price point starting at around £299. Analyze the potential impact of this pricing strategy on the product's sales and target market.

Smart Glasses