The Goods UK – 11 April 2025
Welcome back to The Goods UK. This week we’re chatting store cupboard classics, propeller planes, and why Bedford has been put firmly on the map.
Stats of the week
- £13.8bn: Anticipated annual reduction in tourist spending in the USA this year (The Independent)
- 8.5m: The number of visitors expected to visit the UK’s Universal theme park in its first year (The Times)
- 113%: Rise in sales of 181, Fortnum and Mason’s version of brown sauce (The Telegraph)
What’s in: this week’s trends
- Tourism takes tariff toll: Trump’s tariffs may have been paused for most countries, but reports suggest tourists’ desire to visit the USA have already been impacted by the change in global relations. Inbound travel to the country is now expected to decline by 5.5% in 2025, instead of the 9% growth first anticipated (The Independent). While destinations are already seeing a spike in bookings from Canadian visitors, industry commentators suggest UK attractions should look to the predictability of domestic tourism for growth amid the unpredictability of global economics (Museums Association).
Khan-stay for another drink: London’s nightlife could get a boost as the Mayor gains new, temporary powers to counter local bans on noisy bars and extend pub hours (BBC). The move is part of a broader plan to revive the city’s hospitality sector, which has seen over 1,000 venues close since the pandemic. If successful, the increased powers could be extended to other parts of the country, such as Greater Manchester (London Standard).
Universal’s Bedford bonanza: Europe’s first Universal theme park in Bedford has been given the green light in a deal expected to generate nearly £50bn to the economy by 2055. Universal promises it will be the largest attraction in the UK, creating 8,000 long-term hospitality jobs (The Times). Sir Keir Starmer has called the announcement a “vote of confidence” in the UK, but locals have raised concerns about rising house prices, lack of infrastructure and the loss of countryside (Daily Mail). - Drip drop, truth pops: Say goodbye to sneaky fees. A new law banning drip pricing (and fake reviews) has come into force, ensuring admin and booking fees are baked into headline prices or clearly displayed at the start of the online checkout process. While the legislation applies to food delivery services and ticket booking platforms, optional fees such as airline seats and baggage upgrades for flights are not included (The Verge).
Cash or card: shopper behaviour
What’s in and out of our baskets right now? This week, we’ve taken a deep dive into Brits’ latest food and beverage trends.
- A matcha made in heaven: The impact of hit TV shows on travel is well known, but it seems the “White Lotus effect” is even affecting our food choices. Orders of Thai classics such as pad thai, jasmine rice and veggie spring rolls have surged since the latest season aired, according to Just Eat (Wales Online). Record levels of tourism to Japan have also generated significant interest in matcha (TimeOut). In fact, demand is so strong that shortage warnings have resulted in Kyoto-based tea companies already taking steps to impose purchase limits on the product (Country and Townhouse).
- Lightweights welcome: 250ml and 175ml glasses of wine are being phased off our menus as Brits increasingly order smaller 125ml servings (The Guardian). The shift is viewed as reflective of the drop off in drinking witnessed globally, and comes as global drink stocks have sunk almost 8% in the 12 months to February 2025 (Financial Times). As people grow more adventurous with their wine choices, demand for smaller glasses of multiple different wines is also driving this trend.
- The ghosts of larder past: Store cupboard classics such as Gentleman’s Relish, Shippam’s paste and even Bath Olivers, are back in vogue. The savoury spreads market rose by 4.35% from 2018 to 2023, and the sale of marmalade surged by almost 20% following Paddington Bear’s famous sketch co-starring the late Queen Elizabeth. Social media trends have been credited with creating traditional-to-modern twists that tickle the tastebuds of new generations (The Telegraph).
Making moves: industry changes & innovation
ICYMI, industry icons are reinvigorating their brand through unique and creative ways. Here are some movers and shakers that you should know about:
- Aluminium? Wine not!: Keeping with the wine theme, Aldi is toasting the launch of its own-label wine made from fully recyclable aluminium (Business Green). At 75% lighter than a glass bottle, the grocer says its new Pinot Grigio provides a transport saving equivalent to that of a small elephant per truckload. With claims that such bottles are also faster to chill and less carbon-intensive to make than glass, it’s clear aluminium is fast becoming the packaging everyone wants a taste of ( The Drinks Business).
- Spin me up, Scotty: The aviation sector is flying into the future by seeking inspiration from the past. In a bid to slash carbon emissions, Airbus is developing propeller planes that are powered by hydrogen fuel cells, allowing them to vastly reduce the amount of kerosene used during flights ( The Telegraph). Yet, while the aviation sector is trying to soar to net zero, it is an entirely different story in the automotive sector, which has seen EV targets watered down in the wake of US tariffs (Auto Car).
- Fur friction: Fur has dominated catwalks for the first time since 2017 as the ‘mob wife aesthetic’ gains traction on TikTok. Yet, while the replacement of real fur has been lauded by animal rights activists, the arrival of synthetic alternatives derived from fossil fuels has created tensions for environmentalists. While new-generation alternatives such as Savian – made from nettle, flax and hemp – are now available, cost remains a challenge to scaling up adoption (BBC).
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