The Goods UK – 16 May 2025
Welcome back to The Goods UK. This week we’re chatting the rise of the humble pea, fitness-fuelled travel and ‘newstalgic’ flatpack furniture shopping.
Fun stats of the week
- £292m: the amount Brits are expected to spend ahead of the FA Cup finals this weekend (Morning Advertiser)
- 84%: the increase in demand for “fitness holidays”, according to a study by Travel Republic (The Mirror)
- 53%: the proportion of Gen Z consumers that have made a purchase on social media in the past three months (Marketing Week)
What’s in: this week’s trends
- The pea-s de résistance: Once relegated to the back of the freezer, the humble pea is having a serious glow-up – and London chefs are taking note. Now in season, peas are being blitzed, dressed, and centre-staged like never before, from pea fritters to Canteen’s pea pod ice cream. (Financial Times) But as diners lean into the nostalgia, Birds Eye issued a public plea: peas are for plates, not pain. The brand is urging summer runners to swap out their go-to frozen pea ice packs in favour of proper alternatives, after finding that 56.7% of Brits used peas for icing injuries last year – wasting an estimated 3.3 million packs. (PRWeek)
- Turning up the volume: The rise of “loud luxury” is influencing both interior design and fashion, with a focus on bold colours, statement furniture, and patterns that reflect individual style. Unlike last year’s “quiet luxury” fixation, this trend embraces more expressive design choices, such as colourful spaces, patterned textiles and unique lighting. (Homes & Gardens) This maximalist aesthetic has had a boost from shows like The White Lotus, which are shaping fashion and travel trends. (Little Black Book)
- Cola fizzing out: Gen Z are ditching traditional fizzy drinks, with nearly 28 million fewer packs of Coca-Cola and Pepsi sold last year as young consumers turn to brands that promise more than just sugar and fizz, such as hydration, energy and mental clarity. (The Grocer) Health is a major driver for the switch, with 54% of under-25s associating fizzy drinks with ultra-processed foods, while newer brands like Dash, Trip and Hip Pop are gaining popularity by offering wellness-focused alternatives. (Talking Retail)
Cash or card: shopper behaviour
What’s in and out of our baskets right now? This week, we’re talking in-store shopping, fitness-fuelled travel and the rise of fashion’s new favourite toy.
- Back in aisle: Nearly half of UK shoppers prefer to shop in-store, according to new research from Battersea Power Station. (Fashion United) This comes as Bicester Village celebrates its 30th anniversary at almost 100% occupancy and with a waiting list for pop-up spaces. (The Guardian) The Guardian’s Lauren Cochrane suggests the success of physical retail may be driven by a new wave of female designers, including the recent appointment of Jacqui Markham at Whistles, who joins top female talent at M&S, Uniqlo and Cos. (The Guardian)
- Mara-cation: A record-breaking 1.1m people from the UK applied for an entry to the 2026 London Marathon. (Reuters) But with a 1 in 50 chance of a place, runners are increasingly trying their luck with races abroad. Hotel company Generator saw double-digit spikes in interest around the New York, Rome and Barcelona marathons, with “European marathons” seeing a 403% spike in Google searches. (The Standard) As Gen Zs ditch nightclubs for run clubs, it signals a shift in consumer behaviour towards a lifestyle that prioritises health and fitness.
- Dolled up: Forget Jellycats, a grinning gremlin plush toy is the latest viral sensation. Labubu Dolls are the ‘it’ bag charm, adorned by celebs on their Birkin bags and gracing the runways of Paris Fashion Week. With some rare editions going for £2,500, the toys are cleverly sold via ‘blind boxes’, keeping fans guessing which style they’ve secured. (The Telegraph) Tapping into the ‘kidult’ phenomenon, they are the Pokémon card for the modern fashionista.
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:
- The devil has next day delivery: While the luxury sector stumbles as the likes of Burberry (Reuters) and Moët Hennessy cut costs (Financial Times), luxury department store Saks is rolling out the velvet carpet with Amazon, launching a sleek “walled garden” store designed to blend prestige with Prime. (Retail Week) Backed by a joint venture with Authentic Brands and the firepower of Amazon, the move aims to make luxury shopping as normal as ordering loo roll.
- Flatpacks and flashbacks: MFI, the once-mighty flatpack furniture empire that folded in 2008, is making a surprise comeback and tapping into our collective soft spot for simpler times. (Retail Week) Its owners, Victorian Plumbing, is pumping £3 million into reviving the brand, hoping to blend modern e-commerce muscle with a retro charm. With Gen Z and millennials’ fondness for ‘newstalgia’ (RetailWire), MFI’s high-street return might just prove that, with a tiny Allen key, what’s old can still build solid margins.
- Flairbnb: Airbnb has unveiled a redesigned mobile app that allows users to book not only homes but also cultural experiences and wellness services, expanding its offer in 650 cities globally (Blooloop). CEO Brian Chesky said the move marks a shift “from a place to stay to a way to travel”, with users now able to book museum visits, food tours, spa treatments, chefs, trainers and more. The launch also introduced Airbnb Originals – exclusive events featuring stars like Megan Thee Stallion – as Airbnb taps into demand for immersive holidays.
For more information about FTI Strategic Communications Retail & Consumer Products sector service offerings and expertise, please contact [email protected] and [email protected]
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and not necessarily the views of FTI Consulting, its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals.
©2025 FTI Consulting, Inc. All rights reserved. www.fticonsulting.com
