The Goods UK – 18 July 2025
Welcome back to The Goods UK! This week we’re chatting package holidays, scoring big in retail and how food brands are finding new ways to connect with younger audiences.
Fun stats of the week
- 44%: The percentage of 18-25 year olds who said they’d love Woolworths to make a comeback (Retail Week)
- 55,000: The number of tennis balls used during Wimbledon being up-cycled into tiny homes for harvest mice (The Sun)
- 275,000: The number of spectators expected at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland (The Guardian)
What’s in: this week’s trends
- Nothing beats a PACKAGE holiday: There are few things us Brits love more than jetting off to sunnier climates for a well-earned holiday. Experts suggest that we choose to book our holidays on three things; price, convenience and protection from travel chaos – all of which are covered by package holidays. Introduced in the 1950s, package holidays remain as popular as ever, with 62% of foreign travel in 2024 booked via a package deal (The Times). But beware, if you are volunteering to do an airport run this summer, drop off charges at UK airports have hit the highest level on record, with a few now charging £1 per minute (City AM).
- Retro revival: Some 54% of consumers have bought a physical media item in the last year, spending an average of £273.80, according to a poll by the Gumtree marketplace. DVDs and CDs have proved most popular, followed by computer games and vinyl records. But it’s not nostalgic golden oldies that are leading the way here, it’s Gen Z that are splashing the most cash. According to the experts, this trend can be explained in part thanks to our obsession with the 1990s, as well as the growing desire amongst younger people to be able to own, feel and display physical items (ThisisMoney).
- Across the pond and onto the menu: The popularity of British cooking TV shows, alongside growing American tourism, has helped fuel a British cuisine bonanza in the United States (The Economist). At the same time, popular US food trends are emerging in Britian’s sweet treat aisles, with ‘birthday cake tarts’ and ‘lunchbox cake slices’ drawing in new shoppers ( Independent). However, the UK’s inflation rate rose to 3.6% in the year to June, driven by motor fuel costs and food price inflation, with bread, cereal and cake seeing the biggest increase in cost (BBC).
Cash or card: shopper behaviour
What’s in and out of our baskets right now? This week, we’re discussing the rise in healthier breads, bingo’s big makeover, and Barbie’s inclusive evolution.
- Dupes and Designer: Luxury goods and their dupe counterparts are proving they can flourish side by side. Whilst finding the look for less is still a flex, Cartier owner Richemont’s results show the appetite for high-end goods remains strong as the company’s jewellery houses reported an 11% rise in sales (Financial Times). Meanwhile, discount retailer B&M reported that its new “Quiet Luxury” range, which emulates pricier products with similar alternatives continues, to be popular with its customers (The Sun).
- Fun in the sun: With consistent sun comes our desire to dine alfresco and spruce up outdoor spaces. Dunelm revealed that sales of its outdoor furniture and decorative outdoor accessories has been given a boost thanks to the warm weather in the UK, whilst garden and DIY categories also boosted B&M’s Q1 performance (The Times). Heading back inside the home, Barclays data confirmed that furniture sales rose 8.2% following a record number of mortgage completions in March 2025 (City A.M.).
- Footfall’s coming home: England is through to the semi-finals of the Euros (go Lionesses!) and UK retailers are prepping for five million shoppers shop in-store and online. Continuing a pattern where we opt for parties at home rather than hospitality venues, the grocery sector is expected to score big, with a total estimated spend of £78m (Retail Gazette). As the tournament progresses, the amount consumers spend per game is set to increase from £11.3m to £19.5m in the latter knock-out stages (Talking Retail).
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:
- Call of Fruity: As the government moves to restrict junk food advertising under its ‘10 Year Health Plan’ (Gov.uk), food brands are finding new ways to connect with younger audiences. Central to this strategy is the use of video games, where McDonald’s has this week launched “Side Missions”, integrating mini games into the MyMcDonald’s app where fans can earn prizes (Marketing Beat). Meanwhile, Weetabix Food Company has leapt into Roblox with a Weetos branded virtual puzzle experience ( Talking Retail), and Wall’s ice cream has partnered with Minecraft to unveil a limited-edition branded treat (Inside FMCG).
- Don’t tech it personally: Sainsbury’s is supercharging its Nectar programme by bringing AI-powered personalised pricing straight to the checkout from 25 July (The Grocer). Shoppers can bag up to 10 bespoke offers each week just by scanning the app, with prices reflecting what you buy the most (and what you might like next). With over 17 billion personalised deals already redeemed, the move blends data wizardry with good old fashioned loyalty.
- Toddlers and technophobes: Uber is rolling out “senior accounts” in the UK, with larger buttons, simpler booking screens and remote ride-tracking to help older adults stay independent – and give family members some peace of mind (The Telegraph). Meanwhile, kids’ tablets are getting smarter, safer, and more educational, with durable designs and tighter parental controls (The Independent). Whether you’re five or eighty-five, the message is clear: no one is too young or too old to plug in.
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