The Goods UK – 23 May 2025
Welcome back to The Goods UK! This week we’re chatting about a fresh deal that has been cooked up between the UK and EU, an alternative take on wedding gift registries and the small charms causing a big issue.
Before diving in, fresh data from the Office for National Statistics reveals that British retail sales rose 1.2% in April as the warmer weather encouraged consumer spending. Elsewhere, GfK reports that consumer confidence rose 3 points to -20 in May as tariff concerns eased. Long may the warm weather continue as we head into the Bank Holiday weekend.
Fun stats of the week
- 3 million: The number of times Greggs’ Mac & Cheese TikTok was played online (The Guardian)
- £524: The average cost of a children’s birthday party, according to a survey by indoor play venue company Oxygen ( The Times)
- 543%: The rise in SUV availability in the UK car market since 2000 (Motor Trade News)
What’s in: this week’s trends
- Swapping silverware for shampoo: With the peak wedding season fast approaching, supermarket chain Tesco has jumped on the bandwagon by launching a wedding gift registry. Research found that that 40% of engaged couples preferred practical over extravagant gifts, while 60% felt financial pressure as a result of wedding costs. The solution? Tesco’s gift registry curated with the ‘really useful stuff’ in mind, including toilet rolls, toothpaste, kitchen towels and shower products ( The Times).
- Size matters: The average size of new cars in the UK is increasing, for a number of surprising reasons. In 2025, SUV’s account for 52% of all new car models available, growing 543% over the past 25 years. This shift is partly driven by the rise of electric vehicles, which represent 30% of SUV models and require longer chassis to fit larger battery packs, alongside increased practicality, off road ability and a preference for a higher driving position ( Motor Trade News).
- Cybersecurity glow up: Cyber security has made its way back into the spotlight this week, following M&S’ results and Dior’s discovery of a cyber incident last week. With retail emerging as a prime target for hackers, given the large volumes of personal data they hold, cyber security experts are weighing in on the best defenses (Vogue Business).
Cash or card: shopper behaviour
What’s in and out of our baskets right now? This week, we’re talking airline extras, fans going mad for bag charms and late night discounts.
- Splashing the cash at 30,000 feet: Consumer confidence is up and so is our spending on flights. British holiday-makers are splashing the cash before take-off, as evidenced in the £978 million ancillary revenue easyJet reported in the first six months of this year, as customers spent more on extras including baggage, food and priority boarding. Passenger numbers were also up by 8% in the first three months of the year and, with easyJet’s peak season sales on target, there’s enough to suggest that the industry is flying into a good summer (This is Money).
- Delulu for Labubu’s: Die-hard fans of Labubu, a quirky monster character bag charms, are in the naughty corner this week as Pop Mart has paused selling them in all of its shops until June following reports of customers fighting over them. They became a TikTok sensation after being worn by the likes of Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and most recently David Beckham, but some critics have suggested Pop Mart’s marketing strategy is largely to blame for the fan frenzy as they’ve played heavily on restricting stock and selling the dolls in blind boxes thus encouraging consumer chaos (BBC).
- Best before bedtime: Bargain lovers rejoice as Tesco is launching a new initiative to tackle food waste and support its net zero goals by giving away yellow-stickered items for free after 9:30pm. Shoppers familiar with yellow discount stickers – typically capped at 90% – can now pick up special ‘free’ labels, as Tesco trials the scheme in select Express stores nationwide (Metro).
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:
- Cooking up a fresh deal: A new UK-EU trade deal announced on Monday will lower food prices and deliver a £9 billion boost to the UK economy. A key part of the deal is the SPS agreement, which removes the need for border checks on agriculture products, will make food exports smoother (Reuters). The BRC’s chief executive, Helen Dickinson, welcomed the deal as good news for retailers, noting that it will “help keep costs down and create greater security in retail supply chains” ( Retail Week).
- Tray bien!: M&S is cooking up something exciting with the trial of a first-of-its-kind paper fibre tray for its ready meals. Made from FSC-certified renewable paper fibre, the tray is designed for both microwave and oven use and can be recycled with household paper waste without removing the thin plastic lining (edie). The trial marks a step in M&S’ ambition to become a net-zero business across all operations and its entire supply chain by 2040 (Grocery Gazette).
- On your marks: On, the Swiss footwear company known for the distinctive holes in its springy “CloudTec” soles, is stepping up efforts to tap into China’s booming health and fitness industry as it looks to the powerhouse economy to drive further expansion ( Financial Times). On, which has hit a record valuation of $19.65 billion, is leaning into innovative design and high-profile partnerships with the likes of Roger Federer and Zendaya, to strengthen its position as a rising global force in performance footwear (Fortune).
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