The Goods UK – 4 September 2024
Welcome back to The Goods UK. This week, we’re chatting carbonara in a tin, the rise of competitive socialising and ‘No-Way-Sis’.
As the Paralympic Games keep us feeling inspired, did you know that between 1912 – 1948, competitive art was an Olympic sport? The competition was held across five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. It was finally cancelled as artists were considered professionals and the IOC ruled that the Games should be reserved for amateurs.
What’s in: this week’s trends
- Pop the champagne (supernova): Oasis’ reunion tour will hit the high notes with the hospitality world next summer as hotels, bars and eateries brace themselves for a big cash splash. Manchester’s local economy is expecting a £15m boost alone and sales of the band’s back catalogue jumped a record 526% at HMV. However, some fans were left looking back in anger after spending £100s more on tickets than advertised, causing the UK government to launch a probe into Ticketmaster’s “dynamic” pricing system.
- Mamma Mia!: Heinz has angered Italians by putting spaghetti carbonara in a tin. The first tinned pasta product to be launched by the brand in a decade is a move designed to win over GenZ foodies. But the company has outraged Italian chefs and restaurant managers, who claim it’s a “bastardisation” of one of the country’s most beloved dishes.
- Know your limits: There’s bad news for people jetting off for a last minute summer getaway as the 100ml hand luggage liquid limit is reimposed across EU airports this week. The decision also applies to airports in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Norway. The EU Commission has blamed a temporary technical issue with scanners.
- More play, less display: Yoto is enticing kids away from smartphones with its friendly audio boxes. The start-up, backed by Paul McCartney and the Roald Dahl estate, is swapping screens for stories, recently adding Harry Potter to its line-up. Concerns about teen smartphone addiction has also led manufacturer HMD to launch its Barbie-branded phone. This basic device has no camera, only one game and no social media – just like the good ol’ days.
Cash or card: shopper behaviour
What’s in and out of our baskets right now? This September, we’re after biscuits, blankets and bread makers.
- To buy or not to buy: Forget towels, toasters and Tupperware: less traditional, more costly items are now on the wish list for Freshers’ Week. Buyers at John Lewis have said that air fryer sales jumped by 21% last week alone. Searches for “university essentials” on its website were also up by 144% this month versus last year.
- Tis the season to spend: Retailers are set to enjoy a bumper golden quarter for the first time since 2021 and the categories that will see the most notable boosts are food and drink, clothing and health & beauty. What’s more, 3.7 million fewer adults expressed concerns about being able to afford Christmas, compared with 2022.
- Home is where the style is: Tesco’s has announced its first homeware brand, F&F Home. The launch is a response to the idea that people now see their home style as an extension of their fashion style. The new range includes over 1,000 lines, featuring everything from glassware to rugs and soft furnishings, with prices starting from just 50p.
- Oh, go on then: People are continuing to spend on “small luxuries”, with baked goods the most popular form of affordable pick-me-ups. Shoppers may well be influenced by viral snacks such as the “crookie” and “Dubai chocolate bar” according to Barclaycard.
Making moves: industry changes & innovation
ICYMI, even industry icons need to reinvigorate their brand presence through unique and creative ways. Here are some movers and shakers that you should know about:
- Cash for classrooms: Asda has committed to giving all 22,000 UK state funded primary schools £50 and an extra £1 whenever a shopper selects the school on their Asda loyalty app. The supermarket will then also donate an extra 0.5% from customer shops until the end of November. The Cashpot for Schools scheme has been heralded by the retailer as “a first for the loyalty market.”
- Back to Brat: H&M caused quite the stir last week when it wiped its Instagram account ahead of its new A/W collection launch. It seems the brand will be channelling an entirely new ‘Brat’ season, with its temporary logo now the iconic lime green and an A/W collaboration with Charli xcx launching soon.
- Organised fun anyone?: ‘Competitive Socialising’ (think Flight Club, Swingers and Bounce) is the biggest development the leisure sector has seen in decades. Which is likely why Clive Watson, co-founder of Capital Pub Company and City Pub Group, is getting in on the action. Sixes will combine tech-led indoor cricket with high-quality hospitality. The company has already acquired its first site in Headingley, Leeds, a short walk from Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and is targeting ten sites by 2026 in more cricket-loving cities across the UK. At least rain won’t stop play here.
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