The Goods UK – 5 September 2025
Welcome back to The Goods UK! This week we’re chatting declining plant-based dining, fashion’s return to the high street and drone food deliveries.
Fun stats of the week
- 140%: The year-on-year spike in sprinkler sales in the UK thanks to this July being the hottest recorded since 2018 (Retail Week).
- 13.3 million: The number of free hot drinks redeemed by My Waitrose loyalty scheme members in the supermarket’s last financial year (The Retail Bulletin).
- £110 million: How much UK shoppers saved on Amazon purchases last year by buying returned and refurbished items (Retail Gazette).
What’s in: this week’s trends
- Vegan dining – no longer in vogue?: Google searches for the word vegan have fallen since 2020, Beyond Meat sales are down and popular vegan dining spots such as Halo Burger have closed their doors (The Times). With many people still being vegan, veggie or simply keen to limit meat consumption, experts can’t seem to agree on why plant-based restaurants are closing at a rapid rate across the UK. One popular theory is that this trend is another symptom of the struggling hospitality sector, whilst others argue that the noisy discourse around protein and ultra-processed foods is driving people away from meat-free eating (The Guardian).
- High-end makeovers: Data shows that millions of luxury customers have left the market in recent years thanks in large part to widespread consumer disillusionment with soaring prices (Financial Times). Now, fashion houses are turning their attention to the higher-margin world of makeup. Louis Vuitton has just launched its debut makeup collection, with its new lipstick available for the price of more than 180 pints of milk. Meanwhile, Victoria Beckham’s brand has broken the £100m sales mark, largely attributed to the performance of its beauty line – with special thanks to a £32 eyeliner, reportedly sold once every 30 seconds (The Guardian).
- Jet set, go: Amidst Bitcoin and shares in companies like Coinbase hitting record highs recently, luxury travel demand is booming, reported to be fuelled by a wave of young and wealthy travellers working in the crypto space. This has led to a growing number of private jet and luxury cruise operators taking crypto-currency payments, looking to serve this well-off, travel-eager generation. It looks like growth in the global luxury travel market is set to continue, with McKinsey analysis showing that people aged 30 to 40 are projected to spend $54 billion on luxury travel in 2028 (Financial Times).
Cash or card: shopper behaviour
What’s in and out of our baskets right now? This week, we’re discussing Gen-Z’s increasing spend on fitness, consumer confidence in shopping online and fashion brands hitting the high street.
- Pull ups beat pints: Fitness remains a top spending priority for Gen-Z consumers, with new research from The Gym Group revealing that 44% of 16 – 28 year olds rank health and wellness as their first or second priority when budgeting their finances (The Times). The fitness pulse survey has suggested that the younger generation are prioritising exercise above online streaming, dining and even drinking, with a focus on mental wellbeing driving the behavioural change.
- Breach of confidence: Jaguar Land Rover is the most recent prominent business to be hit by a significant cyber-attack in recent months, with its production and sales having been “severely disrupted” following the incident (The Independent). The spate of attacks has taken its toll on consumer confidence, with recent data from cybersecurity company ESET revealing that 38% of consumers are now more cautious about shopping online (Retail Week). The increasing number of attacks has raised questions about data security, with less than 65% of consumers noting that they trust retailers to protect them in the event of a cyber-attack.
- Get more in store: Leading UK fashion labels are investing in bricks-and-mortar as consumer demand for shopping instore continues. Brands across the pricing spectrum, from Topshop to Phoebe Philo, will be hitting the high street, while Uniqlo has expanded its presence with the opening of its first store in Liverpool (The Telegraph). However, Topshop’s return has raised questions as to its relevance in an already competitive market, with many commentators querying its target audience. Topshop’s marketing and product range suggests it is appealing to fashion-conscious consumers in their late 20s to 30s who had been loyal customers previously, but commentators say its ability to meet its full potential will depend on attracting a younger audience who are new to the brand (Retail Times).
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:
- Pie in the sky: Drone delivery is set to transform rural convenience as tech takes hot meals beyond the city. Norwegian start-up Aviant has launched Scandinavia’s first drone-powered service on Sweden’s island of Värmdö, where residents currently lack access to takeaway delivery. In the UK, Skyports is exploring similar opportunities, building on its Royal Mail drone service in the Orkney Islands to bring food to remote communities (BBC News).
- Supermarket beep: Aldi is expanding access to retail careers with a virtual work experience programme, set to reach 10,000 UK students aged 13+ by the end of 2025. The free online course offers interactive videos, quizzes, and activities covering roles from warehouse operations to office-based positions. With 350 apprenticeships available nationwide in 2025, Aldi hopes the initiative will break geographical barriers and boost employability (The Retail Bulletin).
- Aisle be watching you: Sainsbury’s is piloting facial recognition tech in select UK stores to tackle soaring retail crime and protect staff and shoppers. The technology is already being used by a number of retailers, including Home Bargains. The trial will flag violent or repeat offenders – who could face bans – and comes as new data reveals that 77% of shopworkers endure verbal abuse, whilst 56% of consumers back tech-led safety measures to help curb antisocial behaviour (Retail Week).
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
