Brits are opting for a ‘Big Night In’ more than ever as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, a recent report has claimed.
According to retail data experts Reapp, crisp sales reached a new year-to-date high after the arrival of two new Star Wars series- Star Wars: Vision and Star Wars: Young Jedi that debuted on streaming service Disney+ on May 4.
The following day (5th) saw the biggest sales volumes of the year for crisps with over 430,000 units sold, data from retail experts Reapp reveals. Crisp sales have grown month on month since the start of the year, suggesting Brits are ditching the cinema and nights out to stock up on their favourite snacks to enjoy TV and films from the comfort of their sofas.
More recently in June, one of the highest days for sales of crisps came on the day of the first ever Manchester derby FA Cup Final. Manchester City’s 2-1 win over bitter rivals Manchester United saw an influx of nearly 350,000 units of crisps sold across major supermarkets (June 3rd).
It was April which saw the highest month in crisps sales – with more than 7.5 million units of crisps sold – as the rocketing cost of the pub trip has forced fans into their living rooms for key televised sporting events such as the Grand National and the FA Cup knockout fixtures.
May saw sweets sales soar up to 18 per cent on April from 1.9 million units to over 2.3 million. Sales of sugary treats peaked at over 680,000 units on May 26, the day schools across the country broke up for half-term.
Football fans stocked up on over 58,000 units of beer for the last day of the English Premier League on Saturday May 27th which saw a nail-biting relegation battle between Leeds, Leicester and Everton.
The Champions League Final (June 10th) which saw Man City complete a historic treble winning season was one of the highest days for beer sales in the month (58,600 units sold across different beer brands).
More and more Brits spent one of the hottest weekends in June (16th – 17th) at home enjoying cold beers in the garden as units nearly reached 70,000 sold with temperatures nearly hitting 30ᵒC.
Man United and Newcastle fans boosted beer sales in February when they faced each other in the Carabao Cup final. Sales volumes reach 8% higher on the 26th than a regular Sunday in February, with more than 14,000 units sold that day.
Reapp commercial director James Lamplugh comments, “While the Big Night In has always been popular amongst Brits, it’s fascinating in this instance to see Jedi power’s effect on consumer demand.
“We have seen factors such as the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis accelerate this trend and we expect to see sales in this category maintain growth as shoppers’ try to reduce the impact of rising food costs on their lives.”
One of the victims of the UK’s infamous Post Office Horizon scandal, Christopher Head OBE, has called on the government to urgently address issues with the redress schemes set up to compensate those affected.
In a letter dated today (7), Head has called on to Minister Gareth Thomas and Secretary of State Jonathan Reynolds to take concrete corrective actions at the earliest, detailing the "unfairness" and inconsistencies plaguing the schemes administered by the Post Office and the Department for Business and Trade (DBT).
This marks a follow-up to a previous letter sent in November 2024, which, according to Head, remains unacknowledged. His latest correspondence highlights delays, adversarial processes, and the mental toll on victims.
In the letter shared on X, Head expressed grave concerns about the "Fixed Sum Awards" system, which offers £75,000 or £600,000 compensation, depending on the scheme. He revealed that some claimants are opting to accept these amounts despite evidence suggesting their claims could be valued much higher.
He writes, "Only yesterday I received yet another email from a claimant I have been assisting for many months in the HSS scheme, who due to anxiety, stress and mental health problems is opting to accept the Fixed Sum Award of £75,000 even though I have advised it is likely from a legal perspective her claim is valued at a much higher level."
Head also warned that the rigid nature of these awards risks undermining the government’s promise of "full and fair redress." Inquiry Chair Sir Wyn Williams had previously raised concerns that fixed awards might be "lost forever" if claimants pursued a full assessment route.
Head criticized the absence of accessible legal support for claimants, many of whom cannot afford the necessary advice. He argued that victims should not bear the financial burden of a scandal caused by institutional failings.
He writes, "Post Office may have caused the original harm, but the harm is being further exasperated by the redress processes. If someone can clearly demonstrate they have a claim that exceeds £75,000, they should be able to receive this amount immediately under the current guidance and then advance a claim for the outstanding balance, which relieves the financial worries they may have and making the remaining process more tolerable."
Head highlighted disparities in how interest calculations on losses are handled across different redress schemes, describing the process as inconsistent and unfair. Using his own case as an example, he noted a significant difference between what he was offered and what he should have received under the methodology applied in other schemes.
“The approach is not consistent, which means we have further unfairness,” he wrote, adding that an independent oversight committee could help ensure fairness and consistency.
Head proposed specific reforms, including removing the “legally binding” stipulation on second-panel assessments in the Group Litigation Order (GLO) scheme. He also urged the government to give final reviewer Sir Ross Cranston a broader remit to resolve disputes earlier in the process.
He concluded by criticizing what he described as a "damage limitation and PR exercise" by Whitehall, rather than a genuine effort to deliver full redress.
Head urged ministers to act swiftly to prevent further harm to victims and ensure the redress process meets its promises.
"The overarching aim of every scheme should be fairness, consistency and benefit of doubt towards the Sub-Postmaster, Postmistress, employees or family members," he states.
Head recently received OBE for services to justice alongside fellow Post Office scandal victims Lee Castleton, Seema Misra and Jo Hamilton. Head stated that despite the OBE being a "huge honour", it was a "double-edged sword" as he, with many others, had not received full redress.
He was falsely accused of stealing more than £80,000 from his branch in West Boldon in 2006 before the criminal case against him was dropped. Head, who became the youngest sub postmaster at the age of 18 when he took over the West Boldon Branch, was then pursued by the Post Office through the civil courts.
The Post Office Horizon scandal saw more than 900 sub postmasters being prosecuted between 1999 and 2015 after faulty Horizon accounting software made it appear that money was missing from their accounts.
Hundreds are still awaiting compensation despite the previous Conservative government announcing that those who have had convictions quashed are eligible for £600,000 payouts.
A break-in at Zen Vape and Smoke Supplies’ new premises in the Houston Industrial Estate, in Livingston, West Lothian, has delayed the store’s grand opening, scheduled for tomorrow (8 January).
The incident, which occurred on New Year’s Eve, caused extensive damage to the store’s entrance, locking the business out of the property and halting progress on the site.
The intruders targeted a stockpile of fireworks, making off with rockets, Roman candles, and blue smoke bombs. The store is offering a cash reward for information leading to the identification of those responsible, urging the public to report any suspicious activities involving the sale of fireworks in the area.
“We're asking if anyone has information on boys who are trying to sell fireworks or have came into a large amount through suspicious means,” the business said in a Facebook post.
The damage has forced the shop to remain at its current Bathgate location, which had been scheduled to close after New Year’s to facilitate the move.
In a social media update on Sunday, Zen Vape announced that the Bathgate store would reopen temporarily on 6 January, to serve customers while repairs are carried out at the new Livingston property. The company highlighted the financial toll of the incident, noting that repair costs have added “thousands of pounds” to the relocation budget.
“We would really appreciate it, if you guys could still shop with us. As the repairs have added thousands of pounds on to the move to our new shop,” the post read.
Zen Vape and Smoke Supplies had announced its move to the larger Livingston premises in November 2024 after a year of rapid growth in Bathgate. The new location was chosen to increase stock capacity, expand the product range, and facilitate the launch of an online store.
The break-in is under investigation.
“Around 11.30am on Wednesday, 1 January, 2025, we received a report of a break-in to and theft from a premises on Grange Road, Livingston. Enquiries are ongoing,” a Police Scotland spokesperson said.
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PC John Sharp with the Thorne Shop Watch poster which is given for businesses to display once they have signed up to the scheme
A police-led initiative to combat retail crime in Thorne is yielding positive results, with over 15 shops now actively sharing intelligence about prolific offenders.
The Shop Watch scheme, launched in September 2024 by Doncaster East Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT), has created a robust network of retailers committed to tackling theft and criminal activity in the town.
The scheme covers Thorne town centre and Quora Retail Park, offering a platform for retailers to share real-time information about offenders.
Information shared through Thorne Shop Watch saw one persistent offender get brought into custody, with retailers in the town also using the network to share knowledge about the whereabouts of another.
“The Shop Watch scheme was set up to create a direct line of communication between ourselves and other retailers and since its inception, we've seen businesses share crucial intelligence about offenders,” Doncaster East NPT Inspector Alison Carr said.
“This helps us to track their movements and patterns of behaviour which ultimately improves our chances of arresting them and ensuring that justice is delivered.
“A joined-up approach involving as many retailers as possible really is the best way to combat retail crime as it allows us to be proactive and keep on the front foot.”
Inspector Carr urged more businesses to join the initiative.
“It's been really encouraging to see businesses in Thorne sign up to the scheme and we now just want to expand this network as much as possible across the town,” she said.
"So if you haven't already, please consider signing up to the Shop Watch scheme as it really will help us to tackle shoplifting and retail crime."
The businesses who join the Shop Watch sign up to an information sharing agreement and will receive tailored messages and warnings, including photos of known shoplifters and people of interest.
They will also be given a poster showing they are part of the scheme which they can display in their shop windows.
Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker, Don Julio Tequila and Guinness, has unveiled its annual global trends report which reveals how and why consumers will socialise over the next year.
Based on AI analysis of over 160 million online conversations across the world, Distilled 2025 offers detailed insights into what is driving discussions globally and the current trends shaping consumer decision-making.
This year’s edition builds on the success of the inaugural Distilled report. In its first version, the study uncovered and classified five key global consumer trends: Neo-Hedonism, Conscious Wellbeing, Expanding Reality, Collective Belonging and Betterment Brands. In this year’s report, Diageo has explored how these five macro trends have evolved over the past 12 months and used them to offer new foresights into trends likely to shape consumer behaviour this year.
The report identifies that in 2025 we will see a further rise in consumers:
Practicing moderate drinking by ‘zebra striping’ - the behaviour of alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages during a single social occasion. This reflects the broader rise the report uncovered in online conversations around self-care, wellness and slower social interactions: a 79 per cent year-on-year growth in discussions around “decelerated occasions” (one of the largest increases identified) and a 37 per cent rise in discussions around ‘celebrating self-love’.
Spending more time and money on single unique products or experiences – or making the most of ‘one night only’ to create once in a lifetime memories. The report found that conversations about making the most of unique products and events have risen 83 per cent year-on-year (5.6 million conversations) alongside a 42 per cent increase in consumers talking about alternative social spaces such as virtual reality gaming lounges, hybrid physical-digital venues or pop-up bars – all offering new ways for people to connect and socialise.
Integrating AI into their daily lives: Conversations around AI-enabled relationships are up across every region globally – 83 per cent worldwide with the largest growth in Europe (96%) and North America (91%). The report explores how as AI evolves, it will likely become a more trusted aid in navigating daily choices and how this is already being seen through everyday consumer applications from banking digital assistants to fitness apps with personalised training plans and real-time health insights, transforming the relationship between consumers and brands as a result.
Seeking deeper connections in online and offline communities: The report shows a 121 per cent surge globally in discussions about connecting passionate fandoms – over 32 million conversations and the highest conversation increase identified.
“Distilled 2025 delves into the biggest trends shaping socialising this year - from the rise of the ‘zebra striping’ phenomenon to people worldwide wanting to spend their well-earned money on one incredible experience,” Cristina Diezhandino, chief marketing officer at Diageo, commented.
“People socialising goes back thousands of years and by tracking how it evolves, it helps us, and our brands, to stay deeply connected with our consumers.”
Distilled 2025 is a key component of Diageo’s Consumer Choice Framework, a methodology that helps deepen the company’s understanding of consumer motivations and ultimately shape the future of socialising by tracking long-term trends.
The report is powered by Diageo’s Foresight System - a proprietary AI-driven listening tool developed in partnership with data and insight partners Share Creative and Kantar. It combines in-depth quantitative analysis of conversations from an array of online sources including social media platforms, forums and digital media with expert foresights to provide a nuanced understanding of emerging cultural signals and consumer expressions.
The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) has warned that disappointing footfall figures for December show mounting pressures on independent retailers, with concerning implications for 2025 as business costs continue to rise.
The latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor report revealed decreases across most retail locations:
Total UK retail footfall decreased by 2.2% (YoY)
High Street footfall decreased by 2.7% (YoY)
Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 3.3% (YoY)
Retail Park footfall remained flat at 0.0% (YoY)
"These figures paint a worrying picture of the challenges facing independent retailers," said Andrew Goodacre, CEO of Bira, which works with over 6,000 independent retailers of all sizes across the UK. "The decline in footfall during the crucial Christmas trading period is particularly concerning, as this is typically when retailers need to generate the revenue that will see them through the quieter months ahead."
"Looking ahead to 2025, we see little reason for optimism unless the government takes decisive action. With retailers facing increases in National Insurance contributions, National Living Wage, and business rates, many independent stores will struggle to maintain viability. We urgently call on the government to reconsider the planned business rates increase for small retailers – this could be the difference between survival and closure for many independents on our high streets."