Unilever acquires sustainable deodorant Wild April 1, 2025 Unilever has finally confirmed its acquisition of refillable deodorant brand Wild as it looks to build its presence in premium beauty and self care. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it is believed to value Wild at £230m. Wild, which was started in 2019 by business partners Charlie Bowes-Lyon and Freddy Ward, [...]
Ineos and New Zealand Rugby end deal after settling £27m sponsorship row April 1, 2025 Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Ineos has formally ended its partnership with New Zealand Rugby after reaching a settlement over a £27m sponsorship deal due to run until 2027. NZR, which is responsible for the All Blacks and Black Ferns, sued Ineos in February after the chemicals giant had stopped making payments in order to “exit our [...]
Greencore: M&S sandwich supplier roars ahead amid takeover battle April 1, 2025 Convenience food manufacturer Greencore told markets this morning that it expects profit to come in ahead of expectations for the second quarter, underpinned by “on-going operational and commercial excellence initiatives and a continued focus on cost control”, it said. Convenience food company Greencore supplies all major supermarkets in the UK, including M&S, with chilled prepared [...]
The post-smartphone era: what comes after the touchscreen? April 1, 2025 Smart interfaces and AI agents are the next frontier in digital evolution, so what happens when you no longer need a screen to use your tech? Asks Paul Armstrong We swipe. We tap. We double-click and long-press. For over 20 years, the smartphone has been the interface through which we interact with everything – our [...]
Shop prices fall again but ‘inflation is coming’ April 1, 2025 Shop prices fell again in March but a retail body has warned higher business taxes mean inflation is on the horizon. Retail prices have been in deflation since August 2024, primarily driven by deep discounting by non-food retailers. Shop price deflation was 0.4 per cent year on year in March, against a decline of 0.7 [...]
What’s on April 2025 in London March 31, 2025 From Easter celebrations to immersive historical exhibitions, there’s a captivating experience waiting for you this April 2025 in London. See Central London Alliance’s guide below and start planning your April adventures today, whether it’s during the lunch hour, after work or on weekends, there’s some of the exciting events and activities happening in London this [...]
FTSE close: Trump triggers global market sell-off ahead of ‘Liberation Day’ March 31, 2025 Investors across the globe braced for Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ on April 2 as they hastily retreated from stock markets. Trump will unveil a new set of tariffs on Wednesday, including a 25 per cent levy slapped on all automotive imports in the US, which has already been confirmed. The tariffs, which the President said are [...]
WH Smith’s decline: A cautionary tale of bad branding March 31, 2025 As WH Smith disappears from the high street, Will Bosanko looks at why the brand failed, and asks whether there is a future for TG Jones.
In a stormy world, the UK can pitch itself as a safe harbour for investment March 31, 2025 The stormy economic outlook overseas creates an opportunity for the UK to act as a safe harbour for investment, writes Chris Hayward.
WPP wins Heineken marketing deal amid AI push March 31, 2025 Beer giant Heineken has selected WPP as its global marketing and commerce partner, as it looks to leverage AI to enhance its retail and customer experiences. Under the new agreement, the ad giant will use its AI-powered operating system, WPP Open. Together, both companies will collaborate to optimise in-store activations, retail strategies and various e-commerce [...]