Human Capital

“I CAME, I SAW, I VIMTO-ED!”– Hating the V-word, chronic pain, and Julius Caeser.’ A profile of all-conquering Michelin-starred vegan chef Kirk Haworth

THE MAN WHO TAUGHT STEVE JOBS HOW TO THINK DIFFERENTLY– Mike Markkula, Apple, and the $203 million bet (Why today’s entrepreneurs prefer PE investment to going public)

KAPPATALISM, ITALIAN STYLE! – Frank Ocean, the Greek alphabet, and the life lessons we can all take from defeat. How a humble Piedmont sock-maker conquered the world

MARATHON WOMAN – ‘Losing faith,’ endangered species, and peanut butter on toast. A profile of Grocer Gold ‘Entrepreneur of the Year,’ Pip Murray, who created Pip & Nut to help fuel her marathon training

FAKE BREWS? – Bamboozled boozers, Goliath of Gath, and the Pepsi Challenge. As a new You Gov survey reveals mass confusion amongst consumers in the ‘craft’ beer market, indies are fighting back

2024

TALES OF THE UNGREGGSPECTED! – Nigella Lawson, Festive Bakes, and £425-a-bottle Louis Roederer Cristal. How Greggs invented ‘off-brand’ marketing

BACK TO THE FUTURE – Taylor Swift, The Pogues, and the Ghosts of Christmases Past – How WHSmith fell in love with vinyl records again

TRILLION-DOLLAR BABY – Super Mario, Levi Strauss, and LLMs. How $3.52 trillion-valued NVIDIA struck gold

BIG DATA IS WATCHING YOU – Charles Darwin, Kim Kardashian, and the ‘nano-influencers.’ How Shein’s data-powered e-commerce model is revolutionising fashion retail

JUST LOST A MILLION ON THE MARKETS? PERHAPS, YOU DIDN’T GET HOWARD MARKS’ MEMO? – Warren Buffet, Achillies’ heels, and ‘thinking small.’ Inside the legendary investment ‘memos’ of Oaktree Capital Management’s Howard Marks

HOW NINJA CONQUERED THE WORLD – Mark Barrocas, ‘Samurai thinking,’ and the one-billion-dollar market. A look at the SharkNinja CEO’s all-conquering air fryer strategy

I DON’T DRINK, THEREFORE I AM –#SoberTok, paradigm shifts, and ‘mindful’ axe throwing. The “you-do-you” Gen Z mentality that’s powering the ‘Experience Economy.’

HERE A NEW, THERE A NEW, EVERYWHERE A NEW, NEW…

THE QUEEN’S GAMBITS – What have new Chancellor of the Exchequer – former junior chess champion Rachel Reeves – and Labour got planned for the Consumer Sector?

“FOREVER. FASTER. SEE THE GAME LIKE WE DO” – Usain Bolt, speed as a ‘mindset,’ and Jack Grealish. Why PUMA thinks a new “single message” branding slogan will turbocharge its business.

KING CHARLES, THE “QUEEN OF POTTERY,” AND PEPPA PIG – How Emma Bridgewater built a thirty-three-million-pound business.

MISSION POSSIBLE? – Tom Cruise, Steven Bartlett, and an ‘alpha-brainwave’ buzz. Can Impossibrew really give consumers the ‘buzz’ of booze from a non-alcoholic beer?

“DOES MY BUM LOOK BIG IN THIS, HAL 9000?”

OLD IS THE ‘NEW’ NEW – Six of the best new consumer product launches for 2024.

SEX, EGGS AND ROCK AND ROLL – Freud’s id, Instagram, and Taylor Swift. How Sigmund Freud’s nephew invented the modern influencer marketing industry.

THE PRICE OF CHOCOLATE IS GOING UP AND UP.

So, shouldn’t the size of Easter eggs be shrinking?

RISKY BUSINESS – Tom Cruise, ‘Loadsamoney,’ and the new supply-chain China Syndrome.

THE AMAZING MR MUSK Vs THE CHINESE DRAGON – Is Elon Musk’s Tesla really the future of motoring, or already doomed to be part of its past?

IS IT R.I.P FOR DRIP?

GOING WILD IN THE COUNTRY – TikTok rappers, ‘Zillennial’ fashion, and showering with your pants on. How outdoor got in with the in-crowd.

“CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS?”– M&S Vs the ‘Cost-of-Living Crisis’ is an age-old struggle.

THE KINGS OF ‘DRY JANUARY’

2023

THE MYSTERIOUS MR BIGHAM – Google him, and it seems more grown-ups believe in Fr Christmas than Charlie Bigham. So, does the Grocer's 'Entrepreneur of the Year' really exist?

“STOP THE WORLD, I WANT TO GET ON!” – Booths are bringing humans back on the checkout. Will a future-phobic consumer ensure retail becomes more low-tech?

FINGER CLICKING GOOD! – Apple’s new Vision Pro introduces the era of ‘spatial computing’ and is controlled by gestures. Some leading industry experts believe it will revolutionise retailing.

JEFF BEZOS Vs HENRY FORD? THERE CAN ONLY BE ONE WINNER – Is Digit, Amazon’s new two-legged ‘Model D,’ about to become the Model-T Ford of robotics?

UNDER THE INFLUENCE – 80 million eyeballs, less is more, and Logan Paul’s ghost. The secrets behind Prime’s $250m influencer-powered mega-launch.

AI AND THE ART OF THE DEAL – Brad Pitt, the Oakland Raiders, and Goliath of Gath. How AI is revolutionising PE deal-making.

THE ‘SOUL OF MADRID’ THAT’S BREWED IN TADCASTER – A deal with the Devil, ‘Chulapos,’ and Peaky Blinders. The inside story of Madri Excepcional’s exceptional success.

NOCADO! – Jeff Bezos is the Don Juan of the takeover deal. (Nobody can resist him.) But this time, Ocado should say ‘no.’

ANTA. THE $29 BILLION SPORTS BRAND NO ONE IN EUROPE HAS HEARD OF – How can the Chinese sports brand compete for market visibility with mega-brands like Nike and Adidas?

INTRODUCING COKE ‘TOTAL.’ NO, IT’S NOT A DRINK, IT’S A BEVERAGE STRATEGY – After its recent acquisition of Finlandia Vodka, can Coca-Cola’s ‘Total Beverage Strategy’ turn it into the everywhere company?

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME –Brewdog, Robbie Burns, corn-starch, and going “aft agley.”

BODIFYCATION – Elvis, AI, and gold lame jumpsuits. How Kansas start-up Bodify plan to reduce retail returns.

THE CLONE DERANGERS – How big brands are using blockchain technology to kill off copycat scents.

THE RACE TO BE THE NEXT LULULEMON – Six key runners and riders.

“HEY, GUYS! I’M, LIKE, SO INTO THIS…” – Six eyeball-grabbing consumer brands on TikTok.

THE FIVE-BILLION-DOLLAR FAMILY BUSINESS – How the Boyle family fled from the Nazis and built the billion-dollar Columbia activewear brand.

CADBURY UNWRAPPED – How the brand’s ‘stillness’ strategy unlocked £261 million of revenue.

PRIVATE EQUITY’S TRILLION-DOLLAR ‘DRY POWDER’ MOUNTAIN – One trillion reasons why PE firms may continue to invest in 2023.

TOMORROW ISN’T SOON ENOUGH – After Getir bought its nearest rival, Gorillas, in a $1.2 billion deal can q-commerce (delivery in minutes, not hours) thrive?

WELCOME TO THE EVERYWHERE MALL – ‘Digital Twins, Deja You,’ and ‘Netflexing.’ The six key shopping trends of 2030. A retail future foretold.

NEW YEAR, ‘NEU’ LOOK? – Taylor Swift champions it. Fashion and beauty marketers are paying attention to it. Will 2023 be the year of ‘body neutrality’?

YOUR FUTURE JUST GOT FASTER – Accelerated digital transformation, “blurred boundaries,” and “co-creating” consumers. Six key business trends for 2023

2022

SERVE ME UP A SLICE OF SPOTIFY – Rihanna, Beyoncé, Fleetwood Mac, and $16.9 billion global streaming revenues. Why PE firms are taking a big bet on music catalogues.

WHY STARTUPS SOMETIMES STOP – Harvard Business School’s Tom Eisenmann has the inside track on six common entrepreneurial mistakes to avoid.

NAKED WINES, STRIPPED BARE – Naked ‘Angels,’ big data, and best-selling ‘book deals.’

HOW TO BULID A BILLION DOLLAR SPORTSWEAR BRAND – Six tips from Ben Francis, CEO of Gymshark.

KIMFLUENCING THE CITY – Will SKKY, Kim Kardashian’s new PE firm, help her beat Serena Williams to uncover the next Beats by Dre?

FROM WORKING MEN’S CLUBS TO COP 27…

WHAT’S NEXT FOR NEXT? – Topshop’s gone. Debenhams too. But Next are thriving. How does Lord Wolfson do it?

BUY. EAT. BUT NO REPEAT - Have vegan products been overhyped?

THE BIG SLOW DOWN? – Will charging for returns put the brakes on fast-fashion?

WILL WOMEN'S SPORT BECOME A ONE-BILLION-POUND BRAND? – 32.9 million people in the UK watched women’s sport in 2021, and that was before England became European Champions.

IS ‘JUNK’ FOOD BEING UNFARILY JUNKED? – Are HFSS products really the ‘new tobacco?’

THE INTERNET OF SENSES, 6G, AND OTHER FARFETCHED TALES – How Farfetch’s $200 million investment in Neiman Marcus is all about the future of omnichannel retailing.

BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID, THE BIG I IS BACK – Inflation is picking consumer’s pockets. And changing the way they shop.

ERNEST SHACKLETON AND THE MISSING MENTOR.

MAMMON AND THE METAVERSE – Alexander the Great, virtual Air Jordans, and $41 billion of NFTs.

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED – Drayton’s Sophie Edwards talks about infinity mirrors, different selves, and psychometric testing.

COGNAC AND THE SHANGHAI COGNOSCENTI – Global sales of the sophisticated spirit are soaring with Chinese drinkers leading the way.

WILL BOOTS No7 BECOME BIGGER THAN BOOTS? – The acquisition of the Nottingham company might revolutionise its own-label sales.

HOW TO GROW FASTER IN PASTA – Six top tips to grow any D2C start-up from Pasta Evangelist’s Alessandro Savelli.

TUESDAY NIGHTS ON TATOOINE – GroceryAid CEO Steve Barnes talks Star Wars, Brentford FC, and this week’s GroceryAid Ball.

SATYA IN WONDERLAND – Why Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s $68.7 billion deal to buy Activision is all about the metaverse.

THE PROPHETS OF LOW MARGIN – Decathlon’s visionary approach to sports retailing.

ME, ME, ME, YOU! – How the world’s pandemic consumers are putting others first.

IS SUSTAINABILITY SUSTAINABLE? - Will the pandemic consumer pay a premium to save the planet?

2021

A VERY BERRY XMAS? – Berry Bros. & Rudd are offering a personal fine wine cellar as a gift. (Prices start at £2,500)

JUST 2022 IT – Six hotly anticipated trends in next year’s sportswear market.

UNEXPECTED COMPANIES IN THE BAGGING AREA?

IS ETHLEISURE THE NEW NAME FOR ATHLEISURE?

TAP AND GO, GO, GO – Will the new £100 contactless limit usher in a Xmas retail boom?

NOT JUST SAYING, DOING – GroceryAid’s annual Diversity & Inclusion programme urges more action.

EVERYONE'S A WINNER – Five of the key winners from this year’s Grocer Awards.

NOT SHAKEN. NOT STIRRED – Bond is back.

But can Liberation Cocktails persuade him to sip a pre-mixed cocktail?

GOLDEN FUTURES? – The five companies competing for ‘Startup of the Year’ at the Grocer Gold Awards

Visionary Thinking: IS FAR AWAY THE NEW FACE TO FACE?

How shopping in the metaverse will revolutionise retail.

Visionary Thinking: STEPPING FORWARD TO THE FUTURE...

How L Catterton plans to take Birkenstock to the world.

HEROES OF NET ZERO – 1 in 3 major UK companies are pledged to a net-zero goal.

FastTrack | 60-second read

CHILDS FARM GROWS UP – The child skincare company’s launch of adult brand Farmologie is paying dividends.

FastTrack | 60-second read

RISE OF THE ‘EVERYWHERE RETAILER’- Superdrug’s new ‘Store Insider’ service looks to offer online shoppers an offline level of customer service.

FastTrack | 60-second read

FROM RUSSIA FOR LESS – Not just no frills, no shelves. Russian discounter Mere plans to revolutionise UK retail.

FastTrack | 60-second read

The A to Z of B Corp – How doing good can be good for business

THE RELUCTANT BILLIONAIRES? – How two men who didn’t like business started The North Face and Patagonia.

FastTrack | 60-second read

GÜ-ING, GÜ-ING, GONE – PE firm Exponent’s recent acquisition of Gü Puds looks like a shrewd investment.

FastTrack | 60-second read

CHANGING WITH THE TIMES? – Reformulation can help food brands navigate the UK’s HFSS legislation. But it’s not without risk.

FastTrack | 60-second read

THE ART OF UNSELLING – How beauty brand The Ordinary gained a $2.2bn valuation

FastTrack | 60-second read

SIX APPEAL – Six key influencers in the beauty market

Six in 60 | 60-second read

NEW NORMAL Vs OLD – How the global lockdown has changed patterns of consumption

FastTrack | 60-second read

THE POWER OF THE PIVOT – Crisis what crisis? Three Consumer Sector lock-down successes.

FastTrack | 60-second read

WARY OF PLANT-BASED – Three key consumer insights that may be holding back vegan product sales

FastTrack | 60-second read

Six key components of online shopper personalisation strategies.

6 in 60 | 60-second read

How covid-era consumers 'sick of rules' helped shape a new 'Eat Balanced' campaign.

FastTrack | 60-second read

2020

Greggs' People Director, Roisin Currie, reveals the mystery cultural ingredients no one else can copy.

Right Person. Wrong Role. – When being an exceptional candidate doesn’t necessarily mean you are the right ‘fit.’

2019

CLICKS Vs BRICKS – The high street is dead, but is Amazon bringing it back to life?

BitZon Vs Google Cash? Can blockchain technology turn the FAANGs into countries?

The "Weedtail" Revolution is here. Drayton's Rob Seery examines the future of OTC marijuana.

Principles, protection, and durability – How Fjallraven and Ortovox are leading the way with sustainable fabrics.

2018

Rob Seery discovers the food industry might be evolving in ways that can make us all feel more optimistic about sustainability