Latest news with #PercyPig
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
American tries Percy Pig for first time but makes 'crucial mistake'
Percy Pigs are a beloved British sweet produced by Marks & Spencer, and an American visiting the UK decided to try them among other popular British snacks – but made one 'big mistake' An American tried Percy Pigs for the first time, but made one 'crucial mistake.' The UK boasts several iconic savoury and sweet snacks, including Percy Pig. The beloved pig-shaped gummy treat has been a popular confectionary in the UK for many years, enjoyed by both adults and children. Created by Marks & Spencer (M&S), it has become a favourite for many British people – so much so that visitors to the country will often seek them out. Kevin Escalera, based in Miami, Florida, is a food and travel vlogger who tries popular snacks when visiting different countries. Known as Snack Eating Snacks online, he recently shared a video on TikTok sampling a range of British snacks from crisps to chocolates to sweet treats, like Percy Pig, while visiting the UK. Kevin said: 'We [have] got the Percy the pig fizzy gummies and these are supposedly super popular here. Everyone told me I had to try them.' Taking a bite, he remarked: 'Mmmm, they have a great chew to them, a little sour. These are fantastic gummies and I'm a gummy connoisseur.' Kevin tried the M&S Percy Pig phizzy pigtails, but many TikTok users in the comment section of his post said these are the 'wrong' version of the sweet. One user simply stated: 'Wrong percy pigs.' Another added: 'Should have got the original Percy pigs and not the fizzy tails. Original Percy pigs are an elite sweet.' A third exclaimed: 'No not those Percy's! You needed the classic.' A fourth chimed in: 'No one goes to M&S and buys those Percy pigs.' The original M&S Percy Pig sweets are shaped like smiling pig faces and have a distinctive fruity, sweet taste and chewy texture. They offer a blend of raspberry, grape, elderberry, blackcurrant and mandarin flavours. Percy Pig was launched in stores in 1992 and has since become a cultural phenomenon. Since 2019, the recipe has been changed to remove gelatin, making the sweets suitable for vegetarians. In 2022, beeswax was removed from the ingredients list, so they can now be enjoyed by vegans as well. Percy Pig has become a huge brand with 124,000 followers on Instagram and a notable presence on TikTok. Fans have even been inspired to create their own Percy Pig themed bakes as well as Percy-inspired accessories. In 2024, Percy Pig collaborated with Dr Paw Paw to launch a vegan lip oil formula and a signature Percy scent. The brand has also launched a pink nail polish duo set which dries down to release its exclusive scent. In addition to Percy Pig, Kevin also tried Walkers Monster Munch crisps, prawn cocktail crisps, Tunnock's Milk Chocolate Tea Cakes, Jammie Dodgers and a Cadbury Double Decker chocolate bar. He compared the tea cakes to a mallow bar in the US but was confused about why they're called tea cakes and wondered if you're actually supposed to eat them with tea. Despite the confusion, the food reviewer enjoyed all the British snacks he tried and concluded: 'Overall, England, you guys know your snacks. 'I think England might be at the top of the charts of [all] the countries' snack game(s) that I've tried.'
CNET
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CNET
You Can Now Customize Your TikTok 'For You' Feed With Sliders. Here's How
How do you feel about the content in your TikTok For You Feed? If you've ever thought you could do with a little more of this and a little less of that, then you're about to get more control than ever before over what the algorithm serves you. In the Manage Topics section of your settings, you'll soon be able adjust sliders that will tell TikTok whether you want to see more or less content on ten chosen topics. For example, if you're gearing up for a summer of hosting, you might want more recipes to appear in your For You feed. To signal this to TikTok, you could boost the food and drink slider so that it knows you're actively interested in carrot salads and margarita pitchers. The sliders won't eliminate content of one type all together, they simply allow you to give more weight to topics you care about. In the coming months, TikTok is also increasing the number of keywords that can be filtered from around 100 to 200. Additionally, it's introducing Smart Keyword Filters, which uses AI to catch synonyms for words people have chosen to filter out, and exclude that content from their feeds too. I caught a first glimpse of the new features at a SXSW London event on Monday, ahead of TikTok announcing them on Tuesday. At the event, TikTok delved into some of the big trends that it's been observing recently, and it seems as though the cultural exchange between US and UK audiences has never been more prevalent. The American content proving most interesting to British audiences is based around the Hamptons aesthetic, which has seen a 24% growth in the UK this year. According to TikTok, Brits can't get enough of Nancy Meyers-inspired interiors and the beachy summer vibes that the Hamptons evoke. Meanwhile, American TikTok users have discovered Marks and Spencer, the iconic British store that sells (among other things) classy groceries to the middle classes. TikTok has observed a rise in content about American travelers to the UK jumping off the plane only to immediately do an M&S haul and taste test the products (who needs Big Ben when you have Percy Pig?). British crime drama is also resonating hard with US audiences right now, particularly following the release of Adolescence on Netflix earlier this year. That said, the most popular show of all time on TikTok is still The Vampire Diaries -- so if you didn't watch it first time around, maybe now is the time.
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
American Netflix star tries UK snacks for first time and one is the best
Jonny Manganello, who appeared on Netflix's hit show Is it Cake?, has shared his reaction after trying a series of popular snacks from Marks & Spencer, and declared one is better than the others An American streaming star has sampled a series of UK snacks, and has declared one better than all the others. Percy Pigs are one of Britain's most beloved sweets. Last year, Marks & Spencer revealed that every minute, 36 bags of Percy Pigs are sold in the UK. This is equivalent to a staggering 18.7million bags per year. Now, tourists visiting the UK are rushing to their closest M&S shop to get a hold of the famous sweets, which now have a series of spin-off flavours and sizes. Netflix 's Is It Cake? star Jonny Manganello took to TikTok, where he has millions of followers, to share his reaction after finally getting to try the popular sweets during his recent holiday to London. In his video, he held up a large paper bag emblazoned with the M&S logo before announcing the was going to try the viral sweets for the first time. "I'm in the UK and I'm trying M&S for the first time. I'm very excited about this. You better believe we're gonna be trying lots of candy. Percy Pig, honey. Anybody heard of it? I have and I've been wanting to try these my whole goddamn life. "I mean look - oh my god I'm so excited," he said as he took out one of the sweets from the package. "Smells like bright, sour cherry or something," he said before taking a bite out of it. "Oh my god that's good. Wow they were not lying, Percy Pig's the b***h. Oh my god it's so good." Next up, he pulled out a bag of Reversy Percy Pig sweets, where the ears and face have been swapped around. Taking a bite, he declared that they tasted just as delicious as the original sweets. "Okay, these are the piglets," he then said as he poured the sweets into his hand, showing that the back of the pigs had the jelly part that's normally on the ears. WARNING: This video contains strong language. Viewer discretion is advised. After tasting them, he said: "It tastes almost like a gummy and a marshmallow had a baby." The fourth type of sweet tried is another British classic - Colin the Caterpillar. And while he didn't try the Colin cake, he did try the sweets, which he also enjoyed, noting that they had a different consistency than the gummy worms he'd eaten in the States. He also made sure to try the 'softies' version of the Colin sweets, which he first compared to Squashies. "Here's my feeling about these like, foamy [sweets]. They're not as good," he said bluntly. "I like them more in the Percy Pig where it's like paired with a normal gummy. I don't like those softies." Finally, he put wine gums to the test. "Wine gums, that sounds very British to me," he said before trying them. "Mmm, oh that could pull cavities out. They taste almost identical to [American sweets] Dots, is that what those are called?" " M&S, I love your candy selection," he said as he continued to eat from his selection of sweets. "Giving Trader Joe's a run for its money." He then announced: "I think my favourite thing was the normal Percy Pig. All the variations are like fine, but I'll eat it." In response to the video, several Brits took to the comments to share their opinions on the sweets, with some also recommending other things Jonny should try. One Brit commented: "The pinnacle of M&S are the Colin the Caterpillar cakes. The lore of caterpillar cakes run strong here, they sued another store for their Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake. Every child's birthday has some type." "For me a reversy is the elite option over the standard percy. But both are amazing," another person shared. "if you're heading back to M&S you need to try the fizzy pig tails & the bakery white chocolate cookies. Also hit up Tesco to get the cinnamon bun tear& share that recently went viral!" a third viewer recommended.
Business Mayor
11-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
How to profit from the rush to protect firms from M&S-style cyber attacks
Words such as 'cyber attack', 'malware' and 'automated phishing' used to sound futuristic. But once a threat stops us from buying Percy Pig sweets and comfy underwear, we know it has struck at the very heart of Middle England – and it is time for investors to sit up and take notice. At the time of writing, M&S still isn't offering online shopping after a huge cyber hack, while the Co-op is struggling with stock issues and a customer-data breach. The hackers have cost these companies dear – Deutsche Bank puts the cost to M&S at £15 million a week – and experts warn many more companies are vulnerable to similar attacks. 'Cyber threats are growing in size and severity,' warns Mike Seidenberg, portfolio manager at Allianz Technology Trust, who says there were more than six billion malware attacks globally in 2023. 'Bad actors have increased their ambition, with critical infrastructure, government departments and crucial industries permanently at risk.' For investors, cyber warfare represents both an opportunity and a threat. On the one hand, poorly prepared companies undergoing a cyber attack will hit their shareholders squarely in the pocket, with M&S stocks down more than 6 per cent in the past week. However, investing in companies in the cyber security sector could allow you to benefit from a trend, with Cabinet minister Pat McFadden stating this week that the Government would 'turbo charge' the cyber security sector. 'Cyber security is not a luxury but an absolute necessity,' he says. If investment in the sector continues, investors may feel the same. As the fall in M&S shares last week has shown, hackers can seriously damage your wealth. A report from security experts Cisco suggests that only 4 per cent of businesses have reached what they call a 'mature' stage of readiness where they can withstand a cyber attack, with 70 per cent of companies either in the 'formative' or the 'beginner' stages of readiness. This suggests that many household names are as vulnerable as M&S and the Co-op. However, Laith Khalaf, head of investment analyst at investment group AJ Bell, says it is difficult to predict where hackers may strike next, which makes it extremely difficult to protect your portfolio. 'Even companies which provide cyber security have found themselves the victims of attacks, such as CrowdStrike and FireEye,' he says. 'Probably the best and simplest tonic is to hold a diversified portfolio so that if a company sees its share price fall because of a cyber attack, it doesn't damage your wealth too badly.' Khalaf adds that the share-price reaction to cyber attacks tends to be short-lived. Many companies have strong cyber security insurance policies, so if you buy firms where you believe the management makes good decisions about risk, chances are they will be protecting themselves. However, it is always an area you could ask about at an annual general meeting if you are concerned or check the firm's risk factors' section of its annual report. With governments and businesses spending more on cyber security, many experts believe now is the time to invest in those securing us all against the hackers. 'Investment capital is pouring into cyber security businesses alongside aerospace and defence firms,' says Jason Hollands, managing director at investment platform BestInvest. The Cisco study also showed that more than nine in ten companies increased their budget for cyber security in the past two years. Many of the biggest players in cyber security are either unlisted or listed in the US, but there are various ways you can invest. For those who prefer to pick individual shares and are untroubled by the volatility that entails, there are some good options. Tiny SysGroup, based in Manchester, is backed by Ken Wotton, manager of Baronsmead Venture Capital Trusts, who says that the business is 'well positioned for sustained growth'. SysGroup supports small and medium-sized businesses with their cyber security. 'It assists in building robust cyber security systems spanning not only the core business but also its supply chains – a critical yet often overlooked area of vulnerability for many groups,' Wotton says. SysGroup shares have been volatile – down 26 per cent in the past six months, up 10 per cent in the past month. At the other end of the scale in the UK, defence giant BAE has a cyber security division – although, as Khalaf at AJ Bell points out, it comprises less than 10 per cent of the business. Lee Wild, head of equity strategy at Interactive Investor, says cybersecurity firm NCC stands out as one of the remaining UK players not to have gone private. It is down 25 per cent this year, but there's always the possibility that it will attract a suitor with a hefty premium at this level. Read More BRP reorganizes Powersports and Marine segments as one business There are also trusts and funds that allow you to take a mixed slice of the cyber security market. Darius McDermott, managing director at FundCalibre, likes the HANetf Future of Defence ETF. This is 43 per cent invested in technology firms, most of which are cyber security specialists. It launched in 2023, at just the right time for cyber security, and has seen its shares rise 46 per cent. Other specialist ETFs in this area include the Legal & General Cyber Security ETF and iShares Digital Security ETF. James Carthew, head of investment companies at QuotedData, recommends Polar Capital Technology, which invests in leading players such as CyberArk Software, Crowdstrike Holdings and Cloudflare. Polar Capital has had a torrid three months – down nearly 17 per cent following President Trump's tariff announcements, but has recovered somewhat in the last month.
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
M&S Percy Pig fans left devastated after major cyber attack causes supply chaos
Millions of Percy Pig fans have been left reeling after a cyber attack on M&S crippled the high street favourite's IT systems - leaving shelves stripped bare of the iconic pink sweets Percy Pig devotees are in a state of shock as a cyber attack on Marks and Spencer has left the high street giant's IT systems in disarray, resulting in a shortage of the beloved pink sweets on store shelves. The popular treats, with 16 million bags flying off the shelves annually, were conspicuously absent from many M&S outlets yesterday. The retailer is grappling with the fallout of a severe hack that kicked off over the Easter weekend. Instead of their usual Percy Pig fix, shoppers were greeted by signs next to nearly bare shelves, stocked only with a few veggie and low-sugar alternatives. The signs read: "Please bear with us while we fix some technical issues affecting product availability." The sweet-toothed fans were far from pleased. One distressed customer took to social media, posting: "Lads, s**t just got real." Another quipped: "This isn't just a cyber attack - it's an M&S cyber attack.", reports the Express. The disruption has thrown M&S into turmoil, with insiders revealing that staff have had to resort to manually completing sales reports as computer systems remain offline. This manual workaround has caused significant disruption across the supply chain. Not only Percy Pigs, but also other customer favourites like Colin the Caterpillar sweets and cakes, as well as wine, beer, soft drinks and chilled meat, have been missing from the shelves. A spokesperson for the retailer has verified the shortages, admitting to "pockets of limited availability" across their stores. This comes after images of empty shelves and missing items - ranging from ready-to-eat chicken to fresh salads and dips - swamped social media. In response to the crisis, the company is feverishly working with cyber security professionals from the National Cyber Security Centre and Scotland Yard to tackle the issue. The alleged miscreants are identified as Scattered Spider, an Anglophone hacking collective presumed to mainly consist of individuals under 25 years old. The stakes are rising as Marks & Spencer faces the reality of bleeding millions in lost online revenue, subsequent to a halt forced on its website and app orders dating back to last Friday. Services like click and collect and contactless payments have been stopped as well, in an urgent effort to curb the breach's impact. For regular customers, the sight of barren shelves, coupled with the absence of beloved treats, is a further disappointment they must contend with. An insider gave a rather blunt assessment, stating: "It's chaos. People want Percy Pigs - and we simply don't have them."
