Latest news with #SweetSriracha
Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Five sneaky tricks supermarkets and brands use to get YOU to spend more as fat jabs hit sales
Supermarkets are finding new creative ways to cash in on the weight-loss trend JAB ATTACK Five sneaky tricks supermarkets and brands use to get YOU to spend more as fat jabs hit sales Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WAISTLINES are not the only things shrinking with the use of weight-loss jabs – supermarket bottom lines are too. Food sales are falling, and data-analyst Kantar blames hunger-repressing injections like Mounjaro for a 0.4 per cent drop in the four weeks to June 24. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Supermarkets are doing their best to keep profits high despite the success of weight-loss drugs Credit: Getty 8 Hunger-repressing injections like Mounjaro have been blamed for a fall in food sales Credit: Alamy A 4 per cent rise in food prices in the past year is also reducing spending. Now the big stores and brands are fighting back. Rosie Taylor reveals the sneaky ways they try to make us part with our cash. TEMPTING YOUR TASTEBUDS BRANDS are launching new flavour combinations for staple products they think will be a big hit with shoppers. Heinz has released a Sweet Sriracha tomato ketchup (£2.68 at Asda), and Bird's Eye has launched fish fillets coated in a Mexican tortilla crumb (£1.98 from Asda). Brands are also releasing new products with trimmer waistlines in mind. These include Tango Sugar Free Strawberry Smash (eight cans cost £3.34 at Asda) and Pepsi's zero sugar Cream Soda flavour (eight cans costs £3.75 from Waitrose). Dr Jenna Vyas-Lee from Kove Minds clinic in Southwark, London, says: 'We get a hit of dopamine — the feel-good hormone — from trying new things. 'So, a new flavour of Coke speaks to that curious part of our brain. Feeding your curiosity by buying that item makes you feel good.' TIP: Tempted by an intriguing new flavour? Take a picture of it and add it to your shopping list for next week. Take time to think about whether you really want it, or if it's just an impulse buy. Nutritionist reveals which stars could be suffering from 'Ozempic face' & why some like Kelly Clarkson get away without 8 Heinz's new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha sauce is one of the flavour combinations being used to keep shoppers interested Credit: supplied 8 Tango is also creating new flavours, including their fresh Strawberry Smash drinks Credit: supplied SELLING FAT JABS SUPERMARKETS are finding new ways to cash in on the weight-loss trend. Asda and Morrisons are both selling fat jabs through online clinics. Asda is selling Wegovy injection doses from £118.98, while Morrisons is selling Mounjaro self-injectable pens from £129 a month. An investigation by Which? found buying from a registered pharmacy, like Asda, was safer than buying from unregulated online clinics where some fake versions of the drugs have been found for sale. TIP: Always speak to your GP before starting any new medication and only ever buy from registered pharmacies. 8 Asda and Morrisons are both selling fat jabs through online clinics. Credit: Alamy 8 Asda has even launched a new sportswear brand to try and tap into fitness-conscious customers Credit: supplied LAUNCHING FITNESS RANGES ASDA launched a new sportswear brand, Gym Locker, in January, to target fitness-conscious shoppers. Women's wear such as a sports bra and shorts start at £14. Men's wear starts at £12. While Aldi launched a budget Specialbuy fitness range in May, including a reformer pilates machine for £149.99, an £11.99 smart watch to track your steps and heart rate, and yoga mats for £5.99. Lidl launched a high protein product range on TikTok shop in February. The £5 bundles on offer included 500g packs of protein powder and protein pancake mixes. CREATING SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUPERMARKETS launch huge product promotions for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Now, they're finding new ways to encourage us to buy all year round. Asda is advertising a Summer Vibes promotion for picnics, barbecues and 'summer breakfast' products. Top picks include Birds Eye 12 Chicken Dippers for £2.48. But not on the list is its own-brand Just Essentials 20 breaded chicken nuggets at £1.10, a saving of £1.38. Tesco is pushing a Summer Essentials range, including a bistro set of two chairs and a table for £112.99 (pictured). The same set is available at Robert Dyas for £87.99, a saving of £25. Presenting products as a theme encourages us to buy more, said Patrick Young from research consultancy PRS In Vivo: 'It makes shoppers want to buy all the things they need to create that sense of occasion.' TIP: Always go shopping armed with a list so you are less likely to be swayed by marketing. PLAYING LAYOUT MIND GAMES WE'RE all guilty from time to time of walking away with goodies that weren't on our shopping list. But did you know supermarkets are constantly trying to get us to overspend using secret tactics? Shops invest heavily in 'space planning', where the store layouts are designed to get customers spending more. Techniques to catch our eye include putting stickers on the floor or signs around the shelves to highlight a new product or special offers. Brands in particular are jostling to get store customers' eyeballs on their goods — research shows shoppers ignore 80 per cent of products within two seconds of looking. Brands will therefore do deals with supermarkets to position their items in the best places along aisles. 'There is a lot of competition between brands on the supermarket shelf, it's an arms race,' said Young, adding: 'People tend to look in the middle and slightly down, so products at the top of the shelves could be better value.' Another super-sneaky tactic brands are using is to super-size packaging so products stand out more on shelves. TIP: Look at the top and bottom shelves to check for cheaper options. Always compare the price per gram on the label, instead of just looking at the item's price. This is the best way of seeing which products offer the best value for money. 8 Time limited deals are being used to try and create a sense of urgency for supermarket customers Credit: Morrisons RUNNING FOMO DEALS ANOTHER effective tactic stores use is putting time-limits on deals, for example Morrisons' When It's Gone It's Gone deals. 'This creates a sense of scarcity [the fear something could run out] and people also don't want to miss a chance to get value for money,' said Young. Shoppers may feel like they need to rush into buying deals, even when they are not actually great value. Nearly nine out of ten UK adults spend on non-essential little luxuries every month, including takeaway coffees or buying a drink or meal for a friend, according to research by Chase Bank. TIP: 'A good deal is only a good deal if you need it,' said Dr Vyas-Lee. If the product is something you buy regularly, such as toilet roll, it makes sense to pick up a two-for-one deal. But if it is a one-off purchase, you could be wasting your money. All prices correct at time of publication Gas boost for needy BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund. It offers up to £1,700 to those struggling with energy debt, regardless of their supplier. Last year it helped 1,800 households, writing off £839,000 in debt. Boss Jessica Taplin said: 'This fund will help those who need it most get on stable ground and keep their homes and families warm and safe.' Grit-ish airways BRITISH AIRWAYS has reported a bumper 48 per cent rise in operating profits to £824million for the first half of the year. It comes despite a £40million hit from Heathrow's temporary closure in March due to a substation fire. 8 British Airways reported a bumper 48 per cent rise in operating profits for the first half of the year Credit: Getty The buoyant airline ramped up its flight programme, increasing capacity by 2.1 per cent and boosting revenues. Parent company International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Vueling, saw earnings jump 43.5 per cent to £1.88billion, with pre-tax profits climbing to £1.75billion. Meanwhile, the debate over Heathrow's third runway intensified yesterday as IAG backed rival proposals from hotel tycoon Surinder Arora and Heathrow's owners, calling both 'credible.' However, IAG boss Luis Gallego said: 'We only want to build something affordable that'll allow everybody to have more passengers, but they don't have to pay the level they are paying today.' Arora's £25billion plan for a shorter, 2,800-metre runway aims to avoid costly diversions of the M25 but does not include redevelopment of the central terminal area. Heathrow favours a full-length, 3,500-metre runway to maximise operational flexibility. It would cost £21billion, with its full expansion plan — including terminals and infrastructure — estimated at £49billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will assess the competing plans this summer. Homes rise HOUSE prices rose by 0.6 per cent in July, reversing a 0.9 per cent drop in June, according to Nationwide. Annual growth climbed to 2.4 per cent, with the average home now priced at £272,664. With the Bank of England expected to cut interest rates next week, the housing market could see a fresh boost in activity in the months ahead. Mark Harris, boss of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: 'We could be in for a busy autumn. Lenders continue to trim mortgage rates.' Fall slows THE downturn in UK factory production eased slightly again last month as the sector posted its strongest performance for half a year. The S&P GLOBAL UK manufacturing PMI rose to 48.0 from 47.7, signalling a slower decline — but it was still below the growth threshold of 50. Manufacturers blamed weak domestic and export demand, higher labour costs, and geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, rising staff costs resulted in July being the ninth consecutive month of falling employment. Phone scams do a number on you By Lucy Andrews BEING targeted by a scammer can be a worrying experience. But has a fraudster ever pretended to be YOU to trick people out of their cash? That's exactly what happened to me, when I discovered my phone number had been 'spoofed'. It's a horrible form of identity fraud and a cunning way for con artists to attempt to steal money from unsuspecting victims, as the number appears to be from a trusted source. It all began six months ago, when I started getting mysterious phone calls from strangers claiming they had received missed calls from me. But when I checked my call log each time, I could see that I never phoned them. I would tell the caller that they made a mistake, and hang up. I was suspicious that these were scammers trying to lure me into handing over money in some way, so I made sure to block the numbers after I ended the phone calls. That was until last week, when I received a WhatsApp from a lady I didn't know. 'Hello, did you call me?' the text read. She sent a screenshot of her call log – and surprisingly, my phone number was at the top of the list. I asked my phone company, ID Mobile, what had happened. It said my phone number appears to have been spoofed. I paid £25 to change my number, as it made me feel sick thinking scammers were pretending to be me. Spoofing is becoming a big problem. The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, is so concerned about the growing threat that it launched a consultation last year on how to address the issue. It said a call from a spoofed number could appear more trustworthy, and 'victims are more likely to share personal information'. Worryingly, phone companies can't do a lot about spoofing, but you can take steps to prevent it happening. Be wary of who you share your number with. Most website forms will ask for it, but you don't always need to give your number away.
Business Wire
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Fine Choice Foods Taps Into Spicy Trend With Launch of New Asian-inspired Products
RICHMOND, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fine Choice Foods, a North American leader in refrigerated, Asian-inspired cuisine, today announced the launch of two new premium offerings under its popular SUMM! Brand: Pork Gyoza Dumplings with Chili Crisp Oil and Spicy Sriracha Chicken Spring Rolls. These new additions reflect Fine Choice Foods' commitment to continuous innovation and respond directly to growing consumer demand for bold, globally inspired flavors in the refrigerated deli space. The new products are the latest to emerge from Fine Choice Foods' robust innovation pipeline, which is backed by strategic, long-term investments in infrastructure. In 2022, the company transformed an existing warehouse into its second manufacturing facility—a 50,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art food processing plant. Additional equipment introduced in 2024 enabled Fine Choice Foods to double its production capacity, enhancing its ability to scale new product offerings quickly while maintaining the quality and consistency the brand is known for. 'Today's consumers expect more from their food—they want excitement, flavor, and a restaurant-quality experience from the comfort of home,' said Jason Longden, CEO of Fine Choice Foods. 'With these new launches, we're delivering on those expectations while continuing to lead in the premium, Asian-inspired foods category.' The Pork Gyoza Dumplings with Chili Crisp Oil feature a savory, umami-rich pork filling and Fine Choice Foods' signature chili crisp—a textured, aromatic blend of spices and heat. The Spicy Sriracha Chicken Spring Rolls are filled with tender chicken and vegetables in a crispy wrapper, paired with a Sweet Sriracha dipping sauce that delivers heat with a tangy finish. These innovations align with strong market signals: Consumer trends and POS retail data show double-digit growth in the spicy and globally inspired refrigerated deli category, particularly among younger shoppers seeking snackable, multicultural options with elevated flavor profiles. Optimized for refrigerated deli programs, both items offer retailers merchandising versatility and strong appeal across multiple shopper segments. The high quality premium positioning, eye-catching packaging, best-in-class shelf life and compelling flavor profiles make them standout performers in both trial and repeat purchase environments. With the SUMM! branded products showing triple digit distribution and velocity growth over the last 12 months, and now recognized as the number 1 refrigerated Asian appetizer brand in North America, these new products will continue to drive incrementality in all sales channels. 'Our continued investment in capacity and product development ensures we're ready to meet the needs of both consumers and retail partners,' added Longden. 'These new products represent more than bold flavors—they reflect our long-term growth strategy and our ability to innovate with speed, scale, and authenticity.' As Fine Choice Foods builds on its infrastructure investments and proven performance in the refrigerated ready-to-eat prepared foods category, the company is well-positioned to continue expanding across North America. The new SUMM! launches underscore its focus on leading in flavor, format, convenience and cultural relevance in the high-growth Asian-inspired food segment. About Fine Choice Foods Founded in 1986 by the Lui family in Vancouver, BC, Fine Choice Foods is a North American leader in producing high-quality, Asian-inspired cuisine. Specializing in spring rolls, gyoza dumplings, Lumpia, and the original apple pie roll under the SUMM! brand, Fine Choice Foods serves both Canadian and U.S. markets from its two best in class facilities. With more than 300 employees and over 100,000 square feet of production space, the company continues to grow its presence while remaining committed to delivering authentic and delicious food products. For more information, visit
South Wales Argus
29-04-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Heinz to release new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha in the UK
Heinz is known for a range of different products including various sauces, soups and baked beans. But "The GOAT", "The OG", Heinz's most "iconic" sauce is its original Tomato Ketchup. The UK's favourite takeaways Heinz to release new sauce that's twist on iconic Tomato Ketchup Heinz is now set to release a brand new sauce, that is a twist on its iconic Tomato Ketchup. Heinz Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha is set for release in major retail stores, including Asda and Morrisons, next month for those looking to add "a little bit of swice (sweet and spicy) to your life". The new Sweet Sriracha sauce is a blend of rich, tomatoey goodness with a perfectly harmonised, bold, sweet kick of heat to "enliven your senses". Heinz's new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha will be available in stores across the UK from May 5. (Image: Jonathan Kennedy/Heinz) For one day only and with zero notice, 57 bottles of the new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha were released, in an "exclusive drop", on the Heinz to Home website. They all sold out within 15 minutes. However, Heinz's new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha, which is already being labelled "sauce of the summer", is now coming to stores across the UK. The new sauce joins the flavours range alongside Heinz Tomato Ketchup Pickle, Bacon and Curry. Director of Taste Elevation at Heinz, Thiago Rapp, said: 'Following the success of Heinz Pickle, Bacon and Curry Tomato Ketchup in recent years, we know our fans are constantly looking for new flavours to elevate their meals. "With the sweet and spicy trend not coming to an end any time soon, it was the perfect time to add a new twist to the iconic Heinz Tomato Ketchup taste people know and love by launching the Sweet Sriracha variety for those wanting an extra kick of sweet heat.' RECOMMENDED READING: Where to get new Heinz Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha Heinz' new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha will be available to buy from May 5 in Asda and Morrisons supermarkets across the UK. It will be available in other major retailers after that, with a RRP of £3.39.
