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I felt a bit of a fraud last night, surrounded by journalists who risk their lives in war zones. I wrote about bananas in a Coventry warehouse.
But...many thanks to @FPALondon judges for giving me the Economics story of the year. A genuine honour
#FPAawards23
But...many thanks to @FPALondon judges for giving me the Economics story of the year. A genuine honour
#FPAawards23
++ WINNER FINANCIAL/ECONOMIC- FPA MEDIA AWARDS 23 ++
The award for Financial/Economic #StoryofTheYear goes to Harry Wallop for his article 'The Banana Unpeeled' tinyurl.com/BANANAUNPEELED on @thetimes #sundaytimesmagazine CONGRATULATIONS @hwallop #FPAawards23
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🍅Britain is in a cost of living crisis. 50+% of food we buy in supermarkets is now own-label. Tinned tomatoes cost just 43p in supermarkets.
So...how on earth has @MuttiPomodoro – costing £1.60 – become the UK no1 tinned tomato brand? I went to Parma to find out... 🧵1/6
So...how on earth has @MuttiPomodoro – costing £1.60 – become the UK no1 tinned tomato brand? I went to Parma to find out... 🧵1/6
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Mutti costs £1.60. But 65% of sales in UK are on discount – "Drive & Trial" a tactic used by premium brands to persuade shoppers to trade up.
Shoppers are trading down from eating out. And splashing out on "affordable luxury" at home. Hence Mutti, Bold Bean, Ortiz all 📈
🧵5/6
Shoppers are trading down from eating out. And splashing out on "affordable luxury" at home. Hence Mutti, Bold Bean, Ortiz all 📈
🧵5/6
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Here's my long read in The Sunday Times Magazine on the amazing success story of Mutti.
And how it persuaded famously budget-conscious Brits to splash out on a boring, storecupboard staple: the tinned tomato
thetimes.com/life-style/foo…
And how it persuaded famously budget-conscious Brits to splash out on a boring, storecupboard staple: the tinned tomato
thetimes.com/life-style/foo…
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I wrote about ‘picky bits’. And the puerility of our age, how great advertising copywriting is no longer possible.
And my begrudging admiration for @marksandspencer…
And my begrudging admiration for @marksandspencer…
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This week’s @thetimes biz column:
M&S ‘picky bits’ is brain rot — but also a marketing masterclass
thetimes.com/article/4c6c60…
M&S ‘picky bits’ is brain rot — but also a marketing masterclass
thetimes.com/article/4c6c60…
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Press releases I receive 🤷♂️
“Air fryers are tearing families apart at dinner time, new research reveals”
“Air fryers are tearing families apart at dinner time, new research reveals”
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Airbnb has introduced stricter rules for hosts. To stop them demanding guests wash dishes/strip the beds (unless clearly warned before booking).
I’m on Radio4 @BBCPM at 5.20pm discussing. Tell me your Airbnb nightmares!
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
I’m on Radio4 @BBCPM at 5.20pm discussing. Tell me your Airbnb nightmares!
bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…
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🎃Press releases that make me despair:
"Tesco launches FREE pre-carved pumpkins as Brits feel the pressure to perfect Halloween"
I mean, the whole point of Hallowe'en pumpkins is they occupy your kids for an hour as they make a mess/slice the top off a finger...
"Tesco launches FREE pre-carved pumpkins as Brits feel the pressure to perfect Halloween"
I mean, the whole point of Hallowe'en pumpkins is they occupy your kids for an hour as they make a mess/slice the top off a finger...
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Harry Wallop retweeted
“Beautrition”? Whole Foods has come up with the nonsense word of 2027…
press.aboutamazon.com/2026/10/whole-…
press.aboutamazon.com/2026/10/whole-…
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'Picky Bits' is awful, awful, awful.
But...hats off to @marksandspencer. Surely, they are entirely responsible for this phrase entering the English language, no?
But...hats off to @marksandspencer. Surely, they are entirely responsible for this phrase entering the English language, no?
While The Telegraph has deemed 'picky bits' "the most revolting phrase in the English language", more Britons have a positive view of the term (43%) than a negative one (25%), with 31% neutral
Net positivity towards...
Picky bits: +18
Maccy Ds: +15
Holibobs: −23
Tommy K: −44
−53
Menty B: −57
Cozzy livs: −65
Platty joobs: −65
Statey funes: −78
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One thing I don’t understand (among many things) is how – former broadcaster – Brand has stuck a lampshade between himself and the camera.
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Harry Wallop retweeted
I spoke to 5 families, all grappling with the strange, sad and sometimes absurd business of disposing the ashes of their loved ones.
They were all brilliant – and I hope (!) found the process as therapeutic as I found it fascinating to interview them.
thetimes.com/article/4dd2e8…
They were all brilliant – and I hope (!) found the process as therapeutic as I found it fascinating to interview them.
thetimes.com/article/4dd2e8…
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Harry Wallop retweeted
⚱️But along with all that ash we often leave dilemmas for those left with them. What to do? Turn it into jewellery, send them up in a drone, or leave them in a cupboard under the stairs?
An estimated 300,000 remain uncollected in funeral homes.
🧵3/4
An estimated 300,000 remain uncollected in funeral homes.
🧵3/4
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Harry Wallop retweeted
100yrs ago, hardly anyone was cremated. Now, 82% of us are. Cremation is 🔥 the body to 800C which destroys everything – including the coffin. Except bones.
Ashes are made from grinding up those bones in a ‘cremulator’.
We create 1,400 tonnes of ash every year in the UK. 🧵2/4
Ashes are made from grinding up those bones in a ‘cremulator’.
We create 1,400 tonnes of ash every year in the UK. 🧵2/4
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Harry Wallop retweeted
Always lovely to make front cover of Sunday Times Magazine. Especially for a piece I’ve wanted to write for ages – after a friend told me “Mum’s still stuck in the garage”, two years after the funeral. 🧵1/4
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Always lovely to make front cover of Sunday Times Magazine. Especially for a piece I’ve wanted to write for ages – after a friend told me “Mum’s still stuck in the garage”, two years after the funeral. 🧵1/4
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⚱️But along with all that ash we often leave dilemmas for those left with them. What to do? Turn it into jewellery, send them up in a drone, or leave them in a cupboard under the stairs?
An estimated 300,000 remain uncollected in funeral homes.
🧵3/4
An estimated 300,000 remain uncollected in funeral homes.
🧵3/4
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I spoke to 5 families, all grappling with the strange, sad and sometimes absurd business of disposing the ashes of their loved ones.
They were all brilliant – and I hope (!) found the process as therapeutic as I found it fascinating to interview them.
thetimes.com/article/4dd2e8…
They were all brilliant – and I hope (!) found the process as therapeutic as I found it fascinating to interview them.
thetimes.com/article/4dd2e8…
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