In an exclusive interview with the Financial Times this weekend, Tony’s Chocolonely boss Douglas Lamont advised opinionated CEOs to “stay in your lane”, rather than weigh in on geopolitical events.
While Tony’s has “a strong point of view on something really important: ending exploitation in cocoa, millions of farmers living in poverty . . . child labour… I don’t have to have an opinion on every single political event going on around the world,” says Lamont, explaining that US politics, the Middle East and Ukraine are off-limits for him.
The nationals shone a light on a “worrying” trend for retailers recruiting young, “freelance” shop assistants for seasonal shift work.
As reported by The Observer, large brands, including Urban Outfitters, Lush, Gymshark and Uniqlo, were recruiting “freelance” shop assistants through gig apps to staff their stores during the busy festive period. The apps are being promoted by youth influencers with hundreds of thousands of TikTok followers.
The Observer and The Independent focused on concerns around worker rights, including senior policy officer for employment rights at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Tim Sharp’s belief this was “a worrying new development,” said Tim Sharp, senior policy officer for employment rights at the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
Manufacturing firms have warned that hopes for an economic boost under the current Government have “darkened markedly” following the Budget. Figures from industry body Make UK show that confidence among manufacturers had fallen at its sharpest rate since the second quarter of 2020 when the UK Economy ground to a halt due to the first Covid-19 lockdown (The Mail).
Meanwhile, more than 160,000 family businesses and farms have called on the Chancellor to rethink planned changes to inheritance tax, saying it risked “job losses right across the country” (The Mail).
Rachel Reeves announced in October that from April 2026, inherited business properties worth over £1m will be taxed at 20%, having previously been exempt from the duty. This will also apply to agricultural land. However, an open letter signed by 32 trade associations claiming to represent more than 160,000 family-owned businesses and farms, warns that the changes will “starve” the economy.
In more positive headlines, vegetable wholesaler and Tesco supplier TH Clements has predicted that Brussels sprouts will be 25% bigger this year (The Guardian). Good growing conditions, the introduction of new varieties, and a dose of sea air have resulted in a crop of super-sized sprouts for this festive season, with the average sprout measuring 30mm in diameter, compared with 24mm last year.
Tesco said it has been working with suppliers to find hardier varieties able to withstand the UK climate after heavy rainfall in late November and through December led to a below average yield and crop of sprouts last year (The Standard).
In the hospitality sector, the nationals reported on the backlash faced by Marco Pierre White for introducing an additional cover of £1.50 per person at his London Steakhouse to “cover the cost of table linen and napkins”.
“Adding charges for customers is another nail in the coffin of the hospitality industry,” expert Steven Hesketh told the Telegraph.
The Mail and The Sun highlighted the charge was in addition to a 9.5% discretionary service charge already added to the bill.
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