Monday, 5 December 2022
That's Food and Drink: Robots roll-out in Yorkshire as Co-op and Starship...
That's Food and Drink: Robots roll-out in Yorkshire as Co-op and Starship...: Co-op, Starship Technologies and Leeds City Council have partnered to bring autonomous grocery delivery to the streets of Leeds. The service...
Sainsbury’s accelerates value plan, investing £50m in daily essentials and festive favourites
Sainsbury’s is accelerating its value plan, investing a further £50 million by March 2023 to help customers manage the rising cost of living.
Sainsbury’s understands this Christmas will be difficult for lots of customers and over £15 million has been set aside to specifically ensure people will find even more amazing prices on festive favourites and traditional treats.
Great value fresh products for the festive season, including an inflation-busting Christmas roast dinner at less than £4 a head, as well as more special offers and low prices on party food and puddings are now available in store and online at Sainsbury’s.
Through its relentless focus on price, Sainsbury’s has been able to hold the price of a traditional fresh Christmas dinner against last year, so customers can be reassured they won't be paying more for their traditional roast dinner despite current inflation levels.
This bold new step comes after Sainsbury’s also made its biggest ever September value offer, with £65 million being spent across the business to help ease the pressure on households through Autumn. Sainsbury’s is committed to doing everything it can to support customers with the cost of living and by March 2023 the retailer will have invested over £550 million in value, the most Sainsbury’s has ever spent on battling price inflation over a two-year period. This is 10% more than the original £500 million target Sainsbury’s set out in May earlier this year.
Simon Roberts, CEO of Sainsbury’s said: “We really understand millions of households are having to make really tough decisions this Christmas and our job is to do everything we can to help with the rising costs of living.
"We're accelerating our commitment to being the best value, investing a further £50 million in lowering prices and doing everything we can to fight inflation and help our customers enjoy celebrating this year. We know everyone wants to enjoy a special Christmas meal together which is why we’re keeping inflation at bay and offering Christmas roast dinner for less than £4 per head, that's even cheaper than it was last year.
“I'd like to thank every one of my colleagues who are working tirelessly to deliver a brilliant Christmas for our customers. Our entire team at Sainsbury’s are working together to offer the best value, innovative new products and leading customer service. We’re all looking forward to welcoming our customers into stores and online at this special time of year.”
As well as the affordable Christmas dinner, there are lots of other ways to save money with Sainsbury’s throughout the festive season. Sainsbury's Customers will find great offers on party foods and fresh festive products online and also in stores, plus meal deals and fantastic seasonal offers, including save a third on Taste the Difference Party Foods like Mini Crab Thermidor Crumpets and Christmas Tree Vol Au Vents and save a third on Taste the Difference Cheeses.
A spokesperson added: "Every day value is at the heart of Sainsbury’s plan and more money is also being invested to keep prices low on the items customers buy most often. Our Aldi Price Match still focuses on frequently bought fresh products and Price Lock continues to lock the price of lots of household essentials, including 20% more own-brand products.
"Meanwhile, Nectar will continue to offer customers rewards and My Nectar Prices is available through SmartShop, helping customers see how much they are spending and offering them personalised price reductions."
World's top ten most Christmas destinations
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| Image credited to Pexels.com |
Experts at luxury cruise company, Panache Cruises have identified the ten most picture-perfect Christmas destinations where tourists can feel like they’re in a Hallmark holiday film.
A festive trip abroad is the perfect way to switch up your Christmas traditions, as holidaymakers can see how the jolly season is celebrated in different parts of the world.
December is a time when cities all over the globe get their festive gear on, but some places really go all out for the Christmas festivities.
These festive places make tourists feel as if they’re walking in Christmas Wonderland with their magical markets, snowy villages and dazzling Christmas lights.
Northern Europe is especially popular during Christmas time because it offers snowy landscapes, festive traditions and beautiful architecture.
James Cole, who is the founder and MD of Panache Cruises said: “While it's said there's no place like home during holidays, seeing these extra-festive locations may convince you otherwise.
“Holiday spirit is guaranteed in these destinations, as they feature beautiful Christmas markets and offer plenty of winter activities for the entire family.
“Planning a little festive escape will also allow families to take some time off during the busy holiday season.
“Northern Europe is known for its snowy white Christmases, so countries like Finland, Denmark, Iceland and Estonia are very sought-after destinations during the holiday season.
“A great way to explore the hidden gems of Northern Europe is to sail off on a cruise ship and tick off several festive cities from the list all in one trip.”
Here are Panache Cruises’ top ten most festive destinations:
1. Lapland, Finland
The snowy forests in Lapland are considered to be the home to Santa Claus. Tourists can have a true winter experience by lodging in igloos and visiting Father Christmas Village and Santa Park, where they can go on a reindeer safari and sled with huskies.
2. Copenhagen, Denmark
Ice skating is a very popular holiday tradition in Denmark, so there are several ice rinks spread out all throughout Copenhagen. Another important Christmas tradition is a trip to the Tivoli Gardens amusement park where visitors can go on rides, meet Santa and see water and light performances.
3. Reykjavik, Iceland
Tourists visiting Reykjavik can experience a very special Christmas under the glowing northern lights. There are plenty of winter activities to engage in, such as visiting ice caves, glacier hiking and snowmobiling. Visitors can try traditional Icelandic Christmas food at a Yule Buffet and try Christmas craft beers at markets.
4. Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn’s Old Town becomes truly magical in the winter months. The cosy and authentic Christmas Market held at the Town Hall Square was named Europe’s best in 2019. Its enormous tree and wooden stalls invite people to explore handmade goods and watch festive shows while enjoying a warm cup of glögi and nibbling on gingerbread cookies.
5. Vienna, Austria
Vienna has some of the best Christmas markets in the world, with the oldest dating back to the 13th century. The markets have an old-fashioned charm with festive carousels, twinkling holiday decorations, nativity displays and legendary Vienna Boys Choir concerts.
6. New York City, US
Many festive films are set in New York and there’s a good reason for it - Christmas time in New York is truly magical. There are many festive sights to enjoy, from the iconic tree and ice skating rink at Rockefeller Centre to festive window displays on Fifth Avenue.
7. Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg is known as the ‘Capital of Christmas’. The villages in Strasbourg come alive during holidays with festive illuminations and the whole city transforms into one big Christmas market spread over ten sites.
8. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague’s main Christmas market is set up in the middle of the beautiful, gothic Old Town. Visitors can go ice skating, sing carols, explore the stalls and indulge in local delicacies.
9. Edinburgh, Scotland
The streets of Edinburgh are filled with holiday lights, music and markets during Christmas. Tourists should definitely go and watch the Christmas at the Botanics festive light display show at the Royal Botanic Garden.
10. Nuremberg, Germany
In Nuremberg visitors can experience the real old-fashioned German Christmas Market. The Nuremberg Christkindlesmarkt is crammed with wooden booths where traditional yuletide treats such as gluhwein, bratwurst and gingerbread can be bought.
To find out more about booking a cruise to visit some of the top festive destinations, visit https://www.panachecruises.com.
Don’t let callous car thieves steal your Christmas
Experts at Quotezone.co.uk have revealed over one in ten Brits leave their precious presents in the car during the festive season, presenting an ideal opportunity for heartless thieves to ruin Christmas.
New data from Quotezone.co.uk reveals that 11% of us admit to leaving gifts we have purchased for loved ones in our cars while we continue our Christmas shopping or enjoy a night out.
The car insurance comparison experts also asked 1,000 drivers if they'd experienced a vehicle break-in, with almost one third, 31%, confirming they had.
Now they are warning car owners to be more careful this year and ensure that presents are kept in the safety of the home, or at least well hidden from view in vehicles.
Better still, take presents straight home from the shops and get them wrapped and placed under the tree.
Greg Wilson, who is the Founder of Quotezone.co.uk said: “It must be a terrible feeling to have carefully chosen or sentimental Christmas presents stolen from a car just before the big day.
“Our data shows that almost one third of drivers have experienced a car break in, yet 11% of us still leave presents in a parked car. Christmas is a time of goodwill but sadly for some thieves it’s a time of opportunity.
“It’s also an incredibly busy time of year, drivers need to remember to be careful and always keep presents hidden out of sight under the boot cover or in the glove box, ideally parked next to a streetlight on a busy street. If the car is left unlocked or the stolen items are in full view, it may invalidate an insurance claim.
“Fully comprehensive car insurance usually includes cover for some possessions damaged or stolen from a car but there’s usually a cap on this amount. If drivers know they’ll be travelling to see family this Christmas and have a large sack of expensive gifts in the car, it would be worth informing their insurer to double check they’re covered and potentially increase the price cap temporarily. Also don’t forget to keep all receipts, they may be needed if they have to make a claim.”
To further prevent car break ins, drivers should park in a well-lit, populated area, ensure that all windows are rolled up, and consider installing a steering-wheel lock, car tracker and immobiliser – if the car doesn’t have one as standard.
Car security is really important any time of the year, but especially during the festive period with expensive and sentimental presents in danger of being stolen and ruining Christmas.
If cars are broken into, drivers should take photos, identify the damage and inform the police – obtaining a crime reference number, also inform the car insurance company as soon as possible.
www.Quotezone.co.uk helps around 3 million users annually find useful savings on everyday household bills and essentials, such as fully comprehensive car insurance.
Saturday, 3 December 2022
Help for hard of hearing Christmas gift buyers is here
LiveChatDirectory, a UK-based directory of business live chat apps aimed at hard-of-hearing (HoH) users, has recently implemented a new feature on its website designed to help users track their orders with Evri, Royal Mail, and other major providers.
The service was launched in an effort to provide HoH internet users with a more functional, intuitive experience when placing online orders.
The LiveChatDirectory team firmly believes this new feature will make it easier for HoH users to have their orders delivered without mishaps or delays, and coupled with the company's large-scale directory of live business chat apps, it enables more streamlined customer service experiences in case of issues with orders.
The live chat market has rapidly grown in popularity over recent years, with online chat for business becoming a major aspect of web-based customer service across business to customer and business to business markets.
LiveChatDirectory provides its users with a simple, efficient interface for quickly locating the specific business chat app they require, without having to visit that business’s website and search for its customer services page.
With the majority of LiveChatDirectory's user base falling within the HoH population, the company leveraged its large-scale database of business chat services to provide users with increased functionality, when a user places an order online, they can view and track its parcel delivery directly on LiveChatDirectory.
The UK is home to over 11 million people who have hearing-related issues. The UK's HoH population utilises live business chat services to resolve customer service matters, preferring this method of communication over time-consuming and often-frustrating customer service telephone calls.
Adding a parcel tracking feature to its service offering has enabled LiveChatDirectory to provide UK HoH persons with a more enjoyable digital experience when using business services online.
Per market research firm Research and Markets, the live chat software market was valued at just over £629 million in 2020 and is on track to exceed £1.4 billion by the year 2030, marking one of the UK's most explosive customer service technology trends. As internet services continue to grow at a rapid pace, live chat apps will continue to play a major role in customer and client service scenarios for businesses across nearly all industries and sectors.
To learn more visit https://www.livechatdirectory.co.uk.
(Image courtesy of Satheesh Sankaran and Pixabay)
Top nutritionist's tips for healthy eating over Christmas
Caroline has operated clinics in Wiltshire, the Cotswolds and online for more than a decade. She is a specialist in gut health, digestive issues and menopause
It's all too easy to overlook simple things you can do during the Christmas festivities to help you stay on track with your healthy habits.
There will be days when you could overindulge, but that doesn't mean the whole Christmas period is a healthy eating write off!
I know many people, writes Caroline, who value ideas so that they can still enjoy themselves yet want to avoid unnecessary overindulgence.
Always remember to stay well hydrated. A typical person requires about 2L of fluid daily and hydrating fluids are those to aim for: water, flavoured water (naturally flavoured EG. with lemon or cucumber), fruit and herbal teas or very well diluted cordials. When it's cold it's tempting to drink more tea and coffee but they act as diuretics and a stimulant so include some herbal teas instead.
You should avoid arriving at a drinks party hungry. Not only will any alcohol you drink have a more rapid effect, but you'll also be tempted to reach for too many crisps and peanuts. A small protein smoothie or a couple of oat cakes with peanut or almond butter are good options before you head for the party.
If you are at a drinks party, be careful of all the pastries such as sausage rolls. Pastry is white refined flour and to the body it's just sugar. A piece of cheese is a better option (fats don't make us fat, but sugars do). Look for higher protein foods like (ideally unsalted) nuts; and those with the least amount of pastry.
Start your day (including Christmas Day) with a sustaining breakfast. It must include protein such as cheese, eggs, smoked salmon or a full fat Greek yoghurt. Protein helps you stay fuller for longer and helps prevent overindulgence on snacks that are a guaranteed way to add weight.
If you're going to Christmas dinner parties, try to remember "protein, vegetables, carbs" in that order: do I have enough protein to eat (meat, fish, pulses, lentils, eggs); do I have plenty of vegetables to eat (the more the better); do I really need so many potatoes (pasta, rice)? It's starchy carbohydrates that contain sugars that can lead to weight gain so resist a large portion!
It's still possible to practice mindful eating even on Christmas Day, itself. This means taking a pause before tucking in, taking smaller mouthfuls, really enjoying the tastes and textures as you chew and generally slowing down. Most people eat far too quickly. Not only does this cause digestive difficulties but overconsumption, too. Your stomach doesn't have a chance to recognise when it's full when you're eating at speed.
Try to intersperse an alcoholic drink with water or flavoured water. Alcohol contains a lot of sugar and is a rapid way to gain weight.
Hungover? A bowl of porridge with 1-2 heaped dessert spoons of seeds and nuts will set you up for the day. Or a couple of eggs on a slice of toast. The seeds, nuts and eggs provide good fats and protein to help stabilise your blood sugar for the day ahead.
Caroline is running an online seven day programme starting Monday 9 January called "Get set and Go - kickstart 2023" for only £10. This programme provides seven days of education, motivation and realistic nutrition and lifestyle advice to help you set healthy habits for the year ahead. To register email Caroline at caroline@peytonprinciples.com
Got a Secret Santa to buy for? WonderDays has the perfect gifts
Secret Santa has officially become a firm and favoured tradition in British workplaces and if you need some inspiration for Christmas 2022, WonderDays has released some great office secret Santa gift ideas.
In its latest Christmas gift guide, the UK's most flexible experience day company offers plenty of ideas for alternative office secret Santa gifts.
Top 10 Secret Santa Experience Day Gifts includes classic Christmas gift experiences, like driving days and afternoon tea, alongside more unusual ideas with a wellbeing subscription service, urban beekeeping and axe throwing.
Customer Service Manager Shaun Howells is the one in charge of the WonderDays office secret Santa Shaun explains: "We always set an upper budget for any secret Santa gifts, which really does encourage some very creative and fun gifts among the team."
He went on to say: "Unusual secret Santa gifts can bring that bit of extra fun to the workplace at Christmas. We've seen some really imaginative Christmas gift ideas from our team over the years, from homemade hampers with the recipient's favourite things to the virtual wellbeing subscription service we now have on offer ourselves."
However, it should be realised that Secret Santa is not just for the workplace.
It can also be a way for families, especially larger ones, to do Christmas gift buying without breaking the bank, according to WonderDays marketing manager, Maria Wilkinson.
"Christmas gift experience ideas can make brilliant secret Santa gifts for families too," said Maria.
"If you have a particularly large family, everyone choosing one person to buy for as their secret Santa means everyone gets a Christmas gift to open, while keeping Christmas budgets down.
"With our experience day gifts starting from just £9, we think giving them something to do as their secret Santa is the perfect Christmas gift."
WonderDays is a UK experience day company launched in 2022 to offer a more flexible and simple buying experience than any other business for those looking for the perfect gift of things to do.
Offering quick and simple online exchanges should customers change their mind after purchase, it’s the only company that also offers fully customisable experiences for any number of people.
For more information, visit the WonderDays website here https://www.wonderdays.co.uk.
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