Iceland have made the decision to ditch its Christmas advert this year to "supportcustomers" through the cost of living crisis.
It’s that time of year once more… the retail Christmas adverts are being released thick and fast.
So far already this year, ASDA, M&S, and Aldi are among the major retailers that have released some seriously headline-grabbing – an occasionally controversial – TV ads, and, of course, John Lewis has had Brits talking about its 2023 offering like the annual event it is.
But Iceland has decided not to join the unofficial competition this year, and instead, has taken a bit of a different approach.
Rather than spend millions creating and sharing a TV ad, we chose to invest the money supporting our customers during the cost-of-living crisis. No-brainer. #DoingItRighthttps://t.co/a02tYmcaSD
With the rising cost of living crisis sadly continuing to make its impact felt nationwide, and thousands of families once again struggling to cover all the expenses that come along with the festive season, the supermarket has decided to take the route of “supporting customers” over investing in a promotional Christmas campaign this year.
Iceland’s executive chairman Richard Walker called the decision to ditch the advert a “no brainer”.“
As a business we were faced with a decision,” he said in a statement to Grocery Gazette, “Do we spend millions creating and sharing a TV advert or do we invest the money supporting our customers during the cost of living crisis?
“This was a no brainer for us. I am grateful that as a family-run company, we can make the decisions we believe are right for our business and our customers.”
Image: Iceland
Walker said that the supermarket has chosen to invest in “keeping prices low” for customers instead, through initiatives such as its Christmas Bonus Cards Saving scheme – which gives shoppers £15 back when they top up £100 – as well as deals such as a turkey roast dinner bundle for up to 10 people for just £30.
The frozen food retailer has also notably slashed prices on over 1,000 household staples, and has expanded its £1 value range too.
Iceland has been met with praise for its decisions this festive season, with many taking to social media to share their reaction’s to Mr Walker’s announcement.
Image: Iceland
One customer wrote on X: “At last someone who has the right values and puts his money to doing good … We need more doing the same”, while another called it “brave and brilliant”, adding: “The Christmas ads must cost an absolute fortune, so to pass the savings on to your customers is the right thing to do. Well done Iceland.”
“Definitely the right approach,” another satisfied shopper wrote.
“Personally, I’m less likely to shop somewhere that can waste millions on glossy adverts. I prefer to buy from independents and I’ve also started shopping at Iceland because I believe in your ethos”.
Another shopper commented: “I love Iceland. Instead of “can I interest you in these products” at checkout to entice further purchases, they instead ask “can I interest you in purchasing these for your local food bank.”
“It’s a lovely gesture from a fantastic community centric supermarket.”
A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.
Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.
The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.
Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.
In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.
With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."
In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.
The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.
Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.
You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.
It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.
Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.
Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."
He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."
We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.
Leeds city centre set for hundreds of new flats after council agrees sale of ‘prime’ development site
Clementine Hall
It looks like even more new flats could be popping up in Leeds city centre.
The land in question is located near Leeds' Aire Park development, next to The Adelphi Pub in a prime location smack bang in the city centre.
It's looking like over 240 flats could be built on the site after the council has agreed to sell the coveted plot of land to a housing developer.
The current land that is surrounded by heritage assets has been sold by Leeds City Council to property developer Glenbrook.
A planning application from Glenbrook proposed mostly 246 one and two bedroom apartments in a whopping 24 storey development.
Around 20% of the homes would be classified as affordable housing, being rented out at 80% of the current private market rate.
The application will be discussed when the council's City Plans Panel meets next Thursday 14 May.
A council planning officer’s report said: “The emerging proposals present a significant opportunity to regenerate a prominent vacant brownfield site within the city centre.
“The development would deliver a substantial number of new homes, alongside the provision of some employment opportunities.”
A council decision report when selling the plot back in 2022 said: “It is surrounded by heritage assets in an area undergoing rapid regeneration and is widely considered to be a prime plot capable of supporting a high quality residential development.”
Well then Leeds, what do you make of these plans then?
Emily Sergeant -
15th November 2023 
