Latest news with #TOLGAAKMEN
Wales Online
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
London Grammar tell LIDO Festival fans they hope ‘music can bring us together'
London Grammar tell LIDO Festival fans they hope 'music can bring us together' The indie pop group captivated crowds at the show in London's Victoria Park on a balmy Sunday night London Grammar are playing The O2 (Image: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images ) London Grammar's lead singer said she hoped "music can bring us together" amid the "sad" state of the world, as the band headlined LIDO Festival. The indie pop group captivated crowds at the show in London's Victoria Park on a balmy Sunday night. The band, made up of lead singer Hannah Reid, guitarist Dan Rothman, and keyboardist Dominic "Dot" Major released their latest album, The Greatest Love, in September last year. Against a backdrop of raging conflicts around the world, Reid, 35, said the timing of the performance was "poignant" for her. Addressing the festival crowd, she added: "I'm struggling to be honest, the world's not a very nice place at the moment, and it's really, really, sad. "Sometimes I think being a musician and a singer doing these shows can feel a little bit self-indulgent, I guess, or that we're here having a good time when so many people in the world are suffering. Article continues below "And I swore to myself that I would never, ever give a speech like this on stage. "Day one, at the start of our career, I was like: 'I'm never going to be that person.' Because I've seen many men, many male musicians, no offence guys, give really long speeches that go on and on about the world. "So I'm going to stop now because I'm not going to do that. But thank you so much for being here with us tonight. I wish the music can bring us together, just for a moment." Wearing a black top and black skirt, Reid said the band were "three friends who have always been best friends since day one". Her haunting vocals, which could equally feature on the soundtrack of a David Lynch film as headline act of a festival in Tower Hamlets, were in evidence as the band launched into their first song Hey Now. Reid, who has spoken in the past of her "terrible stage fright" and building "a career off vulnerability", cut a confident presence on stage despite having to restart her third song, Kind of Man, after forgetting the lyrics. Appearing on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour last month, Reid said the "process of becoming a mum" had given her the perspective to enjoy shows in a way that she previously struggled with when the band launched into the public eye over a decade ago. Reid told the crowds on Sunday that the band's other musicians had changed positions on stage for the first time. She said: "We've been performing together for 15 years. This is the first time ever, and I wasn't sent the memo, that the boys have switched around on either side of me." A hit with the audience was the band's version of Nightcall – a cover of a Kavinsky song which became widely known after it was featured in the 2024 Paris Olympics closing ceremony. Reid's soaring vocals at the end of Wasting My Young Years also prompted cheers and applause from the crowd. London Grammar fan Zoey Axton, 27, said she enjoyed the band's "moody and electric set". Ms Axton, who is from San Francisco, USA, added: "It was the perfect vibe for a Sunday evening." The band formed after Reid and guitarist Rothman met while they were students at the University of Nottingham in 2009. Sunday's wider offering at Victoria Park had a contingent of dance artists in line with other LIDO festivals, headlined by UK bastions Charli XCX and Jamie xx, featuring Roísín Murphy and Neil Frances. Article continues below Reid previously said the festival would showcase "women being really strong and making themselves vulnerable at the same time". Other performers compiled by London Grammar for the festival included soul singer Celeste, Pip Millett, Wasia Project, and Maverick Sabre. Named after Victoria Park's historic Lido Field, the music series was announced last autumn.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Sainsbury's major change in stores has sweet treat lovers 'gutted'
Sainsbury's decision to ditch food item from stores leaves shoppers 'gutted' The supermarket has axed a popular dessert range from its stores, with shoppers told not to expect it back Supermarket shoppers will have noticed the change if they enjoyed the sweet treats (Image: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images ) Sainsbury's customers have been told not to expect to see a popular fresh dessert line on the shelves anymore. The confirmation came after a customer asked online and received information straight from the supermarket about the decision to discontinue the range. Patisserie Valerie, known for its cakes, pastries, and continental desserts, had partnered with Sainsbury's since 2017. Initially available in select bakeries, Patisserie Valerie's offerings soon expanded to hundreds of stores across the country. The partnership featured some of Patisserie Valerie's most sought-after items, such as the Salted Caramel and Chocolate Bombe, Strawberry Gateau, Baked Cheesecake Slice, and celebratory cakes like the Triple Chocolate Delight. However, these delights are set to vanish from Sainsbury's aisles. A customer, @Paigemwhitehead, reached out on social media, asking: "@Sainsburys, do you still sell the Patisserie Valerie range?" The supermarket's official account replied: "Hi there, unfortunately, this range has been discontinued." Another shopper discovered the disappearance of the dessert range from the stores, reports the Mirror. They wrote: "Oh no! The Patisserie Valerie counter in Sainsbury's has gone! #gutted". Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below Searching for these goodies on Sainsbury's website doesn't bring up any results. Even if you stumble upon a page through Google, the cakes are listed as 'out of stock'. Shoppers need not feel completely left out, though. Patisserie Valerie continues to operate its standalone cafés and offers a UK-wide cake delivery service through its online platform - but the convenience of nipping into your local Sainsbury's for their treats will be no more. This news follows Sainsbury's announcement that it will shut down its remaining patisserie, hot food and pizza counters by early summer. This decision is part of Sainsbury's efforts to refine the shopping experience for its customers in-store. Shoppers won't see the cakes in store any more, a spokesperson confirmed (Image: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images ) Industry experts at Ceres report that Sainsbury's executives are implementing these changes as part of a "cost-cutting initiative aimed at simplifying its operations". This strategy encompasses more than just the discontinuation of certain products. Sainsbury's is also piloting its own version of scan-and-shop technology, which shoppers might already recognise from Asda and Tesco stores. Currently, this trial involves only two supermarkets and eliminates the need for traditional checkout lanes. Article continues below Customers can simply pay, print their receipt or opt to have it emailed, then return the scanning device to the designated SmartShop stations before exiting the store. The feature already exists in the Sainsbury's app, but this move would open it up to more customers. That test is still ongoing, with a further rollout of the scheme not yet confirmed.
.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D1200%26auto%3Dwebp%26quality%3D75%26crop%3D3%3A2%2Csmart%26trim%3D&w=3840&q=100)
Scotsman
23-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Sainsbury's: fresh food counter service cuts explained
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now The supermarket is switching up how it bakes — and shoppers might notice the difference 🍞 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Sainsbury's is to close its remaining patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters by early summer Scratch bakeries are also to be replaced with 'bake-off' model, finishing pre-made items in-store 61 in-store cafés have already shut, with around 3,000 jobs lost across recent changes Popular products will move to main aisles, and new hot food 'On the Go' hubs will launch The changes part of a wider cost-cutting strategy amid challenging economic conditions A major UK supermarket has confirmed when it will permanently close three popular fresh food services. Sainsbury's first announced it was closing its remaining patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters in January as part of a major update. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Though no specific timeline was given at the time, a more concrete timeframe has been unveiled as part of the supermarket's latest financial results. The news comes shortly after the closure of 61 in-store cafés on April 11, which the supermarket said were no longer being used regularly by customers. The wider restructuring also includes cuts to head office roles, with around 20% of senior management positions set to go. (Photo: TOLGA AKMEN/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images Altogether, the closures of cafés and service counters are expected to result in the loss of around 3,000 jobs - about 2% of Sainsbury's 148,000-strong workforce. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The company says the changes are part of its strategy to 'simplify the business' in response to a 'particularly challenging cost environment.' When will Sainsbury's patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters close? Sainsbury's confirmed it will permanently close its remaining patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters by 'early summer'. To replace the affected services, Sainsbury's will relocate the most popular items from the patisserie, hot food, and pizza counters to its main aisles. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It also plans to launch new 'On the Go' hubs with 'flexiserve hot food offerings' from Autumn 2025. Are Sainsbury's bakeries changing? In a low-key update as part of the firm's financial results, Sainsbury's quietly revealed it is phasing out its scratch bakeries in favour of a "bake-off" model. In bakery terms, 'bake-off' refers to a process where products are partially prepared off-site - often frozen or par-baked - and then finished in-store. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is a shift from the scratch bakery model, where items like bread and pastries are made from raw ingredients and baked fresh on the premises each day. Sainsbury's says the change will drive 'improvements in quality, value and availability throughout the day', but the move may impact the freshness and variety that shoppers associate with 'baked in store' goods. Bake-off systems typically reduce the need for skilled bakers and can result in more uniform products, but may lack the artisanal freshness of scratch-made items. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
