Sliced Bread

The UK market for air care products is expected to grow to £674 million this year - and for this episode, we're investigating just how these products tackle bad smells in our homes. Can air fresheners really "eliminate" stinky odours with science, or do they just smell nicer? And what does using them do for our air quality? That's what listener Conor from Manchester wants to know. He joins Greg in...

Is an LED face mask the secret to brighter, clearer, more youthful skin? Greg Foot is back with a new series of Sliced Bread to run a whole new batch of your suggested wonder products through the evidence mill. From car tyres to contact lenses, air fresheners to LED face masks, Greg will separate science fact from marketing fiction as he investigates whether each product is 'the best thing since s...

Why did Safeway's UK supermarkets disappear? Safeway was once one of our biggest supermarket chains, so why did it drop down the list of top performers before disappearing altogether? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, looks into it and speaks to the former Safeway director, Teresa Wickham, a former Safeway supplier, Judy Garner, and the News Editor, Ronan Hegarty, from The Grocer magaz...

Green Shield Stamps could be traded in for 'free' gifts so why did consumers abandon them? Sean Farrington examines their rise and fall and discovers how they spawned a famous retail chain which is still trading. The stamps were the centrepiece of an early form of loyalty scheme and were collected by tens of millions of people across the UK. They were given out by shops with every purchase and cou...

Why did Mothercare have to close all of their UK stores? Sean Farrington discovers what happened to the baby goods retailer which once dominated the high street. Alongside him, analysing Mothercare's fortunes, is the entrepreneur, Sam White. The pair hear from Tim Curtis who once ran Mothercare's website, catalogue and home delivery service; Amena Khan, a loyal Mothercare customer and Richard Lim,...

Why was the video sharing platform, Vine, closed down? Sean Farrington discovers what happened to the app which pioneered short, shareable videos on social media. Sean speaks to one of Vine's founders, Rus Yusupov, the Vine content creator, Eric Dunn, and the BBC's Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman. Alongside them all analysing Vine's fortunes is the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sa...

Why did the restaurant chain, Little Chef, disappear from our roadsides? Sean Farrington discovers what happened to the brand which brought us Jubilee Pancakes, Olympic Breakfasts and free lollies for the kids. At its peak, Little Chef had over 400 restaurants on most of our major highways and a turnover well in excess of £100m. So, how did such a successful business ultimately end up toast? Sean...

This one's all about mushrooms - not so much your chestnut, button or portobellos from the supermarket, but more the likes of lion's mane, reishi and chaga. These much-feted fungi are claimed to offer all sorts of benefits, from relaxation to disease-fighting properties. We've had loads of questions about products containing them, particularly around mushroom coffee. Is there any evidence that it'...

Is it better to wash your dishes by hand or use a dishwasher? This question from listener Eve has got to be among the most hotly contested debates out there. She wants to know which method uses more water and which is more energy efficient. To find out, we speak to a man who's spent decades studying the differences - Professor Rainer Stamminger from the University of Bonn in Germany. Eve also want...

Greg's getting electric for this one, as he tries out a tens machine. Tens (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) is a type of pain relief which uses a mild electrical current. They're marketed at all types of pain - but do they work? The NHS isn't convinced yet. Listener Patrick is one of many who have asked about these devices, so we got in touch with a a professor who's studied them for...

Which is the cream of the crop for your health and the planet? The supermarket shelves are fairly bulging with plant-based options for people who either prefer not to drink cow's milk or can't for health reasons like an allergy. Some have been around for a while - like soy, almond and the current best-seller in the UK, oat - but there are newer additions to consider like hazelnut, hemp and a drink...

Millions of us use fitness tracker watches to count how many steps we take each day - they also claim to tell us how we're sleeping and how stressed we are, as well as a host of other metrics. But how accurate are they - and are they the best thing since Sliced Bread? We've had loads of requests from you to look into fitness trackers. So with multiple watches on each arm, Greg's being put through...

What cookware is best for your kitchen? There is a bewildering array of pots and pans on offer: stainless steel saucepans, cast iron skillets, even 10-in-1 cookware systems that use layers of various materials. But do they deliver on their promises to help you reach culinary bliss? Listener Emily wants to know if the ones she's seen live up to the hype or are just marketing BS. What do all the mat...

Gum disease is extremely common in dogs - with some breeds particularly badly affected. So it's no surprise there are all sorts of products on the market offering to clean your pet's teeth - which might be particularly appealing if you don't fancy grabbing a toothbrush and doing the job yourself. As well as chews of many shapes and sizes, there are additives to water - and even seaweed extract to...

Are more expensive face creams worth it? I'm back with a new series of Sliced Bread to investigate more of your suggested wonder products and I'm starting with one of the most-requested so far. Do more expensive moisturisers, serums and oils live up to the hype? Can they result in smoother, brighter, firmer, healthier skin or is it all just marketing BS? Listener Aristide wants to know whether one...

What went wrong at Jamie Oliver's UK restaurant chain, Jamie's Italian? While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did it fail? What can we learn from it today? In this episode,...

Why did the best-selling computer manufacturer, Commodore, go bust? While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did it fail? What can we learn from it today? In this episode, Sean...

Why did the package holiday brand, Club 18-30, disappear? While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did it fail? What can we learn from it today? In this episode, which was firs...

Why did sales of the best-selling soft drink, Sunny Delight, suddenly bomb in the 1990s? While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did it fail? What can we learn from it today?...

Why did Toys R Us have to close all of its UK superstores in 2018? While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did it fail? What can we learn from it today? In this Christmas spec...

Can changing your sheets be good for you - and the environment? We've had loads of requests to look at the best way to make your bed - specifically, how all the different options for sheets and pillowcases compare. Cotton seems to be king when it comes to popularity, but is it justified? Listener Rosemary is a linen fan, but wants to know whether eucalyptus bedding lives up to the hype. How do its...

Which Christmas tree is better for the environment - real or fake? Everyone loves the smell of a freshly cut pine or spruce but the vast majority of them go to landfill. So would a plastic tree be better? Listener Eleanor wants to have a more sustainable Christmas and has some great questions. Is there a better way to dispose of your real tree? How about a pot-grown tree you could use again the ne...

Are expensive sports bras worth the money? Buying a sports bra can be a baffling experience, not least because of the marketing terminology which is full of buzz-phrases like 'high intensity support', 'specialist materials' and 'racer backs'. Listener Teresa has seen sports bras ranging in price from just a few pounds to three figures and wants to know if paying more means you get greater support....

Trying to buy a new vacuum cleaner can be a pretty confusing experience. Do you go bagged or bagless? Corded or cordless? Is it worth paying extra for something with anti hair wrap tech? Or forking out for a robot to do it all for you? That's what listener Sally is tempted by - she wants to know if a robot will clean as well as a regular handheld version. Listener Rachel wants advice on which feat...

Do the claims made about Ice Baths hold water? Social media appears to be filled with countless people sitting blissfully in small inflatable ‘ice baths’. Fans of such ‘cold water therapy’ claim that taking a chilly plunge will boost your energy levels, reduce your stress, help you sleep better, and supercharge your recovery after a workout. Listener Laura wants to know if the science backs that u...