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Asda launches red shopping baskets in stores to help singles meet the love of their life

64% of Brits apparently fancy someone at their local supermarket.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 12th February 2026

Asda has decided to launch red baskets in stores to help single shoppers meet the love of their life.

If there’s one thing we can all agree on, it’s that dating in the modern world isn’t easy, right?

According to new Asda research, 94% of Brits say modern-day dating is hard to navigate, but what’s also clear is that face-to-face interactions still hold a special place – with a resounding 87% of people saying it’s better to meet someone in real life than on a dating app.

In fact, 77% of singles saying they’re not currently active on a dating app at all, and to top it all off, 64% say they fancy someone at their local supermarket.

So, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner now, Asda has decided to take matters into its own hands by placing special red baskets in select stores, giving singles a simple way to signal they’re open to a chat while picking up bread, browsing the bakery, or grabbing a few treats.

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Unfortunately for us Mancs, the baskets will only appear in Leicester, Liverpool, and Glasgow, as this is where the research revealed people are most actively looking for love.

While the supermarket admits there’s no one ‘right’ way to meet someone, its research does suggest that 62% of couples who met face-to-face describe themselves as being ‘extremely happy’, compared with 51% of those who met online.

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And that sense of connection goes beyond romance too, as among those couples who met in real life, 71% of them say they ‘trust their partner 100%’, while 66% describe their relationship as a ‘deep friendship’.

“We know people are craving real-life connections, but we also know our customers are busy and don’t always have the time to put themselves out there,” a spokesperson for Asda admitted.

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“That’s why we’re turning the weekly shop into the ultimate meet-cute. These red baskets are a fun, light-hearted way to help people connect while they’re already doing their everyday shop – a simple, playful nudge to start a chat and maybe even spark a little romance.”

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60% of Brits apparently think Valentine’s Day is the ‘most stressful’ day of the year

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A new study has revealed that 60% of Brits consider Valentine’s Day to be the ‘most stressful’ day of the whole year.

And to be honest, who can really blame them?

In case you need a little reminder, the most romantic day of them all – also known as Valentine’s Day – is this weekend (14 February), and if the findings of some new research by popular chewing gum, Extra, is anything to go by, then that spells stress for more than half of the British population.

Many lucky – or unlucky – lovers have a story to tell about a time the big V Day has crept up on them, and so they have resorted to spending either the day before or the day itself running around as quick as they can trying to grab gifts and make last-minute plans in a bid to pass it off like they haven’t forgotten all about it.

Situations like this are probably why more than half (60%) of us consider Valentine’s Day to be such as stressful day, and even when we do remember, it can still be a pretty nerve-wracking experience.

60% of Brits apparently think Valentine’s Day is the ‘most stressful’ day of the year / Credit: Pixahive | Pexels

Valentine’s Day is among the top 10 times of year when people experience so-called ‘microstresses’, according to Extra’s research results – with one in eight (13%) feeling even more stressed around the day than at Christmas.

A quarter (24%) of survey respondents said they found that the pressure to have plans or a date on Valentine’s Day was the cause of their microstresses, whilst almost a fifth (17%) put it down to struggling to know what to buy their partner to celebrate.  

When it comes to here in Manchester in particular, the survey revealed that almost one in five (18%) Mancunians think knowing what gift to buy to buy for their partner on Valentine’s Day is a ‘microstress’, while Mancs also feel leaving it too late to get a good restaurant reservation is more of a microstress than the average Brit (14% vs 10%).  

‘Microstresses’ may feel harmless in the moment – but, just as a recent study in the Harvard Business Review has found, they can slowly build up over time and create more long-term issues for an individuals’ wellbeing.

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Apparently, the study found that one of the best ways to combat such microstresses is by taking time to “invest in close relationships” and take part in activities that “help to keep stresses at bay”.

So, what’s your thoughts on all this then? Is Valentine’s Day a cause of stress for you? Or do you see it as a walk in the park?

Featured Image – Andres Ayrton (via Pexels)

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Gig Review | Mika shines at the AO Arena in Manchester on the first night of his world tour

Aimee Woodcock Aimee Woodcock Mika Manchester gig review AO Arena 2026

Mika’s Manchester stop on his ‘Spinning Out’ global tour was a vibrant, high-energy celebration of all things pop.

Not happy with just walking on stage – this is Mika we’re talking about – he made his entrance on a spinning hamster wheel, bathing the AO Arena in kaleidoscopic lights. 

Opening with ‘Modern Times’ and ‘Eleven’ from his latest discography before leaning into one of the classics, ‘Relax, Take it Easy’, the atmosphere inside the packed arena felt charged.

His stamina was something that stood out from the get-go, delivering every track with that signature Mika flair, accompanied by choreography and a live band that matched his energy – no mean feat.

The production leaned heavily into colour and movement, with swirling visuals and playful stage design that mirrored the tour’s theme of motion and momentum with nods to themes of LGBTQ+ rights.

Working through this current album, and after a quick outfit change, we were treated to an a cappella intro to another classic, ‘Lollipop’ with Mika dressed in a full pink suit (and shoes).

Between songs, Mika’s easy rapport with the crowd added warmth and intimacy to the arena-sized performance.

He shared anecdotes and playful banter, encouraging the crowd to sing along, uniting the fans. 

Highlights included a rendition of ‘Grace Kelly’, which sparked one of the loudest reactions of the night, and a heartfelt performance of his more reflective ‘Happy Ending’ offered a welcome contrast to the glittering pop anthems.

Credit: Audio North

Ultimately, Mika’s Manchester show was more than just a concert; it was a true display of showmanship, artistry, and connection.

Blending theatrical pop with genuine emotional depth, he delivered a performance that felt both grand and deeply personal.

And for those of you wondering what seeing Mika on a big hamster wheel looked like, it was even more surreal than you can possibly imagine.

No, really…

@the.manc What a performance, hats off to Mika 👏 #themanc #mika #aoarena #manchester #spinningouttour ♬ original sound – The Manc

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For fans old and new, it was a dazzling reminder of Mika’s powerful ability to spin pure joy into a live experience

You can read our other recent review of a big Manc pop gig here in the city centre down below.

Review | ‘This is a night to remember, Manchester’ – Jason Derulo’s Co-op Live debut

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Manc Group

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