Poundland has announced plans to roll out a ‘Free From’ food range – making it easier for people with food allergies and intolerances to access items without needing to visit specialist health food shops.
Following a successful trial in selected sites over recent months, Poundland’s ‘Free From’ range is set to be expanded to over 300 stores in the UK.
Made up of more than 30 specially-selected items, the range includes dairy-free and gluten-free items such as bread and rolls, porridge, milk, biscuits, cakes, rice, snack bars, pretzels, vegan latte sachets and more.
The range is stocked with items from leading specialist food brands such as Alpro, Eat Natural, Nakd, Schär and Trek.
It is not certain at this time how many Greater Manchester-based Poundland branches will see the new range introduced.
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It is expected, however, that items will be available to order online for those in pilot delivery areas.
Poundland’s ‘Free From’ range caters for people with food allergies and intolerances / Credit: Poundland
A post showcasing the new range shared on the ever-popular Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group seems to have gone down really well with budget-savvy shoppers this past week, having racked up over 8,000 interactions and comments.
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News of the wider roll-out follows a successful trial at 16 stores – having been launched last July.
The discount retail chain said the free from range had been “enthusiastically welcomed” by customers.
“Our pilot scheme showed just how much awareness there is about Free From foods such as dairy-free and gluten-free and how important they are to people with allergies and intolerances,” said Glyn Hughes, Poundland’s Head of FMCG Trading.
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“They want to be able to buy them as part of their regular shop and now customers at hundreds of our stores will be able to pop them in their basket at Poundland’s amazing prices.”
Everything inside the Sephora VIP goodie bags worth more than £1,000
Daisy Jackson
Sephora opening in Manchester has been causing a bit of a stir, with more than 2,000 people queueing up this week to try and nab a free goodie bag.
And while the presents being handed out to the public are pretty impressive, it’s nothing compared to the VIP goodie bags given out at the store’s official launch on Wednesday.
A number of celebrities, influencers, press and other special guests were invited to have a sneak peek of the huge new shop at the Trafford Centre before its official opening to the public.
At the glittering celebration, VIPs were given a glimpse at the huge range of products on offer inside Sephora’s first UK store outside of London.
Those in attendance included actor and TV presenter actor Katie Mcglynn, TV personality Caroline Thomas, actress Alex Fletcher and radio one presenter Natalie O’Leary, Real Housewives of Cheshire, Love Island personalities, and professional footballer Courtney Duffus.
Special guests of Sephora were then sent home with the goodie bag to end all goodie bags, stuffed full of full-sized cult products.
And having totted up the value of everything inside, we can confirm that each goodie bag is worth more than a grand (£1092.93, to be exact). Wowsers.
Olaplex No.3Viral hair product minisBrazilian Bum Bum CreamJust a few of the cult items inside the Sephora VIP goodie bags. Credit: The Manc Group
Viral products inside include Makeup By Mario lipstick, Olaplex, Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, Glossier You perfume, and MorrocanOil hair treatments.
There are also TikTok sensations like the Dr Jart Tiger Grass treatment, which comes out of its tub green but magically turns beige on the skin, cancelling out redness.
And Tarte’s take on the revolutionary tubing mascara, which comes off your lashes with only water and a wipe, was also chucked in.
The most high-value items in the Sephora goodie bags were an Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream worth £64, Caudalie’s brightening serum at £52, and a Neom candle for £38.
Mancs can apply to be paired up with two potential partners for a ‘unique’ Channel 4 dating show
Emily Sergeant
Those who consider themselves to be pretty unlucky-in-love can now apply to take part in one of the most “unique” dating shows on TV.
Following the undoubted success of the first series – which has been airing on E4 for the past couple of weeks now, before concluding last Thursday (9 May) – Channel 4 has now put out a nationwide casting call for people to take part in the next series of its newest dating game show, Love Triangle.
And the show’s producers are calling on singletons from Greater Manchester to stick an application in.
Mancs can apply to be paired up with two potential partners for a ‘unique’ TV dating show / Credit: Channel 4
Unfamiliar with Love Triangle?
Based off the US and Australian programmes of the same name, the UK version is a so-called “supersized” take on the show, and it seeks to “turn everything you know about dating on its head”.
In what is a first of its kind for UK television, the brand-new relationship format asks six courageous singles to reject all the conventions and pitfalls of modern app-based dating in favour of a “radical” new approach.
Channel 4 is currently casting across the UK for the next series of Love Triangle / Credit: Channel 4
The six contestants will first choose a love match from two potential suitors.
One match embodies each single’s usual wants, type, and desires, while the other reflects their deeper and more “fulfilling” romantic needs.
After choosing one of the suitors to date, the other will then make a “shocking surprise return” to form a love triangle, and then, after dating and living with both suitors, each single faces a choice – they must pick one of their matches to “pursue lasting love”.
The casting call for contestants on the Channel 4 website reads: “In this unique relationship series reflecting dating in the real world, unlucky-in-love singles are matched with two potential partners, who each tick different boxes of their wants and needs, in the hopes of finding long-lasting love.”
To apply for the show, you just need to be 18 years of age or older, a resident of the UK, and crucially, single and “looking for love”.
Emily Sergeant -
27th July 2021 
