Friday 10 October 2025: PR & Marketing News Round-Up | ASDA, Joe Wicks, TikTok, ChatGPT, Tesco
In this Friday’s PR & Marketing News Round-Up, food headlines take centre stage with bold launches sparking conversation and retailers stepping up menopause awareness. We also explore ChatGPT’s groundbreaking new app integrations set to transform digital experiences and get the lowdown on the viral TikTok trends lighting up social feeds right now.
Read on for more….
Retailers join the movement to increase awareness around menopause
Ocado and Asda have partnered with GenM to launch dedicated menopause aisles featuring 165 MTick-certified products and educational point-of-sale materials across 186 Asda stores and online, supported by in-store radio and advertising campaigns.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: This marketing initiative not only drives sales of trusted wellness brands but elevates awareness around menopause symptoms and solutions. By meeting an underserved need and championing inclusivity, Ocado and Asda’s campaign stands out for its innovative use of retail to foster loyalty, enhance wellbeing, and reinforce their reputations as platforms for good.
Tesco celebrates 10 million fruit & veg donations
Tesco’s latest out-of-home campaign, spotlights the donation of more than 10 million portions of fruit and veg to UK schools, using playful sticker imagery to connect with children and raise awareness of healthy eating. The campaign is a strategic extension of Tesco’s ‘Every Little Helps’ platform, celebrating both its social impact and commitment to supporting vulnerable communities.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: The initiative is highly effective and reinforces Tesco’s reputation as a purpose-driven brand. The campaign leverages emotional storytelling to foster positive public sentiment through high-impact OOH placements, gaining maximum visibility.
Joe Wicks launches “Killer” protein bar and TV documentary
There’s been lots of conversation this week about Joe Wicks’ “Killer” protein bar. The provocative campaign is designed to expose the reality behind many popular protein snacks. The "Killer" Bar, labelled as “Britain’s most dangerous health bar” contains 96 ingredients—including controversial additives like aspartame and mimics the misleading claims found on typical protein bars, boasting 19g of protein and 200+ health benefits. The bar also carries dramatic health warnings about cancer, stroke, early death, as well as high levels of calories, sugar, and saturated fat. Launched in collaboration with Dr. Chris van Tulleken, the launch was part of a wider campaign which featured on Channel 4 this week called “Joe Wicks: Licensed to Kill”.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: Backed by health influencer Joe Wicks, this campaign instantly made headlines. Since the documentary aired, numerous food experts and scientists, including Tim Spector have joined the complex debate. The dramatic stunt is designed to lobby the government to implement stricter laws and introduce black warning labels like those in South America.
The rise of TikTok soap operas
TikTok-style soap operas are short, serial dramas of 1-3 minute episodes. They are rapidly growing into a global entertainment phenomenon. These bite-sized dramas often feature fast plots with cliffhangers and have surged in popularity and revenue, rivalling traditional streaming giants like Netflix and Hulu.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: Designed for doomscrollers, the short, cliffhanger-heavy episodes create habitual viewing and high repeat engagement, ideal for brand storytelling and retention. Could this be the next generation of streaming?
Chat GPT launches built in app service
OpenAI's latest launch reveals apps integrated directly within ChatGPT, allowing users to access services like Spotify, Booking.com, and Expedia through natural conversations. With this new feature, users can create playlists, book holidays, search for homes, and complete tasks conversationally inside ChatGPT.
Why it matters for PR & Marketing: This marks a shift toward transforming ChatGPT from a pure chatbot into a versatile interactive platform and "operating system" for everyday activities. Watch this space.
Final Thoughts
From big, bold stunts to female focussed awareness campaigns, brands are tapping into cultural conversations to drive relevancy and make headlines. Whether it’s Asda driving forward conversations on menopause, or Joe Wicks’ controversial protein bar launch and TV documentary, the brands winning attention are the ones tackling societies challenging topics.
Want to see your campaigns excel? Message us! lara.leventhal@visiblepr.co.uk