Toast
Toast is a BBC Radio 4 business podcast in which journalist Sean Farrington digs into once-famous products and brands that somehow ended up finished — or at least badly burnt. Each episode traces a single business idea from its launch, through its rise, to the point where it faltered or disappeared, told by the people who were there at the time. Archive audio, industry experts and fans of the brand help chart the story. Serial entrepreneur Sam White listens along without knowing the subject in advance, and at the end offers her own wry verdict on why it failed and what can be learned. The subjects range from big tech to high street retail and food, with the occasional tale of a brand that survived in a different form.
Episodes
Welcome to Toast
BBC business journalist Sean Farrington introduces the series that uncovers the stories of brands and products that soared to success yet somehow still ended up toast. What made them so special? Why did they disappear?The series now has its very own feed which will be the new home of Toast on BBC Sounds.All the previous episodes are available right now in the new Toast feed and the new series begi
Orange
Orange was once one of the most recognisable brands in Britain — a mobile network with its iconic slogan “The future’s bright, the future’s Orange”, it helped turn mobile phones from elite business tools into everyday essentials.But while the Orange name still exists globally, its mobile service disappeared from the UK. So what happened?BBC Business journalist Sean Farrington investigates how Oran
Izal Medicated Toilet Paper
Izal medicated toilet paper was once a staple of British bathrooms - a curious cultural icon, remembered as much for its distinctive feel as for its antiseptic promise. Produced for decades by the Sheffield‑based company Newton, Chambers & Co., Izal became woven into the fabric of schools, hospitals and public buildings across the UK.So how did a product that was everywhere for so long, end up
Paperchase
Why did the popular stationery chain, Paperchase, end up closing all of its shops?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates in the company of resident entrepreneur, Sam White. Paperchase was founded by two former art students in the late 1960s and went on to become the design darling of the high street, known for its charming greeting cards, wrapping paper, stationery, gifts and a
EasyCinema
The EasyJet founder, Sir Stelios Haji-Iannou, tried to shake up the cinema industry by introducing low-cost movie theatres. Tickets were priced as low as 20p for customers who booked in advance. So, why didn't EasyCinema take off?Stelios speaks to the BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, reflecting on his attempts in the early 2000s to bring to UK cinemas the same dynamic pricing that had re
Wilko
Wilkinson - or Wilko as it became known - was a privately-owned family business that had been successful for decades, offering low-priced household products from its chain of high street stores. So why did it falter during a cost-of-living crisis when people were looking for value? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how its stores ended up toast, in the company of resident
Farepak's Christmas Hampers
What led to the collapse of the Christmas savings club Farepak? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him.It's our Christmas special and we're turning the clock back to the mid 1960s…. and looking at a business which started from humble beginnings in a Peckham butcher's shop, and went on to change Christmas for tens of thousands of
C&A's UK Stores
The fashion chain C&A continues to thrive elsewhere so why did it shut all its UK stores? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how they ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White.C&A used to be one of the biggest fashion retailers on the UK's high streets until a shock decision in 2000 led to the stores' sudden closure.To he
Skype
Why did Skype fall out of favour in a world of global video calls?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with the entrepreneur, Sam White, alongside him.Sam never knows what's coming so, at the end of every episode of Toast, she gives her off-the-cuff and authentic professional opinions on why a brand disappeared based on what she has just heard and her own business knowhow. In
Dasani Water
Dasani water, a bottled water from Coca-Cola, proved a big hit in the U.S.A so why did it last for less than 6 weeks in the UK?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates how it ended up toast, in the company of resident business expert and entrepreneur, Sam White.In the early 2000s, Coca-Cola had entered the growing bottled water market and was hoping to turn its hit new brand in A
BlackBerry Smartphones
How did the company behind the revolutionary BlackBerry smartphone lose its grip on the handset market?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates with special guest, Sir Stephen Fry, who has remained 'faithful' to the BlackBerry brand. Alongside them is the entrepreneur, Sam White, who at the end of the show has to reach her own conclusions on why BlackBerry handsets disappeared, b
Homebase
Homebase was once one of our leading home improvement chains so, why did it have to close all of its stores?The BBC Business journalist Sean Farrington investigates.Alongside him is the entrepreneur Sam White, who at the end of the show has to reach her own conclusions, based only on what she has heard and her own business acumen.Homebase was established by the supermarket chain Sainsbury's and a
FHM
FHM was the men's magazine that sold vastly more copies than any of its competitors but still ended up toast. So, why did its publishers stop printing it while other men's magazines survived? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, charts its highs and lows in the company of four of FHM's former editors.Alongside them is the entrepreneur, Sam White, who has to use her business acumen to reac
Nike's FuelBand
Nike's FuelBand was among the first fitness trackers to be launched and was worn by sports stars including the tennis player, Serena Williams. So, why did Nike give up on it so soon after its launch?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, is joined by Nike's former Vice President of Digital Sport, Stefan Olander, to get the inside story on what happened to the successful product. Alongside
Freeserve
Freeserve rapidly became the UK's number one internet service provider within months of its launch in 1998, yet the brand disappeared almost as quickly. So, what happened? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, investigates. Alongside him is the entrepreneur, Sam White, who at the end of the show has to reach her own conclusions, based only on what she has heard and her own business acumen.
Woolworths
Woolworths was once a family favourite with well over 1,000 UK stores selling everything from kitchenware to pick and mix. So, why did the business collapse when other general retailers were on the rise? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, charts the company's highs and lows before asking 'what went wrong at Woolies?'. Alongside him is the entrepreneur, Sam White, who at the end of the s
Phones 4u
The mobile phone retailer, Phones 4u, was hugely profitable, so why did it have to close all of its 700+ shops? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington and the entrepreneur, Sam White discover how Phones 4u ended up toast with help from expert guests including:John Caudwell - Phones 4u founder Nikki Barrow & Chris Papageorgiou - former Phones 4u staff membersIan White - editor of Mobile
Dan-Air
Dan-Air was one of Britain's biggest airlines and took millions of people on their first package holidays. So, why did such a successful business end up 'toast'? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, and the entrepreneur, Sam White look into it. They are joined by:-Graham Simons - Dan-Air historian and author of the book 'The Spirit of Dan-Air'-Jackie Stacey & James Hoffmeister - forme
Our Price Records
Our Price Records was one of Britain's biggest music retailers offering cut-price albums at over 300 local high street stores. So, why did the chain disappear even before the internet transformed the music industry?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, and the entrepreneur, Sam White, examine the retailer's fortunes. How did it manage to become so successful? And why did it end up 'toast'?
Kodak
Kodak made photography mainstream so why did it falter in a digital age? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers how Kodak rose to become a massive global enterprise best known for its cameras and film. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes.Kodak is still trading profitably but is now a much smaller business than
Reader's Digest UK
Why did we lose Reader's Digest magazine when it is still going in America?The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers what happened to the brand which started over a hundred years ago and became the most widely read magazine in the world. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes. How did a magazine which pinched articl
Safeway UK
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
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
Mothercare's UK Stores
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,
Vine
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, Sam
Little Chef
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
Jamie's Italian
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, whi
Commodore Computers
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 ex
Club 18-30
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 first b
Sunny Delight
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?In
Toys R Us
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 s
Sinclair C5
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses which had promised so much to consumers.You can contact us at toast@bbc.co.ukIn each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea which ended up toast, examining the reasons behind the failure and discovering what can we learn from
Friends Reunited
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses which had promised so much to consumers.You can contact us at toast@bbc.co.ukIn each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea which ended up toast, examining the reasons behind the failure and discovering what can we learn from
Blockbuster
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses 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 people back it? Why did they get burnt?Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also brought us so
Olestra
While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of wonder products and businesses 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 people back it? Why did they get burnt?
Some of the world’s most successful businesses have also b
Google Glass
From the team behind the hit series, Sliced Bread. Sean Farrington investigates wonder products and businesses which promised so much to consumers.... but ultimately ended up toast. Sean is joined by the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, to conclude what went wrong. Together they look at why a product or business failed, and what we can learn from their stories today. In th
Introducing Toast
Greg Foot introduces a new series from the team that brought you Sliced Bread.In Toast, Sean Farrington examines the wonder products and businesses that promised so much at launch but ultimately crashed and burned. With the help of industry experts, he asks what went wrong and what - if anything - they could have done differently.
