News 15.11.2019

Need to Know

Amazónico takes guests on a journey through cuisine, Microsoft trials a four-day working week and the leather debate draws to a close.

A multi-sensory restaurant inspired by the Amazon

Amazónico, London
Amazónico, London
Amazónico, London

London – Amazónico takes diners on a sensory journey through taste, touch and sight.

Newly opened in Mayfair, the restaurant is inspired by the culture and culinary heritage of the Amazon region. Its eclectic menu, which features a range of Latin American cuisines and contemporary fusions, includes everything from traditional Brazilian dishes to Peruvian sushi. This is complemented by live music, verdant décor and design that invites discovery.

With its tropical plants and use of natural materials, the design of the venue is intended to give the impression of a trip down the Amazon river. Nightly jazz performances will entertain diners in the restaurant, while a resident DJ programme will play Latin American music in the lounge and bar. For private occasions, guests can also hire a rainforest-themed private dining room.

‘Our mission is to make every visit unique and different, with Latin American emotion and passion at its core,’ says co-founder Marta Seco. For more on how restaurateurs are raising the bar with elevated eating and drinking experiences, read our Discovery Dining microtrend.

Microsoft trials successful four-day week in Japan

Japan – The technology giant has introduced a range of new flexible working styles in a culture known for its systematic approach to work.

Microsoft Japan trialled both a three- and four-day working week in Japan this summer, with a notable 40% rise in productivity among staff members. The Work Life Choice Challenge ensured all offices were shut for one day a week in August 2019 and that regular employees took paid leave. To encourage time and headspace away from work, Microsoft subsidised external eductional courses and expenses related to family trips and leisure activities.

As a result of its success, the company intends to officially implement a four-day week by summer 2020. As more people realise 12-hour working days are not sustainable, many are taking a more flexible approach not just to work but also to family and home life.

For large corporations such as Microsoft, however, there is a responsibility to adjust perceptions of work culture, particularly in regions like Japan and India where workers are known for their strong devotion to work.

Microsoft rebranding by Microsoft and Tendril

Hendrick’s targets bartenders with lower-abv absinthe

Hendrick’s Absinthe, UK Hendrick’s Absinthe, UK

UK – The spirits brand is looking beyond gin as it moves into distilling absinthe for the first time.

While gin’s growth has been unstoppable in recent years – with Hendrick’s always sitting comfortably among competitors – the British brand is pivoting with a new product and unique selling point: flavoured absinthe. Its new spirit features rose and cucumber essences in a nod to Hendrick's gin, and is bottled at 48% abv – lower than most absinthes in the market, making it a more enjoyable spirit for mixing into cocktails.

The brand is targeting bartenders with the launch, repositioning the spirit in a bid to drive creativity in the drinks sector. ‘It’s all about creating a fresh, lighter liquid that’s aimed at being mixable,' says Ally Martin, global brand ambassador for Hendrick’s. ‘We’ve re-imagined absinthe as an incredibly complex, unique and interesting spirit.’

For more on how British spirits brands are innovating in a gin-saturated market, read our latest drinks market.

Stat: Consumers are losing interest in animal products

A new survey of US and UK consumers by Morning Consult suggests that leather producers could be in trouble as more people shun animal products. The findings reveal that 37% of people in the UK and 23% in the US think leather is an inappropriate material to use in clothing, indicating that the shift has already begun on the mass market.

Interestingly, over 20% of all respondents in both countries said they had changed their mind about the material in the past five years, which could be a result of better understanding of synthetic alternatives. A global boom in plant-based lifestyles is no longer solely fed from vegans and vegetarians, but also from the average consumer that is recognising the planetary and ethical issues that come with making such products.

Previous News Articles
Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

News

Key takeaways from Live Retail Week and The Grocer 2025

At Ocado, the three key principles driving its double-digit growth ambitions are clarity, culture and collaboration, according to Amit Chitnis, chi...
Retail : Food & Drink : Events
Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

News

Equinox and Stripes Beauty launch luxury menopause spa experience

The Spa by Equinox Hotels has partnered with pro-ageing beauty and wellness brand Stripes Beauty to introduce a high-tech, luxury wellness spa circ...
Health & Wellness : Luxury : Travel & Hospitality
Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

News

Stat: Teens say Victoria’s Secret Pink is one of North America’s coolest brands

According to YPulse’s annual Cool Brands Report, released in early 2025, 71% of North American teenagers say it is important that the brands they p...
Fashion : Youth : Society
LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

News

LS:N Global Just Got Smarter

Meet our new AI tool, Ember.
The Future Laboratory
The Ordinary’s new platform shatters skincare myths

News

The Ordinary’s new platform shatters skincare myths

The Ordinary is dispelling skincare myths with its new platform, TheTruthShouldBeOrdinary.com.
Advertising & Branding : Beauty : Health & Wellness
Stat: Super Bowl smashes viewership records

News

Stat: Super Bowl smashes viewership records

Fox’s broadcast of the 2025 Super Bowl LIX drew a record-breaking 126m viewers across platforms, cementing its place as the most-watched Super Bowl...
Sports & Leisure : Advertising & Branding : Pop-culture & Media
Harrison Ford brings Hollywood charm to Glenmorangie whisky

News

Harrison Ford brings Hollywood charm to Glenmorangie whisky

Scotch whisky distillery Glenmorangie has unveiled actor Harrison Ford as its new global ambassador.
Advertising & Branding : Food & Drink : Pop-culture & Media
Hims & Hers takes on obesity crisis in provocative Super Bowl ad

News

Hims & Hers takes on obesity crisis in provocative Super Bowl ad

Telehealth brand Hims & Hers made a bold debut at the Super Bowl with a provocative 60-second ad addressing the US obesity epidemic.
Health & Wellness : Society : Advertising & Branding
Women less confident in Bank of England amid inflation pressures

News

Women less confident in Bank of England amid inflation pressures

New research from the University of Oxford reveals that women trust the Bank of England (BoE) less than men and feel more financially squeezed by i...
Finance : Society : Identities
Stat: US wellness economy surpasses £1.6 trillion milestone

News

Stat: US wellness economy surpasses £1.6 trillion milestone

The US wellness economy has officially surpassed £1.6 trillion ($2 trillion, €1.9 trillion) for the first time, according to a new report from the ...
Finance : Health & Wellness : Society
You have 2 free News articles remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN