For decades, two multi-national giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, have been competing for one of the world’s biggest consumer markets. And now they face a tough competition from Asia’s richest man. Mukesh Ambani’s company - Reliance Retail, has launched its own cola brand - Campa Cola. With its vast retail network and aggressive pricing strategy, we find out how this has intensified the so called 'cola wars' in the country. Produced and presented by Devina Gupta (Image: A group of young people drink...
Jan 22, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Today we’re in Jeddah, looking at how Saudi Arabia went from a Kingdom where cinemas were banned to a rising star in the film industry. We hear from Saudis revelling in new-found freedoms and foreign filmmakers lured in by cash incentives. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Emily Wither (Picture: US actor Johnny Depp poses for a picture with a fan on the red carpet of the awards ceremony of the Red Sea Film Festival in...
Jan 21, 2025•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast We are in the Central American country of Guatemala to hear how temporary work permits to the United States are changing some Guatemalan’s lives. We find out how this circular migration is benefiting both businesses in the US, and the economy back home in Guatemala. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter/producer: Jane Chambers (Photo: Sandra Noemi Bucu Saz in her plot of land that she rents with her family in Guatemala. Credit: Jane Cham...
Jan 20, 2025•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The French businessman was Director-General of the WTO from 2005–2013, and European commissioner for trade for five years from 1999 – 2004. Ed Butler speaks to Pascal Lamy about the trading relationships between the US and China, and the US and the EU, what a second Trump presidency might mean for world trade. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Producer: Amber Mehmood (Picture: Pascal Lamy, photo taken in Paris, November 2022. Credit: Getty Ima...
Jan 17, 2025•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast We look at what a second Donald Trump presidency could mean for Africa, hearing from economists and business owners. We explore some of the existing trade pacts between the US and Africa, and consider the significance of remittances - the money sent back home by African migrants living overseas. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Michael Kaloki (Picture: Then President Donald Trump walks with the former Kenyan Presiden...
Jan 16, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump has said he will impose new tariffs on goods entering the US from Canada on his first day in office. Tariffs are a central part of the President-elect's economic vision - he sees them as a way of growing the US economy, protecting jobs and raising tax revenue. But some warn they could inflate consumer prices. We look at how Canada is preparing, hearing from those in key sectors like farming and car manufacturing, and explore how the resignation of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trud...
Jan 15, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Even before taking office, President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose huge trade tariffs on Mexico, deport millions of undocumented Latino migrants out of the United States and crack down on the flow of drugs like fentanyl from Latin America into the US. And he's threatened to take control of the Panama Canal and re-name the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America”. He has criticised the BRICS group of developing nations – which includes Brazil – for floating the idea of a new currency...
Jan 14, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast As US president-elect Donald Trump prepares to re-enter the White House, global trade has become a contentious issue. Mr Trump has threatened to impose tariffs – that is taxes at the border – on all goods imported from a host of nations, including neighbours Canada and Mexico as well as economic rival China. That risks igniting another trade war, with companies and consumers around the world affected. Has global commerce always been so contentious? Rob Young looks at some of the key developments...
Jan 13, 2025•23 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sam Fenwick meets the renowned fashion designer and shoemaker, Jimmy Choo. From learning the craft under his father's guidance in Malaysia, we hear about his journey building a fashion empire in London, starting from the basement of a run-down hospital. Today, Jimmy Choo, who now designs for fashion house The Atelier, wants to share his knowledge with a new generation. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Amber Me...
Jan 10, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In our second programme looking at the future of the world's ports, we head to the South American country at the centre of a global tug-of-war between China and the US. One key infrastructure project, in the small Peruvian fishing town of Chancay, is caught in the middle. We speak to businesses and locals about what's happening. Produced by Natalie Jiminez Presented by Ritika Gupta (Image: Aerial view of the Chancay "megaport" in the small town of Chancay, 78km north of the Peruvian capital Lima...
Jan 09, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In October 2024, dockworkers in the US went on strike for three days. Members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) walked out at 14 major ports along the east and Gulf coasts, halting container traffic from Maine to Texas. A tentative agreement was made over wages, and they've just returned to the bargaining table to negotiate "all other outstanding issues". This includes plans to introduce automation to the ports. In the first of two programmes looking at the future of ports, w...
Jan 08, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast At the end of October 2024, deadly flash floods and torrential rain hit the Valencia region of Spain. More than 220 people were killed. As well as claiming lives, the disaster also devastated livelihoods. Valencia's chamber of commerce estimates that 48,000 companies have been affected. Ashish Sharma visited the region shortly after the flooding, to speak to businesses and workers affected. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Produced and presen...
Jan 07, 2025•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast How will countries handle challenges like rising debt, inflation, and political tensions? And what new opportunities might arise as the world adapts? The BBC’s Economics Editor, Faisal Islam, and our Chief Economics Correspondent, Dharshini David, join Ed Butler to discuss the year ahead. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Producer: Izzy Greenfield (Picture: Numbers 2-0-2-5 printed on blocks of wood, each sitting on top of a stack of coins. Cre...
Jan 06, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We meet the CEO of software firm, Forterro. Dean Forbes twice became homeless as a teenager, then got dropped from a career as a professional footballer. He points to that failure as a key moment in his eventual success, because it made him more determined. Now the business executive has topped a list celebrating influential black Britons. (Picture: Dean Forbes. Credit: Getty Images) Presented by Theo Leggett Produced by Theo Leggett and Sam Clack
Dec 20, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We explore the ongoing fascination of the Lehman Brothers story. A play - The Lehman Trilogy - is currently being shown in London to five-star reviews. It documents the rise and fall of the financial services firm, which filed for bankruptcy in 2008 - the largest insolvency in history, and considered a defining moment in the global financial crisis. The play has been seen by half a million theatregoers globally - and now Business Daily has been to watch it too. We speak to the cast, adapting pla...
Dec 19, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast How has Lapland, the northernmost region of Finland, become a global hub for the Christmas economy? Known as the official home of Father Christmas, Lapland attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year - generating significant revenue. We head to the most popular Christmas spot, Rovaneimi, to hear how a resort there benefits from this tourism. And the head of the tourist board, Sanna Kärkkäinen, tells us how records are about to be broken. Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield Report...
Dec 18, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Skincare used to appeal to an older demographic, often with the aim of slowing down visible signs of ageing. But as trends in skincare have evolved, with ever more products on the market, the audience has grown too. Children as young as eight are now saving up their pocket money to buy different creams, serums and moisturizers. But some of these products contain active ingredients, not designed for their young skin - and this can lead to problems. Dermatologists have told the BBC they're seeing ...
Dec 17, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We’re in snowy Skellefteå in northern Sweden, where hundreds of people are looking for work after losing their jobs at Europe’s largest electric battery factory. Will the crisis at green tech company Northvolt impact future investments in the region — and damage Sweden’s reputation? Produced and presented by Maddy Savage (Image: Northvolt workers at the factory. Credit: Northvolt)
Dec 16, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Upasana Taku is the co-founder of an app that changed the way millions of Indians use digital technology to make payments. Mobikwik now has more than a 150 million registered users. When Upasana set up the business in 2009 with her co-founder Bipin Preet Singh, India was still a cash-dependant society, but having worked for big tech companies in the US, Upasana knew there was a gap in the market. Devina Gupta asks her about her decision to leave a high-powered job in the US to move back to India...
Dec 13, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast It was hailed as a wonder material that would transform industry – and all our lives. But 20 years on, companies are still racing to commercialise it. We speak to the people working with graphene and find out what sort of products their developing. Produced and presented by James Graham (Image: Graphene slurry, containing graphene and polymer binders, sits in a beaker inside a laboratory at the National Graphene Institute facility, part of the The University of Manchester. Credit: Getty Images)...
Dec 12, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In July, South Africa unveiled a new coalition government, after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party lost its majority in May's elections. The coalition was welcomed by the business community who said it would ensure economic stability. So what's happened since? And will any optimism last? We hear about a reduction in power cuts - also known as loadshedding - and positivity on the stock market, as well as young people who are looking forward to the future. Produced and presented by ...
Dec 11, 2024•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast How do online platforms profit from our anger? In this episode, we explore the business of 'rage-baiting' – content designed to provoke outrage and drive engagement. We hear from creators who thrive on stirring emotions, critics warning of its societal impact, and academics explaining why anger is such a powerful tool online. From its role in content algorithms, to the dangers it poses offline, we uncover the economics behind the clicks. (Picture: A man dramatically gestures towards his laptop, ...
Dec 10, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Donald Trump's return to the White House has raised big questions about what he'll do to the US' growing green energy sector. On the campaign trail he promised to undo Joe Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, the biggest piece of climate legislation in US history. The IRA gives incentives and tax breaks for green industries and has created hundreds of thousands of jobs, many of those in Republican voting states. President-elect Trump also pledged to end offshore wind "on day one" and reverse emissio...
Dec 09, 2024•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Japanese billionaire is the founder and president of Fast Retailing, parent company of Uniqlo. He's the richest man in Japan, and despite being in his 70's, has big plans to grow the company even further. We speak to Tadashi Yanai about fast fashion, Chinese manufacturing, and global expansion. And we find out how Japan's richest man spends his leisure time. Produced and presented by Mariko Oi (Image: Tadashi Yanai in 2017. Credit: Getty Images)
Dec 06, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Earlier this year, Manchester City midfielder Rodri issued a warning that players were "close" to taking strike action over their increased workload. Rodri played 63 competitive games for club and country last season. But a recent report found that a player welfare 'red line' was a maximum of between 50 and 60 matches per season, depending on a player's age. Some of the game's biggest names have joined Rodri in threatening to walk out, and the union that represents them is launching legal action...
Dec 05, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast We find out why, in a country famous for championing gender equality, some women are choosing to become stay-at-home wives and girlfriends. The social media #softgirl trend is a small but growing minority, who say they do not want the stress of juggling family and work. They want a 'softer' life - with more balance and not having to focus on a career. It has triggered cultural and political debates across Sweden where feminism has been a part of mainstream politics since the 1950s. Producer/pres...
Dec 04, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ghana is a global gold mining powerhouse and Africa's biggest producer. The informal mining sector of gold – known locally as “galamsey” - is a big election issue here. There have been recent marches demanding tougher action against illegal miners in Accra. But illegal mining is also a major source of employment. More than a million Ghanaians make their living from galamsey. We hear from local galamsey miners and look at the negative impact this industry is having on both the workers in terms of...
Dec 03, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the first of a two part series ahead of Ghana’s presidential election, we are in Accra asking how much the economy is influencing how people vote. The country has faced one of Africa’s worst financial crises in recent years, and the recovery seems to be underway, but is this translating to how workers and business owners feel? There are 13 presidential candidates, and we hear from representatives of the two front runners. We find out about their plans for the economy. Produced and presented b...
Dec 02, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast We speak to the great-grandson of the Italian coffee legend, about growing a family business into a global brand, balancing tradition with innovation, and even a light-hearted clash with Emily in Paris. (Picture: Giuseppe Lavazza at the company's coffee production and training facility in Turin, Italy. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Leanna Byrne
Nov 29, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Advent calendars have evolved from the simple cardboard doors or chocolate treats to a multimillion-dollar premium industry; with major companies using them as a powerful brand awareness tool. We find out why the design of an advent calendar is more important than ever, with many retailers investing in appearance and reusability; and we hear from environmental groups who are still concerned about the amount of waste. Plus - are the products in these more extravagant calendars actually worth the ...
Nov 28, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
