Hails & Fails – November 13th 2026
This week’s Hails & Fails brings together five-star sausage rolls, a sweet twist on the late-night kebab and a nostalgic Friends reunion. Greggs is giving its famous sausage rolls the VIP treatment with a luxury hotel suite, Krispy Kreme is serving up a sugary take on the classic kebab, and Quince is bringing Ross Geller’s iconic red sweater back into the spotlight. Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian’s Skims has found itself on the naughty list, with its £110 advent calendar sparking backlash over its disappointing contents and prompting the brand to offer customers refunds.
HAILS
Greggs rolls out the five-star treatment
Greggs is taking its sausage rolls to new heights with the launch of its first-ever luxury hotel suite at Newcastle’s five-star Hotel Gotham. The permanent room, decked out in the bakery chain’s signature blue and gold, features a dedicated golden telephone allowing guests to order freshly baked sausage rolls delivered on a silver platter. The first 96 stays will also receive limited-edition Greggs merchandise, including branded dressing gowns, slippers and eye masks, in a nod to the 96 layers of its famous puff pastry. With a portion of every booking supporting the Greggs Foundation, it’s a clever way of combining luxury with the brand’s down-to-earth personality, turning a humble sausage roll into a five-star experience that’s already attracting national attention.
Krispy Kreme serves up a sweet twist on the late-night kebab
Krispy Kreme is giving Britain’s favourite post-night-out snack a sugary makeover with the launch of its ‘Doughner Kebab’ van in London. Created by ARK Agency, the neon-lit van features a rotating tower of Original Glazed doughnuts, with strips carved off and served kebab-style alongside a choice of ‘Garlic Mayo’ (Original Glaze) or ‘Chilli Sauce’ (Strawberry Glaze). The two-night stunt at Truman Brewery also gives visitors the chance to win a year’s supply of doughnuts by sharing a photo on social media. It’s a brilliantly playful way of putting a fresh spin on an iconic product, tapping into Britain’s late-night food culture while creating a visual spectacle that’s made for social media.
Quince proves it's still there for Friends fans
Fashion brand Quince is bringing a classic Friends moment back to life, reuniting David Schwimmer with the famous red sweater that helped reveal Ross Geller as the father of Rachel’s baby 25 years ago. The new festive advert sees Schwimmer chasing his dream cashmere jumper through the streets of New York, only to discover that everyone seems to have one except him, including a dog. Marking the brand’s first major celebrity-led campaign, the film puts a nostalgic twist on its message of making quality clothing accessible to everyone. It’s a clever way of tapping into a much-loved TV moment, using humour and a familiar face to introduce Quince to new audiences while keeping its product firmly in the spotlight.
FAIL
Skims' advent calendar leaves customers feeling short-changed
Kim Kardashian’s Skims has found itself on the naughty list after its $148 (£110) advent calendar sparked widespread backlash over its disappointing contents. Promising twelve days of surprises, the calendar instead left shoppers unimpressed with an assortment of hair ties, clips and keychains, with some social media users comparing the items to things found down the back of a sofa. The criticism quickly spread through TikTok unboxing videos, prompting Skims to contact customers and offer full refunds or store credit. While the brand has acknowledged that the calendar didn’t meet everyone’s expectations, the controversy has turned a festive product launch into an unwanted PR headache. It’s a reminder that premium pricing comes with premium expectations, especially when disappointed customers can share their experiences with millions online.
