Asda staff hit the right notes in-store, ‘The Rocket’ fuels Aldi and Lidl’s social media presence and Alibaba sources a rather unusual product.

Asda staff hit the right notes at birthday bash

Musical Asda staff Andy Morrison and Cameron Presley entrtained customers in Bideford.

Musical Asda staff Andy Morrison and Cameron Presley entertained customers in Bideford

Asda employees struck a chord with shoppers as they put on a musical performance to mark the supermarket giant’s 50th birthday. Guitarist Andy Morrison and singer Cameron Presley, who Asda insisted is no relation to rock and roll legend Elvis, showed off their talents at the grocer’s Bideford store.

The duo serenaded shoppers with hits by the likes of Tom Jones, the Proclaimers and songs from Disney film The Jungle Book. It seems Asda is really staking a claim to be King of the Swingers when it comes to the store experience.   

The Rocket fuels discounters’ fire

Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan tweeted this picture as he voiced his love for discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan tweeted this picture as he voiced his love for discounters Aldi and Lidl

The discounters have regularly left their grocery rivals snookered by rock-bottom prices and witty ad campaigns, so it was perhaps no surprise to see one of sport’s greats reveal his love for the German retailers.

Five-time World Snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has amassed millions of pounds in prize money during his career, took to Twitter to hail the discount duo, posting a selfie while holding an Aldi bag, above the catchline: “Aldi and Lidl all day long. Save yourself a fortune, no brainer.”

O’Sullivan, who is known by snooker fans as ‘The Rocket’, will be hoping the grocer’s prices don’t follow the lead of his nickname. 

Alibaba offers cash for a donation

Alibaba paid men up to £520 to donate to sperm banks across China in a bid to boost China’s dwindling birth rate.

Alibaba paid men up to £520 to donate to sperm banks across China in a bid to boost the country’s dwindling birth rate.

Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba has been involved in helping secure an unusual item: sperm.

The etailer paid men between Yn3,000 (£312) and Yn5,000 (£520) to donate to sperm banks across China over a three-day period this month, with around 22,000 upstanding volunteers signing up.

“The purpose of the promotional campaign is to raise awareness of sperm banks in China and make it easier for them to reach potential donors,” Alibaba said.

Apparently the initiative is designed to boost China’s dwindling birth rate. At present couples relying on artificial insemination can wait up to one-and-a-half years for the service.

Perhaps the etailer is hoping the drive will prove fertile ground for increasing sales of pregnancy tests on its site.

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