In this week’s podcast we begin with our cover feature on companies with brand power. We unpack why consumer staples are under pressure, the competitiveness of consumer health and share the story of how Sensodyne toothpaste became a staple product. As company results season is in full swing, we pivot only slightly to two consumer brands that have reported results this week, Haleon and Reckitt Benckiser. We discuss what has gone well for the companies as well as the concerns ahead. Last but not least, we cover the recently rejected bids for Direct Line and Currys. Could these rejections be a sign that boards are growing more optimistic, or just that they think shares are massively undervalued? Dan Jones is joined by Jennifer Johnson, Mark Robinson and Julian Hofmann Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.