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AS soon as I stepped inside Haribo’s first flagship UK store Kent’s Bluewater I was hit by a waft of its iconic sweets.

Headache inducing bright colours and bags and bags of treats, it was like being in the middle of bag of Haribo sweets.

Like most people, my childhood was spent gobbling packets of Starmix at birthday parties and pretending the jelly rings in the bag were edible wedding bands.

To this day, I am still partial to a bag of Tangfastics, with the fizzy cherries always being the first to go when I indulge in them.

Its Bluewater debut is Haribo’s first store in the UK that is outside of a designer shopping outlet.

The brand, mascoted by a little golden bear, already has 10 locations across factory destinations in the likes of Ashford and Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.

But by opening a branch in this mainstream shopping centre – that attracts 28million visitors each year – Haribo wants to reach more customers.

My eye was immediately drawn to the massive pic n mix stand in the middle of the shop.

Since the demise of Woolworth’s and Wilko on the high street, it’s been hard to get good pick and mix fix on the high street – and the Haribo shop didn’t disappoint.

I was overjoyed to see Heart Throbs, red and white liquorice, and fizzy cola bottles.

If you have ever tried to load up a bag of sweets at a cinema or market stall at Christmas, you know it’s very easy to fork out a small fortune.

This is largely due to the fact that vendors charge by weight after you have finished packing it.

So I was very pleased to hear that Haribo stores actually charge a set price for a box and let shoppers fill their boots.

It’s a similar concept to the make-your-own Quality Street tin that John Lewis rolls out at Christmas.

Prices at Haribo for a small tub start at £6.50 and for a medium this rises to £8.50.

I am told that shoppers have been known to fit a kilo worth into medium sized tubs, which is impressive.

For £12, punters can fill their own 1kg plastic tub, but again, if you can squeeze more in, you won’t be charged.

RARE FINDS

Haribo sweets are enjoyed across the globe by millions, with flavours and products varying from country to country.

It was fascinating to see a whole wall dedicated to bags of jelly sweets from the brand imported from the likes of Spain, Turkey and France.

Here you find bags of Happy Cherries and other rare finds that are not sold in other UK stores.

New stock from countries comes in every few weeks, so returning shoppers will have a chance to try lots of different variations.

Another unusual feature in the store, is Haribo’s giant 3kg bags of classic childhood sweets, such as yellow belly snakes.

Many will remember these from their childhood as they are often sold in plastic tubs in corner shops.

You can pick up a wholesale 3kg bag for £20 at Haribo Bluewater, which is good value considering they can sell for up to £26 at wholesale suppilers like Paperstone.

Shoppers looking to go on a trip down memory can also pick up 3kg bags of foam fried eggs and gummy bears.

These could be a cost effective and fun way to add a special touch to a wedding or big event if you placed the sweets in a lovely serving bowl or party bag.

BAGGING A BARGAIN

Guests of the store also have a chance to try new ranges Haribo which are launching in supermarkets at a discounted price.

When I visited the store, they were trialling their new Nostalgix range, which is inspired by classic flavours such as rhubarb and custard and pear drops.

Shoppers can pick up a bag of the sweets for £1.10, which is about 15p cheaper than at Morrisons.

Of course, the Haribo store is filled with walls and walls of its best selling products such as Tangfastics and Starmix.

The prices of these sweets are on par with what you would pay if you bought them at a supermarket at around £1.35.

But those looking for tubs and larger packets of sweets definitely have a chance to save.

This is because the store gives you access to wholesale sized products without having to pay a delivery fee or have a membership to one.

And if you are keen to visit a Haribo store, but not living near Bluewater or one of its outlet destinations, fear not.

The brand has told The Sun that readers should keep their eyes peeled for new locations popping up.

This includes a branch in Scotland which will open up later this year.

SHOPPERS are being warned about using a quick online payment option that could see you lose thousands of pounds

This ‘pay by bank’ option is used at online checkouts by popular online retailers such as WHSmith, Funky Pigeon, Just Eat and Ryanair.

It allows customers to pay for online shopping directly from their bank account without the need for a credit or debit card. 

But experts have warned that this payment option offers no protection if things go wrong – and you could be missing out on cashback too.

Most of the major UK banks, such as Natwest, HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds and Santander, are signed up to the scheme.

If you opt to use PbBa at an online checkout, you’ll need to select your bank and then login via biometrics or your password to complete the purchase.

Once in your bank app, you can view your balance before you pay and see it updated immediately afterwards.

Unlike online card transactions, there is no need to enter your long card number, CVV number, card expiry date, home address and contact details. 

Sounds great, right? In theory, this payment option is quick and easy, but paying this way could mean you don’t benefit from vital protection afforded to debit and credit card purchases.

This is because PbBA transactions are registered as bank transfers, not card payments.

Andrew Hagger of Moneycomms said: “Pay by bank app may seem like a quick and handy piece of smart phone tech when you’re shopping but consumers should be aware that these transactions are treated as bank transfers which means you won’t get protection from Section 75 for credit cards or chargeback on debit card payments.”

This lack of protection means that if something goes wrong – like your item never turns up or isn’t what you ordered –  it can be much harder to get your money back. 

Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 applies to purchases costing between £100 and £30,000 and makes the credit card company equally liable with the seller for providing a refund or compensation if something goes wrong. 

Chargebacks offer similar protection for debit card purchases, allowing customers to request refunds through their bank.

The method is cheaper for retailers as they don’t have to pay transaction fees. 

On smaller transactions, such as takeaways, it would only be a small amount of money at risk – but for bigger payments, such as holidays, then it could leave travellers unprotected if something goes wrong. 

Experts also warn that using PbBa could mean missing out on free money.

Money Expert director Liz Hunter says: “If you pay by bank transfer, and don’t use your debit or credit card to make a purchase, then you could be missing out on rewards and cashback that your bank may offer. 

“To receive certain rewards or cashback, providers will need you to pay using your debit card, credit card or Apple or Google Pay.

“As long as the cards connected to your Apple or Google pay are linked with accounts that receive cashback or rewards, then you should still receive cashback or rewards from purchases made with participating retailers.”

A WOMAN who paid £239 for her first-ever tattoo has been warned she made an “expensive lesson in stupidity”.

She had opted to have three star outlines inked behind her ear, and had proudly shared a picture of the etching on social media.

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An image of a woman’s wonky tattoo was shared on Reddit, with people saying she should sue[/caption]

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Her mum was against her getting a tattoo, so was “pretty happy” that it had turned out so badly and she’d been proved right[/caption]

However, one of her dad’s friends spotted the snap, and was left so stunned by the misshapen design that they decided to post it on Reddit.

“Daughter of a friend paid $300 (£239) for this s**t,” they wrote alongside the picture.

They also said in the comments section that the mum of the tattooed girl was actually “pretty happy” with the way it turned out – as she had been so against her getting an inking in the first place.

Other people in the comments were quick to weigh in, with pointing out that the price worked out at $100 (£79) a star.

“Star is very generous description of those things,” another said.

“Those are called ‘sarts’,” a third joked.

“Brother I’m sorry to tell you but you seriously got ripped off!” someone else insisted.

“I know a woman with a daughter who has a friend that knows a tattoo person that coulda hooked you up with 3 perfectly wonky stars that you’ve ever seen.”

“The tattoo ‘artist’ should have paid her $300,” another said.

“The person who did this robbed this girl,” someone else raged.

“And borderline disfigured her. She couldn’t have gone to a legit tattooer.

“This is typical scratcher work.

“Sorry, she should file a claim in small claims court for her $300 and the max in pain and suffering. This is so bad.”

“I would have called the cops,” another wrote.

With someone else pointing out: “You CAN sue a tattoo artist in small claims court for up to $10k.

“You need to print out a picture of the stars you wanted, then print out pictures from that tattoo artists Instagram or the shop’s Instagram proving reasonable assumption of what you expected to receive and file it with Small Claims.

“This would be a very simple case to win. Good luck!”

While another suggested: “It can be fixed.

“Wait 3 weeks to a month for it to heal and have someone do blacked out stars a tiny bit bigger to cover it.”

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Tattoos behind the ear are a popular placement choice[/caption]

A SUPERCOMPUTER has predicted the final Premier League table after Manchester United were dragged closer to the bottom three.

The Red Devils slumped to a 1-0 defeat to fellow underperformers Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

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Manchester United suffered defeat to Tottenham Hotspur[/caption]

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Liverpool are being backed to win the Premier League title[/caption]

The loss has left Ruben Amorim‘s side 15th in the table just 12 points above 18th-placed Ipswich Town.

It also means that Man United have lost three of their last five games with little sign of improvement.

To make matters worse, Amorim is now dealing with an injury crisis that saw him name EIGHT teenagers on the bench.

The club will have to contend without the likes of Amad Diallo, Luke Shaw and Lisandro Martinez for the foreseeable future.

There was little change at the top of the table as both Liverpool and Arsenal won, leaving the gap between the contenders at seven points.

With the latest results the supercomputer at CasinoHawks has predicted the final Premier League table.

The prediction is that Arsenal will fall even further behind in the race for the title and finish ten points behind Arne Slot‘s Reds.

Despite Man United being in crisis it is thought that the club will win five of their remaining 13 games to finish in 13th place.

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This would be the club’s worst-ever finish by five spots, but considering the current state, it could have been a lot worse.

This would put them above the predicted finish of Tottenham Hotspur who are expected to finish 14th.

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Arsenal will have to settle for another runners-up medal[/caption]

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Bournemouth are being backed for a top four spot[/caption]

The biggest shock made by the supercomputer is that Bournemouth will sneak into the Champions League spot.

The Cherries have been in great form recently, having won three of their last four games.

The club are being backed to remain ahead of Chelsea and chase down Nottingham Forest to snatch fourth.

Manchester City are also expected to continue on their improvements and finish in third place.

However, Pep Guardiola‘s side are believed to end TWENTY points behind winners Liverpool.

In terms of the relegation spots, the supercomputer is backing Ipswich Town to pull off a remarkable escape.

The Tractors Boy could catch Wolves and dump the West Midlands side into the Championship.

THE first thing we eat in the morning is usually the meal we spend the least amount of time thinking about.

As creatures of habit, we tend to reach for the same foods at the same time and not give it a second thought until the same time the next day.

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But if you knew that the first thing you eat on an empty stomach could be responsible for your wellbeing for the rest of the day – and your health for years to come – you might reconsider that first mouthful.

Top Harley Street nutritionist and author of Sunday Times best selling book The Science of Nutrition, Rhiannon Lambert says: “Overnight, your stomach is typically empty, so there’s no food to buffer stomach acid. 

“This could make your stomach lining more sensitive, especially for people prone to acid reflux or gastritis (inflammation).

“Your digestive system also slows down during the night while you’re sleeping, and without any movement, digestion isn’t as stimulated. 

“When you wake up, your gut motility (movement of food through the digestive system) is still getting started, which may contribute to morning stomach sensitivity.

“Not only that but the level of cortisol (the body’s natural stress hormone) in your blood, urine and saliva normally peaks in the early morning and declines throughout the day. 

“This peak can influence digestion and may contribute to gastrointestinal discomfort in some individuals.”

From bloating and indigestion to low mood and obesity, here are seven foods Rhiannon says you should avoid on an empty stomach to improve your health.

1. SUGAR

As it could irritate your pancreas 

SUGAR is never great news for your health.

But there are better, and worse, times to choose to consume sweet snacks.

Eating high-sugar foods on an empty stomach spikes your insulin levels much more quickly than when consumed with a stomach already full of nutritious foods.

This can very quickly increase your blood sugar levels and put unnecessary strain on the pancreas first thing in the morning, as it releases more insulin than usual to process the sudden influx of sugar.

Not only that, but when we have a sweet breakfast, we are much more likely to continue to consume sugar throughout the day as we “chase” the sugar high we achieved in the morning.

This means your pancreas is working extra hard all day.

And this is bad in the short and long term. Eating sugar on an empty stomach every day can lead to overall high blood sugar and triglyceride levels (which measures the amount of fat in your blood), which can increase your risk of diabetes, pancreatic cancer and acute pancreatitis.

To stay healthier, swap granola, pastries and jam for savoury options like eggs, avocado on toast, or low-sugar cereals like shredded wheat.

2. PROCESSED FOODS

As they can make you more hungry

STRUGGLING to control your hunger throughout the day?

If you’re constantly reaching for snacks and eating larger portions than you would like to, it could be down to the quality of what you’re eating on an empty stomach. 

Processed foods like crisps, biscuits, fizzy drinks and cereal bars are often high in preservatives, additives and artificial ingredients that can be hard on the stomach because they are unnatural and difficult to digest.

They also have very minimal nutritional value, which means they are largely just calories and flavourings rather than things that your body wants and needs, especially after a long break from food.

The trouble is, when you consume these “foods” your body is getting mixed signals.

It is both struggling to digest while also not getting enough fuel for the days and hours ahead.

You might consider yourself healthy by drinking orange juice in the morning, but it’s not a great idea

Rhiannon LambertNutritionist

Instead of filling up on good food, your body wants to eat more to find the nutrients it needs, so it spikes your hunger and causes you to over-consume. 

Pastries, mass-produced bread, margarine, flavoured yoghurts and energy bars usually fall into this category when bought from supermarkets.

Where possible, they should be avoided on an empty stomach – and in general – to prevent overeating and bolster long-term health. 

3. COFFEE

As it can negatively impact your mood and energy levels 

CAFFEINE is a strong substance that gets absorbed into the body very quickly, especially on an empty stomach.

It can have many positive impacts on our health, not to mention our energy levels – in the short-term anyway.

But consuming it before you’ve eaten anything can provide some surprising negative side effects.

Within the first hour of waking up in the morning, our melatonin levels drop – that’s the hormone that helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle. 

But this can be delayed if we have caffeine early on, particularly on an empty stomach, leaving us feeling sluggish and sleepy. 

On top of this, caffeine increases the amount of the stress hormone cortisol.

This is great when you want to feel more alert and focused, but cortisol spikes in the morning can increase anxiety and stress, which can then impact your mood for the rest of the day. 

Try having your morning coffee with breakfast or after eating to prevent the rapid absorption into your body.

Or if you can, save your caffeine intake for late morning to give you that boost once you are past the early morning hours.

4. DAIRY

As it can reduce physical performance 

LOVE a morning workout but wondering why you’re struggling to push through that run or heavy lifting sesh?

Milk, cheese and yoghurt could be the reason your physical performance is suffering.

Eating dairy products on an empty stomach before you exercise can cause you to feel lethargic and will increase your stomach’s acid content during a workout.

This is because dairy products have a high fat content, which slows your digestion.

The more fat in a meal or snack, the longer it takes for that meal or snack to be digested and the more it impacts our physical performance.

If you love having yoghurt for breakfast, try saving it for after your morning gym session.

But if you need to eat before you head to the gym or a spin class, why not give a slice of toast or banana a go instead? 

5. SPICY FOODS

As they can lead to indigestion 

NO matter what time of day, spicy foods can trigger indigestion or bowel trouble.

But these tummy issues can be particularly bad if eaten on an empty stomach. 

Spices can irritate the stomach lining, which is especially vulnerable when not protected by other foods.

This can lead to acid reflux, indigestion and even diarrhoea – none of which are particularly pleasant. 

The increased acidity in spicy foods can also make the stomach produce more acid, which leads to heartburn – so it’s especially good to avoid these if you are pregnant.

If you love a bit of spice on your eggs in the morning, or you’re keen on a spicy breakfast burrito, try to eat something fatty first, like yoghurt, to protect your stomach. 

6. CHOCOLATE

As it can wreck your sleep

A CROISSANT or pain au chocolat is a delicious morning treat.

But starting your day with anything chocolatey, or eating it on an empty stomach, can wreck your sleep. 

Chocolate contains high levels of sugar, as well as some caffeine, so just like coffee and breakfast cereals, your body absorbs it quickly. 

This causes a major spike in blood sugar, as well as a quick and impactful caffeine buzz. 

While great for a short time, this quickly wears off, dropping off dramatically within 60 minutes or so. 

And your circadian rhythm, which regulates your sleep and awake times, takes the hit. 

We often experience a sudden tiredness by mid-morning, which can then impact our ability to fall asleep when it comes to bedtime. 

Try swapping chocolate for a sprinkle of cinnamon on your porridge or some raisins in your granola to give you a sweet hit in the morning without the refined sugar and caffeine.

7. FRUIT JUICE

As it erodes your teeth 

YOU might consider yourself healthy by drinking orange juice in the morning.

But it’s not a great idea to make drinks like this the first thing you consume. 

Fruit juice is actually a processed food, meaning it has been changed from its natural state, and much of its fibre content is removed. 

Unfortunately, it’s the fibre in fruit that regulates the absorption of the sugar and acid, so without it, you are really just consuming a load of sugar and acid. 

This can wreak havoc on your teeth because they usually haven’t yet been cleaned so do not have the protective layer they need from toothpaste.

Your tooth enamel can very quickly erode, leading to tooth sensitivity, cavities, and decay.

I’m not saying no fruit, but stick to whole fruits rather than juice!  

SUN readers can win a stunning Range Rover Sport First Edition + £10,000 cash or an £80,000 cash alternative from just 17p this week.

We have teamed up with 7days Performance to offer one lucky winner the chance to claim this amazing prize this week.

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