Toast - Series 2: Toys R Us

About this episode

<p>Why did Toys R Us have to close all of its UK superstores in 2018? </p><p>While Sliced Bread takes a break we serve up… Toast. A study of the spectacular failures of brands which had promised so much to consumers. </p><p>In each episode, the presenter and BBC business journalist, Sean Farrington, examines one big idea. What did it promise? Why did it fail? What can we learn from it today? </p><p>In this Christmas special, Sean examines the charming story behind one of our best-known toy brands before hearing how it faltered. </p><p>Expert commentators and employees reflect on why the business had been so successful and what went wrong. </p><p>Alongside them is the self-made millionaire and serial entrepreneur, Sam White, to analyse the missteps that changed the brand’s fortunes. </p><p>Together, they hear how Toys R Us is making a comeback in the UK. </p><p>You can email the programme at <a href="mailto:toast@bbc.co.uk">toast@bbc.co.uk</a></p><p>Feel free to suggest topics which we could cover in future episodes. </p><p>From big tech to high street retail and, of course, food, Toast tackles the business ideas that, one way or another, ended up cooked.</p><p>Sliced Bread returns for a new batch of investigations in February. In the new series, Greg Foot will investigate more of the latest so-called wonder products to find out whether they really are the best thing since sliced bread. In the meantime, Toast is available in the Sliced Bread feed on BBC Sounds.</p><p>Toast is produced by Jon Douglas and Viant Siddique and is a BBC Audio North production for Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.</p>