Need to Know
01 : 05 : 19

Beijing – Green Option, an online brand for salads and healthy food, has opened the food court as part of a wellness complex.

With bright interiors designed by Ramoprimo, The Green Option Food Court comprises a café, restaurant, cocktail bar and patio all served by a central kitchen and bakery. The dining space is located in a multifunctional building that acts as a wellness complex, with a spa, yoga centre, clubhouse and office.

Located in bustling Beijing, the food court aims to be a meditative environment for citizens to detach from the urban noise of the city streets. Its cushioned seating and pared back surrounds are designed to decelerate the pace of lunch, encouraging customers to and enjoy their break with colleagues, friends or solo.

While rushed, at-desk dining experiences are common around the world, new restaurant concepts such as Green Option are reintroducing focus to the lunch hour.

UK – Nooro has launched with a snack bar containing 25mg of cannabidiol (CBD) – a convenient way to consume the cannabis-derived compound on the go.

The raw bar claims to be the first of its kind in the UK and aims to make the benefits of CBD both accessible and tasty. Positioned as ‘mind fuel’, the product contains plant-based nootropics gingko and maca root to boost brain function, as well as peanut butter, cacao nibs and oats for energy.

‘Consumption of CBD in its various forms is steadily on the rise, and we’re incredibly excited to be the first to market,’ says a brand statement. ‘Our team of experts have years of experience in this field, and developed this product to demonstrate that the benefits of cannabidiol can work for everyone. CBD is not a fad, it really is the next store cupboard essential.’

In a similar vein, new DTC wellness start-up Feals aims to demystify CBD and deliver easy-to-understand information about its products.

US – The service uses Amazon’s Alexa to make on-demand therapy more accessible for all.

Users who subscribe to The Difference, which starts at $50 (£38, €45) for a 30-minute session and goes up to $200 (£154, €178) a month for three hours with a dedicated therapist, can request a therapy session through their Alexa device.

After registering and receiving a PIN code, users simply state, 'Alexa, open The Difference,'. After sharing their pin, they are connected with a therapist in under 30 minutes, who will call them on their mobile phone. While customers wait to be connected, they can listen to a guided meditation. The Difference aims to merge psychology with technology, creating a more accessible way to receive therapy on-demand when it’s needed most.

As the number of people diagnosed with depression and anxiety rises, there is an opportunity for brands to think laterally about how to provide people with access to the support they need and rethink the therapy experience for the next generation.

Confidence remains a barrier to women engaging more with the finance sector, according to a new report from the WealthiHer Network. With as much as 70% of respondents citing average or below average self-esteem, the findings show there is a need for the industry to better cater to female clients and the diversity of women’s wealth.

Of those surveyed, 36% noted a lack of knowledge as the reason they don’t engage and the same percentage feel patronised through their experiences. Factors contributing to this lack of confidence also include the use of excessive jargon, which was repeatedly cited as a barrier and cause of frustration.

As women become more prominent wealth-holders, the sector needs to evolve to better nurture and improve their finances. For more, read our two-part Women’s Wealth Market.