Choco Rice instead of Coco-Pops, Snack Noodle instead of Pot Noodle, or Sainte Etienne instead of Stella Artois. Own-label brands dominate the supermarket, accounting for over half of British grocery sales. But copycat branding can be detrimental to the market and the consumer. So, why and how do copycat brands work?

Brits are spending like the recession never ended. But while the purse strings have tightened when it comes to necessities like groceries, products that promise aesthetic perfection are enjoying huge growth. Why do skint 20-somethings feel the need to look good when times are hard?

It’s been years since the UK economy was last in a recession, but throughout such financial uncertainty, many shifted their spending habits to be more careful with their cash. While the downturn has long been over, recent research shows that shoppers are spending like it never ended.

Been for a run? Have a Mars bar. Donated to charity? Splurge on a dress. A growing body of research has highlighted an interesting quirk of human behaviour – moral licensing. Dr. Paul Conway, who studies the psychology of morality, explains to Canvas8 how good actions license bad behaviour.