The former chief executive of Tesco Sir Terry Leahy has added another job to his rapidly growing portfolio of interests in life since leaving the grocer: selling car tyres.

Perhaps this wasn't the best time to approach Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips. It was just after the first race and the England rugby centre had just seen Richard Johnson, his partner's former beau, winning on Copper Bleu – beating his horse in the process.

Volkswagen has BlueMotion, Skoda has Greenline and BMW has EfficientDynamics. These days most of the big manufacturers are promoting an eco sub-brand that they apply either to specific economy-oriented versions of their cars or a programme of fuel-saving tweaks which they apply more generally across their model ranges.

There's a daunting number of tyres on the market. Before you start looking, you'll need some basic information about the right type for your car. You can only fit the size and specification of tyre recommended by the manufacturer for the wheels on the model you drive.

"One of the world's most respected marketing gurus" explains "how everything we believe about what we buy is wrong." The pitch for this US bestseller is tempting, but Lindstrom's insights are dire in style and unremarkable: "Subliminal messages are out there – don't fall prey."

The world of Teutonic gastronomy is in shock following the surprise announcement by the board of Guide Michelin France that a 38-year-old German woman has been chosen to run the male-dominated culinary bible for the first time in its 108-year history.

Last night, in the heart of France, 600 students and well-wishers demonstrated against murder, the savage and senseless slaughter of two of their own in a small flat in New Cross, south-east London.