Birds Eye is has become an official supporter of Team GB ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, which are set to kick-off on Friday 23rd July.
The collaboration will see Birds Eye’s Green Cuisine brand become the official plant-based supporter of Team GB, continuing the brand’s efforts to make eating meat-free more mainstream and promoting the power of plants.
With under four months until the start of Tokyo 2020, the collaboration will see Birds Eye launch a new TVC tag as part of a detailed marketing campaign, which will incorporate in-store activations, on-pack promotions and social media activity with Team GB athletes.
“We are so proud to become the official plant-based partner to power Team GB," said Sarah Koppens, Birds Eye UK Marketing Director. "As the fastest-growing frozen meat-free brand, we have a relentless ambition to demonstrate the delicious power of plants, dispelling any lingering misconceptions around the meat-free category. We conducted a quick-fire Facebook poll with a group of past and present Team GB athletes and over two-thirds said they’ve actively reduced their meat consumption over the past three years. We look forward to bringing some of their stories to life throughout our campaign.”
British Olympic Association Commercial Director, Tim Ellerton, said: “This is an exciting partnership in a really interesting area, not just in our athlete community but on a wider national scale as meat-free and plant-based diets become increasingly popular. The team at Birds Eye have some very exciting activation plans in the coming months and we’re proud to support them in bringing those plans to life with the help of a variety of Team GB athletes.”
The Birds Eye Green Cuisine range is now worth £17.5m in the UK. The portfolio consists of frozen meat-free versions of Birds Eye’s family favourites, such as Chicken-Free Dippers, as well as a range of visible veg products such as Veggie Fingers and Veggie Burgers.
Pea protein is a rising star in the plant-based sector, with the market’s worth expected to rise to a staggering £144m by 2025. Offering multiple benefits – such as the inclusion of iron and being made up of almost 80 per cent protein – demonstrates why it’s so sought-after by consumers.
Birds Eye has a long heritage in pea production and a market-leading position in frozen food. Consumers trust the brand to deliver quality products, and by recreating mealtime classics using pea protein and other plant-based ingredients, the brand has successfully made the meat-free frozen fixture more accessible and inviting to families.
Leading sparkling flavoured water brand Rubicon Spring is set to shake up the functional water game in 2025 with the launch of its new Rubicon Spring Vits still range, hitting shelves in March.
Crafted with refreshing spring water, real fruit juice, and natural flavours, the product is available in three variants: Black Cherry Pomegranate, Mango Passion, and Strawberry Watermelon, all delivering a burst of essential vitamins to boost energy and immunity.
“78 per cent of shoppers are still choosing drinks for enjoyment, but aiming to drink more water. Taste remains the top driver but 69 per cent are interested in added benefits such as energy and immunity,” Lisa McKenna, head of brand for Rubicon, said.
“We know consumers want to make smarter soft drink choices without compromising on taste so offering a great tasting product with added health benefits will bring more consumers into the functional water category.
“There is a perfect gap in the market for a trusted and established brand like Rubicon Spring to boost this category and help retailers tap into its full potential. Rubicon Spring has more than three times the brand awareness of the leading functional water brand and the new Spring Vits range contains 100 per cent of the consumer’s recommended daily vitamin intake of a multivitamin blend, which is unlike any other brand on the market, as well as being full of the tasty fruit flavours that Rubicon is known for.”
From 11 March, Rubicon Spring sparkling flavoured water is set to disrupt the functional water category with its brand-new Rubicon Spring Vits still range.
Available in plain and £1.29 PMP options, Rubicon Spring Vits is launching in three flavours: Black Cherry Pomegranate, Mango Passion and Strawberry Watermelon. Packed with essential vitamins to support energy and immunity and made with spring water, fruit juice and natural flavours, each format is just 15 calories and fully HFSS compliant.
“78 per cent of shoppers are still choosing drinks for enjoyment, but aiming to drink more water," said Lisa McKenna, Head of Brand for Rubicon. "Taste remains the top driver but 69 per cent are interested in added benefits such as energy and immunity.
“We know consumers want to make smarter soft drink choices without compromising on taste so offering a great tasting product with added health benefits will bring more consumers into the functional water category.
“There is a perfect gap in the market for a trusted and established brand like Rubicon Spring to boost this category and help retailers tap into its full potential. Rubicon Spring has more than three times the brand awareness of the leading functional water brand and the new Spring Vits range contains 100 per cent of the consumer’s recommended daily vitamin intake of a multivitamin blend, which is unlike any other brand on the market, as well as being full of the tasty fruit flavours that Rubicon is known for.”
The launch will be backed by £2 million brand investment to drive trial and awareness including national out of home advertising, social media and sampling.
In consumer testing, 78 per cent of shoppers said they would buy, so retailers can maximise their sales by using Rubicon's vibrant, attention-grabbing PoS materials to create in-store theatre, ensuring that shoppers can’t miss them on shelf. Stock in the chiller next to your other flavoured water brands as this is where shoppers will look for them.
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has announced the launch of Signature Action Mix cigarillos, which are available to retailers now.
Signature Action Mix cigarillos contain two capsules combining the flavours of Berry and Mint in ten-packs with an RRP of just £5.85 which is lower than competitor brands, but still with an attractive margin for retailers. The new Action Mix cigarillos will be a key focus for STG UK’s growing sales force, who will be targeting over 10,000 convenience stores in the coming months to talk to them about the launch, as well as offering them branded merchandise. There will also be promotions in the wholesale channel of both Action and Action Mix, as well as a significant trade comms campaign to support the launch, too.
The Cigarillo category only started five years ago in the UK and is now worth nearly £150m in annual sales, accounting for over 56 per cent of all cigar volume. STG UK launched the original Signature Action brand in the same year, with sales now really taking off, growing by over 50 per cent year on year.
“We know many adult smokers continue to look for features they used to enjoy with cigarettes such as flavour, click filters and smaller pack sizes, so these new Signature Action Mix cigarillos should really hit the spot," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "The continued positive performance of the cigarillos category is showing no sign of slowing, so we’d urge retailers to get behind this exciting launch and enjoy those profitable sales.”
STG UK announced today the launch of two new flavours to join their XQS nicotine pouch brand portfolio. Black Cherry and Citrus Cooling are the new arrivals, both of which are available to retailers now.
Black Cherry is a real standout flavour, offering "the rich, deep taste of dark cherries, which is unique, memorable and not commonly found in other nicotine pouches". Citrus Cooling on the other hand, offers a citrus flavour with a cooling effect, "perfectly blending tart citrus with minty freshness to create a well-balanced and energizing experience". Both new flavours contain 8mg of nicotine per pouch and have an RRP of just £5.50, in keeping with the rest of the XQS portfolio.
XQS was launched in May last year in four flavours, and a variety of strengths, competitively priced and with an attractive margin for retailers. Following a huge summer activation plan and some great display units in-store to showcase the product, it has got off to a flying start, becoming the fastest growing nicotine pouch brand in the second half of 2024 and with one million cans already in market.
“We’re thrilled with XQS’s performance nine months on since launch and are delighted to launch these two new additions to the portfolio," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "We know pouch users are motivated by great flavours, and they won’t be disappointed when they try Black Cherry as a refreshing alternative for those seeking a fruit-forward option and Citrus Cooling as a great choice for those seeking a crisp, clean taste with a lasting cool effect. There’s going to be much more news to come from XQS this year too, so watch this space as we continue our mission to drive category growth with great flavours and competitive prices.”
Leading frozen pizza brand Goodfella’s has announced its new partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union as an Official Sponsor of the Irish Women’s Rugby Team.
This alliance marks Goodfella’s first major sporting partnership, and comes at an exciting time for Irish Rugby as they celebrate the 150th anniversary and gear up for a high profile tournament agenda in 2025.
Starting January 2025, the Goodfella’s sponsorship will focus on promoting values of unity, camaraderie, and the joy of sharing great moments with friends and family. The brand aims to highlight its commitment to supporting Irish culture; helping raise the profile of women’s sport and celebrating the success and potential of the Irish women’s rugby programme.
“Women’s rugby in Ireland has been growing at an incredible pace, and there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved,” John McCarthy, country manager of Birds Eye Ireland – of which Goodfella’s is a part of – commented.
“Goodfella’s believes that rugby, like pizza, is all about sharing, enjoyment, and celebrating moments with others, bringing people together over great food and good times. The Irish Women’s Rugby team embodies dedication, teamwork and resilience and we're incredibly excited to support them on their journey and to be part of their story.”
The announcement comes at a time of significant transformation for Goodfella’s, which has recently undergone a major brand redesign, with fresh new packaging, a renewed commitment to quality and nutrition, and bold plans for 2025.
As part of the new partnership, Goodfellas will provide supporters and fans with exciting opportunities to engage with the Irish Women’s Rugby team in the lead-up and during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations and tournaments throughout 2025.