Bolle is thrilled to unveil its innovative non-alcoholic (<0.5 per cent ABV) wine brand, poised to redefine the industry with a fresh technique and process, as the world’s first and only non-alcoholic wine to introduce secondary fermentation. Departing from conventional norms, Bolle has multiple patents filed and pending on its winemaking techniques as it aspires to challenge perceptions and offer a distinctive experience for wine enthusiasts without any compromise on taste or quality.
In a recent successful £800,000 ($1m) funding round, Bolle secured essential financial support towards its growth initiatives. Simultaneously, the company reinforced its leadership team with the appointment of a new CEO and Head of US Operations, underlining its unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional products and services. This collaboration brings together a group of seasoned professionals in winemaking, business, and innovation. Roberto Vanin's expertise in oenology, chemistry and R&D, complemented by CEO Gary Read's go-to-market and company building acumen and Head of US Operations Steve Burch's extensive background as a Napa Valley winemaker.
"We believe that Bolle can play a significant role in reshaping the wine industry by attracting new drinkers, retaining existing ones, and encouraging responsible consumption," said Gary Read, CEO of Bolle. "Our mission is to introduce a range of alcohol-free wines that cater to diverse lifestyles and occasions, from enjoying a glass at lunch to savouring it at social events. We’d love to see the wine industry embrace the trend to drink less alcohol and see it as an opportunity not a threat.”
He continues “Over 40 per cent of people are looking to cut down on alcohol and providing high-quality options like Bolle can attract this significant market segment. Studies show that restaurants and bars increase revenue and margins by offering good quality alcohol-free options – switching customers from water/juice/soda into a premium product. "
Bolle has initially released two cuvées to market: a Sparkling Rosé and a Blanc de Blancs. The wine making process includes using a meticulous de-alcoholisation process using the world’s most advanced de-alcoholisation technology. Unfortunately, this process still causes loss of character, aroma and flavour so Bolle distinguishes itself as the only global provider to incorporate a second fermentation step. This unique method ensures that all the wine's characteristics stem exclusively from the grapes and fermentation process itself, rather than from any additional flavours or ingredients.
"Our shared passion for excellence and innovation drives us to create the world's finest alcohol-free wines," explained Roberto Vanin, Founder of Bolle. "As the first and only non-alcoholic brand to fully embrace secondary fermentation, Bolle captures the essence of traditional wine, offering a non-alcoholic option that maintains the same depth, complexity, and enjoyment as its alcoholic equivalent. We believe this distinctive approach sets Bolle apart as a trailblazer in the realm of non-alcoholic wines.”
With an RRP of £19.99 Bolle seeks to establish itself as the go-to choice for both on-trade establishments and independent retailers looking to offer their clientele an exceptional non-alcoholic wine experience.
Kellogg’s has announced the launch of a new Caramel flavour to its Coco Pops Chocos range.
The new addition follows the launch of Coco Pops Chocos in 2023, which was crowned top spot in the cereal category of last year’s Product of the Year awards.
Like the original Coco Pops Chocos, the new variant comprises curved, crunchy cocoa shells, but with an exciting caramel twist.
Food developers have created a balanced blend of rich roasted cocoa and creamy caramel, with the shells expertly cooked and shaped to give their signature crunchy texture.
All of Kellogg’s children’s cereals are non-HFSS including this new Coco Pops variant. It’s also high in fibre, forming part of Kellogg’s continued efforts to help families make healthier choices in the morning.
“We’re excited to be expanding our kids’ cereal line-up with this delicious Coco Pops Chocos addition,” Lejla Damon, shopper marketing & kids brand manager, Kellogg’s UKI said.
“It’s high in fibre, a delicious blend of chocolatey caramel flavour, and wonderfully crunchy. One for the whole family to enjoy!”
Coco Pops Chocos Caramel joins Kellogg’s diverse range of cereals, continuing its legacy of being the ‘OG of breakfast’. This legacy has been amplified by Kellogg’s £75m investment into its Wrexham cereal factory, set to more than double its production capacity – its largest single investment into British cereal production in over 30 years.
The new flavour will be available for shoppers to buy from January. Each 420g pack is £3.29 RRP.
Sweet maker Swizzels has unveiled a brand-new limited-edition product in time for Valentine’s Day, combining two of its most-loved brands into one treat: Squashies Love Hearts.
Offering a fresh twist on two popular classics, the new Squashies Love Hearts combine Squashies’ signature soft texture with the iconic and timeless messages of Love Hearts.
Squashies remain the No. 1 sugar confectionery brand in the market, while Love Hearts see consistent growth, with 950,000 units sold during the Valentine’s period and a 10 per cent year-on-year growth in brand value. Building on this success, Swizzels has combined the two household names to create a fast-moving and profitable addition to any retailer’s offering.
Available in 120g bags and sold in cases of 12, each foam sweet is embossed with a fun message or emoji, making them ideal for sharing with a loved one. Messages include "KISS", "WOW", "FAB", and "LOVE", alongside two cheerful and romantic emojis, adding a playful touch.
With an MRSP of £1.15, the new product retains the classic colours and flavours of traditional Love Hearts, including Pineapple, Lime, Blackcurrant, Lemon, Cherry, and Orange.
Swizzels’ Love Hearts range remains a Valentine’s Day favourite, led by the popular 39g Giant Love Hearts rolls, which outsell any other Valentine’s SKU with 621,000 units sold during the season.
Other fan-favourites from the range include Love Hearts Originals Hanging Bags, the 15g mini Love Hearts rolls and Giant Love Hearts multipacks.
“We’re excited to introduce a delicious and innovative new product that combines two of our most popular brands, delivering the same moreish flavours and signature texture - with an added twist," said trade marketing manager Clare Newton.
“Squashies Love Hearts bring something new to retailers’ offering, appealing to shoppers looking for unique yet familiar treats for themselves or as a special gift to someone else.
“Our Valentine’s range is all about sharing the love, regardless of relationship status - whether it’s romantic love, familial love or friendship and we hope the new Squashies Love Hearts will help to do just that.”
The launch is part of a broader campaign, featuring national research that explores how love and Valentine’s Day have evolved, and examining how the ways people express and seek love have changed over the years.
KP Snacks has today named Tom Grennan, one of the UK’s biggest solo pop music artists, as its official popchips ambassador. The new partnership between the beacon “Better for You” brand and the pop star taps into popchips’ positive, feel-good positioning while enhancing the brand’s relevance.
As an ambassador, Tom Grennan will perform at a special event delivered by popchips in May. Tickets to this exclusive event will be available as prizes in a brand new on-pack promotion running across the popchips portfolio from 27 January until the end of March. Featuring a flash of Tom holding a single popchip and microphone, the on-pack also offers consumers the chance to win cash prizes and tickets to leading UK festivals.
To celebrate Tom Grennan becoming a popchips ambassador, the brand will be supported by a £1m media investment with a campaign running across OOH and social media channels, as well as audio platforms including Spotify.
Building on the passion people have for music, popchips is proud to be the exclusive snack brand partner of the Latitude Festival for the second consecutive year. This year, the brand has extended its festival partnership with the addition of The Isle of Wight Festival, growing its reach within key cultural moments and driving its association with feel-good occasions. To further engage consumers, popchips will deliver exciting new marketing activations across both festivals.
“We are delighted to announce Tom Grennan as the official popchips ambassador," said Alex Callender, Brand Manager at popchips. "As a brand known for its positive energy, we are committed to tapping into culturally relevant moments in our consumers’ lives to drive a stronger emotional connection and boost brand penetration. By sponsoring two key UK festivals, we are taking this one step further, engaging consumers in an exciting setting and giving our leading ‘Better for You’ brand true differentiation.”
Worth £42.7m, popchips is the number two healthier brand in the CSN market with a 14 per cent share of the Healthier Snacking segment. Available in a variety of flavours and formats, the entire popchips range is non-HFSS. The new on-pack promotion will run across the entire popchips range including sharing, multipack, single and price-marked pack formats.
Confectionery challenger brand Bebeto is kicking off 2025 with a ground-breaking debut: its first-ever Valentine’s range featuring innovative liquid-filled technology.
You Melt My Heart liquid-filled gummy soft hearts contain two delicious flavours – Strawberry and Cherry – each with a luscious raspberry liquid filling for an extra-special touch. They are available in 130g hanging bags (£1 SSP) and 400g heart-shaped tubs (SSP £3), making the perfect Valentine’s gift or to share and show someone you care. To make them even sweeter, they contain no artificial colours or flavours and are halal certified.
Bebeto’s cutting-edge liquid-filling technique transforms traditional, firm, gummy sweets into gooey, flavour-packed treats with a juicy, melt in the mouth centre inside each foam-backed gummy, delivering a fun, sensory experience unlike any other. “Liquid-filled technology is one of the most exciting trends in confectionery today,” says Phil Hulme, Commercial Director at Kervan Gida UK.
“It’s particularly popular with Gen Z, who love experimenting with bold flavours and textures. We’re thrilled to lead the way with this innovation and offer UK consumers a unique, high-quality confectionery experience this Valentine’s. This marks an exciting new chapter for the Bebeto brand in the UK. Seasonal offerings have played a pivotal role in driving our growth, as demonstrated by the remarkable success of our Halloween range. Building on this momentum, we are expanding our seasonal portfolio in 2025 with fresh, innovative product developments that help bring even more joy to consumer celebrations.”
While the liquid-filling process requires advanced technology and extra production time, Bebeto is committed to keeping prices competitive, ensuring these premium treats remain accessible to all. Look out for further exciting liquid-filled NPD from Bebeto this year.
Rolling out from January, Bebeto’s You Melt My Heart range will be available in Spar UK and also through Parfetts Cash and Carry.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is launching Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush, a limited-edition twist on its popular zero sugar variant. The launch coincides with Valentine’s Day and will be supported by an integrated Valentine’s-themed marketing campaign.
The four-week period covering Valentine’s Day was worth £160 million to convenience retailers in 2024, up 3.2 per cent year-on-year, and more than £3.4 million came from value sales of Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush combines the popular zero sugar liquid with the vibrant cherry flavour – a combination that’s guaranteed to deliver results.
Cherry variants have delivered 55 per cent of the value sales growth across colas over the past year. Flavoured carbonates is the third largest category in soft drinks. Dr Pepper is the second-largest flavoured carbonate brand in GB, growing ahead of the total flavoured carbonates category in both value and volume sales.
A playful new can design featuring roses front and centre is guaranteed to deliver maximum stand-out on shelf, especially over the Valentine’s Day period. In testing, more than 70 per cent of consumers loved the concept and were interested to try it.
“Dr Pepper has a loyal fanbase thanks to its unique taste, and continues to deliver growth ahead of the wider flavoured carbonates category,” said Rob Yeomans, Vice-President of Commercial Development.
“We’re really excited for fans to try the new cherry twist on our zero sugar variant, a flavour which we know goes down well with shoppers and drives sales in retail. The supporting campaign is packed with personality – as is always the case with Dr Pepper – and we can’t wait to see how retailers get behind it and activate in store!”
This limited-edition flavour will be available from 27 January 2025 in 330ml, 500ml, 2L and 8x330ml packs. Priced-marked 300ml and 500ml single packs will also be available.
The launch will be supported by influencer partnerships, in-store sampling and experiential OOH advertising encouraging consumers to step into the Dr’s billboard-office for some romantic "advice".
Convenience retailers can request Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush POS materials and download digital assets via My.CCEP.com, to help bring the launch to life in-store.