Mondelēz International has unwrapped its new festive range for 2024, set to help retailers drive seasonal sales this year. New treats and returning favourites will be in store for the 2024 Christmas season across confectionery and biscuits, from much-loved brands Cadbury and OREO.
The run-up to Christmas begins in September with a "fast start" – retailers should look to kick off the season towards the end of summer to prepare for the increase in Big Night In occasions as the weather gets cooler and shoppers look to spend more nights at home.
Sharing formats, multipacks and tablets will be key here, and retailers can make the most of this start to the season by stocking products such as Cadbury Roses and Cadbury Heroes, which also cater to those shoppers stocking up for Halloween too.
In October, shoppers start to get into the festive spirit as the run-up to Christmas continues. Cadbury Puds made a triumphant return to shelves in 2021 and are now the no.1 SKU in the self-eat segment. This year, the Cadbury Puds range is expanding with the launch of new Cadbury Mini Puds, bringing this festive favourite into a bitesize bag format for the first time. The 73g bags feature Puds’ iconic festive design and are set to appeal to shoppers looking for a stocking filler gift or even as a treat to enjoy themselves.
OREO, the world’s favourite biscuit brand, is joining in on the Christmas fun this year with the launch of limited-edition OREO Gingerbread – an ideal festive snack to help shoppers get into the spirit of the season with its embossed gingerbread-flavoured cookies. The packs will also feature the OREO’s new-look packaging, helping these sweet treats stand out even more on shelf.
When November comes around and the Halloween decorations are packed away, the countdown to Christmas ramps up as shoppers begin to stock up on their festive essentials. This year, Mondelēz International is bringing something unique to shoppers’ advent countdown with the launch of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Creamy Advent Calendar, featuring 24 Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates with a soft creamy filling. It’s a great option for those looking to trade-up this year and make the countdown ritual even more special.
Finally, as we enter December shoppers will be looking to make their final purchases in the run-up to the big day. In fact, 50 per cent of winter sales are made in December, so this ‘gifting finish’ stage is a great opportunity for retailers to drive sales through gifting and sharing formats, including selection boxes such as the Cadbury Medium Selection Box and Cadbury Buttons Selection Box.
The striking re-designed Cadbury Roses tin is also returning to shelves this year – a timeless gift that’s ideal for shoppers looking for a special gift for loved ones.
Gifting blocks make up five per cent of total winter confectionery sales, so are a must-stock for retailers in the weeks leading up to Christmas Day. Cadbury offers a wide range of gifting blocks including the classic Cadbury Dairy Milk 360g bar, as well as this year’s 200th anniversary limited-edition tablet. 2024 also sees the return of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp 360g block to shelves, helping retailers further tap into the sharing occasion with this popular flavour.
Finally, Mondelēz International brought back a family favourite last Christmas, with the return of the beloved Cadbury Dairy Milk Coins, which were a huge success - ending the season as the number-one NPD across the whole market with over 1.4 million packs sold! Bringing a touch of nostalgia and magic to the season, Cadbury Dairy Milk Coins are a great stocking filler, set to delight shoppers again this year and drive incremental sales for retailers.
OCTOBER: SEASONAL SPIRIT
OREO GINGERBREAD OREO is helping shoppers get into the festive spirit with new limited-edition OREO Gingerbread, featuring delightful embossed gingerbread-flavoured cookies all wrapped up in OREO’s new-look packaging to improve standout on shelf. RRP* £1.50 Weight: 154g x 16 per case
CADBURY MINI PUDS This year, shoppers can enjoy this festive favourite in a bitesize format with the Cadbury Mini Puds 73g bag - a classic Cadbury chocolate featuring a truffle centre with hazelnut pieces and rice crisps, which will make a great stocking filler or an impulse treat. RRP* £1.98, Weight: 73g x 22 per case
NOVEMBER: CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN
CADBURY DAIRY MILK CREAMY ADVENT CALENDAR
Cadbury is bringing something unique to shoppers’ advent countdown with the launch of the Cadbury Dairy Milk Creamy Advent Calendar, featuring 24 Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates with a soft creamy filling. It’s a great option for those looking to trade-up this year and treat themselves to a more indulgent experience. RRP* £4.99, Weight: 170g x 11 per case
DECEMBER: GIFTING FINISH
CADBURY BUTTONS SELECTION BOX
The Cadbury Buttons Selection Box is returning to shelves this year following its successful launch in 2023. New for 2024 is the inclusion of White Buttons, which will appear alongside three other flavoured 95g treat bags: Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons, Cadbury Dairy Milk Orange Buttons, and Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel Nibbles – so there’s something for all tastes! RRP* £6.50, Weight: 340g x 7 per case.
CADBURY DAIRY MILK WINTER MINT CRISP Return of the mint! Back by popular demand, Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp will be returning to shelves this year, helping retailers further tap into the sharing category. This 360g bar sees the nation’s favourite chocolate combined with festive mint flavouring for a seasonal twist to drive shopper excitement this Christmas. RRP* £3.50, Weight: 360g x 13 per case
KP Snacks today announces the latest addition to its market-leading PMP range with the launch of Space Raiders Saucy BBQ £1.25 PMP. Available in stores from early November, the new launch combines the fastest-growing Space Raiders flavour with the strength of the £1.25 PMP format.
Capitalising on the growth of “barbecue” flavours, the new launch is well-positioned to engage shoppers and drive impulse sales, with 57% of impulse shoppers purchasing PMPs. The £1.25 PMP format is strong and KP Snacks’ £1.25 PMP portfolio is growing ahead of the segment at +5.2 per cent (vs +4.2 per cent), bolstering sales. By launching Space Raiders Saucy BBQ £1.25 PMP, KP Snacks is tapping into the strength of the segment and appealing to consumer demand for great value and clear pricing.
The new PMP expands the Space Raiders portfolio. Worth £25m, the Space Raiders range includes Space Raiders 40p PMPs, the UK’s number one best-value singles PMP[5], as well as existing £1.25 PMPs: Beef and Pickled Onion.
“At KP Snacks, we are committed to delivering NPD in the right formats and flavours to support our retailer partners and drive consumer demand,” said Stuart Graham, Head of Convenience and Impulse. “The launch of Space Raiders Saucy BBQ £1.25 PMP leverages the strength of this format and the popularity of barbecue flavours to drive impulse sales.”
An eye-catching design created by a customer is bringing a unique appeal to a new limited-edition range of king-size slim papers from the iconic Rizla brand.
The Super Thin Silver papers from the UK’s favourite rolling papers brand* come in three exciting and colourful designs, which form a complete image when placed together.
The final design - featuring an interpretation of Michelangelo’s sculpture David, with each version having a differing vibrant and colourful background - was chosen from more than 580 entries submitted via Instagram for a global competition which reached an audience of more than 2 million people.
The new papers provide retailers with an additional sales opportunity – and further demonstrate how the iconic Rizla brand continues to deliver strong visual appeal backed by unrivalled product quality.
Each bright and colourful pack contains 32 king size papers and is available to buy at an MRRP of just £0.99**.
They represent the latest chapter in Rizla’s unique journey which, for more than two centuries, has seen the brand pioneer major developments in this category – from the world’s first hand-rolling machine to the launch of rolling papers with gum, and papers with cut corners.
Rizla King Size papers were created and introduced to the market in the 1970s and are now the paper of choice for millions of customers worldwide. Indeed, many people now simply refer to Rizla when discussing or buying rolling papers in general.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, explained: “King size slim papers seem to have lost none of their popularity with customers and that was one of the reasons we decided to add new limited-edition papers to the line-up – and ask our customers to come up with an eye-catching new design which would work with our established brand look.
“The Instagram competition was hugely popular and drew a vast range of entries, meaning our judges had a really tough time picking a winner to be used on the new packs.
“In the end they went for a novel design where each pack works individually but also in combination with the other two to form a larger image. The design truly reflects the unique image of the Rizla brand, delivering the iconic look and feel which continues to appeal to millions of smokers worldwide. We believe the trio of designs will definitely catch the eye of customers to pick up a pack – or even all three!”
Highgrove today (25) announced the launch of its new limited-edition Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky, made using heritage barley grown on the Highgrove Estate.
This special edition has been created from a unique vatting of Cotswolds Distillery single malt whisky made using heritage Plumage Archer barley grown at the Highgrove Estate and aged in premium active ex-red wine and first fill bourbon casks.
Plumage Archer is a barley variety which yields a subtle but unique twist on Cotswolds’ new make spirit. The Royal Gardens edition was bottled exclusively by Cotswolds Distillery on Oct 21 2024 and a limited-edition collection of just 400 bottles is available to purchase exclusively from The Highgrove Shop at Highgrove Gardens, the Highgrove website and Cotswolds Distillery shops and website.
Each bottle of Highgrove Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky is numbered and adorned with a label showcasing a watercolour of The South Front, Highgrove House by His Majesty King Charles III reproduced by kind permission of The King’s Foundation to Cotswolds Distillery.
The King’s Foundation is the custodian of Highgrove Gardens for the opening of Highgrove Gardens to the public, which generates an annual income for the charity. All profits from sales of the whisky will support The King's Foundation for its charitable delivery of education and training initiatives, some of which take place at Highgrove.
The King’s Foundation’s base at Highgrove accommodates education and training opportunities in furniture-making, fashion, and textiles, and building craft skills.
Scott Simpson, Retail Director at The King’s Foundation, said: "We are so excited to launch a new limited edition whisky with Cotswolds Distillery and it’s particularly special that it has been produced using heritage barley grown on the Highgrove Estate. The garden at Highgrove provides inspiration for all of our products, including our extensive range of food and drink made using ingredients from the garden. We are proud that all of the proceeds from Highgrove products are ploughed back into the work of The King’s Foundation and the charity’s educational delivery which takes place on site.’’
Cotswolds Distillery Founder Dan Szor comments, “We are so happy with our ongoing relationship with Highgrove, which represents traditional values of British craftsmanship at its finest, and it is an honour indeed to adorn this bottling with His Majesty's beautiful painting of the Highgrove Estate”
The Cotswolds Distillery is the first and only full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is committed to being a model of environmentally sustainable rural business, creating jobs and highlighting its beautiful region to visitors from around the world.
All the barley is sourced locally and traditionally floor-malted at nearby Warminster Maltings, Britain’s oldest working maltings, where Plumage Archer barley was originally invented in 1906.
Highgrove Royal Gardens Single Malt Whisky ABV: 50% is RRP at £250 for a 70cl bottle. It is available to purchase exclusively from: Highgrove and Cotswolds Distillery.
WKD X, the caffeine-containing 7% ABV innovative sub-brand from the leading RTD, is building on the strong successes achieved since its 2022 launch with the introduction of two additional flavour variants and its first dedicated media campaign.
Drawing its inspiration from the energy drinks category, WKD X variants contain caffeine, guarana and taurine, and compete in the fast-growing ‘enhanced RTD’ segment of the overall alcoholic ready-to-drink category.
The two all-new flavours – Purple Grape and Citrus Ice – join the existing line-up of Blue Raspberry, Mango Passion, and Dark Berry, available in 500ml single cans.
Having extended the offering only last year from an initial two variants launched in 2022 to three flavours, this latest range expansion to five enticing fruit flavours is testimony to both WKD X’s success to date and to the importance that brand owner SHS Drinks attributes to the continued market potential of high energy/higher ABV ‘enhanced RTDs’.
New WKD X Purple Grape and WKD X Citrus Ice complement the existing variants, further bolstering the range’s on-shelf presence and, importantly, reflecting flavours which are trending in both drinks and non-drink categories. The new variants will initially be offered in £2.99 price-marked cans only, mirroring the importance and appeal of PMP offerings in the impulse channel, the real heartland for ‘enhanced RTD’ sales.
Aligning with the launch of the new flavours, this autumn also marks the appearance of the first-ever ad campaign for WKD X. Appearing across 1200 poster sites UK-wide for a high-profile three-week burst from late October into November, two forthright and confident executions will build awareness of the existing SKUs.
Using bold colourways and impactful capital letters, 6-sheet poster sites nationwide will proclaim ‘SHOUT OUT TO OUR X-ES’ or declare ‘SO XTRA’, alongside pack imagery of the already-established Blue Raspberry, Mango Passion, and Dark Berry flavour variants. Augmenting the out-of-home campaign, WKD X will also benefit from significant social media and influencer-related activity throughout the autumn.
WKD X volumes are currently growing 88 per cent year-on-year [Nielsen GB MAT to 10.08.24] and 106 per cent over the last quarter. This strong upward trajectory is set to benefit from a notable further step-change with a new listing in Morrisons Daily stores coming on stream this month [October]. Two WKD X variants – Blue Raspberry, and Mango Passion – are to be stocked in 650 of the chain’s outlets.
“WKD X has proven to be a great success since its introduction. The 18 to 24-year-old core target audience has really bought into what the range stands for: a convenient way to get a caffeine fix. Consumers are well versed in mixing alcoholic drinks with energy drinks but WKD X delivers the convenience of a pre-mixed format from a nationally recognised brand that’s known and loved,” Alison Gray, head of brand – WKD at SHS Drinks, said.
“The further expansion of WKD X to five variants, with the addition of the new Purple Grape and Citrus Ice flavours, emphasises conclusively both our commitment to the range and consumers’ overwhelmingly positive reaction to developments so far. Our striking new poster ads are going to build even greater awareness and help elevate WKD X to the next level.”
Pepsi is teaming up with EA Sports FC for the second year running, with a bigger and better on-pack promotion set to give away even more gaming prizes to shoppers across additional Pepsi SKUs and formats.
Available now, the campaign aims to drive excitement among a wide range of customers in-store, from football fans to gamers, to encourage on-the-go and impulse cola sales.
Following an incredibly successful 2023 campaign that saw over 530,000 promotional codes redeemed, this year’s on-pack promotion will roll out across all Pepsi500ml packs and 330ml Pepsi MAXcans.
Cola continues to lead the soft drinks category as the number one segment, worth £2.9bn. Pepsi MAXcontinues to drive this growth, with a +9.6 per cent sales value growth over the last year. Additionally, the Pepsi MAXbrand has strong cultural ties to football, with EA SPORTS FCbeing the most successful video game across Europe in the first six months of 2024.
Through this, the partnership is well placed to support retailers in maximising the cola opportunity among wider audiences and encourage repeat purchase, with last year’s promotion seeing an average redemption rate of 3.5 codes per participant.
To enter, shoppers must purchase a promotional Pepsi product and scan the QR code on-pack. Consumers will be directed to www.europe.pepsifc25.com, where they will be required to sign up or log into their EA account and complete a form using the unique code found on the product. Shoppers can get their hands on one of 60 game consoles, 3,000 EA Sports FC25 game copies, and 4 x guaranteed-win rewards packs that can be redeemed in game. Entries will be open until 30 December 2024.