Leading lollipop brand Chupa Chups has unwrapped its first-of-its-kind advent calendar, bringing a playful twist to the traditional countdown and taps into gifting and sharing occasions.
The launch comes at a time when Chupa Chups continues to sweeten its lead in the confectionery market, with the brand’s market value soaring to £17.4 million, reflecting an impressive 8 per cent year-on-year growth [Circana, 52w/e 03.08.24].
Last Christmas, Chupa Chups grew ahead of the sweets category, achieving a significant 15.8 per cent increase in value sales and an impressive 24.2 per cent rise in unit sales, compared to the overall category performance [Circana Unify+ and IRI, 4w.e 23.12.23].
Set to spread festive cheer along confectionery aisles around the UK, each of the 24 doors hides a different delight, from classic, beloved lollipops to jellies and bubble-gum, ensuring that every day leading up to Christmas is a sweet surprise. Fans can look forward to discovering favourites like Melody Pops and Big Babol, as well as a selection of lollipops from ‘The Best Of’, making this calendar a must-have for Chupa Chups enthusiasts of all ages – there really is something to satisfy all taste buds.
“We are thrilled to introduce our first-ever advent calendar – it truly embodies the fun and joy that Chupa Chups is known for. The holiday season is all about creating special moments, and our latest innovation is designed to do just that, offering a delightful surprise behind every door,” Kim McMahon, brand manager at Chupa Chups, said.
“We’ve seen how our brand resonates with consumers, especially during the holiday season, and this advent calendar is the perfect way to continue that momentum. With its broad appeal and unique mix of products, it's set to be a hit with both existing fans and new customers alike – retailers should stock up now to avoid missing out on this festive fun.”
Available from World of Sweets and CJ Lang. Six advent calendars in a display, RRP £6.99
British-Canadian brand, Pure Maple, has announced that its line of 100% pure maple syrup products are newly certified organic and have undergone a rebrand ahead of push to capitalise on the growing consumer interest in alternatives to refined sugar.
The newly organic products include Pure Maple’s Golden Delicate, Amber Rich, and Dark Robust maple syrups, which have relaunched at a competitive price point and have a RSP of £6.00 - £7.89 for a 236ml / 312g bottle size. This translates to £ 1.92 – £ 2.52 per 100g.
The rebrand features fresh, modern branding and a new Leone bottle shape which pays homage to the rich history of Canadian maple syrup, offering a bold but traditional aesthetic. The updated branding and organic certification come at a time when maple syrup’s popularity is increasing. The UK market is expected to reach 124.7 million USD by 2028 and while sugar maple is the segment’s leading revenue generator, the darker maple syrup category is set for particular growth, with consumers seeking out richer, more robust flavours.
“We are excited to bring our newly organic maple syrups to the UK market at such a compelling price," said Robert Ward, founder and partner at Pure Maple. "We understand that consumers are looking for value without compromising on quality and we’re proud to offer a product that meets the demand for premium foods at an accessible price point. Our maple syrups are produced and packed in Canada ensuring only authentic flavours and with the UK being the third largest export market for Canadian maple syrup, this is an important market for us to concentrate our growth.”
As inflation and the cost of living continue to impact purchasing decisions, the new price point of Pure Maple’s syrups are aligned with current market trends, offering consumers a premium product at a competitive cost. Price sensitivity plays an increasing role in the consumer decision making process and Pure Maple is responding by offering the same high-quality syrup at a price that reflects both the value and quality that customers demand.
The rebrand has initially rolled out on Pure Maple’s new organic maple syrups and will soon extend to the brand’s full range of products, including dairy free maple butter, maple cream cookies and salted maple popcorn in the coming months.
Pure Maple products are currently stocked in independent retailers across the UK.
Having entered the UK’s Top 10 Spirits in 2024, rising three places up the ranks verses last year, Jameson is continuing to recruit consumers through its Jameson, Ginger & Lime serve, newly extended Premium range, and its long-term partnership with the English Football League (EFL), the latter having helped deliver record high equity levels for the brand.
This St. Patrick’s Day, Jameson will bring to life its three core values of being welcoming, smooth and light-hearted, with a new campaign "Must Be A Jameson". Set to reach over 15 million consumers, the TV partnership will be live from 24 February to 14 April via Sky Sports, as well as Video on Demand (including ITV, Channel 4, Prime Video) and online video (YouTube).
Wembley Jameson event
The Sky Sports tie-up supports the brand’s long-term partnership with the EFL and as part of this, a large-scale experiential event will also be executed at the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday 16 March. The Jameson Bus "Orla Board" will be ready to greet over 80,000 Liverpool and Newcastle United fans as they descend on Wembley Stadium to see one team lift the trophy. The bus will be serving Jameson, Ginger & Lime drinks, handing out Jameson merchandise, as well as encouraging football fans to drink responsibly though the distribution of water as part of Pernod Ricard’s Drink More Water campaign.
“We’re going to paint the whole month green, not just St. Patrick’s Day Weekend!" said Josh McCarthy, Brand Director for Pernod Ricard UK. "The last 18-months has seen us gain so much momentum thanks to the hard work of our teams. We’ll be toasting all that’s great about Jameson with fans of our whiskey, our partners and some of our favourite creators. We’ve got a Yard Sale Pizza collab for the food lovers, our Jameson Bus at Wembley for the League Cup Final with the EFL and Jameson, Ginger & Lime samples to share with consumers across the country, you’re not going to miss us this March. Sláinte!”
Mars Wrigley has launched its new EXTRA Refreshers Watermelon Raspberry flavour into the market, backed by a huge marketing campaign that aims to drive excitement and recruit new shoppers into the category. The new sugar-free flavour will land nationwide in retail at the end of February and is the first of its kind on the market.
The launch of Refreshers Watermelon Raspberry flavour is in response to the continued growth in popularity of fruity flavours, with flavour combinations set to take centre stage this year. In fact, when it comes to the brand, EXTRA Refreshers has grown +39 per cent in value in the last two years, over indexing with younger shoppers. A third of these shoppers are unique to the brand, meaning they exclusively buy Refreshers gum.
With 73 per cent of shoppers agreeing that Watermelon Raspberry is a unique flavour and 69 per cent saying that they would purchase it, retailers are presented with an attractive revenue opportunity. This new launch demonstrates the brands commitment to innovation, leadership, and penetration, bringing new consumers into the category.
“The launch of EXTRA Refreshers Watermelon Raspberry is backed by a national campaign that includes sampling to one million consumers, partnerships with influencers and our biggest ever WIN!” said Lucy Sherlock, Senior Brand Manager, EXTRA. “Activation. Shoppers will have the chance to win trainers inspired by the colours of fruity flavours and in collaboration with custom shoe designer MattB Customs. This is part of a wider media investment into the Mars Wrigley fruit gum portfolio this year alone and sets the tone for how we want to drive the market forward.
“Our ambition is to help drive the gum category by tapping into the opportunity presented by the rise in popularity of fruity flavours through Refreshers; a relatively untapped brand that presents huge growth opportunities. The launch of such an exciting and innovative trend-led flavour will go some way to delivering on that ambition.”
EXTRA Refreshers Watermelon Raspberry Bottle and Single packs are currently rolling out nationwide.
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innocent drinks' partnership promotes fruit and veg
innocent drinks, Europe’s leading healthy drinks company, is announcing a new local partnership with Hubbub as it continues its mission to help people live well through the delicious goodness of fruit and veg.
Hubbub, an award-winning UK charity, inspires positive environmental action through creative campaigns and community initiatives. Their community fridge network across the UK brings people together to share food, learn new skills, strengthen community ties and reduce food waste.
innocent is kicking off this partnership by teaming up with LOVE Food CIC, a community organisation, that has been set up to increase access to, and raise awareness of the benefits of, Local, Organic, Vegan and Ethical Food for animals, health and the environment.
A series of fruit and veg focussed cooking sessions, “Ready Steady Veg”, that have been funded by innocent, will take place at St Thomas Community Food Hub. They are designed to encourage the local community to incorporate more portions of fruit and veg into their diets.
Last week, local Labour MP, Steve Race visited St Thomas Community Food Hub, where he joined in on a special session.
Three more sessions will take place in March, booking for which can be done here.
Following this, Hubbub will distribute a recipe book across all their community fridge network, encouraging fruit and veg consumption throughout the UK.
John Taylor, General Manager for UK & Ireland, innocent drinks said “At innocent, we know two-thirds of the UK still aren’t getting enough fruit and veg.
"That’s why we’re excited to partner with Hubbub and Love Food CIC to bring ‘Ready, Steady, Veg’ fruit & veg cooking sessions to local communities. These sessions are a fantastic way to inspire everyone to enjoy their 5-a-day.”
Ellen Rutherford, Head of Food at Hubbub said “Dialling up the veggie part of our diets is one impactful way to take environmental action, and it’s good for our health and pockets too.
"We are excited to team up with innocent and Love Food CIC to share simple, tasty and affordable veggie recipes with more people through the Community Fridge Network.”
Maresa Bosano, from LOVE Food CIC said, "Love Food CIC is very happy to be running these cooking sessions with Hubbub and innocent, as we aim to give people the skills and knowledge to help them to eat healthier diets, that are better for them and the planet, as well as access to free fruit and veg via our community fridge."
Steve Race, Labour MP for Exeter said, “I had a great time eating a delicious fruit and veg-based lunch with the Love Food CIC team.
"We live in a region that grows some of the best fresh and nutritious produce in the world. Good nutrition helps us to live healthier lives, giving us more energy and making us less prone to illness. It is especially important in children, helping them to develop physically and mentally.
"I am proud to be involved with event like this that promotes good nutrition and that supports Exeter communities and families.”
Heineken UK is expanding its classic Irish stout brand, Murphy’s (four per cent ABV), with the introduction of new 4x440ml and 10x440ml multipacks to tap into the stout category’s growing popularity. The new formats will roll out across the grocery, wholesale and convenience channels from March 2025.
The stout category has performed incredibly well over the past year as consumer demand for the "black stuff" surges, with strong value and volume growth in the total market of +23.7 per cent and +18 per cent, respectively. In the off-trade, specifically, stout has grown +15.6 per cent in value and +11.3 per cent in volume.
Founded in Cork in 1856, Murphy’s Irish Stout has always been a trusted, authentic stout brand, and this position has been solidified over the past year as the demand for stout has increased and consumers explore the category further – with many discovering Murphy’s for the first time due to increased distribution in pubs and bars.
Murphy’s saw a significant increase in sales across 2024, resulting in a total uplift of 104 per cent for the year. This peaked in December, when there was overwhelming demand for Murphy’s, with pints up an incredible 632 per cent in UK pubs and bars, compared to the same period in 2023.
“Given stout’s surging performance across the total market, we have seen consumers explore the category further,” said Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director, Off Trade.” As a credible, authentic stout option, Murphy’s has exploded in the on-trade over the past year. This expansion of formats in the off-trade will enable even more customers to maximise the stout opportunity and provide consumers with quality options to enjoy at home.”
Murphy’s boasts a well-fired, toasty and earthy taste with notes of toffee, coffee and chocolate. Its silky-smooth feel also features aromas of coffee grinds, mocha, chocolate, sweet, and malt syrup.
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Pack size: 4x440ml / 10x440ml
Case size: 6x4x440ml / 2x10x440ml
RRP: £5.00* / £12.00*
ABV: 4%
*Recommended retail price only. Retailers are free to set their own prices.
The stout category has performed incredibly well over the past year as consumer demand for the "black stuff" surges, with strong value and volume growth in the total market of +23.7 per cent and +18 per cent, respectively. In the off-trade, specifically, stout has grown +15.6 per cent in value and +11.3 per cent in volume.
Founded in Cork in 1856, Murphy’s Irish Stout has always been a trusted, authentic stout brand, and this position has been solidified over the past year as the demand for stout has increased and consumers explore the category further – with many discovering Murphy’s for the first time due to increased distribution in pubs and bars.
Murphy’s saw a significant increase in sales across 2024, resulting in a total uplift of 104 per cent for the year. This peaked in December, when there was overwhelming demand for Murphy’s, with pints up an incredible 632 per cent in UK pubs and bars, compared to the same period in 2023.
“Given stout’s surging performance across the total market, we have seen consumers explore the category further,” said Alexander Wilson, Category & Commercial Strategy Director, Off Trade.” As a credible, authentic stout option, Murphy’s has exploded in the on-trade over the past year. This expansion of formats in the off-trade will enable even more customers to maximise the stout opportunity and provide consumers with quality options to enjoy at home.”
Murphy’s boasts a well-fired, toasty and earthy taste with notes of toffee, coffee and chocolate. Its silky-smooth feel also features aromas of coffee grinds, mocha, chocolate, sweet, and malt syrup.
Murphy’s Irish Stout
Pack size: 4x440ml / 10x440ml
Case size: 6x4x440ml / 2x10x440ml
RRP: £5.00* / £12.00*
ABV: 4%
*Recommended retail price only. Retailers are free to set their own prices.