Fine food distributor Cotswold Fayre has unveiled its new Christmas catalogue, bringing a wealth of traditional favourites alongside some exciting new gifting products.
The catalogue lists 1340 product lines, 65 of which are from certified B Corps, to help retailers plan early for 2022’s festive period
“This year we have focused on providing retailers with some exciting alternatives to the traditional advent calendars and gift sets,” Alissia Festa, seasonal buyer at Cotswold Fayre, said.
“Love Corn have introduced a Milk Chocolate & Sea Salt Gift Jar and Lucy’s Dressings are now available in a Gift Box.”
Last year Cotswold Fayre saw an increase in festive alcoholic products, in particular its Christmas-themed gins. The novelty of eye-catching bottles and different flavours created a popular gift category.
“After the popularity of our alcoholic products last year, we have added more lines to our 2022 catalogue such as, Winter Secco, a lightly spiced sparkling wine, Finders Christmas Pudding Rum and The Reverend Hubert’s Winter Gin Liqueur,” Festa continued.
“It is also important to us to offer variety and cater for those who prefer to enjoy non-alcoholic options, such as Everleaf, a non-alcoholic aperitif brand which uses sustainably sourced botanicals for its drinks.”
With the growth and innovation from its suppliers, Cotswold Fayre is devoted to ensuring that their brands are sustainable and ethically sourced.
“The launch of Cajuu, an ethically sourced nut brand which uses 100% plastic free packaging is the perfect sustainable addition to the buffet table this Christmas,” Festa said.
The Cotswold Fayre Christmas 2022 Catalogue can be viewed here.
Cheez-It, the iconic US brand that burst onto the UK snacks scene last year, has announced a new competition exclusively for independent retailers, with a whopping £10,000 cash prize up for grabs.
To be in with a chance of winning, convenience group store owners simply order a free POS bundle, which comprises a wobbler, shelf strips, and aisle fins, via the link below or through the QR code live now across all print and digital adverts. Once received and live in store, entrants just need to text photos of all three assets in situ to 81155. The winner will then be chosen at random.
Cheez-It has taken the UK by storm since it landed on shelves across the country last summer, achieving a staggering £10.4million value sales to date, becoming the biggest "Large Sharing" NPD of the last four years. The brand has already won over 2.5 million shoppers, driving an impressive 8.6 per cent penetration in the market, with a strong 26 per cent repeat rate demonstrating its growing popularity. With continued through-the-line investment of £18million, sales are expected to keep soaring.
“Over the past six months, the convenience channel has been instrumental in making our UK debut a phenomenal success," said Charlie Foster, Senior Sales Director at Kellanova. Through this new competition, we want to reward our retailer partners for coming on this journey with us and help them drive even more impulse snack sales with our vibrant, eye-catching POS bundle.
“It’s so straightforward to enter, and with the chance to win £10,000, we encourage all eligible stores to request the POS bundle today to enter the competition and showcase the biggest NPD in Large Sharing in style!”
Retailers can request the free POS bundle here. Terms and conditions apply:
This competition is exclusively open to owners and employees of UK convenience stores. GB only. Entrants must be 18+. Open from 00:01 03.03.2025 to 25.04.25. To enter prize draw: Request 10k-Giveaway POS bundle from www.kelloggsvantage.co.uk. Take a photograph of your POS material and upload a clear photograph of the POS material along with your full name, store name and contact details to www.10k-Giveaway.co.uk. Winners will be drawn at random from all valid entries received during the promotional period stated by an independent adjudicator. There is x1 (one) prize of £10,000. Cash awarded via BACS payment to winners. Max 1 entry per person. Max 1 prize per person. For exclusions, full terms and conditions and information on how your personal data will be compliantly handled visit www.stockitcheezit.com/terms. Promoter: Kellogg Marketing and Sales Company (UK) Limited, Orange Tower, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2HF.
Imperial Brands has launched an exciting range of new flavours to its rechargeable blu bar kit vape line, following increasing demand from customers for more flavour options.
Launched in independents on March 3. the new additions consists of three new kit flavours – each comprising of a rechargeable blu bar device and flavoured pod - and 11 new blu pod flavours, so customers can buy and try a total of 15 flavours across the range.
The three new kit flavours are Watermelon Ice, Blueberry Ice, and Blueberry Sour Razz, whilst the replaceable packs of 2 pods are now available in Blueberry Ice, Lemon Lime, Strawberry Ice, Berry Mix, Kiwi Passionfruit, Mint, Apple, Grape, Banana Ice, Blueberry Cherry, and Triple Melon. The blu pod packs and blu bar kits both carry an RRP of £5.99.
The launch is a response to the growing popularity of fruity flavours among users of vape products. This is especially the case among current users of disposable vape products, who will have to consider alternatives in the light of the anticipated disposable vape ban on 1st June 2025.
According to recent research, the top 10 most popular flavours amongst UK users of disposable vapes are fruit-based - with Lemon Lime, Pineapple Ice and Strawberry Ice coming in as the top three.
Imperial Brand’s latest launch will therefore be welcome news to disposable vape users seeking a similar flavour experience as they make the transition to rechargeable vaping systems.
Fruity flavours were also popular with existing users of pod-based devices, followed by mint flavours. The top three flavours for users of pod-based vaping systems were Mixed Fruit, Blue Raspberry Ice, and Peppermint Tobacco.
This research is also backed-up by a recent VapeHub study, which surveyed 450 UK vape users. When asked for their three most preferred flavours, 64 per cent mentioned fruit – more than double that of any other flavour type.
Imperial Brands launched blu bar kit last summer, to provide consumers with an alternative to disposables that mirrors the same flavour experience and convenience that has driven the demand for disposables – with a post-ban compliant device.
Providing users with an impressive 1000 puffs per pod, the blu bar kit is a sleek, slimline and lightweight device that offers the easy use and portability of a disposable device, while the rechargeable 550mAh battery and USB-C charging port enable repeated use.
Each durable blu bar device comes in a premium brushed metallic finish for in-hand longevity. Liquid level visibility means customers can easily see when pods need replacing, and with pod safety a priority, a security lock ensures the device is fully protected when not in use.
The blu pod packs each contain two pods allowing a total of 2,000 puffs, and the blu bar kit utilises blu Flavour Tech mesh coil technology to deliver intense flavour from the first puff to the last. Users of Imperial Brands blu bar 1000 disposable device will already be familiar with the technology, delivering a great taste experience that vaping customers demand.
Yawer Rasool, Consumer Marketing Director UK & Ireland at Imperial Brands, commented: “The vape market in the UK is being driven by two key factors – flavour choice and ease of use.
"As the availability of disposable vapes comes to an end in the UK, our extended blu bar range has been designed to be just as easy to use as a disposable vape product, while offering the most popular flavours in a reuseable pod format.
“Given that the overall pod market nearly doubled in the last year, mainly due to growth in the availability of products which offer the same convenience as disposable vapes, it is clear that the new blu bar kit and pods are a ‘must stock’ item for retailers.”
Wilkinson Sword Intuition, the shaving brand with intuitive tools designed for women, has joined forces with the Women’s Rugby World Cup as its official shaving partner for 2025.
The exciting new partnership, which represents a significant marketing investment for the brand, underscores its commitment to supporting world-class events that foster a sense of pride and inspiration.
The Women’s Rugby World Cup is a celebration of teamwork, determination, and resilience while also recognising and celebrating players’ individual skills and strengths. This mirrors the ethos behind Wilkinson Sword Intuition’s shaving range, which comprises of expert tools specifically designed for women to help remove hair across different areas of the body – legs, underarms, bikini and face.
The tournament, set to take place across eight cities and venues in England, brings together fans from around the globe and offers Intuition a unique opportunity to boost awareness of its brand ethos.
Inspiring all women
As an official partner, Wilkinson Sword Intuition will be maximising the partnership across multiple touchpoints to reach its core audience of women aged 25-44, through a full-funnel digital, social and shopper campaign, including the opportunity for fans to win tickets to the coveted Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 27 September.
Beyond the stadiums, Wilkinson Sword Intuition’s partnership with the Women’s Rugby World Cup is about celebrating the strength and determination of everyday, ambitious women with busy lives. Wilkinson Sword Intuition’s mission is to support these women by giving them the very best hair removal tools whilst challenging the category norms by bringing more honest, open conversations and positive portrayals of real-life shaving that so many women experience and relate to.
“We are thrilled to be the official shaving partner of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025," said Jola Maczkiewicz, Senior Brand Manager for Wilkinson Sword Intuition at Edgewell Personal Care. This iconic event represents performance at the highest level whilst also celebrating women' s individualities – which aligns to our brand ethos of providing women with the very best shaving tools, wherever they remove their hair. We look forward to bringing fans closer to the action on the pitch this summer!”
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Cheddar and Caramelised Onion Chutney ridges with deep texture.
Award-winning snack maker, Burts, has announced the launch of its brand-new flavour of ridges; Cheddar & Caramelised Onion Chutney, and packaging refresh which will launch in mid-March of 2025.
Available as 40g packs, the new flavour of ridges serves as a more substantial snack with deep ridges holding more flavour to capture an even bolder Burts taste.
The ridges promise a perfect blend of rich, savoury cheddar sourced locally from Quicke’s Cheese Shop, complemented by the sweet tang of caramelised onion chutney.
Alongside the new flavour, Burts is unveiling a bold new look across the entire range. The refreshed packaging has been designed with enhanced flavour cues to highlight the rich, distinctive tastes that set the brand apart.
The updated design not only reinforces the premium quality of the crisps but also ensures strong shelf appeal, making it easier than ever for customers to spot their favourite flavours.
At Burts, quality starts at the source, which is why the brand proudly uses locally sourced potatoes from trusted British farmers.
By working closely with growers in the Southwest region including Trenowth Farm, Splattenridden Farm and others, it is ensured the crisps are made with the finest, freshest ingredients while supporting local agriculture.
Each potato is carefully selected for its quality and taste, meaning every batch delivers the signature crunch and flavour that Burts is known for, and as with all Burts products, are gluten-free and contain no added MSG, artificial colours.
Commenting on the new flavour and packaging refresh, Sas Horscroft, Head of Marketing at Burts Snacks Ltd said, “We’re excited to unveil the new Cheddar and Caramelised Onion Chutney flavour, a bold and irresistible addition to our ridges range.
At the same time, our refreshed packaging brings the entire ridges range to life, with vibrant designs and enhanced flavour cues that reflect the premium quality and big flavours our brand is known for.
It’s an exciting step forward for Burts as we continue to innovate and deliver exceptional snacking experiences.”
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PepsiCo’s new retailer guide for maximizing savoury snack revenue
PepsiCo is introducing its "Max Your Snacks" retailer guide this March, a category guide designed to help convenience stores optimise their savoury snacks range through practical, easy-to-implement advice. In fact, convenience retailers could be sitting on an average of £17.8k worth of savoury snacks sales every year in-store. By executing the category in the right way, retailers could truly maximise sales and drive an additional uplift of 16 per cent.
In the UK, 99 per cent of the population consume savoury snacks, and within convenience outlets specifically, 50 per cent of shoppers purchase from the category. PepsiCo’s Max Your Snacks guide offers insights on the right space, range, layout, points of interruption and the right NPD to make the most of the category. It’s been designed to equip retailers with the tools and insights needed to support category expansion, and shines a light on the importance of price-marked packs (PMPs) within savoury snacks. The format helps build shopper trust and encourages impulse buys, offering clarity and value to shoppers.
“At PepsiCo, we are committed to supporting the convenience channel and independent retailers in driving maximum success in their stores,” said Nic Storey, Senior Sales Director, Impulse, at PepsiCo. “Through our ‘Max Your Snacks’ guide, we’re equipping retailers with expert insights to help them feel confident, informed, and empowered to grow their business and unlock additional revenue. While launches like Extra Flamin’ Hot and Doritos Dinamita have injected excitement into the category, NPD is just one part of savoury snacking. It’s vital that we also work collaboratively with our retail partners to support our range as well and help them make PMPs work as hard as possible. This is a key format for the channel which we continue to support, ensuring our core range and bestsellers are available at great value to shoppers.”
Available exclusively via *shopt, PepsiCo is also giving retailers the chance to earn cash rewards for downloading the guide, plus an exclusive competition for those who engage with the principles. Kicking off from 17 March 2025, retailers who successfully download the Max Your Snacks guide via *shopt will earn £2 in credit on their account. From 1 April 2025, retailers who have successfully downloaded the guide will then be invited to take part in a follow-up offer to stock five of PepsiCo’s recommended PMP SKUs. Retailers who upload a photo of the stocked items will be entered into a prize draw, with 30 winners each receiving £100.
PepsiCo’s Max Your Snacks guide is available via *shopt and can be accessed by independent and symbol group retailers with a *shopt account. To enter the competition and discover expert strategies to unlock your category’s full potential, download the *shopt app now at https://www.shopt.digital/en-gb/#download.
Recommended PMP Range:
Doritos EFH 70g PMP
Doritos Chilli Heatwave 70g PMP
Doritos Cool Original 70g PMP
Doritos Tangy Cheese 70g PMP
Walkers Max EFH 70g PMP
Wotsits Crunchy EFH 60g PMP
Wotsits Crunchy Cheese 60g PMP
Wotsits Crunchy FH 60g PMP
Walkers Smokey Bacon 32.5g Single PMP
Walkers Roast Chicken 32.5g Single PMP
Walkers Ready Salted 70g PMP
Walkers C&O 70g PMP
Walkers S&V 70g PMP
Walkers Prawn Cocktail 70g PMP
Walkers Max Punchy Paprika 70g PMP
Sensations TSC 65g PMP
Cheetos Twisted FH 65g PMP
Cheetos Twisted FH 30g PMP
Cheetos Crunchy Cheese 30g PMP
Monster Munch Flamin’ Hot 72g PMP
Monster Munch Pickled Onion 72g PMP
Monster Munch Roast Beef 72g PMP
Squares S&V 72g PMP
Squares C&O 72g PMP
Quavers Cheese 54g PMP
Wotsits Cheese 60g PMP
French Fries C&O 54g PMP
Smiths Frazzles 75g PMP
Short terms
Open to GB 18+ *shopt account holders only. Competition opens [00:01] (UK time) on 17/03/2025 and closes at [23:59] (UK time) on 29/04/2025. To qualify, entrants must successfully redeem the offer entitled “Max Your Snacks” by following the “Download Now” link and successfully downloading the category guide. Retailers who have successfully downloaded the guide will receive a follow up offer to stock five of the Max Your Snacks PMP SKUs. To qualify, entrants must successfully redeem the offer entitled “Stock 5 PMP for a Chance to Win £100” by following the “Claim Now” link and successfully stocking of five Max Your Snacks PMP SKUs will result in retailers being automatically entered into a prize draw offering the chance for 30 retailers to win £100 each. Please note entrants need to make their claim before the closing date. Eligible participants will be awarded via their *shopt wallet. Max 1 entry per store. Full T&Cs can be found HERE Promoter: CPM United Kingdom Limited, a company incorporated and registered in England and Wales with registered company number 01757157 and registered office address at 85 Strand, 5th Floor, London, England, WC2R 0DW.