The Cotswolds Distillery has announced the launch of its second Amaro Whisky Liqueur expression: Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro.
Ideal for Christmas celebrations, the new drink follows the launch of Cotswolds No 1 Whisky Amaro at the beginning of the year.
Cotswolds Peated Cask Single Malt Whisky, which was awarded ‘Best World Whisky’ at the International Whisky Competition 2020, is the base for Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro. A selection of botanicals including chamomile, citrus and herbs creates a complex, herbaceous liqueur with notes of spice and a slightly bitter finish.
Cotswolds No 2 Whisky Amaro has an RRP of £34.95 for a 500ml bottle ABV: 40%.
Chinese vape firm Vozol has announced the launch of two new open-system products in the UK and European markets in December.
Ace Max is specially crafted for those who seek top-tier quality and a premium vaping experience. Made from high-quality zinc alloy, similar to the materials used in Louis Vuitton accessories, it seamlessly combines durability with luxury.
Featuring the world's first and largest touchscreen, at 1.47 inches, consumers can enjoy effortless operation without the hassle of physical buttons or complicated menus.
The product offers three interactive thematic modes to choose from.
The Classic Space Launch theme is designed for adventurers; the Racing Speed Mode is tailored for thrill-seekers; and the Barbie Pink Heart Launch theme, adorned with playful heart motifs and eye-catching effects, is perfect for those who appreciate aesthetics.
Ace Go is the ideal choice for savvy vapers seeking high quality without overspending.
Constructed from lightweight aluminium alloy—widely used in aeroplane wings—this product is designed for easy portability, making it perfect for travel and sports. Its unique triangular screen allows users to stand out in a sea of conventional rectangular displays.
To offer better value to shoppers and to help retailers encourage basket spend, Rockstar Energy is launching a new price-marked pack (PMP) proposition across its range. Available from the new year, Rockstar’s “£2 for £2” PMP aims to provide greater value for shoppers, particularly appealing to frequent energy drink buyers.
Stimulant energy drinks are growing by 5.8 per cent year on year and are adding the most value (£50.3m) to convenience. PMPs play a key role in communicating value to consumers, with 51 per cent of shoppers feeling reassured that they are not being overcharged when purchasing PMPs. Rockstar Energy is well-positioned to support the convenience channel. The new multibuy PMP aims to boost sales and drive basket spend by offering energy drink customers greater value across popular Rockstar flavours.
“Our new multi-buy ‘2 for £2’ PMP comes at an ideal time to help retailers capitalise on the strong sales performance of energy drinks,” said Ben Parker, Commercial Director for Britvic. “With stimulant energy now the number one soft drink segment in convenience it is more important than ever for us to support the channel by offering products that meet the high demand for energy drinks and provide value. With flavours and no sugar driving the category forward, growing +8.3 per cent and +3.9 per cent respectively, the new PMP makes Rockstar Energy the go-to choice for every energy fan.”
The new PMP will roll out across the entire range, including Tropical Guava, Blueberry Pomegranate, Mango, and several Zero Sugar options, including Blueberry, Watermelon & Kiwi, and Strawberry & Lime. Rockstar Energy’s new multi-buy PMP will roll out across convenience and wholesale in the new year in conjunction with the existing £1.29 PMP offer.
Leading sausage roll brand Wall’s Pastry has announced a new charity partnership with Action Against Hunger, pledging to donate 5p from every pack sold of its 10x55g sausage rolls.
Funds raised through the initiative will support Action Against Hunger’s work to tackle hunger in areas of high poverty across the UK.
The announcement follows an exceptional year of growth for Wall’s, which is massively outperforming the market, achieving 40 per cent growth in value and 36 per cent in volume in the past 52 weeks. Wall’s is now utilising its brand presence and resonance with shoppers to support Action Against Hunger’s mission to put an end to hunger across the UK.
Action Against Hunger collaborates with local partners in UK regions facing high child poverty rates, improving access to food through surplus food distribution. Funds raised through Wall’s initiative will support the upkeep of these centres and help purchase essential food supplies for those in need. Wall’s will also contribute products to food donation facilities over the Christmas season and into the new year.
“Our philosophy is, ‘When Hunger Call’s, Grab a Wall’s’. However, we recognise that for many people across the UK, food is a necessity in short supply,” Jason Manley, brand director at Wall’s Pastry, part of The Compleat Food Group, said.
“As a leading food brand, we understand that our responsibility goes beyond creating high-quality, delicious and good value food that people love to eat. That’s why we couldn’t be prouder to announce our partnership with Action Against Hunger.
“We encourage consumers looking to satisfy their hunger to pick up a 10-pack of our favourite sausage rolls. By doing so, they’ll not only enjoy a tasty treat but also contribute to the fight against hunger here in the UK.”
Faustino, distributed by Amber Beverage Group UK, is the largest vineyard owner in Rioja with a long commitment to the traditional style of the region’s wines. With over 160 years of family winemaking history, Faustino’s wealth of knowledge makes it the leader in Gran Reserva wines in the Rioja region. With its exceptional quality and taste – Faustino continues to perform well in the UK retail market, and volume sales have increased by +13 per cent since 2022.
Elevated affordability
Affordability remains a key concern for many this Christmas, as 53 per cent of consumers worry about how they will afford presents. However, 55 per cent of consumers are also willing to pay full price for important gifts, meaning stocking products that resonate with consumers’ gifting needs will be essential.
This is the perfect time for retailers to stock premium wines at a price point that is still accessible and good value for money, as consumers continue to buy less, but better-quality wines, not only for personal consumption, but for gifting hosting and gifting loved ones.
For example, Faustino I Gran Reserva – the flagship from Bodegas Faustino – is a quality wine at an accessible price point of £18. Celebrating its 60th vintage this year, it is the leading Rioja Gran Reserva in export markets and available in more than 140 countries.
It is complex and elegant, with fruity and spicy notes, pairing well with medium-aged cheese used for creating festive charcuterie boards.
A Rosé-coloured Christmas
Whilst most consumers have traditionally opted for red and sparkling wines at Christmas, 56 per cent of drinkers consider Rosé suitable for drinking all year round including the festive season. Rosé is ideal for the social gatherings that take place around Christmas and New Year. Faustino has enhanced the consumer experience of its VII Rosado with new packaging that includes food pairing suggestions, such as fish, traditionally eaten on Christmas Eve. This caters to the 70 per cent of millennials who seek wines that complement their culinary preferences.
The conscious Christmas consumer
This Christmas, consumers are predicted to be more mindful of their buying habits, with almost half intending to buy from sustainable brands and 21 per cent willing to spend more on them.
Consumers looking for more sustainable gifting options could reach for a bottle of Faustino, as its rebranded labels are made of 100 per cent recyclable materials and the V range has changed from a matte bottle to a clear bottle, resulting in lower CO2 output – making it particularly appealing to the 63 per cent of Millennials who say they are concerned about climate change.
In the hubbub that builds before Christmas, it’s easy to understand how an out-of-touch person might momentarily have lost sight of the fact that January 4 is National Spaghetti Day.
In an age of countless fancy twirled & tubed pasta shapes, its reassuring to know that it’s the straight-talking, thin lined spaghetti that retains top status throughout the globe with especially high sales currently being registered in China, Canada Japan, North America and Germany.
In total, 18m tonnes of spaghetti is consumed globally every year!
A new organic pasta offering from Realfoods by Organico originates from a small batch producer in Bari Puglia where "slow" is the name of the game, whether it's the slow proving of the dough or the extra time drying; taking time plays a pivotal role in producing a superior product.
Realfoods by Organico uses best-in-class durum wheat and pure spring water, not to mention old-school bronze plates from times gone by (the finest traditional pasta is extruded through dies—perforated bronze plates that both cut and shape). But it’s not rushing that creates the real point of difference versus rapidly extruding, mass market, conveyor-belt peers.
Spaghetti, as any well briefed pasta aficionado will explain, derives from the word "Spago" which means twine or string. Whilst many Sicilians will claim that spaghetti is a home-grown delicacy, there’s a growing body of evidence which suggests spaghetti is actually an "Arab-inspired" food introduced by traders to the Sicilian shores, who were keen to enjoy the manifold benefits of an easily stored dried food that could sustain them as they travelled the arduous Silk Road to China (which also lays claim to the primal noodle).
So, when the last slice of turkey has been polished off and the cranberry sauce and mince pies are nothing more than a distant memory, it might be wise to ensure some Organico pasta is in the larder, maybe even some Organico Arrabbiata, Vegan Bolognese or Puttanesca sauces.