Fisherman’s Friend has urged retailers to fortify their supplies with its extensive array of nine globally acclaimed lozenges, as the brand is set to relieve masses of hay fever sufferers as temperatures – and pollen levels – soar.
Experiencing double-digit growth for the past two consecutive hay fever seasons, sales of the renowned lozenge skyrocketed, boasting a 40 per cent surge in value sales and an impressive 27 per cent uptick in volume sales last year. With Allergy UK cautioning an incremental rise in hay fever sufferers, the brand foresees yet another season of surging demand.
“Hay fever, triggered by pollen allergies, manifests in symptoms such as itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and sore throats. It's imperative to acknowledge that almost 10 million people in the UK grapple with these symptoms annually,” said Jon R White, regional business manager for Fisherman’s Friend in the UK.
"As we enter the 2024 hay fever season, Allergy UK warns that rising temperatures are resulting in allergens emerging sooner and lingering for extended periods. And over the past three decades, hay fever cases have tripled, impacting one in four adults. With experts forecasting allergen persistence until January next year, this underscores a substantial market demand for effective relief products and presents a significant opportunity for retailers and pharmacists.”
Fisherman’s Friend is anticipating a further spike in consumer demand with the launch of its ‘Restore in the Great Outdoors’ social media campaign this summer.
With an estimated reach of 124,800, the brand is set to team up with leading outdoor influencers to incentivise followers to embrace the best of British Summertime - all while armoured with their trusted ally Fisherman’s Friend to help combat symptoms.
Fisherman’s Friend distinguishes itself with its diverse range of lozenges, boasting up to a third more menthol content than competitors. The brand also serves shoppers with exceptional value, offering a generous lozenge count in each pack (RRP: 92p, 25g).
“Fisherman’s Friend enables retailers to accommodate a wide range of taste preferences – from Original Menthol, to Mint and Honey and Lemon,” White noted.
“Our packs contain a high number of individual lozenges, ensuring longer-lasting relief compared with many competitor brands. And in today’s economic landscape, where shoppers are keen to maximize value, Fisherman’s Friend surfaces as an increasingly compelling choice – reinforcing its status as a must-stock brand during hay fever season and beyond.”
Global snacks giant pladis has been granted a new Royal Warrant of Appointment to His Majesty the King, for use in connection with their McVitie’s and Jacob’s biscuits and snacks.
“We’re delighted, especially as our UK brands have a long history of being granted Royal Warrants, since as far back as 1841,” the company said.
“Our royal connections have been a great source of pride to our brands over the years, from the creation of a grand wedding cake for the Duke of York and Princess Mary, to a chocolate biscuit cake for the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011 and the gift of a cake for the King’s Coronation.”
Sharwood’s, a leading brand in the Indian cooking sauces market, is expanding and modernising beyond traditional curry sauces with its latest launch: the Street Food Sizzler range.
Designed to bring the vibrant flavours of modern Indian street food to homes across the UK, the latest range includes meal kits, sizzle sauces, and roti wraps.
Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in the UK, yet 22 per cent of consumers only opt for Indian meals during the weekend [Kantar, 52w/e 07.07.24]. The Street Food Sizzler range aims to shift consumer perceptions of Indian meals. Offering a fresh and versatile approach to Indian cuisine, the convenient, on-trend products can also be enjoyed at lunch or as snacks, broadening occasions throughout the week and time of day.
The new Street Food Sizzler range includes meals kits, sauces, and roti wraps, providing everything consumers need to easily create flavourful, modern Indian dishes. The meal kits are available in Masala Tikka Sizzler, Shashlik Tikka Sizzler, Spicy Tikka Sizzler, Tandoori Tikka Sizzler flavours and include a seasoning sachet, a sizzler sauce, and a mango chutney drizzle which can be added to vegetables or a protein of choice.
The range also includes Sizzler Sauce accompaniments and deliciously soft roti wraps which shoppers can buy alongside the meal kits to enjoy at home.
“We know consumers want to recreate the street food meals they’re eating when out and about, but currently there is little choice on shelf beyond more traditional options. Our new range offers consumers a modern and versatile way to enjoy Indian food – packed with punchy flavours and with a more concentrated finish than a traditional curry, shoppers can now enjoy light and vibrant meals inspired by Indian street food,” Andrey Sokirkin, global marketing director of cooking sauces at Premier Foods, commented.
“Our new Sharwood’s Street Food Sizzler range will help to unlock new occasions so that retailers can make the most of this untapped opportunity. From wraps to sandwiches or even as standalone snacks, this new range is set to help retailers offer consumers popular Indian flavours in a brand-new way.”
Kellogg’s has revealed a bold new visual identity for its cereal portfolio, to build on its legacy of 117 years at the breakfast table and to spur a new growth era for its iconic cereal brands.
Cornelius the Cockerel, Kellogg’s beloved mascot since 1958, has been reimagined in a new integrated marketing campaign, See You in the Morning, which celebrates Kellogg’s legacy of being the ‘OG of breakfast’. The new 3D Cornelius will now feature across more of Kellogg’s iconic cereals as part of a 360° full-funnel campaign for the Masterbrand. It will be supported by a £12 million investment in the UK across TV, digital, social, OOH, retail and instore.
The integrated campaign debuted in the UK online with a 60 second film on 16 December and on TV from 23 December, rolling out across the UK in January 2025 and across Europe from February 2025.
The heart of See You in the Morning is the all-new Cornelius the Cockerel, who has never before been brought to life as a fully developed character. Brimming with personality, 3D Cornelius has been concepted and developed with cutting-edge animation by Framestore – the multi–Academy Award-winning studio behind major global hits like Paddington and Harry Potter.
The film opens with Cornelius strutting confidently through the city streets, with effortless swagger, catching the attention of passersby. The vibrant scene is set to iconic hip hop soundtrack – Jurassic 5’s Jayou – marking the first time the track has ever been used in an advertising spot.
See You in the Morning was shaped by Kellogg’s largest ethnographic study across Europe, including the UK. The research uncovered the truth about mornings, that everyone needs ‘you do you’ time when they wake up and if they don’t get that, they start their day compromised. That insight linked to the fact that Kellogg’s, as the OG, has been waking up the world since 1906, so it simply ‘gets’ mornings and understands that everyone needs to do mornings to suit them.
The launch of social films from January, focussing on You Do You moments, will see Cornelius appear in various morning scenarios, engaging with different breakfast routines from kids rushing to school, to couples sharing quiet moments. The social-first approach invites people to share their own personal morning rituals, further driving engagement and creating a community around the brand.
Set to reach 150 million people across Europe through TV, digital, social and OOH, the campaign will tap into evolving viewing habits through a progressive AV approach and ensure messaging is highly relevant to consumers through advanced use of data and targeting. A high-impact wave of OOH advertising will also appear on billboards across Europe. The creative features Cornelius alongside the message, “The OG,” in Kellogg’s distinctive typography.
In retail, commerce activations across Europe will bring Cornelius and the new brand world to life, establishing Kellogg’s as the original and the best breakfast cereal for everyone’s morning routine, and encouraging shoppers to interact with the brand while purchasing.
See You in the Morning is the beginning of a bold move from Kellogg’s, in which its portfolio of cereal brands, which include Cornflakes, Coco Pops, and Rice Krispies will be advertised under the masterbrand and newly-created visual identity. The masterbrand strategy has been designed to recapture Kellogg’s category leadership, reclaiming its crown position on the shelf and in minds.
“Breakfast is deeply personal, and with See You in the Morning, we’re celebrating the unique ways everyone approaches mornings,” Jenn Carkner, VP, Kellogg’s Cereal, said.
“This campaign brings Kellogg’s iconic status to life in bold and modern ways, ensuring we remain a trusted and loved part of the breakfast table.”
SPAR shoppers can win big this New Year with four £10,000 grand prizes up for grabs through the latest customer campaign Frozen Fortune.
Launching on 2 January, SPAR shoppers across England, Scotland and Wales can Tap, Spin and Win from a pool of over 400,000 instant rewards on big brand products.
Free to play, Frozen Fortune offers a daily Ice Breaker game where players tap the ice until it cracks, revealing if they are a winner.
After playing the Ice Breaker game three times, players unlock the Fortune Maker game, where they can spin a wheel to win a guaranteed reward.
Winning customers will receive a text with a link to a digital voucher, which they can redeem at any of the 1,300 participating SPAR stores across Britain.
In addition, one £200 holiday voucher will be given away every day during the 49-day promotion.
All SPAR customers need to do to participate is visit frozenfortune.co.uk, submit their details and start playing. The campaign runs until 19 February 2025.
All four SPAR RDCs in Great Britain – CJ Lang & Son Ltd (Scotland), A. F. Blakemore & Son Ltd (South East, Midlands, and Wales), Appleby Westward (South West England), and James Hall & Co. Ltd (North of England) – are collaborating on the campaign. Each will award one £10,000 grand prize winner.
James Hall & Co. Ltd will manage the campaign nationwide, building on the success of previous popular customer promotions such as Win With Every Goal and £10K To Getaway.
On behalf of SPAR, Philippa Harrington, marketing manager at James Hall & Co. Ltd, said: “SPAR is excited to launch our latest customer campaign Frozen Fortune and reward four lucky shoppers across Great Britain with £10,000 of ice-cold cash each to start 2025 in style.
“In recent years, gamification has proven to be an excellent way to engage our SPAR customer base. The combination of the game’s concept, interface and usability, along with incredible instant rewards, has generated enthusiasm among SPAR shoppers.
“Frozen Fortune builds on this success, offering a promotion we believe SPAR shoppers will love. It provides a little something extra at the beginning of the new year especially when budgets are tighter, and people are seeking an uplifting experience.
“As with previous gamification promotions, we have had fantastic support from our valued suppliers. We are extremely grateful for their backing of SPAR Frozen Fortune and for once again understanding the vision and value of the campaign.”
Like previous campaigns, the technology behind the SPAR Frozen Fortune game was developed in partnership with Abraxas Marketing.
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.