Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has unveiled its seasonal range of Halloween treats.
Brand new themed pick and mix, spooky novelty lines and sharing bags are a great centrepiece to Halloween snack tables or in trick-or-treat bags.
The new range includes launches from customer favourite brands including Crazy Candy Factory, Candy Realms, Bonds of London and Bubs.
Each year, themed pick and mix are top sellers for Hancocks. New for this Halloween season are Halloween Eyeball Mix and Milk Chocolate Pumpkins.
Best sellers from last year are also making their return, including Jelly Filled Brains and Jelly Filled Skulls, Pumpkin Gummies and Monsters from Kingsway.
Bubs pick and mix sweets are a customer favourite from the Vegan treats range. For Halloween, customers can choose from Cool Cola Skulls, Sour Raspberry & Lemon Skulls, Big Sour Skulls, Micro Sour Skulls and Bubs Ghosts.
Pick and mix sweets are available in bulk bags, and can be merchandised as part of a wider selection, or pre-packaged into Halloween treat bags perfect for party favours.
Novelty and impulse confectionery lines always experience a growth in sales over seasonal sales periods.
Crazy Candy Factory’s brand new Zombie Brain, a strawberry gummy brain in candy red liquid, is due to be a showstopper in stores.
The fun and fearsome treat stands out on shelves with its shock factor and will make an impact when stocked near till points or on aisle ends.
Global confectionery brand Pez have launched their iconic Halloween character dispensers with the introduction of a new ‘spooky bat’ character into the mix for 2023.
This year, Candy Realms are bringing value-friendly seasonal treats to customers, without compromising on taste.
Candy Realms brand new Halloween offering includes Candy Realms Spooky Tubes, Alien Balloons with Popping Candy, Skull Candy Pops and Spooky Mallows.
Sharing options are also a great choice to maximise seasonal sales. Hancocks urged retailers to stock up for Halloween parties and nights in with Bonds Candy Cups in Scary Pumpkins and Spooky Mix, each filled to the brim with themed pick and mix favourites.
Other spooky Candy Cup favourites include Green Cola Bottles, Dracula Teeth and Pick & White Mice.
The Bonds Halloween range also includes fun and attractive share bags like the Fizzy Fangs and Monster Mash bags.
“We are so excited to share our new Halloween range with retailers and customers. This year, we know customers are going to be focused on getting the best value confectionery, which is why we are supplying retailers with value ranges and pocket-money friendly novelty lines,” Kathryn Hague, head of marketing at Hancocks. said.
“Shoppers will already be prepping for the spooky season, so it is important for retailers to stock up as early as possible for the seasonal sales rush.
“Making sure to stock a wide range of treats from brand new launches to classic favourites which perform well year on year is sure to give retailers most success and keep customers happy.”
Shopper demand for energy drinks shows no signs of slowing down, with stimulants now worth £1.8 billion, growing by over eight per cent in the last year. To support retailers in making the most of this opportunity, Rockstar Energy is launching its latest Zero Sugar addition to its portfolio this February – Rockstar Energy Zero Sugar Peach.
Taste and enjoyment are key factors for consumers when selecting a soft drink, making new and exciting flavour profiles key for attracting shoppers into the category. Within this, peach flavours have already seen a +153 per cent sales value increase within stimulants over the last year. Rockstar Energy Zero Sugar Peach is strongly placed to allow retailers to tap into this trend, with the brand worth £15 million and with 93 per cent of sales driven by flavours over the last year.
Additionally, as price-marked packs continue to provide retailers with a value proposition, the innovation joins Rockstar Energy’s 500ml price-marked packs and two-for-£2 portfolios. Both the price-marked and plain packs will roll out with new festival themed packaging for striking on shelf visibility, in line with Rockstar’s ongoing partnerships with six of the UK’s most iconic Gen-Z festivals including Reading, Wireless and Parklife.
“With the stimulant energy segment outperforming the wider market in 2024, this year we want to continue the momentum through our Rockstar Energy brand,” said Ben Parker, Carlsberg Britvic’s Vice President of Commercial Off Trade. “However, we also want to ensure that we are recruiting new people into the market and appealing to a wider group of shoppers, to really maximise retailers’ energy sales success in 2025. We know that flavours such as peach are favoured by lighter versus heavy energy drink buyers, so we can make stimulant products more accessible with this launch.
“We have also seen a growing consumer preference for zero sugar options over the last few years, which has led to low calorie offerings seeing a growth of +248 per cent in the last four years. New product developments are crucial to this growth, presenting a strong opportunity for retailers to leverage this with our latest launch. Through tapping into a variety of trends, the launch ultimately aims to futureproof the category and secure long-term growth, through continuing to develop exciting flavour extensions in popular variations and formats.”
Rockstar Energy Zero Sugar Peach is available now across the grocery and impulse channels in both plain and price-marked packs, with recommended retail prices of £1.35 and £1.29 or two for £2. Rolling out in 500ml plain and price-marked packs, the launch will be supported by comprehensive marketing campaigns across digital, social media and instore, spanning February, March and April.
Fragrance-led home and lifestyle brand Fabulosa has secured a new partnership with United UK, opening doors to growth in the convenience channel across Scotland.
The premier cash and carry group, which is firmly committed to supporting the independent retail sector by providing world-renowned brands at competitive prices, will now be distributing Fabulosa’s wide range of fragranced household cleaning products via its three major depots in Scotland. The move represents Fabulosa’s next milestone in this market and will accelerate the brand’s geographic expansion in convenience retail.
Notably, United UK is the first Scottish wholesaler to launch Fabulosa’s price-marked packaging range, highlighting its unbeatable value and helping to drive rate of sale for retailers in Scotland.
“The convenience sector remains a key focus for the business, and we are hugely excited to announce our new distribution agreement with United UK which will support our ambitious growth plans across the convenience market in Scotland,” said Ricky Lee, Sales Director at Fabulosa.
Ricky continued, “We have a strong network of retail, wholesale and convenience partners that are instrumental to our continued success, and we look forward to working closely with these valued partners in 2025 to bring more Fabulosa products and fragrances to more households across the UK and beyond.”
Following its entry into the FMCG market in 2019, through an expertly executed, fast-moving schedule of exciting category-leading new product development, together with highly effective marketing campaigns, Fabulosa changed the perception of cleaning, and has rapidly taken value and volume share from well-established iconic household brands.
Very early on, Fabulosa established itself as a fragrance brand, with its products acting as high-quality vehicles for fragrance innovation. If a product can benefit from fragrance, Fabulosa will develop and disrupt the relevant category accordingly. Fragrance innovation remains Fabulosa’s primary focus with trend/insight-led fragrance launches every season, inspired by fragrance, fashion and interior design.
Having firmly established the brand in the UK, the Fabulosa team now runs an international operation from their base in Nantwich, Cheshire. Fabulosa began building its export channel in 2021 and has since achieved significant international growth. The brand now distributes its fragranced household cleaning products across Europe, Africa, West Asia and Australia.
Leading symbol group SPAR has announced a symbol group exclusive partnership with The Hershey Company and Euro Food Brands, the brand’s official UK distributor, for the launch of the REESE’S Peanut Butter White Bar.
For a limited six-week period, SPAR will be the only symbol group with access to the new REESE’S Peanut Butter White Bar.
Available from Feb 20, SPAR stores across Scotland, Wales, and England will have access to this irresistible treat.
The REESE’S Peanut Butter White Bar, the latest addition to REESE’S iconic lineup, blends rich, creamy peanut butter with a smooth white chocolate flavour coating.
Ideal for sharing, snacking, or gifting, this unique treat is set to delight white chocolate and peanut butter lovers alike.
Gemma Turner, SPAR UK Trading Manager, stated, “We are thrilled to launch the new REESE’S Peanut Butter White Bar as a SPAR exclusive.
"This six-week opportunity will attract footfall, enhance customer engagement, and strengthen our brand’s relationship with shoppers by offering unique, limited-time products. These exclusives position SPAR as a leader in innovation and set us apart from competitors."
Lara Duncan, UK Country Manager at The Hershey Company, added, "The iconic REESE’S brand is committed to creating extraordinary treats that excite our consumers.
"The REESE’S Peanut Butter White Bar is a delicious innovation designed to thrill white chocolate and peanut butter enthusiasts.
“This collaboration with SPAR is a testament to our commitment to innovation, accelerating our growth in convenience, and bringing a one-of-a-kind product to our consumers.”
The REESE’S brand is one of the fastest growing chocolate brands in the UK convenience channel with sales increasing by 26% over the past year.
The 90g REESE’S Peanut Butter White Bar will be available exclusively in SPAR stores in Scotland, Wales, and England for six weeks from 20th February at a promotional price of £1.50 (RSP: £2.10).
SoSweet, the confectionery brand known for delighting millions of customers online and in-store, has announced the launch of its first-ever own-brand marshmallow range.
Launched today (13), this new product line is set to capitalise on the rapid growth of SoSweet Direct and the booming UK confectionery and sugar sectors.
Currently delivering category-managed confectionery solutions to over 400 stores in the South West and Wales, SoSweet Direct is now expanding its reach to independent retailers across the UK.
The new SoSweet Marshmallow Range is a testament to the brand’s commitment to innovation and quality.
Featuring three delicious varieties - Pink & White, Twists, and Strawberries - this range is perfect for independent retailers and convenience stores looking to meet consumer demand for indulgent, versatile treats.
The line is "fully Halal-certified, fat-free, gluten-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and GMO-free, making it suitable for a wide range of dietary needs, states the maker.
Priced competitively at a RRP of £1.25 per 140g bag, the range offers premium quality at an attractive price point. The standard price is £9 + VAT per case of 12, which nets to 75p + VAT per unit, delivering a 28 per cent margin at the £1.25 price point.
As a special launch offer, retailers can take advantage of a "buy five cases, get one free" deal across the range, bringing the case price down to £7.50 + VAT. This reduces the unit cost to just 63p + VAT, increasing the retailer’s margin to 40 per cent.
Packaged in shelf-ready boxes (SRP 12x140g), ensuring easy stocking and strong shelf appeal. Each bag is also designed with a euro hook, allowing retailers to display the products on hanging bag fixtures for added flexibility and visibility.
The range is now available nationwide through SoSweet Direct and leading wholesalers.
SoSweet launches own label marshmallow range
It is already stocked in over 100 independent stores across the South West, including Premier and Spar fascia stores, as well as in our own retail locations, online, and on TikTok.
Barney Carter, Managing Director of Carters Corners Ltd (Premier fascia stores), has already seen strong performance with the SoSweet Marshmallow Range across his stores.
"I have introduced this range into all eight of my stores because I love the presentation of the packaging and outer cases. The retail price is fair considering the generous size of the packet, and I first brought it in on offer.
"The rate of sale has been fantastic, and I’ve even repeated the same promotion in three of my stores. It’s a great addition that perfectly complements my bagged sweet range."
Driving Sales Through TikTok and In-Store Activations
With a TikTok following exceeding 1 million, SoSweet is uniquely positioned to generate buzz around its new marshmallows.
These marshmallows are perfect for everything, from TikTok-worthy hot chocolate toppers and marshmallow spread recipes to creative desserts and party snacks.
The launch will feature engaging content on the platform, including recipe ideas, taste tests, and interactive challenges designed to capture the imagination of consumers.
The brand is also bringing the excitement offline with in-store activations, including taste-testing events at its retail locations, giving customers a chance to experience the marshmallows firsthand.
As the UK confectionery market continues its upward trajectory, SoSweet Direct’s strategic focus on innovation and retailer partnerships positions it as a key player in the sector.
The new marshmallow range represents just the beginning of a broader push to expand SoSweet’s own-brand offerings, delivering high-margin products that meet evolving consumer preferences.
George Robinson, Managing Director of SoSweet, shared his excitement, “The launch of our SoSweet Marshmallows is a significant milestone for the brand.
"After months of development, I am thrilled to offer a product that combines premium quality, strong margins for retailers, and universal appeal.
"This range reflects our commitment to supporting independent retailers while capturing the imagination of customers across the UK.”
“SoSweet Direct is more than a distribution channel; it’s a solution tailored to drive confectionery sales for independent shops. As we expand our own-brand portfolio, we’re dedicated to setting new standards in the confectionery sector," he added.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced that Fanta, the leading flavoured carbonate brand in GB retail, is adding three fruity flavours to its zero sugar line-up with launch of Fanta Zero Apple and Fanta Zero Raspberry, plus a limited-edition Fanta Tutti Frutti Zero Sugar.
Fanta accounts for nearly one in every five flavoured carbonates sold in GB and is valued at almost three times more than its nearest competitor.
The low calorie flavoured carbonates segment are up 23.1 per cent in value over the last year, aligned to recent research which shows that more than 80 per cent of GB consumers are limiting their sugar intake.
The NPD is designed to help retailers expand their customer base and tap into the 2.5 million shoppers who frequently buy Fanta flavours, while catering to the growing demand for zero sugar options[9].
Fanta Zero Apple and Fanta Zero Raspberry will be rolling into stores from 24 February in 330ml cans and 500ml rPET bottles for shoppers to enjoy on-the-go, and larger 2L rPET bottles and multipacks for sharing occasions at home.
Limited edition Fanta Tutti Frutti Zero Sugar will be available from mid-March in a sleek can format with a colourful and impactful design – transporting shoppers back to their teen years with a vibrant mix of peach, pineapple and banana flavours.
“We’re excited to be expanding our core Fanta zero sugar range with the introduction of tangy Fanta Zero Apple and sweet Fanta Zero Raspberry which will cater to consumers’ growing appetite for apple and raspberry flavours,” said Rob Yeomans, vice-president, commercial development at CCEP. “Our limited-edition Tutti Frutti Zero Sugar is like a carnival in a can, boasting a vibrant design that catches the eye and offering a nostalgic flavour. Limited editions are a great way to engage new shoppers, getting people excited and talking about the Fanta brand, while helping our customers drive sales.”
All three launches will be supported by a multi-million-pound marketing campaign, including influencer partnerships, OOH advertising, social media and experiential events.
Convenience retailers can request POS kits on My.CCEP.com.