Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has unveiled its selection of sweet treats for Valentine’s Day.
The range includes a wide selection of themed pick n mix sweets, award-winning Bonds Pun Boxes and gifting chocolates perfect for sweet-toothed sweethearts.
The wholesaler said the pick n mix sweets are an ideal complement for Galentine’s party snack tables, or for couples who wish to create a unique sweet mix for their significant other.
Heart-shaped pick n mix sweets are a must-stock for Valentine’s, the Ravazzi Gummy Hearts (RRP £1.20 per 100g) are available in strawberry and cream or licorice flavours.
Also perfect for the occasion are Barratt Jelly Love Hearts - small pink and white panned sweets, and Vidal Triple Hearts - strawberry and cream flavour sugared jelly sweets, both RRP £1.20 per 100g.
The popular Kingsway brand offers Valentine’s pick n mix sweets for marshmallow and chocolate lovers.
Their vanilla flavoured Mallow Hearts (RRP £1.20 per 100g) come in regular and mini sizes and are unbelievably soft and squidgy.
Kingsway’s deliciously smooth Milk Chocolate Hearts (RRP £1.49 per 100g) are packed in silver or red foil and are filled with caramel flavour crème.
Jazzies fans will adore the heart shaped edition of the iconic sweets. The Kingsway’s Pink Hearts RRP (£1.20 per 100g) are strawberry flavoured and coated with crunchy candy.
Kingsway product prices are subject to change in 2023, the wholesaler added.
A Valentines-themed alternative to heart-shaped sweets are Ravazzi’s colourful raspberry flavoured Gummy Flowers (RRP £1.20 per 100g).
All pick n mix sweets are available to be purchased in bulk bags from Hancocks stores or online and can be merchandised as a themed addition to retailers’ pick and mix range or packaged in pre-packed themed sweet bags.
Bonds Shaker Cups are also popular among customers for Valentines Day gifting. They are more hygienic, require less space in store, offer portion control and are easy to open and reseal. Perfect for Valentine’s Day is the Bonds Happy Flowers shaker cup (RRP £2.50).
Instead of giving flowers this Valentine’s Day, sweet lovers can surprise their loved ones with Chocolate Milk Roses or Tulips (RRP £1.49).
One of the most recognised confectionery brands on the market, Bonds of London, has also come out with some Valentine’s novelty gifting products.
Bonds Confetti Candy Pops (RRP £1.00) and Milk Chocolate Medals (RRP £1.50) with titles ‘Bestie’ or ‘Love ya’ are great gifting options for either friends or couples.
Also part of the Bonds gifting range is the Hot Chocolate Melt Trio Gift Box (RRP £3.99).
They’re delicious hot chocolate bombs filled with mini heart shaped marshmallows that create a luxurious hot chocolate when mixed with hot milk.
Shoppers who are looking for funny gifts to surprise their loved ones with will love the Bonds Pun Boxes.
Their Love You More Than Pizza and Hearts & Kisses boxes (RRP £2.00) are a massive hit during the romantic holiday.
Chris Smith, Marketing Communications Manager at Hancocks said: “There’s no better way to someone’s heart than sweets, so shoppers will be on the lookout for Valentine’s themed treats to surprise their loved ones with.
“We’re happy to offer retailers a wide selection of products that are perfect for this holiday, so they can help the customers share their love with their significant others or friends.
“Hancocks Valentine’s Day range includes delicious sweets that are a great addition to in-store pick n mix displays, as well as romantic and funny gifting options.
“We’re expecting the Valentine’s themed sweets to be especially popular in the coming months, so we encourage retailers to stock up soon to not miss out on the potential influx of sales.”
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is launching Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush, a limited-edition twist on its popular zero sugar variant. The launch coincides with Valentine’s Day and will be supported by an integrated Valentine’s-themed marketing campaign.
The four-week period covering Valentine’s Day was worth £160 million to convenience retailers in 2024, up 3.2 per cent year-on-year, and more than £3.4 million came from value sales of Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush combines the popular zero sugar liquid with the vibrant cherry flavour – a combination that’s guaranteed to deliver results.
Cherry variants have delivered 55 per cent of the value sales growth across colas over the past year. Flavoured carbonates is the third largest category in soft drinks. Dr Pepper is the second-largest flavoured carbonate brand in GB, growing ahead of the total flavoured carbonates category in both value and volume sales.
A playful new can design featuring roses front and centre is guaranteed to deliver maximum stand-out on shelf, especially over the Valentine’s Day period. In testing, more than 70 per cent of consumers loved the concept and were interested to try it.
“Dr Pepper has a loyal fanbase thanks to its unique taste, and continues to deliver growth ahead of the wider flavoured carbonates category,” said Rob Yeomans, Vice-President of Commercial Development.
“We’re really excited for fans to try the new cherry twist on our zero sugar variant, a flavour which we know goes down well with shoppers and drives sales in retail. The supporting campaign is packed with personality – as is always the case with Dr Pepper – and we can’t wait to see how retailers get behind it and activate in store!”
This limited-edition flavour will be available from 27 January 2025 in 330ml, 500ml, 2L and 8x330ml packs. Priced-marked 300ml and 500ml single packs will also be available.
The launch will be supported by influencer partnerships, in-store sampling and experiential OOH advertising encouraging consumers to step into the Dr’s billboard-office for some romantic "advice".
Convenience retailers can request Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush POS materials and download digital assets via My.CCEP.com, to help bring the launch to life in-store.
Christmas may be in our rear-view mirrors but that only means that Easter is getting ever closer, which is why Gnaw Chocolate has introduced a range of reassuringly chunky flat eggs in an array of intriguing formats: Rocky Road, Totally Nuts, Chocolate Curls and Eggs-travaganza offerings.
Consumers might be under the misapprehension that Gnaw’s refusal to subscribe to hollow, “airy” eggs could be down to attention-seeking gimmickry but in truth you couldn’t be more wrong.
When a chocolatier insists on only using Columbian chocolate to assemble 40 per cent cocoa milk chocolate, it’s important to create a thickness that not only ensures a suitably satisfying snap but provides the all-important density that can accommodate the tasty inclusions.
More important of all, a flat egg requires less packaging than a rotund “image over substance” hollow egg, which is very important when Gnaw takes pride in its stance as an artisanal chocolate producer with strong sustainable values:
Leaning heavily on clean, solar energy provided by the panels on their manufacturing unit
Refusing to dabble in planet unfriendly palm oil
Using 100 per cent compostable/recyclable chocolate wrappers using planet-friendly vegetable inks
In 2025 relaunching their iconic chocolate buttons in leading-edge pouches with a zero micro plastic footprint
All four Gnaw eggs have a £10 RRP and vary in weight (148g – 115g depending on topping) and are available throughout the independent channel (via wholesalers such as Cress, Diverse & Cotswold Fayre).
JTI (Japan Tobacco International) has announced a price repositioning of its Mayfair Gold ready-made cigarettes from an RRP of £13.30 to £12.50 for a pack of 20.
Since its launch in October 2023, Mayfair Gold has achieved remarkable success, securing the top spot as the UK’s fastest-growing new brand in 2024. This has generated an impressive retail sales value of £94.4M. This new price adjustment positions Mayfair Gold as JTI’s most affordable ready-made cigarette offering, giving retailers the opportunity to stock a trusted, premium Virginia blend tobacco brand at a competitive price.
The RRP reduction is especially timely as the Ultra Value segment continues to lead in market share growth, now comprising 17.9 per cent of the total tobacco market. By offering Mayfair Gold at RRP of £12.50, retailers can capitalise on this upward trend, meeting consumer demand while enhancing their sales potential.
“We’re incredibly pleased with the performance of Mayfair Gold since its launch, and this price repositioning further strengthens its appeal," said Marketing Director Mark McGuinness. "With a reduction on the RRP of 80p per pack, we are making the brand even more accessible to shoppers, while providing retailers with an excellent opportunity to increase sales.”
He continued, “As costs continue to rise and consumer budgets tighten, we remain dedicated to offering retailers top-quality products at the most competitive prices, ensuring they can maximise their profit opportunities.”
This price repositioning follows the successful introduction of Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco into the Ultra Value category in September 2024, underscoring JTI’s ongoing commitment to innovation and meeting consumer preferences.
Leading sparkling flavoured water brand Rubicon Spring is set to shake up the functional water game in 2025 with the launch of its new Rubicon Spring Vits still range, hitting shelves in March.
Crafted with refreshing spring water, real fruit juice, and natural flavours, the product is available in three variants: Black Cherry Pomegranate, Mango Passion, and Strawberry Watermelon, all delivering a burst of essential vitamins to boost energy and immunity.
“78 per cent of shoppers are still choosing drinks for enjoyment, but aiming to drink more water. Taste remains the top driver but 69 per cent are interested in added benefits such as energy and immunity,” Lisa McKenna, head of brand for Rubicon, said.
“We know consumers want to make smarter soft drink choices without compromising on taste so offering a great tasting product with added health benefits will bring more consumers into the functional water category.
“There is a perfect gap in the market for a trusted and established brand like Rubicon Spring to boost this category and help retailers tap into its full potential. Rubicon Spring has more than three times the brand awareness of the leading functional water brand and the new Spring Vits range contains 100 per cent of the consumer’s recommended daily vitamin intake of a multivitamin blend, which is unlike any other brand on the market, as well as being full of the tasty fruit flavours that Rubicon is known for.”
From 11 March, Rubicon Spring sparkling flavoured water is set to disrupt the functional water category with its brand-new Rubicon Spring Vits still range.
Available in plain and £1.29 PMP options, Rubicon Spring Vits is launching in three flavours: Black Cherry Pomegranate, Mango Passion and Strawberry Watermelon. Packed with essential vitamins to support energy and immunity and made with spring water, fruit juice and natural flavours, each format is just 15 calories and fully HFSS compliant.
“78 per cent of shoppers are still choosing drinks for enjoyment, but aiming to drink more water," said Lisa McKenna, Head of Brand for Rubicon. "Taste remains the top driver but 69 per cent are interested in added benefits such as energy and immunity.
“We know consumers want to make smarter soft drink choices without compromising on taste so offering a great tasting product with added health benefits will bring more consumers into the functional water category.
“There is a perfect gap in the market for a trusted and established brand like Rubicon Spring to boost this category and help retailers tap into its full potential. Rubicon Spring has more than three times the brand awareness of the leading functional water brand and the new Spring Vits range contains 100 per cent of the consumer’s recommended daily vitamin intake of a multivitamin blend, which is unlike any other brand on the market, as well as being full of the tasty fruit flavours that Rubicon is known for.”
The launch will be backed by £2 million brand investment to drive trial and awareness including national out of home advertising, social media and sampling.
In consumer testing, 78 per cent of shoppers said they would buy, so retailers can maximise their sales by using Rubicon's vibrant, attention-grabbing PoS materials to create in-store theatre, ensuring that shoppers can’t miss them on shelf. Stock in the chiller next to your other flavoured water brands as this is where shoppers will look for them.