Mangrove Global has further expanded its world whisky portfolio with the arrival of Indri, created by India’s largest independent malt spirits producer, Piccadily. The whisky was launched in India in 2021 and to the international market in August 2022, where it has already become a multi-award-winning spirit, landing multiple gold awards – including at the 2023 Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition and The Spirits Business Global World Whisky Masters. Mangrove will now bring Indri’s expressions, Dru and Trini, to the UK market, as well as limited volumes of Diwali which will be allocated exclusively to selected customers.
The elements used across the Indri range are the perfect homage to the Northern Indian terroir. The spirit is made using natural Indian ingredients, including six-row barley, which has been grown in the arid regions of Rajasthan for thousands of years. Distilling and maturation happens in a sub-tropical climate which encourages accelerated evaporation, helping to mature the whisky much faster. The result is a deep and sophisticated flavour profile.
“There is something really exciting about whiskies produced and aged in such extreme climates – the way the production processes are tweaked because of this produces flavours you can’t find anywhere else," said Stef Holt, Curator of the Mangrove Whisky Portfolio. "Indri’s whiskies are very rich and complex with tropical fruit aromas and velvety texture.
“I’m already looking forward to the conversations this whisky will start at tastings in the not-so-distant future!”
Indri’s flagship expression, Trini, marries three ex-casks together: bourbon, French wine and PX sherry. This three-wood marriage allows for each cask to contribute its unique taste, without overshadowing the original Whisky’s flavour, which features a fruitier, sweeter and nuttier profile.
The second SKU in the range, Dru, is inspired by ancient mythology, where Dru was a vessel of wood in which a drink was collected and offered to the Gods. This cask-strength expression from Indri selects ex-Bourbon barrels, which are then handpicked and married together by Indri’s master blender, Surrinder Kumar. The end result is a complex and fairly long, mixed fruit finish and a true awakening of the senses.
Indri released its limited edition whisky, Diwali, in 2023, made from peated six-row barley and carefully matured in PX Sherry Casks. Its delicious, one-of-a-kind flavour profile was recognised by its double gold award at the prestigious Whiskies of the World Awards 2023.
“The beauty of world whisky is the story that each spirit is able to tell as the authentic flavours of each terroir shine through," said Nick Gillett, Mangrove Global MD. "These distinct expressions from Indri each offer something different to the drinker, but all will help to transport world whisky lovers to this unique part of the world.
“We’ve spent a lot of time and effort building our world Whisky portfolio into a best-in-class curation of exceptional spirits. And having Indri join us is just further testament to Mangrove’s commitment to bringing new, exceptional liquids to the UK market.”
Mangrove’s world whisky portfolio comprises whiskies from all over the world including countries like Denmark, Japan and most recently Canada, having launched Kiefer Sutherland’s Red Bank here in the UK. The portfolio was well celebrated at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, with six Whiskies receiving global recognition, one in particular, The English Distillery’s Sherry Cask Matured, being crowned world’s best single malt 2024. Indri will now join Mangrove’s award-winning global portfolio, which will include both expressions of cask-matured single malts alongside the highly sought-after limited edition Diwali Collector’s Edition 2023. To find out more visit: https://www.mangroveuk.com/
Kellogg’s has announced the launch of a new Caramel flavour to its Coco Pops Chocos range.
The new addition follows the launch of Coco Pops Chocos in 2023, which was crowned top spot in the cereal category of last year’s Product of the Year awards.
Like the original Coco Pops Chocos, the new variant comprises curved, crunchy cocoa shells, but with an exciting caramel twist.
Food developers have created a balanced blend of rich roasted cocoa and creamy caramel, with the shells expertly cooked and shaped to give their signature crunchy texture.
All of Kellogg’s children’s cereals are non-HFSS including this new Coco Pops variant. It’s also high in fibre, forming part of Kellogg’s continued efforts to help families make healthier choices in the morning.
“We’re excited to be expanding our kids’ cereal line-up with this delicious Coco Pops Chocos addition,” Lejla Damon, shopper marketing & kids brand manager, Kellogg’s UKI said.
“It’s high in fibre, a delicious blend of chocolatey caramel flavour, and wonderfully crunchy. One for the whole family to enjoy!”
Coco Pops Chocos Caramel joins Kellogg’s diverse range of cereals, continuing its legacy of being the ‘OG of breakfast’. This legacy has been amplified by Kellogg’s £75m investment into its Wrexham cereal factory, set to more than double its production capacity – its largest single investment into British cereal production in over 30 years.
The new flavour will be available for shoppers to buy from January. Each 420g pack is £3.29 RRP.
Sweet maker Swizzels has unveiled a brand-new limited-edition product in time for Valentine’s Day, combining two of its most-loved brands into one treat: Squashies Love Hearts.
Offering a fresh twist on two popular classics, the new Squashies Love Hearts combine Squashies’ signature soft texture with the iconic and timeless messages of Love Hearts.
Squashies remain the No. 1 sugar confectionery brand in the market, while Love Hearts see consistent growth, with 950,000 units sold during the Valentine’s period and a 10 per cent year-on-year growth in brand value. Building on this success, Swizzels has combined the two household names to create a fast-moving and profitable addition to any retailer’s offering.
Available in 120g bags and sold in cases of 12, each foam sweet is embossed with a fun message or emoji, making them ideal for sharing with a loved one. Messages include "KISS", "WOW", "FAB", and "LOVE", alongside two cheerful and romantic emojis, adding a playful touch.
With an MRSP of £1.15, the new product retains the classic colours and flavours of traditional Love Hearts, including Pineapple, Lime, Blackcurrant, Lemon, Cherry, and Orange.
Swizzels’ Love Hearts range remains a Valentine’s Day favourite, led by the popular 39g Giant Love Hearts rolls, which outsell any other Valentine’s SKU with 621,000 units sold during the season.
Other fan-favourites from the range include Love Hearts Originals Hanging Bags, the 15g mini Love Hearts rolls and Giant Love Hearts multipacks.
“We’re excited to introduce a delicious and innovative new product that combines two of our most popular brands, delivering the same moreish flavours and signature texture - with an added twist," said trade marketing manager Clare Newton.
“Squashies Love Hearts bring something new to retailers’ offering, appealing to shoppers looking for unique yet familiar treats for themselves or as a special gift to someone else.
“Our Valentine’s range is all about sharing the love, regardless of relationship status - whether it’s romantic love, familial love or friendship and we hope the new Squashies Love Hearts will help to do just that.”
The launch is part of a broader campaign, featuring national research that explores how love and Valentine’s Day have evolved, and examining how the ways people express and seek love have changed over the years.
KP Snacks has today named Tom Grennan, one of the UK’s biggest solo pop music artists, as its official popchips ambassador. The new partnership between the beacon “Better for You” brand and the pop star taps into popchips’ positive, feel-good positioning while enhancing the brand’s relevance.
As an ambassador, Tom Grennan will perform at a special event delivered by popchips in May. Tickets to this exclusive event will be available as prizes in a brand new on-pack promotion running across the popchips portfolio from 27 January until the end of March. Featuring a flash of Tom holding a single popchip and microphone, the on-pack also offers consumers the chance to win cash prizes and tickets to leading UK festivals.
To celebrate Tom Grennan becoming a popchips ambassador, the brand will be supported by a £1m media investment with a campaign running across OOH and social media channels, as well as audio platforms including Spotify.
Building on the passion people have for music, popchips is proud to be the exclusive snack brand partner of the Latitude Festival for the second consecutive year. This year, the brand has extended its festival partnership with the addition of The Isle of Wight Festival, growing its reach within key cultural moments and driving its association with feel-good occasions. To further engage consumers, popchips will deliver exciting new marketing activations across both festivals.
“We are delighted to announce Tom Grennan as the official popchips ambassador," said Alex Callender, Brand Manager at popchips. "As a brand known for its positive energy, we are committed to tapping into culturally relevant moments in our consumers’ lives to drive a stronger emotional connection and boost brand penetration. By sponsoring two key UK festivals, we are taking this one step further, engaging consumers in an exciting setting and giving our leading ‘Better for You’ brand true differentiation.”
Worth £42.7m, popchips is the number two healthier brand in the CSN market with a 14 per cent share of the Healthier Snacking segment. Available in a variety of flavours and formats, the entire popchips range is non-HFSS. The new on-pack promotion will run across the entire popchips range including sharing, multipack, single and price-marked pack formats.
Confectionery challenger brand Bebeto is kicking off 2025 with a ground-breaking debut: its first-ever Valentine’s range featuring innovative liquid-filled technology.
You Melt My Heart liquid-filled gummy soft hearts contain two delicious flavours – Strawberry and Cherry – each with a luscious raspberry liquid filling for an extra-special touch. They are available in 130g hanging bags (£1 SSP) and 400g heart-shaped tubs (SSP £3), making the perfect Valentine’s gift or to share and show someone you care. To make them even sweeter, they contain no artificial colours or flavours and are halal certified.
Bebeto’s cutting-edge liquid-filling technique transforms traditional, firm, gummy sweets into gooey, flavour-packed treats with a juicy, melt in the mouth centre inside each foam-backed gummy, delivering a fun, sensory experience unlike any other. “Liquid-filled technology is one of the most exciting trends in confectionery today,” says Phil Hulme, Commercial Director at Kervan Gida UK.
“It’s particularly popular with Gen Z, who love experimenting with bold flavours and textures. We’re thrilled to lead the way with this innovation and offer UK consumers a unique, high-quality confectionery experience this Valentine’s. This marks an exciting new chapter for the Bebeto brand in the UK. Seasonal offerings have played a pivotal role in driving our growth, as demonstrated by the remarkable success of our Halloween range. Building on this momentum, we are expanding our seasonal portfolio in 2025 with fresh, innovative product developments that help bring even more joy to consumer celebrations.”
While the liquid-filling process requires advanced technology and extra production time, Bebeto is committed to keeping prices competitive, ensuring these premium treats remain accessible to all. Look out for further exciting liquid-filled NPD from Bebeto this year.
Rolling out from January, Bebeto’s You Melt My Heart range will be available in Spar UK and also through Parfetts Cash and Carry.
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.