Lipton Teas and Infusions is heavily investing in the relaunch of PG tips, giving it a completely new look and blend. The move comes as Lipton Teas and Infusions aims to put value back into the tea category by premiumising one of the leading brands. PG tips’ new Original, Gold and Decaf SKUs will hit shelves across all retail channels in the UK in the coming weeks.
The re-launch is being supported with a planned multi-million-pound marketing campaign set to go live in the first half of 2024 – the biggest ever media spend in the tea category.
Lipton has also invested £40M to upgrade PG tips’ Trafford Park factory in Manchester – the home of PG tips for the past century – delivering a world class facility fit for the future.
The new, premium tea blend and perfectly square tea bag shape is set to provide consumers with great tasting PG tips across the range, whilst the new packaging is designed to better reflect the premium nature of the product inside.
The new packaging has no plastic outer wrap, meaning boxes are completely plant-based and recyclable curb side. The new packs are also 33 per cent more compact and have been efficiently designed for easier stacking in the cupboard at home and merchandising in-store.
The company will support its retail partners in enhancing shelf navigation within the tea category. This will be achieved through the execution of in-store shopper activations, including front of store pallets, gondola end displays, and barkers. Out of store entrance communications, as well as disruptive online communications, are also planned.
While coffee has seen a solid performance in recent years, one in every three drinks consumed by UK adults is a cup of tea. In the past year alone, over 31 billion cups of tea were sold in the UK. However, when it comes to retail value, tea often gets short-changed in comparison to coffee and other hot beverages. A direct comparison shows a substantial mismatch between tea's consumption volume (20 per cent) and its share in the market value (three per cent). Conversely, coffee holds a more balanced ratio with a 13 per cent consumption volume and an 11 per cent share in market value.
“As the world's foremost tea company, it's our responsibility at Lipton Teas and Infusions to take the lead in growing the tea category by offering a fresh perspective to tea drinkers," said Liam McNamara, PG tips General Manager, UK and Ireland. "Tea is much loved but has been one of the most neglected categories, so it's crucial that we restore one of Britain's most cherished beverages to create value for everyone. We will do this by delivering the highest quality product and experience to our consumers, coupled with efficient service for our retail partners.”
New and improved blend
PG tips’ new blend and perfectly square and biodegradable tea bags are designed to meet consumers’ quick-brewing habits, with 85 per cent of tea drinkers brewing their cuppa for less than one minutes. This means, consumers can expect a quicker infusion, delivering a brighter, smoother, more consistent cup of tea which is full of flavour.
The brands’ premium offering, PG tips Gold, also returns with a new blend to tap into the growing opportunity for premium hot drinks. The tea is blended to have a rich and warm aroma, be full of flavour and more golden in colour.
What’s more, decaf tea is currently growing ahead of total tea and caffeine tea in both value and volume. PG tips has therefore upgraded its decaf blend to ensure it can deliver on the balanced taste expected from a regular cup of tea.
“The re-launch aims to rekindle Britain's profound affection for tea by enhancing the black tea drinking experience and delivering a more refreshing and superior taste across our portfolio," said McNamara. "We are confident that our reformulated blends, coupled with the introduction of the market's only square tea bags, will provide consumers with PG tips' most exceptional tea experience to date. We've been taking top spots in taste tests.
“We're investing in the PG tips brand to keep up with what today's tea drinkers want and to create positive feelings for the category. The tea market hasn't always appreciated its own worth, but this relaunch is a move towards giving customers an opportunity to see the product's real value.”
The UK’s largest consumer surveyor of product innovation, Product of the Year, has selected its top competitor in the Crisps and Bagged Snacks category: Doritos, Walkers Extra Flamin' Hot MAX, and Wotsits Crunchy crisps.
Walkers said that it’s no surprise, considering Extra Flamin’ Hot has been the #1 innovation in the spicy flavour space over the last three years.
Following a rigorous process, Product Of The Year put the nation's favourite snacks to the test, looking for the most innovative in design, packaging, and recipe from January 2023 to November 2024. With the final decision made by 8000 shoppers, who voted for the hottest product.
“I’m thrilled Product of the Year has recognised our hard work and talent in bringing one of the best flavours to consumers," said Rob Pothier, Head of Marketing at PepsiCo. "Its fiery kick is not one for the faint-hearted, but it’s great to see there are so many thrill seekers who love it. We’re always looking for new and innovative ways to spice up the snacks market - we’ll be sure to keep bringing the heat.”
Helga Slater, Managing Director at ‘Product of the Year’ added “‘Extra Flamin’ Hot adds a new level of heat for those who want more from their snack. Our consumers were impressed by, not only the unique full body sensory experience that the product brings, but also by the bold and unique brand packaging.
Earlier this week PepsiCo announced that Walkers will join the existing Extra Flamin’ Hot line-up of Doritos, Walkers MAX, and Wotsits Crunchy for a limited time, allowing fans of the flavour to experience the tongue-tingling spiciness on a familiar favourite. I
Jack Daniel’s and Coca-Cola ready-to-drink (RTD) has been crowned the winner of the Pre-Mixed Spirit category at the 2025 Product of the Year Awards, the UK’s largest consumer-voted accolade for product innovation.
The launch in March 2023 brought the two brands together, each with a vast global footprint, to offer a convenient, consistent bar quality drink for consumers to enjoy at home. Voted by a panel of 8,000 shoppers, the win reflects the popularity of the product among consumers and retailers alike.
To date, the drink – which includes variants with and without sugar – has generated more than £55m in sales, with Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola Original Taste becoming GB's top-selling ARTD SKU. The Zero Sugar variant caters to rising demand for low and no sugar options, contributing 16 per cent of sales so far and showing strong growth potential.
To help deliver visible value for convenience shoppers, the brand introduced price-marked packs (PMPs) last summer – further solidifying Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola RTD as a must-have offering in the convenience channel, where value remains one of shoppers’ primary motivations.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to win this prestigious award, particularly because it’s voted for by consumers themselves,” said Elaine Maher, Associate Director, Alcohol Ready-to-Drink at CCEP GB. “It’s the ultimate seal of approval, and with 71 per cent of shoppers more likely to buy a product that has won, the drink is set to go from strength to strength.
"This achievement is a powerful reminder of why we’re so passionate about innovation and delivering what consumers want in the ARTD category – which is worth £554m in GB. It’s the perfect way to kick off what’s set to be a very exciting year for our ARTD portfolio, with incredible new launches and campaigns set to unlock continued growth."
Celebrating 21 years of innovation in the UK, the Product of the Year Awards operates in more than 45 countries, offering a trusted seal that boosts brand recognition, increasing consumer awareness by 81 per cent and purchase intent by 71 per cent, helping to reinforce Jack Daniel’s & Coca-Cola ARTD’s leadership in the booming ARTD category.
Bisto is partnering with one of the nation’s beloved national treasures, Wallace and Gromit. The beloved British animated duo will feature alongside their arch nemesis, Feathers McGraw, in an on-pack promotion across Bisto Favourites Gravy products. Available from today (30), with the main on-pack promotion running until 16April and a wrap up draw running until 16 July, the on-pack promotion is the first phase of Bisto’s long-term partnership with the Aardman Studios.
In celebration of the partnership, three lucky shoppers will be in with the chance of winning the fantastic prize of a blue diamond, each worth approximately £1,500. The top prize links to the theme of the diamond heist by notorious villain Feathers McGraw; first in the Academy Award-winning “The Wrong Trousers”, andmost recently in critically acclaimed “Vengeance Most Fowl” which aired on BBC One on Christmas Day. To win the round, one-carat brilliant cut, blue lab-grown diamond, shoppers need to find one of three unique Feathers McGraw winning tickets hidden in promotional packs, and follow the instructions provided to claim their prize.
Shoppers will also have the chance to win hundreds of other highly desirable Wallace and Gromit character prizes, including Feathers McGraw 3D slippers, funky socks and cute 3D metal water bottles, as well as vouchers for Bisto Roast Seasonings products, over the 11-week promotional period by entering at winwithbisto.co.uk.
Bisto is renowned for its iconic products that have become staples in UK households. The new promotion brings together two family favourites, making it the perfect collaboration, which could appeal to the whole family. Whether serving Bisto with a roast dinner, or alongside a comforting weekday meal, this partnership with Wallace and Gromit is set to delight customers and drive sales.
“Partnering with Wallace and Gromit, a much-loved British institution that continues to capture the hearts of families across the nation, is the perfect tie up for us,” said Kate Drew, Marketing Controller of Bisto and Paxo at Premier Foods. “Bisto is all about bringing families together around the table, and this promotion offers retailers an exciting opportunity to drive excitement down the aisle and boost visibility of our family favourite product. We are confident that this collaboration will resonate well with our shoppers and we’re looking forward to seeing them engage with the brand in a new way over the next few months.”
Rachael Peacock, Senior Brand Manager at Aardman added: “Partnering Wallace and Gromit with Bisto has been a delight, bringing together two of the nation’s favourites for a cracking partnership with all the trimmings. We have loved the chance to work with Premier Foods to bring our much-loved duo to family mealtimes. As Wallace might say ‘Ooh, that tickles the tastebuds, Lad!’”
The on-pack promotion will be supported with POS in-store and social media activity to drive awareness of the collaboration, with further activity for the partnership planned later this year. More developments are on the way as part of this long-term collaboration.
Leading confectionery manufacturer, Perfetti Van Melle, last night celebrated dual success as both Mentos Discovery (Sweets) and Mentos Duo Packs (Gum) were awarded the title of Product of the Year (POTY) for 2025.
This marks Perfetti Van Melle’s – and Mentos’ – third, consecutive POTY win. Mentos Fanta was awarded the prestigious title in 2023, whilst Mentos Pure Fresh Gum and Fruit-tella Curiosities were crowned winners in 2024, proving the brand’s consistent innovation and ability to capture consumer enthusiasm year after year.
After its launch in March 2024, Mentos Discovery single rolls have already delivered £1.3m in value sales. This milestone accounts for £1.9m incremental value sales to the brand and is a testament to its category-first innovation, boasting 14 different flavours in one roll. As the second-largest player in the hard chews category, the success of Mentos Discovery speaks not only to its taste and freshness, but also to the resonance of new flavours with consumers.
Mentos Duo Packs marked the second consecutive win for the brand in the Gum category, following last year’s victory with Mentos Pure Fresh Paper Bottles. The launch of Duo Packs, with its fully recyclable paper outer multipack, demonstrated how innovation and sustainability drive consumer enthusiasm. Valued at £14.7m, with Pure Fresh Gum alone worth £9.6m, Mentos leads the category.
To build on this momentum, Mentos will roll out a £1m summer media campaign later this year spanning PR, OOH social, influencers, VOD and eye-catching in-store POS. The campaign is designed to drive further awareness and engagement, ensuring that “Yes to Fresh” continues to be a compelling call to action for consumers and retailers everywhere.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to celebrate this double win for Mentos!" said Sarah du Plessis, Brand Manager at Mentos. "Innovation is at the heart of everything we do, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see consumers embrace our new products with such enthusiasm. From the bold flavours of Mentos Discovery to the sustainable brilliance of Duo Packs, we’re proving that fresh thinking really can deliver big results—whether it’s in taste, convenience, or sustainability. This is just the beginning of what’s shaping up to be an exciting year for Mentos, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!”
The winners of Product of the Year 2025 have been revealed, as decided by 8,000 UK consumers in the annual survey of product innovation that spotlights the A-list of FMCG and beyond.
Beauty, homeware and pet products have dominated the list this year – with two new categories, ‘Financial Services’ and ‘Garden Lifestyle’ making their debuts as Product of the Year firsts.
Over two decades, Product of the Year has gained a reputation for putting brands and products on the map, by giving them the recognition they deserve. The eye-catching logo has an 81 per cent recognition among shoppers and can be spotted in all major supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide. Commonly regarded as a seal of approval amid a sea of products on shop shelves, it’s a vote of confidence by consumers for consumers. The research has been independently conducted with the world’s leading data and insights company, Kantar. Brands that are fortunate to "walk away" with a coveted trophy also win the right to feature the iconic red Product of the Year logo.
Natural beauty is a recurring theme among this year’s beauty and wellness winners, which included Dove Advanced Care Body Wash range, NIVEA’s Serum-Infused Micellar Water Skin Glow – the UK’s first serum-infused micellar water, and Hawaiian Tropic Hydrating Protection Lotion SPF50 on the market Haircare and grooming winners were Schwarzkopf Oleo Intense (hair colour) and Wilkinson Sword Hydro 5 Razor.
In the Beer corner, Birra Moretti 'Sale Di Mare', inspired by Italy’s coastal regions, won the prize. For RTDs, it was Jack Daniel's & Coca‑Cola, and Strongbow Strawberry – a much-celebrated addition to the fruity ciders range – won in the cider category.
Vegetarians will rejoice that Lurpak Plant Based, ree from palm oil, preservatives, colourings, and other additives, won the ‘Vegetarian’ category. The Walkers Extra Flamin' Hot range, which consists of Doritos, Wotsits Crunchy and Walkers Max, came top in ‘Crisps and Bagged Snacks’, and in the frozen aisle, Birds Eye Crispy Chips came top, combining the crispiness of French fries with the fluffiness of straight-cut chips.
Perfetti Van Melle scored a double victory with Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Duo Packs also Mentos Discovery. The latter is a Perfetti Van Melle category-first this Product of the Year awards season – 14 iconic fruit flavours in one tube make for a tantalising taste experience.
Meanwhile, in soft drinks, three winners came a caffeine kick. Kenco Millicano Cadbury Mocha, a rich and creamy barista-style coffee experience won, alongside Starbucks Protein Drink with Coffee and Starbucks Frappuccino Caramel No Added Sugar.
Pets were no doubt pleased that Felix Doubly Delicious Dry Cat Food was named the Product of the Year winner within the "Cat Food" category and Winalot Friday Suppers in "Dog Food".
“We’re delighted to see so many incredible innovators receive the recognition they deserve,” says Helga Slater, MD, Product of the Year. “From category-firsts to world-firsts, this year’s winners reveal an evolving consumer landscape and what better recognition than that of the voting public – all 8,000 of them!”
Here is the full list of 2025 Product of the Year winners across 39 categories to help your sales with the famous red sticker on the pack:
Bed, Simba St Ives Ottoman Bed, Simba Sleep Ltd
Bedding: Simba Hybrid Pillow, Simba Sleep Ltd
Beer: Birra Moretti 'Sale Di Mare', Heineken
Bladder Weakness: TENA Silhouette Incontinence Underwear, Essity UK Ltd
Body Skincare: Dove Advanced Care Body Wash Range, Unilever