Loch Lomond Whiskies, the Official Spirit of The Open, has added the Professional Golfers’ Association (The PGA) to its list of international partners.
The independent distiller signed a three-year agreement with the PGA to become a ‘PGA Partner’ and the title sponsor of the Scottish PGA Championship.
The deal will offer PGA Members and amateur golfers the opportunity to explore the full range of single malts created at the Loch Lomond Whiskies distillery in Alexandria, Scotland.
“Agreeing this new partnership with the PGA gives us great satisfaction and highlights the continued development of our brand within golf and amongst golfers across the world over the past two years,” said Colin Matthews, chief executive of Loch Lomond Whiskies.
The PGA has a membership of more than 8,000 with around 1,600 working overseas in more than 80 countries worldwide.
One of the initiatives of the new partnership will see Loch Lomond Whiskies work with the PGA to sponsor monthly medals at many golf clubs across the UK and Ireland giving members the chance to win many prizes, including tickets to The 150th Open Championship at St Andrews in 2021.
Participating clubs will receive a Loch Lomond Whiskies starter pack, including a selection of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ award-winning Single Malt Whiskies for members to win and to try in their club bar.
The new agreement builds on Loch Lomond Whiskies’ existing sponsorships of The Open and Women’s British Open, and ambassador relationships with golf icons Colin Montgomerie, Darren Clarke and Cristie Kerr.
Leading ice-cream tub brand Ben & Jerry’s has announced the launch of two new indulgent SKUs - Bohemian Raspberry and Brookies & Cream Sundae.
Bohemian Raspberry is a non-dairy music-inspired raspberry SKU celebrating 50 years of one of the world’s most iconic songs. Ben & Jerry’s Brookies & Cream Sundae is an innovative new flavour, inspired by the flavour combination of brownies and cookies to create a brookie, bringing the bakery-favourite to the ice cream category for the very first time.
Ben & Jerry’s Bohemian Raspberry launches in partnership with Queen and celebrates the 50th anniversary of the band’s iconic song, Bohemian Rhapsody. The collaboration flavour of Bohemian Raspberry is part of Ben & Jerry’s Non-Dairy range, made with the brand’s oat-based non-dairy recipe. The new tub includes fudgy brownies and rich raspberry swirls tapping into the growing trend for berry and raspberry flavours which saw more than 18 million searches in 2024. Proceeds from Bohemian Raspberry will go to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which helps fund the global fight against AIDS.
Ben & Jerry’s Brookies & Cream Sundae is the latest addition to Ben and Jerry’s successful Sundaes range, which has grown 32 per cent YoY, bringing together the ice cream innovators two most popular flavours (Cookie Dough & Chocolate Fudge Brownie) into one legendary Sundae. The new SKU features creamy vanilla ice cream packed full of fudgy brownie-style cookie dough, golden cookie swirls, and white ampersand chunks, perfectly showcasing how the best things are even better when they’re together.
“We're thrilled to introduce two fantastic new ice creams from Ben & Jerry's. First up, Bohemian Raspberry is making a comeback, as a non-dairy flavour. We first launched Bohemian Raspberry back in 2007 after a fan’s suggestion, and what could be more rock ‘n’ roll than bringing it back to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Bohemian Rhapsody,” Flo Howell, country business lead at Ben & Jerry’s UK, commented.
“Brookies & Cream Sundae embodies our belief that good things are even better together. Combining cookies and brownies was a no-brainer for us, and consumer testing showed it’s a hit.”
Like all Ben & Jerry’s products, the new SKUs are made with Fairtrade Certified ingredients including vanilla, sugar and cocoa.
Both Ben & Jerry’s Brookies & Cream Sundae and Ben & Jerry’s Bohemian Raspberry are available in the grocery, convenience and wholesale channels from this month.
Coca-Cola has added a zesty twist to its beloved Original and Zero Sugar ranges with the launch of a brand-new lime-flavoured variant.
Building on the success of Coca-Cola Lemon, which has amassed nearly £20m in value sales since launching last year, Coca-Cola Lime is expected to give consumers another refreshing option in the growing flavoured colas segment, with a tangy, bittersweet taste.
The new flavour is available for purchase in the following formats, with priced marked single packs available in the convenience channel:
Coca-Cola Original Taste: 330ml, 500ml, 1.75L & 8x330ml
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar: 500ml, 2L & 8x330ml
Noting that flavoured colas currently account for 60 per cent of growth in GB’s £2.8bn colas sector, the brand said the popularity of Coca-Cola Lime in other countries indicates it will give the sector a further boost. In testing, more than 50 per cent of consumers said that they would buy it, with nearly four in 10 saying they’d drink it on top of the soft drinks they already enjoy.
“We’re excited to bring a slice of lime to the nation’s favourite cola, growing our range with a new flavour – with or without sugar – that we know shoppers love,” Rob Yeomans, vice-president, commercial development at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said.
“Flavoured colas are also growing ahead of the total cola segment as consumers look for new twists on their favourite drinks. The sub-segment presents a real opportunity for retailers to drive incremental growth, and we’ll be investing in our range throughout 2025 to help them make the most of it.”
The launch of Coca-Cola Lime will be supported by a multi-million-pound marketing campaign in early 2025, including influencer partnerships, out-of-home marketing, social media and live experiences.
Coca-Cola’s growing flavoured colas range is up by more than 15 per cent, and includes Coca-Cola Original Taste Cherry, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Cherry, Coca-Cola Original Taste Lemon, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Lemon, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Vanilla.
Convenience retailers can request POS kits on My.CCEP.com.
Voopoo, a prominent name in vaping innovation, has unveiled the VINCI E120, a new addition to its product line designed to deliver high performance in a compact design.
The VINCI E120 features a 4500mAh high-density battery and supports up to 120W output, making it capable of powering up to 10 days of vaping on a single charge. Despite its robust battery, the device remains lightweight - 50 per cent lighter than comparable models. This blend of power and portability aims to cater to users seeking all-day reliability in a compact form.
A standout feature of the VINCI E120 is its 2.4-inch customisable screen. The display offers 18 watch face options, allowing users to personalise the device to suit their style. The screen also simplifies access to settings, creating a user-friendly interface in a vibrant, modern design.
At its core, the VINCI E120 integrates PnP X Atomisation Technology and is compatible with PnP X coils ranging from 0.15 to 1.0 Ω. This system is engineered to deliver consistent flavour, reduce the risk of coil burning, and minimise leakage, ensuring a superior experience with every puff.
Combining the performance of traditional Mod systems with the portability of Pod devices, Voopoo said the VINCI E120 bridges the gap between power and portability.
“Voopoo VINCI E120 unlocks a new level of seamless fusion of cutting-edge technology and user-centric design where safety and effortless convenience are granted,” the company added.
AG Barr’s Rubicon RAW, the fastest-growing energy brand, is inviting retailers to ride the wave to top energy sales with new Rubicon RAW Wave Editions.
Available from February 2025 as a 12-month limited edition range, the two 500ml Big Can drinks will come in two exciting new flavours, Berry & Grape and Peach & Apricot, tapping into the growth in mixed flavours within energy drinks.
Both new flavours performed exceptionally well in consumer research with 85 per cent of shoppers saying they would buy the range.
The launch will be supported by the brand’s biggest ever marketing investment of £1.5 million throughout 2025. Influencer activity, mass sampling and heavyweight social media will see it reach two in three Big Can Energy Drinkers.
Retailers can make use of the brand’s vibrant, eye-catching point of sale material to create in-store theatre and attract shoppers to the fixture and drive their sales.
Rubicon RAW has quickly established itself as a must stock in the energy category. As the fourth biggest big can energy brand on the market, the brand’s sales are 60 per cent incremental to the category, providing wholesalers and retailers with a clear profit opportunity by stocking Rubicon RAW within their energy fixture.
“The energy drinks market remains one of the most profitable for retailers, driving nearly half of all drink-now soft drinks growth,” said Adrian Hipkiss, Head of Energy Brands at AG Barr. We’re proud to be one of the best-performing ranges in energy, recruiting more shoppers than competitor brands and delivering a 75 per cent repeat purchase rate.
“There’s still a huge opportunity for growth, as 60 per cent of shoppers still don’t buy into the energy category and traditional energy drinks aren’t always seen as appealing for new shoppers. Our two new flavours, alongside our core five, offer something truly different as we appeal to a much broader base of consumers with different energy needs. The No.1 reason shoppers choose Rubicon RAW is its 20 per cent real fruit juice content, which together with natural caffeine and B-vitamins provides a big energy hit that’s full of flavour.”
On shelf from 1 February in 500ml x 12 Plain and £1.19 PMP cans
KP Snacks is expanding its McCoy’s range with the launch of a new Hot ’n’ Spicy flavour. Available from the end of January in a £1.25 PMP, the launch delivers a popular punchy flavour in a well-known format to engage consumers and drive sales.
Capitalising on the success of the UK’s number one ridged crisp brand, McCoy’s Hot ’n’ Spicy delivers McCoy’s signature full-on flavour with a perfect blend of spice and seasoning to ignite taste buds and elevate consumers’ snacking experience.
With Spicy being the third-largest flavour partition in CSN and the largest and fastest-growing in the PMP category, the launch debuts in this popular format to meet consumer demand and drive sales. With PMP’s becoming increasingly relevant and giving consumers good value for money, the launch is perfectly positioned to drive impulse purchases for retailers.
“McCoy’s is known for delivering bold, punchy flavours on a distinct ridge cut crisp, and this launch is no exception,” said John McDougall, Brand Manager for McCoy’s at KP Snacks. “Building on the success of spicy flavours and the growing demand for PMPs, this launch marries a popular flavour in a popular format to meet consumer demand and drive retailer sales. The new Hot ’n’ Spicy flavour is guaranteed to become a new consumer favourite."
Worth £188m and growing at 6.4 per cent, McCoy’s Hot ’n’ Spicy expands on McCoy’s popular portfolio of flavourful snacks. The brand was recently named as the NFL’s Savoury Snacks Partner across the UK and Ireland in a three-year deal running until March 2027.