Mars Petcare is announcing a new pack design across its Dreamies range to celebrate its support for the LGBT Foundation. As part of its commitment to the LGBT+ community and their mental health, Mars Petcare has made a donation to the charity to go towards funding its helpline. In celebration, Dreamies will be temporarily updating seven million packs with the LGBT foundation logo, their helpline number and the iconic Pride rainbow. The LGBT Foundation has run for over 45 years, delivering advice, support and information services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans communities. At a time when pets have shown to have a positive impact on improving mental health, the partnership will raise awareness, show support, and promote the need for equality. The promotional pack design will launch to coincide with National Mental Health Awareness Week from 10th May.
Since the pandemic, more people have become pet owners and are spending increased time at home with their pets. Mars Petcare’s own research has shown that 71 per cent of the LGBT+ community have a pet and over three quarters of LGBT+ owners find their pet helpful for their mental health, while over half chose to get their pet because they felt lonely or needed companionship. Mental health is a rapidly growing crisis in the UK and there is a link between those who are part of the LGBT+ community experiencing mental health problems, and owning a pet which is proven to have a positive impact.
“This is our first brand activation at Mars Petcare that specifically heroes and celebrates both inclusion and diversity," said Helen Warren-Piper, general manager at MARS Petcare. "We want to do all we can to show our support for the LGBT+ community – not just by providing better education to our associates and promoting inclusion within our own four walls, but also by supporting LGBT+ people externally through our marketing and advertising and the way we communicate to our consumers, many of whom are part of the LGBT+ community."
The launch will be supported by in-store POS across multiple shopper touchpoints, including as shoppers walk-in, disruptive POS at the end of aisles and within the petcare section, enhancing the key messaging and bringing it front of mind. Mars Petcare’s shopper research has already shown positive perceptions in relation to the new packs, performing well for likeability and acceptance, particularly amongst younger consumers and those identifying as a member or ally of the LGBT+ community. There will also be digital and advertising, for more information about the partnership, shoppers can visit: https://www.dreamiestreats.co.uk/
To celebration the release of Wicked, in cinemas now, Butterkist is supporting retailers to drive footfall and sales with exciting in-store activations.
The initiative will see a select number of convenience stores across the UK involved in a store takeover to engage and excite local shoppers and drive awareness of the partnership, while delivering growth for the popcorn segment.
Each participating store has installed new Wicked- and Butterkist-themed POS including an eye-catching stock-holding arch, a Butterkist cauldron, shelf toppers, floor vinyls, dump bins and wobblers. To grab shoppers’ attention, retailers have also received cardboard cut-outs featuring A-list celebrities Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, both stars of the film.
As part of the Wicked partnership, Butterkist is running an exciting on-pack promotion across all Butterkist £1.25 PMPs and core sharing SKUs until 31 December. Featuring Wicked themed packaging designs, the on-pack promotion offers consumers the chance to win a “Thrillifying adventure to London” with five prizes up for grabs.
Alongside this, KP Snacks is running a retailer incentive to celebrate the film's release. Retailers who purchase cases of all four Butterkist £1.25 PMPs (Sweet, Salted, Toffee and Sweet & Salty) featuring the Wicked on-pack promotion will be in with the chance to win 1 of 35 TV tech bundles.
“Perfectly timed to tap into the excitement around the movie launch, the store takeovers bring Butterkist —a brand known for being synonomous with in-home movie occasions, into the spotlight," said Stuart Graham, Head of Convenience and Impulse at KP Snacks. "The eye-catching displays, theatre and POS aim to grab consumer attention and boost the retailer’s local profile and sales.”
Sue Nithyanandan, Costcutter Epsom in Surrey – and the new Asian Trader Businesswoman of the Year – says, “It was fantastic to work with KP Snacks on this activation, coinciding with the launch of the new Wicked movie. We have had really excellent feedback from our customers who were happy to see all the theatre in-store, especially with so much excitement surrounding the film. We’ve also seen a real uplift in popcorn sales as a result.”
This winter, Red Bull is broadening its no sugar offer with the global launch of Red Bull Zero, delivering Zero sugar and Zero calories, with the popular flavour of Red Bull Original Energy Drink, the leading single serve soft drink in the market.
Health is now a key concern for shoppers, with 75 per cent considering health when they choose a soft drink [Appinio, July 2024], however, taste continues to be the number 1 driver of purchase [Kantar, July 2023] highlighting the need for a sufficient offering of great tasting no sugar and zero alternatives alongside full sugar soft drinks.
Red Bull Sugarfree caters to this need, providing a no sugar offering but with a distinct flavour that has built up a loyal shopper base. Red Bull Zero aims to fill a gap in the current line-up, for a liquid closer to the taste of Original Red Bull Energy Drink. It meets demand by delivering the same energy boost and taste, but without the sugar, targeting incremental category occasions.
With health such a key consideration for soft drink consumers, Red Bull said it is important to cater to this need within the Energy category. Offering more no sugar options is key to building incrementality for the category with more users, consuming energy drinks more often, and across more occasions. Red Bull has been key to driving this growth, with a portfolio that offers choice, growing shoppers and frequency of its no sugar products year on year and Red Bull Zero aims to drive this further.
The new can also compliments the Red Bull Energy Drink line-up, featuring the brands’ two most distinctive and recognisable assets – the core blue and silver rhombus design and the bull brand logo, along with a ‘New Taste’ flash.
Available in 250ml plain (RRP: £1.65) and £1.60 PMC cans, 355ml can (RRP: £2.10), 473ml can (RRP: £2.60), 4 x 250ml (RRP:£5.40) and 8 x 250ml (RRP: £9.50) can multipack.
AB InBev, the world’s leading brewer, has extended its nearly 40-year partnership with FIFA to include the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 taking place in the US from 15 June to 13 July.
AB InBev is also a sponsor of FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by 16 cities across Canada, Mexico and the US.
The brewer said the expanded partnership reinforces its megabrand and mega platform strategy by connecting beer with global events that consumers love. Megabrands Budweiser and Michelob ULTRA will lead the partnership complemented with local brands in select markets.
“AB InBev has been an iconic sponsor of our events for almost 40 years, and today we are excited to see them come on board as a partner of the new FIFA Club World Cup.” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said.
“We are embarking on a journey that will redefine club football and create a new global tournament. With AB InBev’s brands, we are creating unforgettable moments for football fans around the world.”
Michel Doukeris, AB InBev chief executive, said: “This partnership with the FIFA Club World Cup continues our legacy of bringing beer and sports together for fans around the world, creating more moments of celebration and cheers. We look forward to activating this first-of-its-kind tournament next summer in partnership with FIFA.”
The upcoming FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will gather 32 of the world’s best football clubs for a month-long celebration across 11 US host cities. As part of the multi-faceted agreement, AB InBev will create unique brand experiences across participating countries, and deliver the ‘Player of the Match Award’.
Vapes Bars has announced the launch of Angel Salts, a premium nicotine salt range designed to set a new benchmark in flavour, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Tailored for today’s discerning vaper, Angel Salts showcase the brand's commitment to delivering pure quality and innovation. These salts are also at the heart of Angel’s exciting new product line-up, including the much-anticipated Angel 1200 and Angel 20000, which promise to redefine vaping convenience and performance.
“The Angel collection, including Angel Salts, is future-proof for 2025 and beyond, designed to meet tomorrow’s compliance standards while delivering superior quality and innovation,” said a spokesperson for Vapes Bars.
The Angel Salts range is available in flavours including Pink Lemonade, Fizzy Cherry Ice, Watermelon Ice, Snow Mint, Prime Lemon, Mango Magic, Berry Burst, Lemon Breeze, Banana Split, and Grape Ice.
The Angel 2400 4-in-1 device combines four 2ml tanks into one versatile, rechargeable device, offering the flexibility of four flavours, significant cost savings for consumers, and reduces waste, making it an eco-friendly alternative to traditional disposable vapes.
Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has launched a new brand, showcasing the best of pick and mix.
Pick n Mix Station is a new range of bulk bags containing different mixes of customers' favourite pick and mix treats, offering great value for retailers and their customers.
The range is retailed at £9.99 for a 1 kg bulk bag filled with pick and mix based on different themes, including a selection of fizzy, gummy, jelly, chocolate and foam sweets.
The bags are perfect for parties and special occasions, creating sweetie jars at home and topping up pick and mix stands in stores.
The Pick n Mix Station Space Bag is a mix of white chocolate stars, peach rings, stars and space-shaped gummy sweets.
The Blue Mix Bag contains a variety of blue-coloured tongue painters, raspberry liquorice slices, blue raspberry slices and bubblegum mushrooms, whereas the Red Mix Bag contains fizzy watermelon slices, giant strawberries, gummy teeth and strawberry kisses.
Chocolate lovers will enjoy the Choco Mix Bag which includes a mix of milk, white and strawberry chocolate flavour candy with candy topping.
The Scary Mix is perfect for young sweet lovers and theme parties, packed full of spooktacular sour fruit flavour jelly sweets, including skulls, worms, teeth and fangs.
Other mixes include the Fizzy Mix filled with fruit and cola flavour sour sweets, the Bottle Mix including popular bottle-shaped sweets and the Jelly Mix packed with fruity jelly and foam sweets.
“We’re very excited to reveal our new Pick n Mix Station brand to our retail customers,” Kathryn Hague, head of Marketing at Hancocks, said.
“The brand was created to fulfil a value proposition that celebrates our vast range of bulk confectionery.
“The 1 kg value pick and mix bulk bags are perfect for topping up pick-and-mix stations, adding sweets to party snack tables, or filling jars and tins with irresistible treats.
“With bulk bags trending on Tiktok, retailers can also sell these treats by the bag.
“Stocking up on the Pick n Mix Station bags will give retailers an opportunity to offer customers their favourite pick and mix treats at a low price point.”