Mars Wrigley unveils Christmas innovations

Mars Wrigley has announced the launch of its Christmas NPD for 2024, giving seasonal confectionery a sweet boost with a duo of new releases.

Bringing the brand’s signature fun to the festive season, while driving incremental sales, new M&M'S Crispy Milk Chocolate Santa Treat (29g, RRP £0.65) is now landing in stores nationwide as the ideal treat for Christmas.

With the self-eat category up two per cent year-on-year, and 36 per cent of Christmas sales coming from small shapes, the new product, comprising a milk chocolate Santa shape, filled with creamy vanilla, crispy surprises and delicious M&M’S Minis, will tap into the trend for small moments of joy and offer shoppers fresh excitement at a key time of the year.

The launch is being supported by above-the-line marketing on social media and out-of-home advertising from early October, as well as in-store point-of-sale media.

Harnessing the popularity of Twix which is outperforming the category and has a 25 per cent category penetration (1.7 per cent ppts vs YA), NPD from the confectionery giant also comes in the form of the Twix & Friends Medium Selection Box (140g, RRP £2.75).

Set to appeal to Twix fans, it features 1 x Twix Milk Chocolate Caramel, 1 x Twix Salted Caramel fun size bar, 1 x Twix White Chocolate fun size bar, 1 x M&M’S Milk Chocolate fun size bag, and 1 x Milky Way Magic Stars fun size bag.

The assortment of favourite chocolate goodies is rolling out nationwide and is presented in festive cardboard packaging, making it perfect for gifting. The launch will be supported by a £8m+ media plan.

“At Mars Wrigley we are continually looking to bring new products to the market that both cater to evolving consumer demand and drive category growth and excitement. Chocolate plays an important role during many key seasonal rituals, from small festive gifts to daily delights and as such, seasonal and gifting is worth £1.8bn of total chocolate value sales,” said Laura O’Neill, Christmas & Gifting senior brand manager.

“Our new launches for Christmas 2024 tap into different shopper needs and will appeal to consumers looking to purchase their favourite brands and products with a seasonal twist.”

Mars Wrigley is synonymous with the festive season. Its CELEBRATIONS brand has performed well over the last few years, seeing 16 per cent MAT value sales growth vs YA and delivering 7.2 per cent value sales between October and December 2023 versus 2022.

CELEBRATIONS Tub is the number one gifting SKU in the total UK gifting category and the number one full-year Twist wrap brand.

New M&M'S Crispy Milk Chocolate Santa Treat and Twix & Friends Medium Selection Box available nationwide now.