Leading biscuit brand McVitie’s has unveiled the festive line-up which comprises new-for-2022 NPD, including McVitie’s Blissfuls Belgian Milk Chocolate & Cream – a limited-edition variant for the brand’s £3.1 million Blissfuls range.
The pladis-owned brand said the new product will drive higher value sales for retailers in the run-up to this key sales period.
McVitie’s has also revamped its Sweet Biscuit Assortments this Christmas, utilising the legacy of seasonal staples such as McVitie’s Victoria and the festive edition of McVitie’s Family Circle to extend appeal and help retailers capitalise on bumper sweet seasonal sales – set to exceed last year’s £174 million.
“With two years of muted celebrations behind us, we’re anticipating this year’s festivities will be bigger than ever,” said Cassie French, Marketing Director – Seasonal & Cake at pladis UK&I. “That’s why we’ve focused on ensuring our iconic, number one McVitie’s Victoria brand is fit for purpose with a total revamp. Continuing our vision of offering happiness with every bite, this year’s seasonal range will help consumers make the most of hosting and gifting occasions as they get together to celebrate this season.
“Alongside assortments we have the rest of our McVitie’s and Flipz novelty range. This will help retailers of all shapes and sizes access their share of the incremental sales generated by the sweet biscuit category every Christmas, as shoppers trade up and treat themselves to something extra special.”
The McVitie’s 2022 Christmas range will be supported by a heart-warming PR and social campaign – which shines a light on the role McVitie’s plays in family life during the festive period – along with seasonal shopper marketing and POS, bringing to life the ‘Ready, Steady, Christmas’ messagein stores nationwide.
Products in the McVitie’s and Flipz Christmas ranges will be available to the wholesale and convenience channels.
McVitie’s and Flipz 2022 Christmas Ranges
NEW for 2022
McVitie’s Blissfuls Belgian Milk Chocolate & Cream
Hot on the heels of the successful launch of McVitie’s Blissfuls in January this year, pladis is introducing limited-edition McVitie’s Blissfuls Belgian Milk Chocolate &Cream (RSP: £2.59) especially for the season.
Comprising golden, crunchy baked biscuits filled with blissfully smooth Belgian Milk Chocolate & Cream, this new rich, creamy, festive flavour is sure to encourage trade-up among shoppers seeking indulgent sharing snacks this Christmas.
McVitie’s Victoria Chocolate Creations
New for 2022, an ultra-premium assortment joins the McVitie’s Victoria collection and is set to stir up the appetite of both biscuit lovers and chocoholics alike.
McVitie’s Victoria Chocolate Creations comprises decadent selection of12 biscuit varieties enrobed in layers of luxurious thick milk, dark and white chocolate. Available in a 400g box (RSP: £6.75), this indulgent assortment will help retailers generate incremental sales as a seasonal gift that’s sure to impress.
Returning festive favourites
McVitie’s Victoria
It’s not Christmas without the number one Christmas biscuit assortment – and McVitie’s Victoria is upping the ante with a refresh which sees its most chocolatey biscuit offering yet.
Now containing 20% more chocolate, the iconic McVitie’s Victoria assortment sees the return of favourite biscuits, such as the Milk Chocolate Wheel. Plus, 50% of the biscuit selection is new for this year, with classics like the Dreamy Orange Cream& Chocolate Dipped Oatie now joining the beloved assortment.
Available in boxes of 275g (RSP: £4.40) and 550g (RSP: £6.60)– and with a new premium packaging refresh which includes an ‘even more chocolatey’ flash on-pack – McVitie’s Victoria is sure to encourage trade-up among seasonal shoppers. Plus, sustainable shoppers will be pleased to hear that the brand is reducing its carbon footprint by moving to recycled board, now using 3,327kg less film in its Victoria packaging YOY.
McVitie’s Family Circle
McVitie’s Family Circle is a must-stock for retailers looking to tap into the increase in everyday snacking occasions over Christmas, driving higher frequency sales in the process.
Retaining its position as the number one everyday branded biscuit assortment, McVitie’s Family Circle contains an everyday selection of crowd-pleasing classic biscuits – from the simple Shortcake, to the must-have Milk Chocolate Digestive.
Available in a 310g box (RSP: £3.30), this yearthe pack has undergone a festive refresh to dial up its Christmas sharing credentials, all whilst generating strong standout on shelf.
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Jaffa Hamper
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Jaffa Hamper is back and better than ever. Now including the brand’s biggest-ever innovation – McVitie’s Jaffa Jonut – it’s sure to attract the brand’s loyal band of Jaffanatics, whilst reeling in seasonal shoppers seeking exciting and affordable gifting options.
The McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Jaffa Hamper (RSP: £4.50) also comprises McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Cake Bars, McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Original 3-packs and McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Orange & Cranberry 10-pack– all wrapped up in the brand’s distinct blue and orange hues.
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Orange & Cranberry
Once more, McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes have undergone a makeover fit for the festive season, as McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Orange & Cranberry rejoins the brand’s 2022 seasonal line-up. The festive twist on this iconic British snack sees the brand’s signature light sponge filled with a zingy Orange & Cranberry flavoured centre and coated in delicious crackly dark chocolate.
Available in a pack of 10 (RSP: £1.20), this new festive favourite is sure to appeal to die-hard Jaffanatics, as well as those seeking innovative flavour combinations.
McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole
Retailers can stock up on the bestselling stocking filler from McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes once more as the iconic Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole makes a return for the 2022 festive season.
This classicstocking filler contains 40 Original Jaffa Cakes (RSP: £3.50) and is a sure-fire way to capitalise on the popularity of the brand, alongside the demand for exciting, novel gifting formats– boosting higher frequency sales in the run up to Christmas.
Flipz Gingerbread Flavour
A must-stock to satisfy ‘swavoury’ snacking fans during the festive period, Flipz Gingerbread encompasses the brand’s signature salty pretzel coated in a gently-spiced gingerbread glaze. Perfectly portioned for sharing, Flipz Gingerbread (RSP: £1.50) will be available in 150g bags.
McVitie’s Santa Snacks Chocolate Cake Bars
McVitie’s Santa Snacks Chocolate Cake Bars are set to return for a third year this Christmas. Coming in at just 99 kcals per individually wrapped bar, they make for the ultimate festive grab-and-go treat.
Comprising a soft, light sponge topped with rich chocolate cream and coated in McVitie’s iconic smooth milk chocolate, McVitie’s Santa Snacks Chocolate Cake Bars are available in packs of 7 at an affordable everyday rice point of just £1.25.
Natural cheese slice brand Leerdammer will launch its new “Incognito” TV advertising campaign on 20 January – aiming to drive memorability with consumers by tapping into the brand’s “Deliciously Different” positioning and comedic tone of voice.
Based on the insight that Leerdammer’s mild and nutty flavour profile is truly irresistible, keeping consumers coming back time and time again, the ad sees a shopper returning to a supermarket sampling counter ‘incognito’ in various disguises, to enjoy multiple tastes of the cheese.
Expected to reach over 7.6m ABC1 25-45 consumers, the campaign will promote Leerdammer’s flagship slices range – Leerdammer Original Slices and Leerdammer Light Slices – across BVOD and YouTube advertising. With a total investment of more than £800k, the first phase of advertising will run from 20 January to 9 February, to be followed with activity in May and September – supported with proximity six-sheets, as well as online and in-store activations.
The new ad scored highly in testing, with a 98 per cent Awareness Index and an outstanding ability to generate sales in the short-term (95 per cent). As well as excellent cut-through potential and strong persuasion, with an excellent ability to build the brand positioning.
“We know that Leerdammer’s mild and nutty flavour profile keeps consumers coming back for more and this new advert brings this to life brilliantly, while playing to the brand’s unique, fun tone of voice,” said Heloise Le Norcy-Trott, Group Marketing Director for Lactalis UK & Ireland.
“We expect the ad to drive brand memorability and strengthen engagement with shoppers – new and existing, in turn increasing purchase intent and basket size. And overall, we hope it encourages shoppers to return ‘time and time again’ for a taste of Leerdammer!”
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.