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.
Boost Drinks has announced the exciting introduction of 500ml cans to its Energy range launching in Original, Sugar Free Original and Red Berry varieties at just £1.
Leveraging its standing as the third largest brand in Energy Stimulation, Boost expands on its hugely successful 250ml energy range with the new, larger 500ml cans. 500ml is the largest energy drinks size and is worth a huge £745m - enjoying 13% YoY growth, offering even bigger profits for retailers.
The three varieties available in new 500ml cans have been carefully selected, with sales data places them as the best selling in Boost’s 250ml Energy range.
Boost Original Energy is rated 1st for taste among Original competitor products, and Original flavours remain strong in the category with a 28% year on year growth. With flavours representing 32% of Energy Stimulation sales, marking a substantial +28% growth YoY, Red Berry is a guaranteed hit with consumers in the new larger can. Plus, the sugar-free energy drinks category has seen a remarkable +23% YoY increase, and the new 500ml Sugar Free Original can caters for the growing trend in health-conscious consumers, with 1 in 3 now opting for more sugar-free beverages.
Adrian Hipkiss, Commercial Director at Boost Drinks says: “It is a very exciting moment for us to be expanding on our hugely successful 250ml energy range with a new 500ml offering. We’ve identified the trend in consumer demand for larger, on-the-go formats with 500ml showing huge growth in the sector, so to be able to launch our iconic Original flavour, also in Sugar Free, alongside the flavour-favourite Red Berry is not just huge for consumers looking for a bigger can on the go, but also for retailers who can now enjoy XL profits. We’re forever committed to innovation and excellence within the soft drinks category and are excited to see the new cans roll out across wholesale and convenience.”
These new products underscore Boost's continual dedication to offer retailers the opportunity to communicate great value on fixture vs. the major multiples, in line with its Honest Broker approach that underpins Boost’s commitment to being a transparent and collaborative partner to wholesalers and retailers.
Leading vodka brand Smirnoff has announced the appointment of Grammy-nominated global star Troye Sivan as its new Chief Vibes OFFicer (CVO), marking the start of a new multi-year partnership with the Australian singer-songwriter.
One of the most celebrated artists in popular culture today, Sivan has just completed the much anticipated ‘Sweat’ tour alongside friend, artist and frequent collaborator Charli XCX, and is about to embark on the Australia and New Zealand leg of his global solo tour, following the release of his hit 2023 album, ‘Something to Give Each Other’.
Amidst this busy schedule, Sivan will now step into his tongue-in-cheek CVO role as global ‘curator of immaculate vibes’ for Smirnoff – showcasing the Go OFF spirit to fans all around the world. The campaign is a call to arms to ditch to-do lists and dive into some fun - getting together, going out and going OFF. As the next stage of the brand’s wider WE DO WE campaign, it aims to create a more connected, open and exhilarating world.
“We are so excited to partner with Troye - as someone who radiates joy and shares our ‘WE DO WE’ spirit he is the ultimate vibe shifter for his fans all around the world,” Stephanie Jacoby, SVP Global Vodkas at Diageo, said.
“We knew from the moment we first spoke to Troye and his team that this was going to be something truly special – we share a passion for fun, for bringing people together and for not taking ourselves too seriously.
“I am delighted to welcome our new Chief Vibes OFFicer to the team, Troye is the perfect fit, and we can’t wait to collaborate over the coming months together – exciting things to come!”
The partnership launched this week across socials, after a series of teaser drops, with a video showing Sivan taking part in a tongue-in-cheek press conference, announcing his new CVO position to interviewers and sharing his mission, for people to Go OFF.
In true Smirnoff style, a collective of global creatives was brought together to craft the latest Go OFF work and bring a pop-world spin to the vibrant Smirnoff brand world.
Sivan said: “For me, Smirnoff has always been omnipresent – whether it’s at house parties, backstage at shows, or nights out with friends. I see the brand all around the world, and whenever I do, it feels like something I want to be part of. "Go OFF” is all about getting people together and being ourselves, something I’ve really embraced in this part of my life and something I’m excited to continue to do with this partnership.”
The launch will be followed by Smirnoff’s sponsorship of Sivan’s Australia and New Zealand tour where he will share the Go OFF vibes with fans at exclusive after parties in both Sydney and Melbourne.
The global partnership will show up across social, OOH, digital, in-store and through event activations in over 20 countries including the UK, Brazil, Australia and India over the coming months and forms part of Diageo's wider focus on embedding their brands at the heart of key cultural moments for consumers - from music and fashion to sports, food and more.
Seabrook Crisps has unveiled a new price marked pack for the popular Fire Eaters.
Part of Seabrook’s Loaded sharing range, Fire Eaters Smokehouse Cayenne and Trinidad Scorpion Chilli flavours are now available in a 65g bag with a price mark of £1.25.
“Shoppers rely on Seabrook to deliver flavour and great value by the bagful and our retailers look to us to drive snack sales – which is exactly what we have done with our Fire Eater price marked packs,” Claire Hooper, marketing director for Calbee UK, owner of Seabrook, commented.
“Spicy notes are a key trend, especially from brands that consumers know and love, which is why our Smokehouse Cayenne and Trinidad Scorpion Chilli flavours are already a huge hit. Combine the popularity of these flavours with a price mark and we know that taste buds and tills will sing!”
Luxury chocolate brand Cox & Co. is targeting dark chocolate lovers with its brand new Blood Orange Crunch bar, crafted from 60 per cent single-origin Colombian cacao.
With almost two-thirds of chocolate buyers enjoying two or more flavours in a chocolate bar, it’s easy to see why Cox & Co.’s flavour combinations of velvety rich dark chocolate and delicious superfoods are so popular and its latest addition to the range is sure to be no different.
Blood orange is characterised by its deep red flesh and sweet citrusy taste and in its new Blood Orange Crunch Bar, Cox & Co. has paired Blood Orange oil with raw cacao nibs for a zesty flavour, and balanced it with subtle vanilla notes and a moreish crunch.
“We are thrilled to be launching a brand new flavour of our popular 75g dark chocolate bars. Orange-flavoured chocolate is one of the most sought-after amongst chocolate buyers, so we wanted to deliver on this, but with a Cox & Co. twist!” said founder, Gavin Cox. ”The combination of zesty, citrusy flavours with the slightly bitter coffee notes, make the new Blood Orange Crunch bar the perfect treat for dark chocolate fans.”
Blood Orange Crunch is joining Cox & Co.’s range with six other delicious vegan flavours to choose from, including Miso & Caramel, Mint Crunch, Bee Pollen & Honey, Raw Cacao Nibs, 71 per cent Dark Chocolate and Single Origin Pure Cacao (100 per cent).
“Our original range of dark chocolate bars continue to be our best-selling product, with customers continuing to enjoy the unique flavour combinations, blended with our single-origin Colombian cacao. We expect our new Blood Orange Crunch to be very well received and look forward to hearing what customers think,” added Gavin.
Cox & Co.’s cacao is sourced from Colombia’s Luker Chocolate estate as part of "The Chocolate Dream" initiative, which invests in farmers, communities and sustainable farming methods to produce chocolate that’s as ethical as possible.
Cox & Co.’s NEW Blood Orange Crunch Bar is available to retailers nationwide (priced from £13.50, 3 x 70g bars).
Tapping into “new-stalgia” (an anticipated hot food trend in 2025), Gnaw has been working tirelessly to rethink Great British puddings by creating a number of “Hug in a Mug” classics (Crème Brulée, Bakewell Tart, Sticky Toffee Pud) in conjunction with an impressive “pudfolio” of dessert-flavoured bars: New York Cheesecake, Christmas Pudding, Banoffee Pie and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Desserts may prove divisive. For many the last course will always be a fitting finale to a great meal spent with friends of family, enticing comfort food that offers a nostalgic peek into happy custard drenched, ice cream topped memories from yesteryear. For others, desserts are an unwitting dalliance with guilt-filled soft sponges, buttery pastry, seductively sweet fillings, crumbly toppings, sticky sauces …
Gnaw’s new-for-Christmas “Hugs in Mugs” hot chocolate and bars represent the perfect halfway house; a fresh twist on timeless classics using hot chocolate and meticulously crafted bars as the perfect portion-controlled mediums for reacquainting our taste buds with sweet-themed flavour marriages from times gone by. After all the very definition of “new-stalgia” is revisiting comforting classics in a cooler, more modern way.
“In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve drawn upon our deep love of quality chocolate and indulgent sweet treats to create our range of gooey-centred choc spoons,” said Gnaw Head of Brand, Muhammad Karim. “Perfect for savouring during precious ‘me-time’ moments Or sharing with someone you love, they’re designed to bring a little dash of luxury to your day.”
120g Gooey Pudding Hot Chocolate Spoons PLUS marshmallows (x3) £11.95
80g Pud bars (Banoffee, New York Cheesecake, Christmas Pud) RSP £3.50