Müller Yogurt & Desserts said it is converting its iconic Corner yogurt pots from white to clear plastic, as the business works to halve the environmental impact of its packaging by 2030.
The majority of Müller Corner and Müller Bliss Corner yogurt pots have already converted, with the remaining volume taking place by the end of 2024.
The introduction of fully recyclable clear pots facilitates the retention of the material for reuse again within the food sector.
As the business targets a ‘closed loop system’, by converting almost 50 per cent of Müller’s branded yogurts to clear PET, the move could boost the availability of rPET in the UK by over 3,000 tonnes per annum, further reducing industry requirements for ‘virgin’ plastic.
“The foods we eat can have a major impact on our planet and the people in it. As one of the most chosen FMCG brands in Great Britain, we have the scale to deliver meaningful change towards a circular economy,” Richard Williams, chief executive at Müller Yogurt & Desserts, said.
“By making this change, the industry could benefit from increased availability of rPET, while reducing the demand for additional virgin plastic.”
Müller UK & Ireland targets on average 30 per cent recycled content in its plastic packaging by 2025, and the business has also confirmed that it is aiming to add recycled content into its clear corner yogurt pots by the end of 2025.
With Müller Corner seeing 11 per cent value growth year on year, and 78 per cent of shoppers preferring a clear Müller Corner pot to a white pot, the move is expected to drive further category growth.
The move follows the launch of Müller’s redesigned branded yogurt and desserts packaging, created to make it more distinctive, cohesive and easy to find and buy.
Müller has also recently completed a project to switch all of its coloured milk bottle caps to clear, increasing the availability of rHDPE (Recycled High Density Polyethylene) on the market by 1560 tonnes.
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.”
Confectionery distributor World of Sweets has revealed the latest novelty product from America’s leading sour candy brand Warheads.
The new offering is part of their plans to bring more of America’s much-loved sour flavours to UK customers.
New to the Warheads range are the Sour Popping Candy packs, available in Sour Watermelon, Sour Green Apple and Sour Raspberry.
Warheads Sour Popping Candy offers a crackling, popping sensation with a sour twist, aimed at younger customers seeking exciting new novelty products with tasty, trending flavours.
Each single flavour display contains 12 pouches, all packaged in an eye-catching design to pop out on shelves among other tasty treats.
Warheads have also launched a three pack - with all flavours included in each pouch.
Each three pack box available to retailers contains 20 pouches, and World of Sweets said the eye-catching display makes them perfect to be stacked on shelves among other tasty treats.
They can be merchandised alongside other Warheads branded lines, or as a part of a wider novelty collection.
The small pouches come at pocket-money friendly prices, making them a great impulse purchase.
“We are super excited to be bringing to market the brand new Warhead Sour Popping Candy pouches,” Louisa Jones, senior brand manager at World of Sweets said.
“Each pouch packs a serious punch, and sour candy lovers are sure to love the exciting, tasty flavours.
“Warheads have been a best-selling brand for us. Our customers have experienced a real boost in sales for both American confectionery and sour flavours, so this product is sure to be a hit with confectionery lovers.
“We’re always looking for ways to support our customers and fill those gaps in the market - and budget-friendly American confectionery lines are definitely needed.”
Warheads also offer a range of products in the top selling theatre box format.
As December rapidly approaches, Pernod Ricard UK is ramping up its festive marketing efforts, anticipating a resurgence in consumer confidence after a challenging year. The UK’s second-largest wine and spirits supplier is set to inspire consumers to choose Premium+ Spirits as the perfect gift or the ultimate addition to any home celebration. Throughout 2024, Premium+ Spirits have consistently outperformed Standard offerings, making this higher end of the sector a vital margin driver.
“Since last Christmas, consumer confidence has been on the rise and the outlook for the final month of 2024 is positive," said Chris Shead, Off-Trade Channel Director for Pernod Ricard UK. "Gifting and hosting remain two key trends and retailers should focus on increasing space in-store for Premium Spirits that act as the perfect gift or cocktail ingredient when wanting to show off in front of friends and family. Where possible, we encourage retailers to prioritise categories that have been capturing the hearts of consumers and this year, our big winners have been Altos Tequila, Kahlúa and Bumbu Rum, and we expect our Champagnes, G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouët, to be the toast of choice for festive parties this year.”
Ultimate Festive Host
To inspire consumers and drive cocktail ingredient sales before they enter a store, Pernod Ricard UK has refreshed its YouTube Channel, “Cocktails Etc.”, which offers bite-sized content that can be easily followed at home. The channel features fun, festive tutorials of how to create the most-searched winter cocktails including an Absolut and Kahlúa Espresso Martini and The Glenlivet Hot Toddy. Consumers will be able to discover this year’s hottest serves, from the Hugo Spritz to Champagne cocktails and the delightful Baby Stout – 18 million of which were sold in the On-Trade last year. To support retailers, branded social media content will also be available for retailers to use on their own social media channels to educate and inspire shoppers before they enter the store.
Jameson Black Barrel – The Greatest Story Almost Told
Jameson Black Barrel has stepped into Christmas with an elevated new label and giftbox, highlighting its premium credentials. To drive maximum awareness of Jameson’s most giftable product this Christmas, the brand has launched a new global campaign that features a short film led by Bullet Train actor and rumored next James Bond, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker, Yorgos Lanthimos (Killing of the Sacred Deer, The Lobster and Poor Things). The campaign, which explores the craftsmanship behind each bottle, will be showcased in the UK across video-on-demand platforms and social media, as well as on the big screen from 21 November to coincide with the release of Gladiator 2.
Havana Club Limited-Edition Bottle: A Festive Centerpiece
Havana Club has partnered with Toronto-based goldsmith Jonathan Raksha to create a standout bottle for the festive season. Known for his iconic celebrity jewelry designs, Raksha brings his flair to Havana Club’s flagship rum. The bottle, adorned with shimmering gold accents and intricate diamond-like details, reflects the grandeur of Havana’s architecture and culture. The Havana Club Añejo 7 Años x Jonathan Raksha bottle will be available at major grocers (excluding Asda) and wholesale from the end of November.
Carlsberg have revealed their new, limited edition Christmas jumpers – in a Home knit and Away knit.
This social-first campaign puts a twist on the traditional football kit launch with a world-first ‘knit launch’ as the country gears up for Christmas. These special jumpers feature the iconic Carlsberg logo and hop leaf as the ‘club badge’ for a fabulous celebration of the brand’s strong links to football, as well as of all things festive.
Bringing the jumpers to life, a series of social videos sees models showcase the jumpers whilst sprinkling in a few recognisable footballer celebrations. Fans will have a chance to win one of these rare Christmas jumpers through an online competition on the brand’s social media channels.
The kit comes in two distinct variations: a green Carlsberg Danish Pilsner ‘Home’ kit, featuring the number 12 for the 12 days of Christmas, as well as a blue ‘Away’ kit for those who are celebrating Christmas away from home, with 00 on the back encouraging drivers to choose the alcohol-free Carlsberg 0.0.
“We had an amazing response from our followers to a mock-up Carlsberg Christmas jumper that we shared last year, and this year we wanted to give our fans an early Christmas gift by launching the real thing,” Sam Johnson, head of marketing, said.
“Carlsberg has such a strong association with football, and we wanted to celebrate this with these fantastic Christmas jumpers, whilst keeping the sense of humour the brand is renowned for. With a ‘knit launch’ in the colours of our classic Carlsberg Danish Pilsner and for our alcohol-free Carlsberg 0.0, we’re making sure everyone can be involved and enjoy the festive season responsibly.”
As part of the campaign, the brand is raising awareness of the Drinking Check from Carlsberg Marston's Brewing Company’s responsible drinking charity partner, Drinkaware, with a social story encouraging fans to take the Check for a Christmas that is both ‘noughty’ and nice.
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 per cent 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 first for taste among Original competitor products, and Original flavours remain strong in the category with a 28 per cent year on year growth. With flavours representing 32 per cent of Energy Stimulation sales, marking a substantial +28 per cent 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 per cent YoY increase, and the new 500ml Sugar Free Original can caters for the growing trend in health-conscious consumers, with one in three 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.