Now available from Mevalco – the home of fine Spanish Foods – are this season’s freshly harvested pulses of the highest quality, sustainably sourced specially from a range of artisanal suppliers in Spain and selected for their exquisite flavour and texture.
A leading partner to Mevalco is Burcol - a family-owned business, which combines traditional methods with modern innovation in their production methods. Mevalco’s full range in Retail grocery includes Butter Beans, Caviar Lentils, Chickpeas, and the famously Spanish Verdina Beans.
According to Managing Director, David Menendez, pulses offer a great opportunity to retailers during winter months – not only do they offer good health benefits and nutritional value, but they also offer strong value for money to consumers whilst delivering them value add and depth to many dishes:
“These are the tiny ‘giants’ of nutrition, delivering terrific flavour and texture to winter dishes. For example, we see beautiful fish served with some beans, which is a very northern Spanish thing to do. For example, butter beans and cod are a match made in heaven, giving big flavours and essential nutrients and it looks highly impressive too”.
Yoghurt expert Yoplait have the kicked off the new year with two new reformulated recipes on their leading kid’s brands, Petits Filous and Frubes, to ensure the products are even healthier, yet still retain the same delicious taste.
Since 2015, Yoplait has improved the health credentials of its kids’ portfolio by reducing sugars by 25 per cent. The kids’ yoghurt company has been driving the sugar reduction progress within the yoghurt category and was applauded by Public Health England by helping the category to reduce overall sugars by 13 per cent.
“Petits Filous and Frubes are well-established and much-loved brands so it’s critical we take a gradual approach to our sugar reduction, and we have done so without resorting to adding thickeners, sweeteners, processed fibres or flavours, but our Mission is also to educate about the nutritional value of fortified kids’ yoghurts and bring lost consumers back into the category,” said Antoine Hours, General Manager of Yoplait UK.
“Last year we launched a report which highlighted that over one million children in the UK were at risk of poor development and growth because they were lacking key nutrients such as Vitamin D, Calcium and Iodine, all of which are found in fortified kids’ yoghurts. We outlined a ten-year decline in consumption of kids yoghurts and alarmingly, our insights showed that parents were switching from kids’ yoghurts into biscuits, cakes and confectionary.”
The yoghurts and dairy desserts category contributes a small, 4.5 per cent of the daily free sugar intake of 4-10 year olds and in contrast, more than 50 per cent of free sugars in this age group comes from confectionary, cakes/biscuits and sugar-sweetened drinks, all of which are low in essential nutrients and all categories who have done little to reformulate.
Yoplait will continue with its education and awareness campaign into 2025 and its kids’ brands will continue to drive relevance and excitement with consumers. Petits Filous is this month rolling out a fresh new-look which dials up the health credentials of the brand with a focus on bone health and Frubes is running an on-pack promotion offering a once in a lifetime family trip to Japan, a first for the kids’ yoghurt category.
“If we are able to re-educate about the positive nutritional benefits, showcase our brands to consumers and encourage them to switch back, we have identified a potential £150m sales opportunity for retailers over the next five years,” added Hours.
KP Snacks has announced the launch of a “Bank of McCoy’s” on-pack promotion, featuring massive cash and stock prizes for both consumers and retailers.
Running across McCoy’s PMP and Grab Bag formats, the brand new Bank of McCoy’s incentive gives consumers the chance to unlock a £100k prize vault to win instant cash prizes of up to £1,000 or free crisps. To enter the competition, shoppers simply need to scan the QR code on-pack and input a unique code. The on-pack promotion combines a fun, straightforward, instant-win entry mechanic.
Live from 20 January to the 13 April, the Bank of McCoy’s incentive also offers retailers the opportunity to win their share of a £50k retailer-specific prize vault. The retailer promotion is running across all McCoy’s PMP cases, with a similar scan-to-win mechanic enabling retailers to access cash and stock prizes.
To help retailers boost impulse sales and drive awareness of the Bank of McCoy’s promotion, KP Snacks will also distribute engaging, themed POS kits including dump bins, FSDUs, floor vinyls and shelf wobblers. The new eye-catching POS will strengthen the standout of the McCoy’s portfolio and on-pack promotion in-store, creating additional excitement through enhanced visibility.
“We’re excited to be getting 2025 off to a strong start with one of our biggest on-pack promotions to date,” said Stuart Graham, Head of Convenience and Impulse. “The Bank of McCoy’s incentive effectively engages both our loyal consumers and valued retailer partners, and we’ve made it easier than ever for retailers to get involved by simply scanning the QR code on product cases.
“McCoy’s is a mainstay of the CSN category as a trusted, recognisable brand and the new promotion will help to drive further brand penetration and boost impulse purchases.”
Worth £188m and growing at +6.4 per cent, the McCoy’s portfolio is known for delivering full-on flavour. The range was recently expanded with the launch of a bold new variant, McCoy’s Hot & Spicy. Available in a £1.25 PMP format, the new product is also included in the Bank of McCoy’s promotion.
Starbucks has expanded its ready-to-drink (RTD) range with three new launches that deliver indulgence, convenience, and variety for every coffee lover.
The popular Starbucks Chilled Classics range is getting a refresh with two new tasty beverages, for those that prefer plant-based alternatives. The Oat Based Cappuccino and Oat Based Caramel Macchiato mean there are now more ways for coffee-lovers to enjoy their favourite Starbucks drinks than ever before.
The Starbucks innovation team have been working hard experimenting with new plant-based recipes that deliver that same, iconic Starbucks taste as our core dairy range. Carefully crafted to perfection, the new oat based chilled coffees offer consumers tasty new drinks that fit seamlessly into their daily routines and rituals, so they can refresh and reset with their favourite flavours.
“Since the launch of Starbucks Chilled Coffee, we’ve been leading the way in creating drinks inspired by Starbucks Café favourites, for coffee drinkers to enjoy at home or on-the-go,” said Charlotta Oldham, marketing director EMEA.
“Expanding the choices we offer to our consumers no matter their flavour preferences or lifestyles, is a testament to Starbucks pioneering efforts to continually innovate their product offering without ever compromising on taste.”
And it’s not just the Starbucks recipes that are getting a shake-up. Refreshed packaging for Starbucks Oat Cappuccino and Oat Caramel Macchiato Chilled Coffees (MRRP: £2.00) brings the plant-based range in line with the same, instantly recognisable designs of existing dairy options in the chilled coffee range.
Starbucks latest RTD creation invites consumers to find their sunshine state of mind. Starbucks Frappuccino Sip On Sunshine Limited Edition chilled coffee drink (MRRP: £2.10) captures feel-good vibes in a bottle, so consumers can treat themselves, come rain or shine.
The mood-boosting packaging is easy to spot on shelves, thanks to its bold, vibrant colours and fun illustrations of the sun and bumblebees. Reflecting its playful packaging, the recipe conjures the feeling of sunshine with indulgent toffee and an uplifting touch of honey, meaning consumers can lift the lid and let positivity run free as they go about their day.
“We believe sunshine is a state of mind, and that’s why we’ve created a unique offering with our Starbucks Frappuccino Sip On Sunshine Limited Edition coffee drink, bringing consumers feel-good vibes, no matter where they are,” Oldham said.
“Starbucks Frappuccino Sip On Sunshine Limited Edition coffee drink is a perfect example of our continued limited time offer innovation in our ready-to-drink range, it’s a chilled coffee treat with a fun and playful concept to provide our consumers a delicious moment of positivity in their day.”
Starbucks consumers are in for a (re)treat with the new Starbucks Blissful Retreat Limited Edition Chilled Classic. Whether it’s part of a new resolution to build more self-care into a busy day or a well-deserved break from the pressures of daily life, Blissful Retreat provides a tranquil coffee moment for chilled coffee-lovers to enjoy.
The new addition to the Chilled Classics family is easy to spot by the calming blue waves and tropical paradise that adorn the cup, offering a refreshing moment of escapism.
Carefully crafted with a blend of bold espresso, creamy milk, mocha flavour, and hints of sea salt for some seaside serenity, Blissful Retreat (MRRP: £2.00) is the perfect getaway from the everyday, designed for those in need of a quick refresh and reset.
All products are available in the chilled aisle at grocery and convenience stores, rolling out nationwide this month.
Food-to-go brand Urban Eat. has launched “Urban Street”, a regularly-refreshed range of limited-edition products in street-food inspired, global flavours. The first three NPD will land in chillers across the UK on 22 January and will be available across the quarter – or until stocks run out.
Tapping into highly sought-after “limited time only” releases – which marked one of the biggest footfall drivers in the food-to-go category in 2024 for its exclusivity and ability to spark feelings of FOMO, the new trio kicks off a pipeline of Urban Street products launching every quarter in 2025, all available for just three months at a time.
The debut line-up includes the bold and aromatic Thai Green Chicken sandwich, introduced in answer to the growing buzz and influence of Southeast Asian flavours. Packed with succulent chicken in a zingy Thai-inspired sauce on Kalonji seeded bread, it offers a taste of Thailand while on the move.
The flavour-filled Korean Chicken wrap also packs a punch; tender chicken goujons and pickled slaw with gochujang ketchup and coriander mayo all wrapped up in a bar-marked tortilla, it meets an increased interest in Korean recipes, ingredients and books that have seen rising popularity for their taste and creativity, with 23 per cent of UK consumers saying they already eat Korean food at home.
Finally, the Chicken Shawarma flatbread brings the warmth of Middle Eastern cuisines with marinated chicken in shawarma spices, pickled slaw and a garlic chilli sauce, packed into a folded flatbread. Enjoyed both hot or cold, it adds even further value to retailers who want to spice up their heat-to-eat range.
Designed to draw the eye in the chiller, the Urban Street selection stands apart from the bright colour packaging of the core brand portfolio, instead featuring striking black and white, hand-drawn illustration with cultural cues around each flavour.
“Consumers are looking for food experiences that transport them out of the ordinary, and world cuisine with its far-flung flavours is just the ticket,” said Brand Manager Charlotte Assinder. “The first three launches in our Urban Street range offer a selection of popular street food-inspired options, with the added excitement of a limited time only release.
“Through standout flavour combinations, eye-catching packaging design (and the added potential FOMO!) Urban Street is perfectly placed to help our customers drive their food-to-go sales, appealing to consumers looking to spice up a mid-week lunch or meal on the move.”
Cumbrian bakery Bells of Lazonby is adding a chocolate orange variant to its free-from “We Love Cake” range.
We Love Cake’s “Squeeze the Day” Chocolate Orange Cake slices are gluten, wheat and milk free, packed with a zesty orange flavoured jam and topped with a decadent layer of dark chocolate.
We Love Cake’s latest instalment continues to celebrate traditional and classic British flavours, with this newest edition to the family being inspired by Jaffa Cakes.
Made on the edge of the Lake District by renowned family bakers since 1946; the We Love Cake range is baked in small batches by skilled bakers and finished by hand.
With chocolate orange dominating the food aisles for the last for the last couple of years, it is set to be the next trend to enter the gluten-free space.
Since the rebrand in 2024, the bakery now sells on average one pack of We Love Cake Raspberry Ripple cake slices every minute in the UK, highlighting the increased demand for classic flavours in the Gluten free space.
We Love Cake’s retail value sales grew by +10 per cent in 2024 following the brands re-fresh and new brand partnership with Becky Excell.
“Our focus for the last 12 months has been to amplify the rebrand across social and in store,” said Head of marketing for Bells of Lazonby, Josh Boydell-Smith. “The refreshed look has widened our appeal to younger consumers, and we see continued growth across our cake slices in retail, as well as in food service. 2025 we turn our focus to new product development, and the opportunity to take We Love Cake to the next level. We are so excited to launch the new chocolate orange slices as they are simply delicious. Tapping into the nostalgia of a Jaffa Cake, the new product is a reminder that free-from should never compromise on taste or flavour.”
The gluten-free cakes are registered with Coeliac UK and declared as suitable for those with coeliac disease. The four slices are packaged in twin-packs to maintain freshness.
Available in wholesale to independents from February. RRP: £2.30