Old El Paso has burst onto laptops, phones and smart TVs across the country with their new "Turn it Up" campaign, designed to amplify the launch of the brand’s Street Vibes range, via a bespoke channel mix built with smaller households in mind.
Running until November, the campaign is backed by over £1.1M investment and is live across BVOD, OLV, social and digital – a bespoke plan to reach a younger audience, with less than half of Gen Zs now watching broadcast TV. The campaign hinges on the idea that the buzz and vibrancy of Mexican street food restaurants offer a feast for the senses, that in turn amplifies the eating experience beyond the norm. The brand new, fast-paced creative therefore captures these fun and flavourful Mexican Street Food ‘vibes’, that the range can unlock any night of the week.
There are over 8.3 million two-person households in the UK yet surprisingly 75 per cent of those yet to buy into the category are made up of one to two person households. As smaller households are often a younger, pre-family shopper with a taste for adventurous flavours, Old El Paso’s new campaign cleverly taps into the opportunity; research shows younger consumers typically enjoy a wider range of global tastes at home and one in three Gen Z and Millennials are looking to try new things.
Out-of-home street food flavours are also increasingly infiltrating retail, with one in two global consumers seeking products, such as Street Vibes, which are inspired by the street food flavour. Street Vibes is one of Old El Paso’s biggest launches to date, putting street-style soft tacos on the menu in just 20 minutes – with a wide range of soft taco kits, delicious sauces and spice mixes. Centred around the brand’s first ever meal kit for two people, the range is perfect for duos looking to turn up the vibes on a date or mates night at home with two popular street-food inspired flavours: Barbacoa and Al Pastor.
Disruptive in-aisle activations will be live through the autumn, designed to invite new shoppers into the world of Mexican meals and help retail partners cater to a wider range of people. In addition, the brand will be executing a bumper couponing plan to get the product into as many hands as possible.
“With Street Vibes all about turning flavour, fun and vibes up a notch, we are buzzing to bring a campaign to life that follows suit," said Aditi Hilgers, Head of Meals at General Mills UK.
“The creative calls out what makes Street Vibes different from the rest of our much loved, well-known core range. Coupled with the message that Street Vibes is the ticket for ‘turning up’ the flavour on a date or mates night, we’re confident of its massive potential to attract new younger, smaller households into Mexican who have been petitioning us to do something different. “
NEO WTR, Europe’s first ethical spring water brand to use a 100 per cent Prevented Ocean Plastic bottle, has won Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative at the Zenith Global Ltd Global Water Drinks Awards 2024. The industry's only Global Water Drinks Awards took place on Wednesday 29th October 2024 during Zenith Global's 21st Global Water Drinks Congress in Frankfurt, Germany. These prestigious awards celebrate excellence and innovation across every category of the water drinks industry worldwide.
NEO WTR was born out of a simple but powerful idea - to create a bottled water brand that doesn’t contribute to the plastic crisis but actively fights against it. In a world drowning in plastic waste, particularly from the soft drinks industry, NEO WTR’s mission is to transform the way we think about bottled water and packaging.
NEO WTR doesn’t just meet the minimum requirements; it exceeds them. While UK regulations mandate that plastic bottles contain only 30 per cent recycled plastic, NEO WTR uses 100 per cent Prevented Ocean Plastic, a ground-breaking material that supports people and the planet. Each 500ml NEO WTR bottle stops 1.7 plastic bottles from entering the ocean. Each sip helps reduce the harmful effects of ocean-bound plastic, turning discarded waste into a powerful tool for environmental change.
But the brand’s impact goes beyond recycling. NEO WTR’s mission is deeply rooted in a commitment to protect our planet’s most vulnerable coastlines while supporting communities in developing countries. Plastic pollution disproportionately affects these regions, with 80-90 per of ocean plastics originating from developing countries where recycling infrastructure is limited or non-existent. NEO WTR’s partnership with Prevented Ocean Plastic ensures that plastic waste is collected responsibly while providing economic opportunities and better working conditions for local waste collectors.
For Brookfield Drinks’ Managing Director, Nigel McNally, NEO WTR isn’t just about offering an alternative - it’s about leading a transformation. “We knew we couldn’t contribute to the plastic crisis, but we wanted to do more than that. We wanted to create a product that actively works to solve the problem,” says Nigel. “Consumers deserve a sustainable option when they need bottled water on the go, and NEO WTR gives them that option - without compromising on their values or the planet.”
At NEO WTR, we’re proud to say that every 500ml bottle makes a difference. We’ve taken the first step in creating a circular economy, and we’re excited to continue leading the charge for meaningful change in the bottled drinks industry. Together, we can protect what’s irreplaceable - our oceans, our environment, and the communities most affected by plastic pollution.
Nomadic has launched "Power Pots", its latest foray into protein-rich products and the company’s fourth launch of 2024. The duo of flavours - Chocolate Brownie and Smooth Caramel – feature a combination of vanilla yogurt with granola, plus chocolate brownie or caramel pieces.
Each pot features 20g of protein, plus 100 per cent of daily vitamin D and gut-friendly cultures, which all support immunity. This ‘trifecta’ of ingredients ticks an important box for Nomadic’s core consumers, which it describes as ‘hard-working busy people on the go’ – and who want satisfying, filling, foods which don’t compromise on taste.
And it’s a focus on taste that has driven the company’s choice of flavours with Smooth Caramel and Chocolate Brownie – effectively layering indulgence on top of the functional benefits of these products.
Power Pots appear in a similar format as the company’s best-selling Yogurt and Oat Clusters – which have helped Nomadic maintain its position as the No.1 Chilled Yogurt & Desserts brand in Convenience (Circana, 12 w/e 4/8/24, Chilled Yogurts and Protein Desserts, Total Convenience). As per usual, each pot also features a convenient wooden spoon.
“These are another part of our line-up that neatly combines ‘power’ – protein, gut health and vitamin D - with great taste," said Michelle Bloom, Nomadic’s marketing manager. "We’re sure these will be a big hit with hard-working consumers looking for both function and flavour.”
KTC Edibles Ltd (KTC), the UK’s largest supplier of edible oils, has launched Super High-Oleic Frying Oil, a traceable high-performance and long-life frying oil.
HOPO is blended using 100% traceable, organic, carbon-neutral RSPO Certified Sustainable Identity Preserved (IP) high oleic palm oil sourced directly from Daabon, a global leader in sustainable agriculture. KTC Super Hi Oleic can be offered with full traceability back to Daabon’s CI Tequendama SAS mill in Northern Colombia, providing complete visibility and zero deforestation guarantees - all the data customers need to comply with their obligations under the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EU DR).
DAABON’s carbon-neutral organic palm oil has a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculated CO2eq of -977kg per tonne, cradle to gate. The LCA was conducted using Ecopalma’s carbon footprint estimation tool, harmonised with the ISO 14067 standard.
This traceability offers other sustainability benefits, allowing customers to calculate their Scope 3 emissions - and because it’s sourced from Daabon, a global leader in sustainable agriculture, it can be an effective way for companies to reduce the carbon footprint of their frying operations.
Gary Lewis, Sales Director at KTC Edibles, explains, "Super Hi Oleic offers the gold standard in sustainable, high-performance, long-life frying oils. We believe in offering consumers innovative new products that not only meet their culinary needs but also align with their values and sustainability goals. This is a giant leap forward in the industry, and we're proud to be at the forefront of positive change."
The high oleic palm oil used in the product also offers some unique performance advantages. It has higher oxidative stability and smoke point, lower PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) and saturated fats than standard oils. The non-GMO, non-additive formula also provides a long shelf life, a well-balanced fatty acid profile and neutral taste attributes, ensuring it can be blended with other vegetable oils for premium performance at competitive prices.
Created using a natural, non-GMO hybrid of a standard African palm tree and a native Latin American palm tree, high oleic palm oil offers significantly higher crop yields than standard palm. It also requires manual pollination leading to additional employment, helping boost the local economy - the costs of which are offset by the higher yields.
Super Hi Oleic Frying Oil is the latest addition to KTC's range of certified sustainable, traceable and responsibly sourced palm oil products for bakery, food manufacturers and fryers in the UK.
TRIP, the UK’s fastest-growing soft drinks brand for the past two years, is excited to announce the launch of its new Magnesium Gummies.
After taking the market by storm with its award-winning range of functional Mindful Blend drinks, which were its most successful launches ever on Amazon, TRIP is continuing its mission to help people find calm and enjoy the benefits of magnesium in a new and convenient way. The gummies are available for purchase on the TRIP website for £19.60 and soon on Amazon, with plans for wider retail distribution in the coming months.
Boasting a remarkable +389 per cent CAGR over the past two financial years, the brand continues to disrupt the wellness space with innovative products that meet the needs of the modern consumer. In line with TRIP's commitment to quality and taste, these gummies are vegan-friendly, contain no added sugar, and deliver a delicious, juicy Wild Berry flavour experience worthy of their Great Taste award-winning heritage.
Magnesium is fast becoming one of the most talked-about wellness ingredients, with over 1 billion views of the #magnesium tag on Tiktok3 as people seek natural ways to manage fatigue and improve their overall well-being. This surge in popularity is partly fueled by recent trends like the “sleepy girl mocktail,” which combines magnesium and tart cherry juice as a pre-bedtime ritual, and wider recognition of its numerous health benefits, including:
Supporting the normal functioning of the nervous system
Promoting normal energy-yielding metabolism
Helping to reduce tiredness and fatigue
TRIP's Magnesium Gummies are designed to seamlessly integrate into consumers' daily wellness routines, whether as a standalone supplement or in combination with the brand's popular Mindful Blend drinks.
Olivia Ferdi, TRIP Founder, says, “I launched TRIP to help people find their calm in the everyday chaos - with a focus on authentically functional and uniquely delicious products that people love. Building on our mission & Following the overwhelming success of our Mindful Blend drinks, we recognised a growing demand from our community asking us for ways to incorporate new and powerful ingredients into their daily routines.
"We pride ourselves on innovation and expertise crafting the highest quality functional ingredients into award winning delicious formats. We wanted to offer our customers even more ways to find calm in their busy lifestyles, and our new gummies provide just that - a tasty and convenient option for those wanting the health benefits of magnesium without compromising on flavour or quality.”
Global vaping innovator ELFBAR has introduced its first four-pod system, the ELFBAR 4-in-1 pod kit.
Designed for flavour versatility, the rechargeable pod kit includes four 2ml pods, allowing adults to rotate between four flavours in one device.
Flavours are a key factor in motivating adult smokers to transition, with the Royal College of Physicians recommending a variety of options to support quit-smoking efforts. ELFBAR 4-in-1 gives smokers flavour flexibility and serves as an alternative to single-use vapes, building on the brand's portfolio of reusable products available since 2022.
Offering two vaping modes, ELFBAR 4-in-1 provides up to 2,400 puffs in Normal Mode while Economy Mode extends usage up to 3,200 puffs for a longer vaping experience at a lower power level.
One push of a button switches between the two modes, and the device displays when Economy Mode is active.
ELFBAR 4-in-1 has a twist mechanism for quick and easy flavour changes. With four 2ml prefilled pods, its e-liquid lasts four times longer than its single-use counterpart, meaning fewer refills for more convenience and better cost efficiency.
Once empty, the pods can be replaced.
The device features a display that indicates the remaining power of its long lasting 1500mAh battery. Its sleek, pocket-friendly design makes for easy portability, and the battery can be recharged via Type-C USB.
Advanced Mesh Coil Maximises Flavour
ELFBAR 4-in-1 pods are equipped with an advanced QUAQ MESH coil, designed to enhance flavour and reduce e-liquid waste during atomisation, ensuring that every drop is utilised effectively.
“For millions of UK adult smokers and former smokers who adopt vaping as an alternative, flavours are crucial," said Chris Kader, head of PR and communications for ELFBAR in the UK. "ELFBAR 4-in-1 serves as a practical and economical replacement for single-use vapes, prioritising a diverse flavour selection that supports smokers in their transition.”
ELFBAR 4-in-1 comes in 16 editions, including Pineapple Edition, Fruits Edition, and Blueberry Edition, each containing mixed flavours. Additionally, there are eight single-flavour 4-in-1 options to choose from, including Watermelon Ice, Blueberry Sour Raspberry and Cherry Ice.
Replaceable pods are available in pairs containing 20 mg/ml (two per cent) nicotine-strength e-liquid and available in 16 flavours, including ELFBAR favourites like Blueberry Sour Raspberry, Pineapple Ice, and Lemon Lime.