Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Ritter Sport researching World Chocolate Day finds depth of UK love for the magic bean

Ritter Sport researching World Chocolate Day finds depth of UK love for the magic bean

On World Chocolate Day (7 July), consumer research by global chocolate brand Ritter Sport reveals that an average of one in four people living in Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester are so nuts about chocolate, they would use it as an edible body paint, while one in five would love to bathe in a bath of chocolate.

Speaking about these quirky habits of chocolate-loving city-dwellers, Senior Brand Manager, Ritter Sport UK, Josephine Skinner says: “We’re delighted to discover that people across the UK are embracing their fun-loving, adventurous sides and what's more, our research confirms that they love chocolate, including nut chocolate. So, in the lead-up to World Chocolate Day – which celebrates the arrival of chocolate in Europe – what better way to celebrate these city inhabitants’ love of it than by sampling tens of thousands of bars of our more-ish Ritter Sport nut chocolate?”


The Ritter Sport brand is famous around the world for its square format bar, which comes in many different varieties. However, the Milk Whole Hazelnut is its number-one variety worldwide, so Ritter Sport tapped into this consumer trend by treating people in Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester to thousands of free bars of nut chocolate as part of a nationwide fun and lively sampling campaign.

The brand’s nut range also includes Honey Salted Almonds, Dark Whole Hazelnuts, White Whole Hazelnuts and Cashew, packed full of the best nuts and covered in 100 per cent certified sustainably sourced chocolate.

“The news of the thousands of free bars of nut chocolate being given away caught the attention of some cheeky red squirrels, and rumour had it that they planned to congregate and track down our nut chocolate bars,” explained Ms Skinner. “What ensued was high energy, fun and attention-grabbing sampling, as squirrels danced and jumped in their efforts to get their paws on those nut chocolate bars.

“And what better way for one of the world’s leading chocolate brands to join in World Chocolate Day celebrations!”

More for you

Carnation advert

Nestlé launches new campaign for Carnation

Nestlé has announced a new partnership between Carnation and the Food Network.

Running until April 2025, the campaign will see Carnation condensed milk tapping into the nostalgia of favourite childhood desserts, showcasing the product as a key ingredient in family recipes.

Keep ReadingShow less
GNAW enters festive season with new flavour bars, brand identity

GNAW enters festive season with new flavour bars, brand identity

Dark nights may be drawing in but in the world of stylish, conscientiously sourced chocolate, GNEW has opted for new splashes of colour brand identity, not only bringing a welcome dash of vitality and exuberance to the UK’s bustling chocolate and gifting fixtures announcing the business’s new, adult-orientation.

The makeover includes an appreciation of nostalgic comfort food, ambitious flavour marriages and compelling mouthfeel and textures.

Keep ReadingShow less
JamShed Merlot

Complaint NOT upheld against Jam Shed wine POS

A complaint against a Jam Shed wine point of sale display has not been upheld by the alcohol industry’s Independent Complaints Panel (ICP).

The complaint, made by a member of the public, raised concerns that the display, which featured the marketing slogan “wine for drinking, not overthinking”, may encourage irresponsible and immoderate consumption.

The Panel considered whether the point-of-sale material could encourage irresponsible or immoderate consumption, under Code rule 3.2(f) as raised by the complainant.

The Panel discussed that "overthinking" was generally perceived to have negative connotations and expressed concern that the line "wine for drinking, not overthinking" in isolation, could be misconstrued as encouragement to drink without due care and attention. However, the Panel stated that it was important to consider the line in the context of the overall impression conveyed by the marketing.

The Panel considered Jam Shed more broadly and acknowledged the company’s response that it was a well-known brand marketed on being a simple and easy choice for consumers who may find the perceived complexity of the wine category intimidating. The Panel also noted that there was nothing else on the marketing material that suggested that a consumer should drink irresponsibly or immoderately.

The Panel considered that the brand identity provided a certain level of context to the intended meaning of the line but that there was an element of ambiguity which could have been made clearer as to the intended meaning of ‘overthinking’. On this point, the Panel warned producers that where marketing was ambiguous it could lead to an unintentional breach of the Code.

After much deliberation, the Panel concluded that while the wording was very close to the line of acceptability, the marketing material did not encourage immoderate or irresponsible consumption. Accordingly, the Panel did not find the point of sale material in breach of Code rule 3.2(f).

The Panel also considered whether the point of sale material urged a rapid or ‘down in one’ style of consumption, in breach of Code rule 3.2(g). The Panel assessed the rest of the marketing material and considered that it did not contain any cues which suggested a consumer should drink rapidly or encouraged a ‘down in one’ style of consumption. On that basis, the Panel concluded that the material did not breach Code rule 3.2(g) and accordingly did not uphold the complaint.

On being notified about the complaint, the company voluntarily removed the display and confirmed it would not use the phrase in future campaigns.

“While the Panel didn’t uphold the complaint in this instance, they still considered the wording of the point-of-sale display very close to the line of acceptability," said Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel, Rachel Childs. "It’s important for producers to be aware that ambiguous marketing could lead to unintentional breaches of the Code and I am grateful to the producer in this case for removing the campaign voluntarily which demonstrates their commitment to responsible marketing.”

Imperial Brands launches pouch size packs for Golden Virginia Original hand-rolling tobacco

Imperial Brands launches pouch size packs for Golden Virginia Original hand-rolling tobacco

Imperial Brands has announced a new pouch size for its best-selling premium Golden Virginia Original hand-rolling tobacco.

As well as the established 30g and 50g sizes, Golden Virginia Original will now for the first time also be available in a 40g pouch, on sale with an RRP of £33.70. The move is a response to continued price inflation and pressures on the cost of living, with consumers more than ever seeking both quality and value in everything they buy, and willing to try new options which they see as offering those attributes.

Keep ReadingShow less
Coca-Cola set to spread festive magic this Christmas

Coca-Cola set to spread festive magic this Christmas

The annual Coca-Cola Christmas Truck Tour is back, bringing the magic of the season to towns and cities across Great Britain

This year, the Coca-Cola Truck Tour focuses on the ambition to make kindness travel. Echoing the wider Coca-Cola Christmas campaign message, “The World Needs More Santas”, the tour will encourage visitors to embrace their inner Santa and share an act of kindness with others during the festive season.

Keep ReadingShow less