Andy was born in London just in time to see England win the World Cup, and much later began his career in academia, gaining a PhD in American Literature and lecturing at several universities, including Maryland and Gothenburg in Sweden, and pursuing a sideline in sheep-farming before moving back to London and becoming a literary agent and TV documentary-maker (working for various broadcasters and making series such as the BBC’s Monsoon Railway, set in Bengal).
He has written several biographies, including the Second World War story American Pimpernel, and became the official biographer of India’s Prime Minister (then Chief Minister of Gujarat) publishing Narendra Modi, a Political Biography (Harper Collins).
Andy joined Asian Media Group in 2018, his first “proper” job, and has been there ever since, believing that, while trade journalism might not save the world, it might just save journalism.
To offer better value to shoppers and to help retailers encourage basket spend, Rockstar Energy is launching a new price-marked pack (PMP) proposition across its range. Available from the new year, Rockstar’s “£2 for £2” PMP aims to provide greater value for shoppers, particularly appealing to frequent energy drink buyers.
Stimulant energy drinks are growing by 5.8 per cent year on year and are adding the most value (£50.3m) to convenience. PMPs play a key role in communicating value to consumers, with 51 per cent of shoppers feeling reassured that they are not being overcharged when purchasing PMPs. Rockstar Energy is well-positioned to support the convenience channel. The new multibuy PMP aims to boost sales and drive basket spend by offering energy drink customers greater value across popular Rockstar flavours.
“Our new multi-buy ‘2 for £2’ PMP comes at an ideal time to help retailers capitalise on the strong sales performance of energy drinks,” said Ben Parker, Commercial Director for Britvic. “With stimulant energy now the number one soft drink segment in convenience it is more important than ever for us to support the channel by offering products that meet the high demand for energy drinks and provide value. With flavours and no sugar driving the category forward, growing +8.3 per cent and +3.9 per cent respectively, the new PMP makes Rockstar Energy the go-to choice for every energy fan.”
The new PMP will roll out across the entire range, including Tropical Guava, Blueberry Pomegranate, Mango, and several Zero Sugar options, including Blueberry, Watermelon & Kiwi, and Strawberry & Lime. Rockstar Energy’s new multi-buy PMP will roll out across convenience and wholesale in the new year in conjunction with the existing £1.29 PMP offer.
Pilgrim’s Europe, one of Europe’s largest food companies and major supplier of British lamb, said it is scaling up its lamb production to meet anticipated Easter demand.
British lamb remains the preferred centrepiece for the dinner table at Easter due to its high-quality and versatility – prized for its roasting characteristics, delivering superior flavour and texture profiles.
Holding the largest value share of the lamb category all-year-round (49.9%), demand for lamb joints is expected to rocket, typically accounting for almost two-thirds (64%) of lamb volumes over the twelve-week period, going by the Kantar figures for 2024.
Growth in the roasting segment remains strong, primarily driven by leg joints, which are up 5.2 per cent in volume sales year-on-year.
Lamb consumption rebounded last year, after a dip in 2023 – due to 70-year record high temperatures, which saw consumers turn towards outdoor barbecues. Typical late March / early April UK weather returned, and the category grew by 6.1 per cent in value and 14.2 per cent in volume over the Easter period.
Value sales of lamb joints increased 8.8 per cent, and volume sales surged by 19.2 per cent, as the traditional roast reigned supreme – driven also by significant consumer switching from fish and beef alternatives.
With Easter falling in late April this year, the likelihood of warmer spring weather may lead British consumers to prefer lighter, summery lamb dishes rather than traditional roasts, Pilgrim’s Europe noted, with the shift presenting retailers with an opportunity to diversify their offerings, promoting alternative lamb cuts and recipes that cater to outdoor dining and barbecues.
“With Easter falling later this year, we anticipate warmer weather, potentially shifting consumer preferences to a spread across traditional roasting joints alongside lighter, summery recipes and alternative cuts,” Jason Winstanley, head of research & insight at Pilgrim’s Europe, said.
“This presents a clear opportunity for retailers to optimise their offering across joint sizes and cuts, ensuring comprehensive consumer choice for all celebrations.”
Operating the UK's largest lamb processing operation, Pilgrim's Europe sources exclusively from British producers, maintaining supply partnerships with 1500 farmers nationwide, with Welsh producers forming the primary supply base.
"Our 100% British sourcing commitment supports domestic agriculture while meeting consumer demand for provenance. The hard work of our teams and investment in cutting-edge technology means we are always ready to meet seasonal demand spikes,” Winstanley added.
Leading plant-based brand Alpro has announced a major investment in the UK to allow its most popular oat drink to be made from 100% British Oats for the first time, sourcing its oats directly from British farmers.
The 100% British Oats drink is the result of a multi-million-pound investment in the UK by parent company, Danone, in a drive to support local farming and bolster its plant-based offering.
It builds on Alpro’s previous £41 million investment in its facility in Kettering, which saw the installation of new equipment to reduce energy consumption and cut CO2 and water usage.
Oat drinks are continuing to grow in popularity in the UK, with sales climbing to more than £275 million - up from £155 million five years ago, according to Circana. This year, oat drinks make up two-fifths of all plant-based drink sales, up from a quarter five years ago, amounting to half a million litres of oat drink sold every day in the UK.
Despite this boom, until now, only 1 per cent of oat drink sold in the UK has been guaranteed to be from 100% British oats. As the leading plant-based brand, Alpro’s investment will significantly increase the percentage of British oats in the ever-growing oat drink market, while giving shoppers greater opportunity to buy locally sourced oat drinks.
“As a pioneer and global leader in plant-based nutrition, plant based drinks are a key part of our strategy to boost growth by focusing on developing products that deliver on both health and taste,” James Mayer, president, Danone UK & Ireland, said.
“This significant UK investment in manufacturing from home grown oats is an exciting step forward and a great demonstration of how we’re innovating to deliver healthy and tasty food & drink sustainably.”
Locally sourced from field to fridge, mostly from farmers within 80 miles of Navara Oat Mill - also in Kettering - the changes in oat sourcing and production process will significantly cut food miles. And with oats traditionally used for porridge oats, cereals and flapjacks, the investment gives farmers new avenues for their crops.
Some 58 million litres of the British Oat Drink are planned to be produced annually in Kettering, equating to a quarter of the site’s production of plant-based drinks.
The oat drink is available now in an ‘original’ and ‘no sugars’ version. The new recipe is designed to be naturally low in saturated fat, whilst also being high in fibre and enriched with calcium, iodine and vitamins D2 and B2. It comes after research found that half of plant-based shoppers are driven by health.
“We continue to see a big appetite amongst shoppers for healthy, plant-based products, especially for ‘flexitarian’ shoppers looking to add variety to their diets. It is also clear that oat-based drinks are increasingly popular with consumers, a trend that is here to stay. This expansion is a key part of our ambition to bring greater choice to supermarket shelves, providing a locally sourced product and a nutritious new recipe that we think shoppers will love,” Jon Ruberry, category director, plant-based, at Danone UK & Ireland, said.
Walkers Snacks is teaming up with Warner Brothers to celebrate the release of the highly anticipated A Minecraft Movie, launching an on-pack promotion* and limited-edition A Minecraft Movie themed packaging across its Wotsits, Quavers and Monster Munch brands. Running from 24 March, the activity will offer shoppers the chance to win prizes including A Minecraft Movie cinema tickets, hoodies, t-shirts and backpacks every hour between 6am and midnight. Those who purchase a qualifying pack and enter the promotion will automatically be added into a grand prize draw. This will give entrants the chance to win a trip for two to Hollywood - including a tour of the Warner Brothers Studios in Hollywood.
The epic partnership and prize giveaway is set to support retailers in engaging a wide range of shoppers, to drive sales in their savoury snacks aisles. It follows two successful collaborations between Walkers Snacks and the Ghostbusters franchise in recent years, which have seen the brand consistently bring shared excitement to movie moments. The partnership with A Minecraft Movie aims to build on this momentum, spanning a variety of SKUs and formats, from price-marked, to sharing, grab bags and multipacks. This will help retailers tap into, and add purchase incentives, to savoury snacking occasions. Walkers Snacks is strongly placed to achieve this, being worth half a billion RSV, and having seen over half of UK households purchase from Walkers Snacks brands in the last year.
“We are on a mission to bring even more excitement to the savoury snacking category this year, so what better way to achieve this than by partnering with one of the biggest movie launches of 2025?" said Rachael Smith, Senior Marketing Manager at Walkers. "Our collaboration with Warner Brothers for the new A Minecraft Movie aims to boost retailers’ sales by allowing them to offer their shoppers the chance to win epic prizes and experiences.”
Walkers Snacks’ A Minecraft Movie on-pack promotion will run from 24 March across the grocery, convenience and wholesale channels, ahead of the film launching exclusively in cinemas from 4 April. Running until 18 May 2025, the activity will be supported by shopper activations across selected grocery retailers, including Co-op.
Walkers Wotsits Crunchy Sweet & Spicy Flamin' Hot 140g
Walkers Monster Munch Giants Pickled Onion 85g
Walkers Monster Munch Giants Roast Beef 85g
Walkers Wotsits Cheese 60g
Walkers Monster Munch Pickled Onion 72g
Walkers Monster Munch Sweet & Spicy Flamin' Hot 72g
Walkers Monster Munch Roast Beef 72g
Walkers Wotsits Cheese 36g
Walkers Monster Munch Pickled Onion 40g
*On-Pack Summary Terms & Conditions:
UK & ROI, 18+. Purchase necessary. Instant Win: Between 06:00 – 23:59 daily, 24/03/25 - 18/05/25. Purchase a Promotional Pack, scan QR code or visit www.joy-pepsico.eu/en-gb/promotions/walkers-snacks/a-minecraft-movie. Entry requires account registration, full name, email address and country. Submit details & code on-pack to find out instantly if you have won Instant Win Prizes allocated by random winning moments. Instant Win Prizes: 750 x pairs of A MINECRAFT MOVIE cinema tickets (booking fees may apply); 1,266 x A MINECRAFT MOVIE merchandise. Following the end of the Instant Win Period, all valid entries will be automatically entered into the Grand Prize Draw. Grand Prize: 1 x 7-night trip to LA, California for winner and a guest including Warner Bros Studio tour, flights, accommodation, transfers and £500 (or € equivalent) spending money. Trip cannot be taken in school holidays. Wrap Up Draw: 00:00 19/05/25 – 23:59 17/08/25. Wrap Up Prizes: 50 x A MINECRAFT MOVIE merchandise. Internet access, email and UK/ROI bank account required. Retain receipt. Max 1 Instant Win entry p/person p/day. Max 1 Wrap Up entry p/person. Max 1 Prize type p/person. Visit www.joy-pepsico.eu/en-gb/promotions/walkers-snacks/a-minecraft-movie for full T&Cs & Prize details. Promoter: Walkers Snacks Ltd and PepsiCo Ireland Food & Beverages Unlimited Company. Minecraft is used with permission by Microsoft Corporation; this Promotion is not administered, sponsored or endorsed by Microsoft Corporation and Mojang AB.
McVitie’s has announced the launch of its latest sweet treat – Penguin Milkshake Cake Bars, bringing a fun, fresh and indulgent twist to the beloved Penguin.
Taking inspiration from everybody’s favourite milkshake flavours, these deliciously soft cake bars feature a fluffy sponge generously layered with a creamy strawberry milkshake or chocolate milkshake-flavoured filling, enveloped in a smooth milk chocolate coating.
Enjoyed in lunch boxes for years, each bar is individually wrapped, making them the ideal on-the-go treat.
“We're beyond excited to unveil our new Penguin Milkshake bars! With milkshake flavours trending, we've added the perfect twist to our fun-loving iconic brand,” Zeynep Daghan Erol, cake brand manager at pladis UK&I, said.
“We’re confident this irresistible combo is going to be a hit and cannot wait for our fans and snack lovers to dive in and give them a try!"
McVitie’s Penguin Milkshake Cake Bars will be exclusively available at Morrisons from 24 March, before rolling out market-wide in multiple retailers, convenience stores, and discounters from 14 April. RRP: £1.75 (5-pack)
Vitabiotics, the UK’s leading vitamin company, has expanded its Wellteen range with the launch of new Wellteen Multi-vitamin Gummies for Him and for Her.
The comprehensive multi- vitamin gummies are specially formulated for the demanding lifestyles and nutritional needs of teenagers.
With research indicating that only 10 per cent of boys aged 11-18 in the UK consume their recommended five-a-day, and nearly 50 per cent of girls in the same age group have insufficient iron intake, Wellteen Multi-Vitamin Gummies aim to help bridge nutritional gaps and support teenagers’ overall health and as always, parents can feel confident knowing they’re backed by Vitabiotics’ trusted quality.
The Wellteen multivitamin brand, is the largest vitamin brand in the UK dedicated to teens and the first ever clinically successful, tailored supplements for the needs of teenage girls or boys (The University of Oxford).
Wellteen Multi-vitamin Gummies for teenagers aged 13-19 provide 17 tailored nutrients, including iron, zinc, and vitamin D. The gummies are available in two varieties: Wellteen Him (mixed berry & cherry flavour) and include L-carnitine and Wellteen Her (mixed berry flavour) includes 14mg iron (per 3 gummies) plus cranberry extract.
Key nutritional ingredient information:
Iodine to support normal cognitive function
Vitamin C which contributes to normal energy release
Vitamin B12 and folic acid which contribute to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue
Zinc to support the normal function of the immune system
Also includes biotin which contributes to the maintenance of normal skin and hair·
Wellteen Multi-Vitamin Gummies are available from Vitabiotics.com, and other retailers. RRP at £14.50 (60-gummy bottle, 1-month supply at 2–3 gummies daily), the gummies are available in chewable fruit-flavour gummies.
Vitabiotics has pioneered advances in nutritional healthcare products for over 50 years and the range includes some of Britain’s leading and most trusted supplement brands such as Perfectil, Pregnacare, Wellman, Wellwoman and Menopace.
As the UK’s leading vitamin company, Vitabiotics exports to 100 countries, and is the only vitamin company to have received the Queen’s Award for Enterprise on four occasions, including twice for Innovation.
Vitabiotics supports research and original clinical trials in collaboration with universities and leading medical centres in the UK and internationally.