With over 30 lines, Rose Marketing UK offers retailers an extensive and sought-after choice of Christmas confectionery. With sure-fire appeal to everyone from kids through to grandparents, The Snowman and the Snowdog range is guaranteed to bring smiles to recipients faces. There is a choice of mallow pops, candy floss, hot chocolate snow bombs, toppers and stirrers as well as a selection box containing an assortment of delicious treats like fruit-flavoured fluffy mallows, gummy lollipops, and strawberry-flavoured candy canes.
New for 2024 is a Harry Potter Stamper with Jellybeans featuring all the fan-favourite characters. This magical new product celebrates one of the world's bestselling book series, which has sold over 500 million copies and continues to captivate audiences almost 30 years since first published. Presented in a branded counter display box of 24 x 8g they will retail at a purse-friendly £1.39, making them ideal stocking fillers or Christmas Eve box treats. Other affordable treats include bags of Chocolate Sprouts 100g, RSP £2.39 and SLUSH PUPPiE Candy Canes, RSP £1.49. With ten stripy canes in the pack there are plenty to hang from the Christmas tree, bake into cookies or to create a homemade decoration.
The 2024 collection also features a new Candy Castle Crew’s Christmas range including Fizzy Gingerbread Man, Fizzy Christmas Trees and Fizzy Holly Jolly Mix bags. These fun and festive treats, some of which are suitable for vegan diets, come in a range of fruity flavours and conveniently packed in 90g bags. Ideal for impulse purchases and with a suggested retail price of just £1, they offer excellent value for money and are sure to be a popular choice for consumers this Christmas.
To add colour to a festive display, retailers should stock the Rose Tutti Frutti Rainbow Candy Canes Bucket packed with 80 candy canes. Priced at an RSP of only £0.40 per unit they are an affordable and cheerful stocking filler. Additionally, the Christmas Jelly & Rock Pops, priced at a competitive RSP £1.00 per pack, are cleverly designed to feature festive favourite characters like Santa, Penguin and Reindeer. Finally, Rose has a new eye-catching Christmas-specific Countertop Stand. This free-standing display showcases a tempting selection of 54 pocket-money priced sweets, including 20 Christmas Dippers – a delicious combination of hard candy and sherbet dip in three refreshing flavours, alongside 12 festive Christmas Tree Lollipops and 24 Santa Liquid Pops. With a modest RRP of just £1.25, these products are sure to drive incremental sales and increase overall basket size.
Rose also has products that are can be stocked for both Christmas and into the New Year. Hot Chocolate Stirrers 30g, RSP £1.49 and deliciously creamy Hot Chocolate Bombs that amplify the flavour of a favourite chocolate drink are ideal stock lines for Winter. Available singly 24g, RSP £1.00 or as a 72g trio pack, RSP £3.00.
“Christmas delivers the biggest sales uplift for confectionery and last year it was the highest performing category showing +17.3 per cent growth,” said Steven Watt, CEO at Rose Marketing UK. “With 97 per cent of households buying confectionery and spending an average of £55 per person over the festive season, it’s vital for retailers to offer a selection of sure-fire festive favourites to really get their tills ringing at Christmas.
“A third of consumers started shopping earlier in 2023 than previous years and it’s likely that this trend will remain this year. Not only does it spread the costs of the occasion, but it helps shoppers feel better prepared ahead of a traditionally hectic period. Therefore, clear the shelves to create space for Christmas confectionery in October when preparations start to shift into the front of a shopper’s mind.
“By November, it is ‘Operation Christmas’ for many and the ‘Christmas Countdown’ really begins. As well as having sufficient stock in October, it’s important that it remains available until Christmas to cater for those last-minute purchases. Display Christmas lines within regular confectionery fixtures and create additional seasonal displays as well. This makes selection easier and boosts impulse purchases. Gondola ends are another way to increase visibility and drive sales.
“With the pressures on the cost of living many households will be looking to cut costs during the festive season. Sharing boxes, sweets and chocolates can evoke memories and bring comfort to festive occasions. They are often seen as more affordable indulgences, so it is imperative to stock a wide range of sweet treats to boost that all-important bottom line.”
Rose Marketing UK’s 2024 Christmas collection comprises (RSP shown):
Snowman and the Snowdog Mallow Pop 24 x 30g £1.49
Snowman and the Snowdog Candy Floss 6 x 50g £1.59
Snowman and the Snowdog Hot Chocolate Snow Bomb 12 x 50g £2.49
Snowman and the Snowdog Hot Chocolate Toppers 6 pack 24 x 60g £1.49
Snowman and the Snowdog Hot Chocolate Stirrers 3 pack 24 x 75g £4.99
Snowman and the Snowdog Selection Box 12 x 138g £2.59
Baileys Strawberry Temptations 12 x 80g £2.99
Baileys Hot Chocolate Tin 6 x 200g £7.99
Baileys Chocolate Caramels 12 x 90g £2.99
Baileys Assorted Caramels & Toffee Temptations 6 x 180g £4.99
KP Snacks today announces the latest addition to its market-leading PMP range with the launch of Space Raiders Saucy BBQ £1.25 PMP. Available in stores from early November, the new launch combines the fastest-growing Space Raiders flavour with the strength of the £1.25 PMP format.
Capitalising on the growth of “barbecue” flavours, the new launch is well-positioned to engage shoppers and drive impulse sales, with 57% of impulse shoppers purchasing PMPs. The £1.25 PMP format is strong and KP Snacks’ £1.25 PMP portfolio is growing ahead of the segment at +5.2 per cent (vs +4.2 per cent), bolstering sales. By launching Space Raiders Saucy BBQ £1.25 PMP, KP Snacks is tapping into the strength of the segment and appealing to consumer demand for great value and clear pricing.
The new PMP expands the Space Raiders portfolio. Worth £25m, the Space Raiders range includes Space Raiders 40p PMPs, the UK’s number one best-value singles PMP[5], as well as existing £1.25 PMPs: Beef and Pickled Onion.
“At KP Snacks, we are committed to delivering NPD in the right formats and flavours to support our retailer partners and drive consumer demand,” said Stuart Graham, Head of Convenience and Impulse. “The launch of Space Raiders Saucy BBQ £1.25 PMP leverages the strength of this format and the popularity of barbecue flavours to drive impulse sales.”
Pepsi is teaming up with EA Sports FC for the second year running, with a bigger and better on-pack promotion set to give away even more gaming prizes to shoppers across additional Pepsi SKUs and formats.
Available now, the campaign aims to drive excitement among a wide range of customers in-store, from football fans to gamers, to encourage on-the-go and impulse cola sales.
Following an incredibly successful 2023 campaign that saw over 530,000 promotional codes redeemed, this year’s on-pack promotion will roll out across all Pepsi500ml packs and 330ml Pepsi MAXcans.
Cola continues to lead the soft drinks category as the number one segment, worth £2.9bn. Pepsi MAXcontinues to drive this growth, with a +9.6 per cent sales value growth over the last year. Additionally, the Pepsi MAXbrand has strong cultural ties to football, with EA SPORTS FCbeing the most successful video game across Europe in the first six months of 2024.
Through this, the partnership is well placed to support retailers in maximising the cola opportunity among wider audiences and encourage repeat purchase, with last year’s promotion seeing an average redemption rate of 3.5 codes per participant.
To enter, shoppers must purchase a promotional Pepsi product and scan the QR code on-pack. Consumers will be directed to www.europe.pepsifc25.com, where they will be required to sign up or log into their EA account and complete a form using the unique code found on the product. Shoppers can get their hands on one of 60 game consoles, 3,000 EA Sports FC25 game copies, and 4 x guaranteed-win rewards packs that can be redeemed in game. Entries will be open until 30 December 2024.
Win £5,000 to donate to a local football initiative
Guinness is kicking off the Autumn with a new Premier League partnership. The four-year agreement will see Guinness become the Official Beer of the Premier League, and Guinness 0.0 as the Official Non-Alcoholic Beer. The partnership comes with Guinness looking to tap into culturally relevant occasions throughout the year and engage with a wider audience, reminding shoppers that football is a lovely game for a Guinness.
To recognise the vital role retailers play within communities, Guinness is giving one lucky retailer the chance to win a prize of £5,000 to donate to a local football initiative. From investing in training, to upgrading sports equipment, or purchasing new football kit, the £5,000 prize will help to improve access and enjoyment of the game locally. To enter the competition, existing Diageo One retailers simply have to visit Diageo One and complete a short form. If not yet a Diageo One member, all other retailers can enter by clicking here, and filling out a short form with their details.
The competition aims to bring communities together and harness the power of sport to do so. As a brand, Guinness continues to invest in driving relevancy and use dedicated support for the impulse channel to tap into the match-day occasion
Five retailers around the country have been chosen to host football takeovers within their stores. Each will have football themed giveaways, Guinness-branded merchandise, free street-food and football-themed games. To get a slice of the match-day action, retailers can download their own "Lovely Game for a Guinness" POS via Diageo One.
“Whether you’re a spectator or a player, football has the power to bring people together," said David Mills, Commercial Sales Manager, Diageo. "Our new partnership with the Premier League represents a huge opportunity for Guinness to engage at not only a global level but also more locally too. Retailers and local football clubs sit at the heart of their communities, and we want to support them and give something back. The £5,000 grant will be awarded to one retailer and their chosen football initiative to make a positive difference.”
To enter the Guinness x Premier League community fund competition, and not already a Diageo One user, convenience retailers must visit Diageo One and fill out a short form with their details between 23rd October 2024 at 00:01am and 20th November 2024 at 23:59pm. Existing Diageo One retailers to visit Diageo One and complete the short form. Winners will be contacted via email and follow up phone call within 48 hours of being randomly selected. For full terms and conditions visit Diageo One.
*Retail businesses UK 18+. Opens 23 October 2024 at 00:01am closes 20 November 2024 at 23:59pm. Purchase not necessary. To enter simply Diageo One and fill out a short form. One winner total. Winners to receive £5,000 cash prize to donate to a local community, made via bank transfer.
Snack manufacturer Kestrel Foods has acquired Indie Bay Snacks from Nurture Brands. The brand will join Kestrel Foods' award-winning portfolio of Forest Feast, ACTI-SNACK and Just Live a Little, continuing its trajectory to become a leading player in the snacking category.
Indie Bay Snacks offers consumers tasty and healthier savoury snacks within the grocery, travel and DTC channels. Its pretzel thins are a lighter, fun way to enjoy pretzels, with 70 per cent less fat than crisps.
"As Nurture Brands consolidates its resources around Rebel Kitchen, EMILY and Jax Coco, I am happy to see Indie Bay go forward and become an important part of the Kestrel Foods portfolio," said Adam Draper, Managing Director of Nurture Brands.
Michael Hall MBE, founder and CEO of Kestrel Foods said, “The acquisition of Indie Bay is aligned to our ambition of creating a fast paced and innovative snacking business. We believe Indie Bay offers consumers and customers something different in our portfolio, and we see great potential for growth through our strong brand, innovation and go to market capability.”
Kestrel Foods' own flagship brand, Forest Feast, has grown over 30 per cent in the last year, a result of increased brand awareness and penetration, and further gains in distribution.
Reviva – the vibrant coffee brand owned by Gulf – has announced it has signed a multi-year deal with the Williams Racing Formula 1 team.
The new partnership is a celebration of a shared commitment to high quality performance. Crafted exclusively from 100 per cent Arabica beans, Reviva’s balanced yet bold and vibrant taste makes it the perfect partner for the Williams Racing team, to keep them fuelled in the fast-paced world of motorsport.
As of 1 January, 2025, when the partnership goes live, Reviva will feature across the Formula 1 calendar, at the Williams Racing motorhome, at flyaway races as well as the Williams Experience Centre in Oxfordshire. The logo will also be prominently positioned on the nose of the two cars, taking the Reviva brand all over the world.
“We are excited to announce this partnership of Reviva Coffee and Williams Racing," said Mike Jones, CEO, Gulf Oil International UK Limited. "Reviva is expanding Gulf’s footprint into the speciality coffee sector, and we look forward to seeing it on the world stage of Formula 1 through the Williams Racing partnership. We are also delighted to extend the partnership between Gulf and Williams Racing, building on what we have achieved in our first two seasons together, and our commitment to continue bringing engaging activations for the fans, including iconic Gulf liveries and F1 demos in our key markets”.
James Vowles, Team Principal, added, "We are thrilled to deepen and extend our partnership with Gulf Oil International, a brand with a motorsport heritage to match our own and one that is synonymous with excellence and innovation. Together we have put captivating fan engagement and developing the next generation at the heart of our partnership, and this extension is another vote of confidence in Williams’ ongoing transformation. The introduction of Reviva as our Official Coffee Partner will mark the start of our next chapter together, bringing together two brands with bold ambition and strong momentum.”
Reviva, which launched in 2023, is dedicated to providing responsibly sourced specialty and premium coffee. Crafted exclusively from Arabica beans to ensure the highest quality, its perfectly balanced flavour profile, with notes of chocolate, caramel, roasted almonds and red fruits provides a smooth, vibrant taste.
“The Reviva Signature range is sourced from Rainforest Alliance-certified farms in Brazil, Colombia and Honduras and is roasted in small batches to maintain the highest levels of freshness and quality," said Sara Trioni, Head of Marketing & NPD for Reviva. "We are passionate about flavour and the expertly crafted specialty coffee has been developed to create an opportunity for enjoyment, refreshment and revival.”
The Reviva range is available in whole beans, ground and Nespresso compatible capsules. It’s ideal for independent cafés, catering, hospitality, hotels and event venues.