Leading sparkling flavoured water brand Rubicon Spring is set to shake up the functional water game in 2025 with the launch of its new Rubicon Spring Vits still range, hitting shelves in March.
Crafted with refreshing spring water, real fruit juice, and natural flavours, the product is available in three variants: Black Cherry Pomegranate, Mango Passion, and Strawberry Watermelon, all delivering a burst of essential vitamins to boost energy and immunity.
“78 per cent of shoppers are still choosing drinks for enjoyment, but aiming to drink more water. Taste remains the top driver but 69 per cent are interested in added benefits such as energy and immunity,” Lisa McKenna, head of brand for Rubicon, said.
“We know consumers want to make smarter soft drink choices without compromising on taste so offering a great tasting product with added health benefits will bring more consumers into the functional water category.
“There is a perfect gap in the market for a trusted and established brand like Rubicon Spring to boost this category and help retailers tap into its full potential. Rubicon Spring has more than three times the brand awareness of the leading functional water brand and the new Spring Vits range contains 100 per cent of the consumer’s recommended daily vitamin intake of a multivitamin blend, which is unlike any other brand on the market, as well as being full of the tasty fruit flavours that Rubicon is known for.”
Scandinavian Tobacco Group UK has announced the launch of Signature Action Mix cigarillos, which are available to retailers now.
Signature Action Mix cigarillos contain two capsules combining the flavours of Berry and Mint in ten-packs with an RRP of just £5.85 which is lower than competitor brands, but still with an attractive margin for retailers. The new Action Mix cigarillos will be a key focus for STG UK’s growing sales force, who will be targeting over 10,000 convenience stores in the coming months to talk to them about the launch, as well as offering them branded merchandise. There will also be promotions in the wholesale channel of both Action and Action Mix, as well as a significant trade comms campaign to support the launch, too.
The Cigarillo category only started five years ago in the UK and is now worth nearly £150m in annual sales, accounting for over 56 per cent of all cigar volume. STG UK launched the original Signature Action brand in the same year, with sales now really taking off, growing by over 50 per cent year on year.
“We know many adult smokers continue to look for features they used to enjoy with cigarettes such as flavour, click filters and smaller pack sizes, so these new Signature Action Mix cigarillos should really hit the spot," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "The continued positive performance of the cigarillos category is showing no sign of slowing, so we’d urge retailers to get behind this exciting launch and enjoy those profitable sales.”
STG UK announced today the launch of two new flavours to join their XQS nicotine pouch brand portfolio. Black Cherry and Citrus Cooling are the new arrivals, both of which are available to retailers now.
Black Cherry is a real standout flavour, offering "the rich, deep taste of dark cherries, which is unique, memorable and not commonly found in other nicotine pouches". Citrus Cooling on the other hand, offers a citrus flavour with a cooling effect, "perfectly blending tart citrus with minty freshness to create a well-balanced and energizing experience". Both new flavours contain 8mg of nicotine per pouch and have an RRP of just £5.50, in keeping with the rest of the XQS portfolio.
XQS was launched in May last year in four flavours, and a variety of strengths, competitively priced and with an attractive margin for retailers. Following a huge summer activation plan and some great display units in-store to showcase the product, it has got off to a flying start, becoming the fastest growing nicotine pouch brand in the second half of 2024 and with one million cans already in market.
“We’re thrilled with XQS’s performance nine months on since launch and are delighted to launch these two new additions to the portfolio," said STG’s UK Head of Marketing, Prianka Jhingan. "We know pouch users are motivated by great flavours, and they won’t be disappointed when they try Black Cherry as a refreshing alternative for those seeking a fruit-forward option and Citrus Cooling as a great choice for those seeking a crisp, clean taste with a lasting cool effect. There’s going to be much more news to come from XQS this year too, so watch this space as we continue our mission to drive category growth with great flavours and competitive prices.”
Leading frozen pizza brand Goodfella’s has announced its new partnership with the Irish Rugby Football Union as an Official Sponsor of the Irish Women’s Rugby Team.
This alliance marks Goodfella’s first major sporting partnership, and comes at an exciting time for Irish Rugby as they celebrate the 150th anniversary and gear up for a high profile tournament agenda in 2025.
Starting January 2025, the Goodfella’s sponsorship will focus on promoting values of unity, camaraderie, and the joy of sharing great moments with friends and family. The brand aims to highlight its commitment to supporting Irish culture; helping raise the profile of women’s sport and celebrating the success and potential of the Irish women’s rugby programme.
“Women’s rugby in Ireland has been growing at an incredible pace, and there’s never been a more exciting time to be involved,” John McCarthy, country manager of Birds Eye Ireland – of which Goodfella’s is a part of – commented.
“Goodfella’s believes that rugby, like pizza, is all about sharing, enjoyment, and celebrating moments with others, bringing people together over great food and good times. The Irish Women’s Rugby team embodies dedication, teamwork and resilience and we're incredibly excited to support them on their journey and to be part of their story.”
The announcement comes at a time of significant transformation for Goodfella’s, which has recently undergone a major brand redesign, with fresh new packaging, a renewed commitment to quality and nutrition, and bold plans for 2025.
As part of the new partnership, Goodfellas will provide supporters and fans with exciting opportunities to engage with the Irish Women’s Rugby team in the lead-up and during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations and tournaments throughout 2025.
Mondelēz International is bringing back its hugely successful Big Win-Win campaign in 2025, exclusively offering both Independent retail and Symbol stores AND their shoppers the chance to win cash prizes* together.
Lasting longer than ever before, the Cadbury Big Win-Win on-and off-pack promotion will run from the beginning of January to early July, inviting consumers to nominate their local shop to give them a chance to win a generous cash prize to match their own – tapping into Cadbury’s own spirit of generosity.
There are £100,000-worth of cash prizes up for grabs in total*, and retailers have a chance of winning an incredible £50,000* worth of prizes alongside their shoppers, with 100 opportunities to win*! There are 25 £1000*, 25 £500* and 50 £250* cash prizes to be won.
Entering couldn’t be easier – shoppers simply purchase a participating Cadbury product, go to http://bigwinwin.cadbury.co.uk and enter their details along with the barcode and batch code from their pack, and if they are a winner, they will be asked to nominate their local store to win too.
What’s more, five* lucky retailers can win the chance to feature in a Cadbury social media campaign, dedicated to hero-ing retailers and recognising their hard work, thanks to an additional retailer competition hosted on Mondelēz International’s trade facing website Snackdisplay.co.uk. With £1500** stock prizes also up for grabs, all retailers need to do to enter is login or register on Snackdisplay.co.uk and fill in details of their community work via the entry form to be entered into the prize draw**.
The Big Win-Win competition is signposted clearly on more Cadbury brand packs than ever before, and is available across Cadbury’s full singles and duos range, including both PMP and non-PMP formats, with a range of top sellers such as Cadbury StarBar and Cadbury Wispa, across PMP, non-PMP and Duo variants carrying the campaign’s promotional flash.***
For retailers looking to promote The Big Win-Win on social media, Cadbury is providing a comprehensive social media kit to support them. This kit includes The Big Win-Win imagery that can be used on retailers' owned social channels and is available for download at Snackdisplay.co.uk. And for those retailers looking to promote The Big Win-Win in store, a full suite of unmissable via the Mondelēz International Sales team or order posters via The Big Win-Win page on Snackdisplay.co.uk.
The campaign will be bolstered in depots with eye-catching POS materials, and promoted to consumers through an impactful 360 media campaign, including digital, social media and PR to drive higher reach and attract more consumers than ever. Personalized proximity advertising showcasing geo location by city will also be employed to highlight the importance of shopping locally, increase visibility, encourage purchases, and generate excitement.
“We’re excited to be launching The Big Win-Win promotion again in 2025 to continue celebrating the people who made Cadbury what it is today,” said Olena Solodka, Brand Manager at Mondelēz International. “We brought back The Big Win-Win campaign to thank our retailers and shoppers for their support for Cadbury over the last 200 years, and to create an opportunity for them to enjoy winning together as members of their local communities.”
One 2024 winner, Devshi Sisodia, owner of Gunness Food and Wine, said: “It was excellent news knowing I had been nominated to share a prize with a regular customer, it made me feel really good. I spent the money on a treat, and it help towards paying my tax bill! I would recommend all retailers get involved in The Big Win-Win, as it really helps bring retailers and their communities together.”
Another winner Gareth Cass of Baxters store in Dartford, said: “I was really surprised to win in The Big Win-Win, it is my biggest win from a big company. I put the winnings towards a holiday. Our store is the hub of our community, and The Big Win-Win helped our community engagement. I would recommend all independent retailers get involved in The Big Win-Win!”
For more ranging and merchandising advice and to request Point of Sale for The Big Win-Win retailers can visit www.snackdisplay.co.uk
*Summary Terms and Conditions for on-pack:
UK, 18+ only. Winning Moments Period: 00:01 02/01/2025 – 23:59 06/07/2025. Wrap-up Draw Period: 00:01 07/07/2025 – 23:59 06/10/2025. Purchase a Participating Product, visit https://bigwinwin.cadbury.co.uk/, register your details incl. the barcode & batch code found on-pack & press submit. You will then receive an email. Click on the link in the email to confirm your email address to enter. Winning Moments: All valid entries received during the Winning Moments Period will be entered into the winning moments promotion. Wrap-Up Draw: All valid entries received during the Wrap-Up Draw Period will be entered into the wrap-up prize draw. Winning Moments Prizes: 1 of 25 x £1,000 cash or 1 of 25 x £500 cash or 1 of 50 x £250 cash. Prizes randomly allocated. Wrap-Up Draw Prize: 1 x £250 cash. Winners will receive the cash for themselves, and the independently owned convenience store (nominated during winner communications) will receive the same amount. Purchase required. Retain receipt to claim. Internet access required. Max 1 entry per person per day. Max 20 entries in total per person during the Winning Moments Period. Max 1 Prize per household. Independently owned convenience stores can receive more than 1 nomination and can win more than once. Visit www.cadbury.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/cadbury-big-win-win/ for full T&Cs & prize details. Promoter: Mondelez Europe Services GmbH – UK Branch, Cadbury House, Sanderson Road, Uxbridge, UB8 1DH.
**Retailer Competition Terms and Conditions
Mondelez International Internal 18+ UK. Open between 13:30 BST 30th January 2024 – 23:59 BST 28th February 2025 to owners and managers of Independently owned convenience stores and forecourts (unaffiliated or affiliated to a symbol group) only, not subject to Sunday trading laws. Excludes centrally managed and owned convenience stores and forecourts (‘Participants’). Go to Snackdisplay.co.uk and fill out the entry form, including describing your work with your community in up to 300 words. It is the Participants responsibility to ensure community work can be made public and shared publicly. Participants will be entered into a random prize draw to win one of 5 opportunities to appear in Cadbury Big WIN WIN social media campaign, only one prize per store. Photography will take place between 1st April and 30th June 2025. Winners must be available for proposed dates and ensure their store is suitable for photography and that there are no restrictions on Photography in their store. All 5 winners will also receive three cases of Cadbury Singles worth over £100 at recommended retail value. Other entries will be placed into a random prize draw for 10 stock prizes worth £100 at recommended retail prices. Mondelez reserve the right to indefinitely use and publicise the social media material and information regarding retailer community work from the time of receiving the entry forms. Winners will be contacted for promotional and PR purposes subject to agreement. Winners will be contacted by the Promoter by email within 14 days of the draw and will have 5 days to formally accept the prize. Delivery of the stock will take place within 28 days of prize acceptance or at the time of filming where participants have won a social media filming prize.
***Retailers are free to set their own prices, non-PMP packs available.
Confectionery and chocolate supplier Mondelēz International has announced its line-up for the 2025 Easter season, following its most successful Easter ever in 2024.
For 2025, Mondelēz International is unveiling the Easter Favourites Pouch, its first-ever confectionery pouch made from paper, meaning it can be easily recycled at home. The new product taps into the egg hunt ritual and contains Mini Cadbury Dairy Milk Eggs, treat-size bags of Cadbury Mini Eggs and Cadbury Creme Eggs, so consumers can enjoy all their seasonal favourites in a convenient variety sharing pack.
2025 will also see the Cadbury Dairy Milk & White Half & Half Ultimate Egg – the latest addition to the Cadbury Ultimate Egg range – be available to major retailers nationwide. Tapping into the consumer demand for innovation and exciting new products, this shell egg is seen by consumers as the most impressive Ultimate Egg in the range for gifting.
Like the rest of the Ultimate Egg line-up, the Cadbury Dairy Milk & White Half & Half Egg includes a portionable element for shoppers – with Cadbury Dairy Milk and Cadbury Dairy Milk White Chunks featured inside to give shoppers that little bit extra to treat themselves or others with during the season. This makes for a highly-gift-worthy product for shoppers, with gold foil and bold, eye-catching packaging for strong standout on shelves.
The Cadbury Caramilk Egg will also be available in major retailers across the UK in 2025. The Cadbury Caramilk Egg brings consumers the great-tasting golden caramel chocolate they know and love from Caramilk into the most scalable shell format, helping to bolster retailers’ shell egg offerings and drive seasonal sales.
This Easter season will also see the launch of the redesigned Cadbury Dairy Milk Hollow Bunny with Cadbury’s iconic purple colourway and clear branding, showcasing a modern, fun and eye-catching design which has strong purchase intent of 89 per cent and looks to bolster its presence in the Hollows segment.
The Toblerone Edgy Egg returns this year with an enhanced proposition, as it now features Toblerone’s popular diamond-shaped Truffles inside. Made with honey and almond nougat, Toblerone Truffles bring shoppers the iconic high quality of a classic Toblerone product in the form of deliciously-diamond shaped truffles. The Toblerone Edgy Egg seeks to bolster the impressive gift segment, which is growing at twice the rate of the total shell egg category
Elsewhere, Cadbury Creme Egg is giving consumers the chance to win up to £10,000 with its "Admit It – How Do You Eat Yours?" campaign. To enter, consumers simply need to purchase a participating Cadbury Creme Egg product and visit www.cadbury.co.uk/cremeegg and admit how they eat their Creme Eggs, for a chance to win exciting cash prizes.
“We’re excited to be bringing retailers and shoppers our brand-new Easter Favourites Pouch and our expanded range of shell eggs across a variety of brands this Easter, with something to suit all tastes and occasions.," said Charlotte Parkes, Senior Brand Manager for Cadbury Easter. "We’re confident our varied Easter 2025 line-up will generate excitement among shoppers and help retailers bolster their seasonal offerings, as well as helping to boost their gifting and sharing sales”
With Mondelēz International’s full Easter 2025 line-up, retailers will be able to tap into all these Easter trends and look forward to another great Easter season filled with innovation and excitement.