Smirnoff is revealing a new global marketing platform – "We Do Us" – to launch a series of initiatives which aim to promote accessibility and inclusion when it comes to socialising.
With feelings of loneliness and isolation rising around the world, Smirnoff’s We Do Us campaign will ignite social connections by bringing local communities together in an authentic way through a diverse series of cultural activations, partnerships and events.
Smirnoff is kicking off long-term partnerships with Stonegate Group, the largest pub company in the UK, and Tilting the Lens, Sinead Burke’s accessibility and inclusion consultancy, to lift social barriers within hospitality. Over the coming months, the companies will drive positive change for the disabled community by reviewing the settings in which people drink and engage with Smirnoff products.
The We Do Us campaign is being brought to life across the off-trade and on-trade channels through impactful POS materials which showcase the vibrant creative. In grocery, wholesalers and independent retailers across GB will have access to POS kits, including FSDUs and parasite units. Digital OOH screens have switched on in 100+ Stonegate venues – with new screens positioned throughout venue interiors driving visibility of 2 for 1 cocktail deals.
Activations and events are planned to take place in over 20 countries, leaning into cultural celebrations and key calendar dates such as festival season and Pride - building on Smirnoff’s long-standing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. Spearheaded by an event curated by legendary nightlife performers, Sink The Pink, the London launch took place on Wednesday 29 November, and was hosted by Fats Timbo and Layton Williams. The night saw Drag Syndrome, a collective of fabulous Kings and Queens with down syndrome, take to the stage alongside acts that included Mel C, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Lou Bru, Mae Muller and Kamille. By introducing features such as low-counter bars, accessible viewing platforms, quiet rooms, BSL interpreters and visual interpreting tools, disabled guests were able to participate on the night out as their full, true, and diverse selves.
The ‘We Do Us’ campaign will be underpinned by a new global TV campaign, Atomic, which aims to keep the brand front-of-mind for consumers by bringing the ethos of inclusion and togetherness to life. The advert is centred around metaphor, comparing life to a cocktail, and shows a diverse group of people spontaneously turning into bubbles which mix together before turning back into human form and finally connecting with one another.
“We’re so excited to be revealing Smirnoff’s latest campaign, We Do Us, as we look to boldly champion the power of the collective and foster social connections in a celebration of the magic that’s created when different people, flavours and ingredients come together," said Stephanie Jacoby, Smirnoff Global Brand Director.
“Despite there being more ways for us to connect with one another, we know that feelings of loneliness and isolation are prevalent for so many. At Smirnoff we fundamentally believe that we’re all better together which is why this activity feels so important and relevant for today. By reinforcing social connections, we aim to make it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to come together.”
Diageo said five Royal Warrants of Appointment to His Majesty the King have been granted to its brands for the supply of spirits and wines to the Royal Household.
These Royal Warrants are granted to: Justerini & Brooks as Wine & Spirits Merchants, John Walker & Sons (Johnnie Walker) and Royal Lochnagar for Scotch Whiskies, Tanqueray Gordon & Company (Tanqueray and Gordon’s) as Gin Distillers, and The Pimm’s Company.
For Justerini & Brooks, this association dates back to the supply of wines for the coronation of King George III in 1761, Johnnie Walker has held a Royal Warrant to the monarch for the supply of its Scotch whiskies since King George V in 1934, and this is the fifth Royal Warrant to be granted to Tanqueray Gordon & Company over almost a century, since 1925.
Diageo said each brand, all of which held a Royal Warrant to Queen Elizabeth II, is proud of this mark of recognition for supplying the Royal Household and shares the commitment to the highest standards of service, quality, excellence and craftsmanship that unites all Royal Warrant holders, along with the public commitment to sustainable and responsible business practices.
“It is a great privilege to supply our products to the Royal Household, and with the granting of these five new Royal Warrants to HM The King, we will display His Majesty’s Royal Arms on these brands with immense pride,” Dan Mobley, global corporate relations director at Diageo, and Grantee for the Royal Warrant held by John Walker & Sons, said.
John Walker & Sons (Johnnie Walker)
Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to His Majesty The King
Johnnie Walker has held a Royal Warrant to the Monarch for its Scotch whiskies since first granted by George V in 1934.
“It is an honour to continue to supply the Royal Household with a Royal Warrant to HM The King, and support this with a commitment to sustainability, grain to glass,” the brand said.
In 2021, His Majesty, as HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, conducted the Royal opening of the flagship visitor experience Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh. The visit also marked the beginning of a hospitality training partnership between Johnnie Walker and The King’s Foundation.
Since the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, Johnnie Walker has continued to support the Royal Warrant Holders Association charity QEST (Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust), of which HM The King is Patron, to fund craft training for talented makers.
Justerini & Brooks
Wine & Spirits Merchants By Appointment to His Majesty The King
Fine wine and spirits merchant Justerini & Brooks, established in London in 1749, said they are honoured to have been granted Royal Warrants since providing wines for the Coronation of George III in 1761 through to Queen Elizabeth II.
“Justerini & Brooks has celebrated its 275th anniversary throughout 2024; receiving a letter granting a Royal Warrant of Appointment to HM The King is a particularly special way to conclude this milestone year,” the firm said.
Pimm’s
Distillers & Compounders By Appointment to His Majesty The King
James Pimm first mixed his famous cocktail at his Oyster Bar in London in the 1840s. The recipe for PIMM’S No. 1 Cup - gin infused with herbal botanicals, caramelised orange and spices - remains a closely guarded secret.
In 2011, Pimm’s was granted a Royal Warrant as Distillers & Compounders By Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II. Limited edition PIMM’S bottles were released in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, with a call for friends, families and communities to celebrate “Come Reign or Shine”, and a Coronation Edition in 2023 “To King & Country”, with the PIMM’S bus and bars popping up in London and Windsor.
Royal Lochnagar
Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to His Majesty The King
Opened in 1845, the distillery became known as Royal Lochnagar following a visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert from neighbouring Balmoral, the Highland home of the Royal Family, in 1848.
His Majesty The King, as HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, has been welcomed three times to Royal Lochnagar: in 1995 and 1998 to mark the 150th anniversaries of the distillery and Queen Victoria’s visit, and in 2018 to receive a cask, bottled to raise funds for The Prince’s Foundation (now The King’s Foundation).
Royal Lochnagar was granted a Royal Warrant as Scotch Whisky Distillers By Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II in 2021. The distillery team planted seven commemorative birch trees at the distillery for the Queen’s Green Canopy, and an eighth in 2023 to mark the 75th birthday of HM The King.
Tanqueray Gordon & Company
Gin Distillers By Appointment to His Majesty The King
The rich heritage of Gordon’s and Tanqueray began in London with the creation of gins by Alexander Gordon in 1769 and Charles Tanqueray in the 1830s. Tanqueray Gordon & Company was formed in 1898 and first granted a Royal Warrant as Gin Distillers to HRH The Prince of Wales in 1925.
Royal Warrants have been held since, granted by George VI, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, and now, almost a century on, as Gin Distillers By Appointment to HM The King.
Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has revealed their 2025 Valentine’s Day confectionery collection.
Retailers are being told of the must-stock sweets in order to make the most of the romantic season.
The range includes Valentine’s gifting options, novelty lines and impulse products perfect for driving Valentine’s Day confectionery sales.
Hancocks said themed pick n mix sweets are expected to be popular ahead of the holiday, with the wholesaler stocking an excellent variety of heart-shaped treats that retailers can add to their in-store displays.
The Valentine’s pick n mix selection includes a range of delicious sweets, including Kingsway Gummy Hearts, Barratt Jelly Love Hearts, Vidal Triple Hearts and Kingsway Mallow Hearts.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Hancocks have added to their Bonds Pun Box range. New to the gifting range include the I Love You Berry Much and You’re One In a Melon pun boxes.
The Bonds Candy Cups are one of the most popular lines from the brand and their dessert-inspired pick-n-mix cups are perfect for gifting.
The Berry Mess Mix Candy Cup 360g RRP £3.50 includes a delicious assortment of fruit flavour jelly sweets, candy-topped white chocolate candies and marshmallows.
Also available from the range of Candy Cups are the Sweet Vibes Freakshake Cups in three tasty flavours - Banana, Strawberry and Choc-a-Lot, RRP £3.50.
Each cup is packed to the brim with delicious sweets in a convenient, hygienic and recyclable cup format that is easy to merchandise in store, making them perfect for gifting seasons.
Premium gifting is also a must-stock in the lead up to Valentine’s Day. Anthon Berg offers a range of premium gifting options, giving a range of choice to shoppers.
The iconic Chocolate Liqueurs are bottle-shaped dark chocolates filled with famous spirit brands from across the globe. Recently, Anthon Berg have worked with expert mixologists to develop delicious cocktail recipes including Cosmopolitan, Mojito, Espresso Martini, Vodka Mule, Pina Colada and Lemon Drop.
The newest addition to the Anthon Berg range is the Anthon Berg Baileys Treats box. They’re delicious milk chocolates filled with cream liqueur flavoured marzipan.They come with 7 individually wrapped chocolates in a 175g beautifully designed dual-branded gift box.
A top seller year on year from the Hancocks range are the Chocolate Flavour Candy Roses, a novelty favourite which can be merchandised for Valentine’s and Galentine’s events.
“We’re happy to offer retailers a chance to provide their customers with a wide selection of delicious Valentine’s Day treats,” Kathryn Hague, Head of Marketing at Hancocks, said.
“Valentine’s Day offers an excellent opportunity to drive confectionery sales. Shoppers love looking for themed treats when it comes to new seasons, and now Valentine’s Day is celebrated by more people as people also enjoy ‘Galentine’s Day’ events with friends.
“Confectionery is still seen as an affordable gifting option, so we’re expecting to see a lot of people treating their loved ones with delicious sweets and chocolates during this year's romantic holiday.
“Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to drive sales and encourage gifting by stocking plenty of seasonal gifting lines.
“To maximise sales, we advise retailers to create eye-catching Valentine’s displays and position them at the end of the aisles for optimal visibility.”
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.
KP Nuts has partnered with darts sensation Luke Littler, marking a bold move to unite the fans’ favourite snack with this festive season’s most electrifying sportsman.
The collaboration brings together two icons – Luke, a trailblazer in the world of darts, and KP Nuts, the perfect snack for any sporting or social occasion. With Luke “The Nuke” Littler continuing to grow as a global phenomenon, the partnership is part of KP Nuts’ strategy to drive awareness and unlock opportunities within the on-trade and convenience and impulse sectors during the festive season and beyond.
As part of the partnership, Luke Littler will sport the KP Nuts logo proudly on his sleeve throughout his journey at Ally Pally with the PDC World Championships beginning on December 15 and Luke Littler’s first match taking place on December 21. Fans will also have the chance to win exclusive signed merchandise from Luke and other surprises, with further announcements planned for the New Year.
The PDC World Darts Championships is a Christmas staple, bringing the world’s best players together for electrifying competition and capturing the attention of millions of fans. By teaming up with Luke Littler, one of the favourites to win the PDC World Championships, KP Nuts is tapping into the excitement and camaraderie of the darts world, aligning with the passion that fans bring when supporting Luke Littler.
“It’s an honour to team up with KP Nuts as I head into this year’s PDC World Darts Championships,” said Littler. “Darts is all about bringing people together and creating great moments, and KP Nuts is the perfect brand to help make that happen. I’m looking forward to giving it my all on the big stage and sharing some incredible surprises with fans along the way.”
Kevin McNair, Marketing Director at KP Snacks, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to partner with Luke Littler as he prepares to take the PDC World Darts Championships by storm. Luke is an incredible talent with an exciting future ahead, and his passion and determination perfectly align with KP Nuts’ energy and spirit. This partnership marks a significant moment for KP Nuts as we look to bring even more excitement to our fans and the on-trade sector during one of the busiest times of the year. And trust us, there’s even more to come in 2025!”
Leading sausage roll brand Wall’s Pastry has announced a new charity partnership with Action Against Hunger, pledging to donate 5p from every pack sold of its 10x55g sausage rolls.
Funds raised through the initiative will support Action Against Hunger’s work to tackle hunger in areas of high poverty across the UK.
The announcement follows an exceptional year of growth for Wall’s, which is massively outperforming the market, achieving 40 per cent growth in value and 36 per cent in volume in the past 52 weeks. Wall’s is now utilising its brand presence and resonance with shoppers to support Action Against Hunger’s mission to put an end to hunger across the UK.
Action Against Hunger collaborates with local partners in UK regions facing high child poverty rates, improving access to food through surplus food distribution. Funds raised through Wall’s initiative will support the upkeep of these centres and help purchase essential food supplies for those in need. Wall’s will also contribute products to food donation facilities over the Christmas season and into the new year.
“Our philosophy is, ‘When Hunger Call’s, Grab a Wall’s’. However, we recognise that for many people across the UK, food is a necessity in short supply,” Jason Manley, brand director at Wall’s Pastry, part of The Compleat Food Group, said.
“As a leading food brand, we understand that our responsibility goes beyond creating high-quality, delicious and good value food that people love to eat. That’s why we couldn’t be prouder to announce our partnership with Action Against Hunger.
“We encourage consumers looking to satisfy their hunger to pick up a 10-pack of our favourite sausage rolls. By doing so, they’ll not only enjoy a tasty treat but also contribute to the fight against hunger here in the UK.”