As a business taking significant strides to refresh both its brand identity and range within the UK’s bustling independent sweet & confectionery sector, it probably comes as little surprise to learn that early 2025 will see the launch of an enhanced sugar-free sweets range.
After much tweaking and twiddling the resulting healthier living range will include sugar-free sharing bags of such timeless classics as Sherbet Lemons, Chocolate Limes, Rhubarb & Custards, Pear Drops, Blackcurrant Liquorice and Mint Humbugs
This six-strong eclectic offer provides all the sentimental pull one would expect from a nostalgic portfolio of childhood classics but with only a fraction of the guilt, providing more health-conscious sweet fanatics with the perfect low sugar reformulations that support any discerning sweets enthusiast seeking to trim down their sugar consumption, manage diabetes or simply embrace healthier eating habits without short-changing their taste-buds.
According to marketing spokesperson, Andy Valentine. “Stockley’s may be a confectionery business with an enviable 106-year-old reputation, however that doesn’t mean that we’re unreceptive to the latest sweet trends and priorities. Many retailers have been requesting better-for-you sweet alternatives that don’t skimp on taste yet recognise the nation’s changing health goals.”
Stockley’s has been buoyed in recent times by the growing trend for "closer-to-home" classics, which provides a counter-balance to World Cuisine, where proud food and drink enthusiasts are actively seeking out modern twists on old-school favourites from across the UK.
AG Barr’s Rubicon RAW, the fastest-growing energy brand, is inviting retailers to ride the wave to top energy sales with new Rubicon RAW Wave Editions.
Available from February 2025 as a 12-month limited edition range, the two 500ml Big Can drinks will come in two exciting new flavours, Berry & Grape and Peach & Apricot, tapping into the growth in mixed flavours within energy drinks.
Both new flavours performed exceptionally well in consumer research with 85 per cent of shoppers saying they would buy the range.
The launch will be supported by the brand’s biggest ever marketing investment of £1.5 million throughout 2025. Influencer activity, mass sampling and heavyweight social media will see it reach two in three Big Can Energy Drinkers.
Retailers can make use of the brand’s vibrant, eye-catching point of sale material to create in-store theatre and attract shoppers to the fixture and drive their sales.
Rubicon RAW has quickly established itself as a must stock in the energy category. As the fourth biggest big can energy brand on the market, the brand’s sales are 60 per cent incremental to the category, providing wholesalers and retailers with a clear profit opportunity by stocking Rubicon RAW within their energy fixture.
“The energy drinks market remains one of the most profitable for retailers, driving nearly half of all drink-now soft drinks growth,” said Adrian Hipkiss, Head of Energy Brands at AG Barr. We’re proud to be one of the best-performing ranges in energy, recruiting more shoppers than competitor brands and delivering a 75 per cent repeat purchase rate.
“There’s still a huge opportunity for growth, as 60 per cent of shoppers still don’t buy into the energy category and traditional energy drinks aren’t always seen as appealing for new shoppers. Our two new flavours, alongside our core five, offer something truly different as we appeal to a much broader base of consumers with different energy needs. The No.1 reason shoppers choose Rubicon RAW is its 20 per cent real fruit juice content, which together with natural caffeine and B-vitamins provides a big energy hit that’s full of flavour.”
On shelf from 1 February in 500ml x 12 Plain and £1.19 PMP cans
KP Snacks is expanding its McCoy’s range with the launch of a new Hot ’n’ Spicy flavour. Available from the end of January in a £1.25 PMP, the launch delivers a popular punchy flavour in a well-known format to engage consumers and drive sales.
Capitalising on the success of the UK’s number one ridged crisp brand, McCoy’s Hot ’n’ Spicy delivers McCoy’s signature full-on flavour with a perfect blend of spice and seasoning to ignite taste buds and elevate consumers’ snacking experience.
With Spicy being the third-largest flavour partition in CSN and the largest and fastest-growing in the PMP category, the launch debuts in this popular format to meet consumer demand and drive sales. With PMP’s becoming increasingly relevant and giving consumers good value for money, the launch is perfectly positioned to drive impulse purchases for retailers.
“McCoy’s is known for delivering bold, punchy flavours on a distinct ridge cut crisp, and this launch is no exception,” said John McDougall, Brand Manager for McCoy’s at KP Snacks. “Building on the success of spicy flavours and the growing demand for PMPs, this launch marries a popular flavour in a popular format to meet consumer demand and drive retailer sales. The new Hot ’n’ Spicy flavour is guaranteed to become a new consumer favourite."
Worth £188m and growing at 6.4 per cent, McCoy’s Hot ’n’ Spicy expands on McCoy’s popular portfolio of flavourful snacks. The brand was recently named as the NFL’s Savoury Snacks Partner across the UK and Ireland in a three-year deal running until March 2027.
Although coffee has resolutely established itself as the nation’s hot beverage of choice it’s now facing resistance from nostalgic, feelgood favourite Hot Chocolate which provides comfort, homeliness and a joyful swig of happy childhood memories, especially through cold, Winter afternoons and cozy, stay-at-home evenings.
Recognizing the close synergies that exist between coffee and hot chocolate – cravings for single origin offerings, innovation, ethical sourcing, greater indulgence – has led to Norfolk’s artisanal producer of superior, small batch chocolate to launch Mocha Melts; generously proportioned cubes of gooey-centred joy that transform any quality made-at-home coffee into a luxurious mocha.
Available in Salted Caramel, Hazelnut and Double Chocolate, Mocha Melts represents an audacious bid by Gnaw to extend its premium chocolate credentials down the gifting and hot beverage aisles with choc blocks you drop into coffee for a luxurious mid-morning or afternoon pick-me-up.
According to GNAW spokesperson, Mike Navarro, “One of key priorities over the last 12 months has been to tap into chocolate’s unrivalled versatility. By piggybacking off coffee’s everyday appeal, GNAW is providing the perfect means to add a little luxurious twist to one’s Daily Brew.”
Ready-To-Drink protein brandUFIT will expand its leading portfolio of health-focused snacks and drinks with the launch of UFIT Loaded Protein Bars.
Packed with 15g of protein and low sugar, UFIT Loaded intends to reenergise consumer interest in the protein bar category with popular flavours: Caramelised Biscuit, and White Chocolate Cookie. Made with natural flavours and real chocolate, they offer a delicious option for health-conscious consumers looking for on-the-go snacking.
Protein bars are typically seen as expensive and still have negative taste connotations by consumers. This has made the category highly competitive, with value-based bars tending to be small and lacking in shelf presence. UFIT Loaded is designed to work against this trend, offering shoppers a tasty and HFSS-compliant choice with the attractive price point of only £1.29 per bar.
"Launching UFIT Loaded is an obvious next step for us, bringing a new and complementary dimension to our leading protein product range,” said Sales Director Richard Northridge.
“Our loyal shoppers expect quality and value, and that’s exactly what our new bars offer: a great-tasting snack with high protein and low sugar that are accessibly priced, reengaging with consumers who may have moved away from the category previously.
“Our goal is to help people get the most out of every day by bringing protein to the masses, with a range of convenient protein products that “fit around you.” Whether you’re on the move, busy at work or looking for something to keep you fuller for longer, UFITmakes it simple and enjoyable to stay on top.”
As the UK’s leading RTD protein brand (30 per cent market share), UFIT is at the forefront of the category. This is highlighted further by its performance in the impulse channel, where it sells more RTD protein bottles than any other brand. Its core range of protein shakes also boast the highest product loyalty among all other RTD protein brands, including retailer own-labels.
The launch of UFIT Loaded Protein Bars is supported by a £10k marketing investment across influencer social media channels and digital advertising.
UFIT Loaded protein bars, White Chocolate Cookie, and Caramelised Biscuit
Luxury gin brand Renais, created by Harry Potter actress Emma Watson and Alex Watson, "inspired by terroir and tradition", and launched in May 2023, has announced a fundraise of £4.95 million as it closes out a successful 2024.
The raise will support further international expansion and marketing campaigns designed to bring its unique offerings to a broader audience. Upcoming international launches in 2025 include France, Spain, Dubai and Canada.
“It’s been an exciting year for Renais and this new raise is a key milestone in the brand’s growth. As consumers preference for premiumisation and a desire to drink less, but better, continues to grow, we are in a unique position in the gin category to capture their attention and tell our story of heritage, craftsmanship and provenance. I am also excited to have some of the foremost drink’s experts on board as investors, their experience will be invaluable to Renais to reach its full potential”, said Alex Watson, CEO & Co-founder of Renais Gin.
Investors include strategic drinks industry experts including US Based InvestBev and Jean-Sebastien Robicquet of Maison Villevert.
Brian Rosen General Partner InvestBev said: "We are thrilled to support Renais Gin in its journey to become a globally recognised brand. The premium gin category continues to demonstrate remarkable potential, and Renais Gin's quality and sustainability credentials align perfectly with our strategic investment focus. We believe our capital—coupled with our deep industry expertise and network—will amplify Renais Gin’s ability to reach new consumers and markets."
Renais has also bolstered its board with ex-Lathwaites Group CFO Jimmy Weir, who will join other drinks industry veterans including Andrew Morgan ex-Diageo European Chief and Alex Staartjes, previously Global Marketing Director at Pernod Ricard.