KP Snacks’ iconic bear-shaped snack, Pom-Bear, is back on TV this month.
With a new media investment, Pom-Bear has returned to TV for six weeks, driving brand awareness. First launched in September 2024, the engaging ad captures a playful moment between a father and daughter as they enjoy a pack of Pom-Bear, tapping into the brand’s fun, family-friendly identity and encouraging parents to enjoy light-hearted moments with their children.
Featuring the tagline, “Put a little Pom in your Day,” the creative is designed to boost awareness of the brand which was expanded last year with new Cheese and BBQ flavours. Following the advert’s first run last year, the brand saw strong growth, up +17 per cent YOY.
“At Pom-Bear, we believe in adding a little fun to every day with great-tasting snacks," said Rachel Horrell, Senior Brand Manager at KP Snacks. "We’re thrilled to see the brand returning to TV with an advert that reflects the joy of family snacking occasions, continuing to improve brand awareness. The advert has been really well received by consumers, creating a sense of warmth and happiness which has driven an uplift in sales.”
Pom-Bear is worth £35m and growing ahead of total bagged snacks.
Cult snack brand Takis is set to spice up aisles up and down the country with the launch of Blue Heat – the latest addition to its bold and intensely flavoured range of rolled tortilla chips. Following huge success in international markets, the striking blue snack that is the brand’s number two flavour in the US, will be available nationwide from 5 March onwards, rolling out through the convenience channel via wholesalers.
The launch taps into the continued demand for spicy snacks in the UK. The bagged snacks category continues to grow and is now worth £4.19bn in value, and within that, the “Heat” segment is out-performing total crisps at +nine per cent value sales in the last year. Takis is perfectly placed to cater to this demand as the brand is outperforming the market, growing in value sales by 10 per cent in the last year.
“There is no denying that UK consumers love a bit of spice,” said Becky Allan, Marketing Manager, Takis, said: Gen Z in particular are leading the way with this and becoming more adventurous in their snack options. Takis Blue Heat has already seen incredible success in international markets, garnering a huge cult following. With its unmatched intensity across heat, flavour and visual appeal this new launch is set to resonate strongly with UK consumers and drive further growth within the category.”
Already a fan favourite across the globe, Takis Blue Heat delivers an explosive combination of chilli and lime flavours, designed for those who crave adventure in their snacking experience. The bold new offering joins the brand's popular lineup, which includes best-sellers Fuego and Dragon Sweet Chilli.
Retailers can get their stock from the below wholesalers:
Booker Wholesale UK: 55g PMP (£1.25) from 5 March
Bestway: 100g (£2) from 10 March
Dhamecha Group 55g PMP (£1.25) and 100g (£2) from 10 March
With the launch of its latest campaign – Deliciously Ugly – Quaker is leveraging popular shopper breakfast demands to present Quaker as a deliciously real and deliciously tasty breakfast option. Aiming to continue to support retailers in making the most of the Cereals category, Quaker is also partnering with the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland to allow retailers to reward shoppers and their families through the brand’s latest on-pack promotion*.
Tapping into the key shopper need state for a tasty and convenient breakfast option, Quaker’s Deliciously Ugly campaign is allowing retailers to cater to consumers who are on the hunt for a naturally healthy breakfast, without the need to compromise on great taste. As Great Britain’s number one Hot Cereals brand, delivering 48.2 per cent of segment sales, the campaign aims to amplify Quaker’s position as firmly driving the category forwards, helping retailers to boost their Hot Cereal sales long-term.
Additionally, shoppers who purchase a promotional pack of Quaker’s Oat So Simple sachets and complete the entry requirements* will be in with the chance of winning a family day pass to a participating National Trust or National Trust for Scotland location. Tying into the time it takes to make a bowl of Quaker Oat So Simple porridge, the promotion will see consumers win every two minutes from 7-9am, with 2,520 passes up for grabs. What’s more, all entrants who do not win a National Trust or National Trust for Scotland one-time-entry family pass will receive a discount code for 25 per cent off standard admission tickets for up to 5 people at participating National Trust properties. Alongside this, a wrap up prize draw is also set to see 10 shoppers win a £50 cash prize.
“We have seen shoppers seeking healthier breakfast options for some time now," said Divesh Parmar, Quaker General Manager at PepsiCo. "However, we also know that they aren’t willing to compromise on convenience or taste to achieve this – particularly with taste being the primary driver of brand choice within breakfast cereals. Oats are already perceived as a nutritious breakfast option and our Deliciously Ugly campaign emphasises the great taste and convenience of our Oat So Simple sachets, even though they can look a little ugly! We want to ensure Quaker remains front of mind for shoppers when stocking up for their breakfast.
“Alongside this, we want to further drive purchase, whilst supporting retailers in connecting with their shoppers through our latest National Trust on-pack promotion. With prizes for everyone, retailers can offer their shoppers the chance to win real experiences whilst boosting basket spend. Ultimately, this campaign reinforces that while oats may not be the most beautiful breakfast, they are tasty, healthy, convenient and fun.”
Quaker’s Deliciously Ugly campaign will span OOH, Print, Radio, Social and Digital platforms from now until 24March 2025. The National Trust and National Trust for Scotland partnership is running now until 11March across selected Quaker Oat So Simple sachets**.
* UK 18+. Instant Win: 07:00 29/01/25 – 09:00 11/03/25. Enter between 07:00 and 09:00 each day. Purchase necessary. Retain pack. Internet access required. Instant Win Prizes: 1 x National Trust or National Trust for Scotland one-time-entry family pass to be won each 2 minutes during breakfast time, allocated via random winning moments (2,520 in total). National Trust passes must be used by 04/04/25. National Trust for Scotland passes must be used by 30/06/2025. Wrap Up Draw: 09:00 11/03/25 – 23:59 11/06/25. All entries received during the Wrap Up Draw Period will be entered into a Prize draw for the chance to win 1 of 10 x £50 cash Prizes. Max 1 entry per person per day. Max 1 Instant Win and 1 Wrap Up Draw Prize per person. Single Prize pool across all promotional products. See www.joy-pepsico.eu/en-gb/promotions/quaker/daysout for full T&Cs and Prize details. Promoter: Walkers Snacks Ltd, 450 South Oak Way, Green Park, Reading, RG2 6UW.
**Quaker Original, Golden Syrup, Apple & Blueberry, Raisin Cranberry Apple, Caramelised Biscuit and Chocolate sachet SKUs
Molson Coors Beverage Company is launching Madrí Excepcional 0.0%, a zero-alcohol version of its popular Spanish style lager as consumer demand for no- and low-alcohol world beer continues to grow.
The alcohol-free lager, created in partnership with La Sagra brewery in Spain, will hit supermarket and convenience shelves across the UK from March 2025, with listings already secured, including Waitrose.
The number of drinkers choosing to moderate has also increased dramatically, up by 2.2m between 2016 and 2023, with more than half (53 per cent) of 18–34-year-olds, and 59 per cent of Britain’s total adult population now trying to drink less alcohol. Some 64 per cent of these no- and low-alcohol drinkers do so during at-home occasions.
Sophie Mitchell, Marketing Controller at Madrí Excepcional, said, “Consumers increasingly expect to see a no- and low-alcohol versions of their favourite beers. With Madri Excepcional fast becoming the flagship brand in the world beer category, launching 0.0% is a natural evolution for us.
“It means consumers can stick with one of their favourite beers, even when looking to moderate, and enables retailers to better cater for a growing no- and low-alcohol market, while still tapping into the popularity of the Madri Excepcional brand.”
Madrí Excepcional is now the no.5 world beer brand, and the 6th fastest growing of the top 20 lagers in the GB off trade], worth over £123m in retail and growing sales by 9.3% over the last year].
The 0.0% version, which will launch in 4x330ml glass bottle multipacks, is created using cutting edge technology to remove alcohol which retains the refreshing flavour drinkers expect from Madrí Excepcional.
Simon Smith, Head of R&D and Innovation at Molson Coors Beverage Company, said: “Madri Excepcional 0.0% is brewed using cutting edge technology which is proven to retain the best flavour and quality, resulting in the same well-rounded taste profile as Madrí Excepcional, and a crisp, clean and refreshing beer full of flavour and aroma.”
In consumer testing, Madrí Excepcional 0.0% was preferred to other zero-alcohol world beers for taste, appearance, aftertaste and mouthfeel.
The rollout will be backed by a multi-million-pound marketing campaign, including advertising, PR, paid social, and a programme of influencer activity. Madrí Excepcional and its alcohol-free variant will both appear in a brand-new TV ad later this year.
Madrí Excepcional will be unveiling a new experience on its Conectada platform to support the launch of Madrí Excepcional 0.0% in April 2025.
Confectioner Bebeto has unveiled two exciting new Easter treats, including a market-first: liquid-filled gummy soft fried eggs.
Runny Eggs are liquid-filled gummy soft fried eggs containing three delicious flavours — Mango, Orange and Peach — each with a luscious lemon liquid filling for an extra-special touch. This marks the first time liquid-filled technology has been used on a fried egg sweet, delivering a unique and indulgent confectionery experience. They are available in 130g hanging bags (£1 SSP). To make them even better, they contain no artificial colours or flavours and are halal certified.
Bebeto’s cutting-edge liquid-filling technique transforms traditional, firm, gummy sweets into gooey, flavour-packed treats with a juicy, melt in the mouth centre inside each foam-backed gummy, delivering a fun, sensory experience unlike any other.
Bebeto’s second Easter launch, Spring Parade, are fruit flavoured gummy sweets that come in four different Easter-themed shaped sweets: chickens, easter eggs, sheep and bunnies. These fun treats come in three fruity flavours: raspberry, kiwi and passionfruit and make the perfect fun addition to Easter hunts, gifting and seasonal bake decorations. They are available in 150g hanging bags (£1 SSP). They contain no artificial colours or flavours and are halal certified.
Liquid-filled gummies trend in confectionery
“This is the first time liquid-filled technology has been used on a fried egg sweet, and we are thrilled to be leading pioneers, offering UK consumers a unique, high-quality confectionery experience this Easter” said Phil Hulme, Commercial Director at Kervan Gida UK. “Liquid-filled technology is one of the most exciting trends in confectionery today and is particularly popular with Gen Z, who love experimenting with bold flavours and textures. This marks an exciting new chapter for the Bebeto brand in the UK. Seasonal offerings have played a pivotal role in driving
our growth, as demonstrated by the remarkable success of our Halloween range. Building on this momentum, we are expanding our seasonal portfolio in 2025 with fresh, innovative product developments that help bring even more joy to consumer celebrations.”
While the liquid-filling process requires advanced technology and extra production time, Bebeto is committed to keeping prices competitive, ensuring these premium treats remain accessible to all. Look out for further exciting liquid-filled NPD from Bebeto this year.
Bebeto’s Runny Eggs and Spring Parade are now available in Spar and Parfetts this Easter.
Family-owned spirits company, Bacardi is meeting consumer demand for lighter, more premium drinks and evolving drinking occasions by building on the premium credentials of MARTINI, one of the most iconic brands in its portfolio and in the world of drinks.
“With the rise of daytime drinking occasions, aperitivo has evolved into a more modern and stylish experience” says Emma Fox, VP, MARTINI & ST-GERMAIN. “Our MARTINI vermouth range, with its bold bittersweet flavours and lighter tasting serves, is perfect to capitalize on this global trend. With our new MARTINI, we’re inviting a new generation of drinkers to experience a true Italian icon.”
Emma Fox
MARTINI, which remains the same great-tasting, Italian vermouth, crafted with over 160 years of history and expertise, is now presented in a stylish and distinctive bottle to reflect the quality of the liquid inside. The MARTINI portfolio includes vermouth for every style of drink and occasion including MARTINI Bianco, Rosso, Fiero, Rosato, and Extra Dry, as well as the MARTINI Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo range of Vibrante and Floreale.
“The modern aperitivo occasion is booming,” says Mahesh Madhavan, CEO of Bacardi Limited, “only tequila has been growing faster.” The aperitivo occasion is worth close to US$11Bn and is expected to continue growing by 6 percent annually (IWSR CAGR 24-28). “With our investment in MARTINI, we are celebrating the best of the brand’s 160+ year heritage and its undeniable influence on today’s bar culture. MARTINI is made for the modern aperitivo.”
This summer, Bacardi will reveal:
New contemporary bottle
The distinctive, stylish design – inspired by the arched walkways of Turin, Italy – gives MARTINI even greater standout on shelf and at the same time reduces the brand’s impact on the environment. The 1L MARTINI bottle is now 30 grams lighter (equivalent to 5 percent of the weight), which has reduced annual greenhouse gas emissions at the MARTINI production site in Northern Italy. The slimmer bottle shape also means each pallet can carry an extra 48 x 75cl bottles (an 8 percent increase) making transportation more efficient too. The new MARTINI bottles will appear in stores and bars around the world from next month.
360 marketing campaign
The "MARTINI Dare To Be" campaign reflects the evolution of the aperitivo occasion from a pre-event experience to the main event itself. The campaign’s vibrant and colourful visuals, invite consumers to step out of the "everyday you" and step into "your most playful and stylish self". Bacardi will be activating the MARTINI Dare to Be campaign across advertising, PR and social media through 2025, reaching a new generation of modern aperitivo drinkers.
New signature drink
This summer, Bacardi will introduce the MARTINI Bianco Spritz to the world. Easy to make in three simple steps – pour 50ml MARTINI Bianco vermouth, add 75ml MARTINI Prosecco, top with 25ml soda water, serve over ice and garnish with fresh mint, and slices of lemon and strawberry – to create a crisp, bright spritz with subtle notes of vanilla.
The MARTINI Bianco Spritz leads the range of MARTINI spritzes - with Fiero and non-alcoholic expressions Vibrante and Floreale – crafted for the aperitivo occasion. MARTINI remains an essential ingredient in classic cocktails including the Americano, the Negroni and the Dry Martini cocktail, served at bars, terrazzas, restaurants and homes throughout the world.
New consumer experience
Bacardi will launch a new consumer experience, Terrazza MARTINI, that will tour major European cities throughout the summer. The Terrazza MARTINI will create a style and entertainment hotspot where consumers can experience the brand’s signature drinks and more.