FrieslandCampina, home of best-selling brands YAZOO and Chocomel, has outlined several packaging and ingredient advancements as part of its ongoing commitment to sustainability.
All bottles of YAZOO are now 100 per cent rPET across the core range. This is a significant step towards YAZOO’s goal of making all its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.
Next year, all on-the-go YAZOO bottles will feature a tethered cap to help reduce littering, and the sleeve removal mechanic will be updated to support ease of recyclability.
Chocomel, the UK’s Fastest Growing Premium Milk Drink, has recently updated its 1L carton packs to be made from 88 per cent plant-based materials, using FSC-approved cardboard. They are also fully recyclable, including the lid. Later this year, any remaining Chocomel SKUs using HPDE bottles will be replaced with Tetra Pak.
All the cocoa used in YAZOO’s Original Chocolate and Choc Caramel flavours, as well as in Chocomel is now certified by Rainforest Alliance, the world’s largest cocoa certification programme.
“Insight from our recent FrieslandCampina Ingredients Report shows that 65 per cent of the population believes that food and nutrition brands need to do more to protect the planet, a number that is only set to grow in the coming years," said Maren Fuhrich, Brand Manager at YAZOO. "Improving the packaging of our products and sustainably sourcing ingredients is a big part of this for us.
“We intend to become a more circular company, so ensuring the packaging of our popular on-the-go products YAZOO and Chocomel is made from reused materials and can be easily recycled is a top priority.
“Sustainability is not only about the environmental impact, but the health and wellbeing of our colleagues and consumers. Our sugar reduction programme has removed 480 tonnes of sugar per year since 2008 and means that 100 per cent of YAZOO products are now HFSS-compliant.”
Confectionery challenger brand Bebeto is kicking off 2025 with a ground-breaking debut: its first-ever Valentine’s range featuring innovative liquid-filled technology.
You Melt My Heart liquid-filled gummy soft hearts contain two delicious flavours— Strawberry and Cherry — each with a luscious raspberry liquid filling for an extra-special touch. They are available in 130g hanging bags (£1 SSP) and 400g heart-shaped tubs (SSP £3), making the perfect Valentine’s gift or to share and show someone you care. To make them even sweeter, 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. “Liquid-filled technology is one of the most exciting trends in confectionery today,” says Phil Hulme, Commercial Director at Kervan Gida UK.
“It’s particularly popular with Gen Z, who love experimenting with bold flavours and textures. We’re thrilled to lead the way with this innovation and offer UK consumers a unique, high-quality confectionery experience this Valentine’s. 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.
Rolling out from January, Bebeto’s You Melt My Heart range will be available in Spar UK and also through Parfetts Cash and Carry.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) is launching Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush, a limited-edition twist on its popular zero sugar variant. The launch coincides with Valentine’s Day and will be supported by an integrated Valentine’s-themed marketing campaign.
The four-week period covering Valentine’s Day was worth £160 million to convenience retailers in 2024, up 3.2 per cent year-on-year, and more than £3.4 million came from value sales of Dr Pepper.
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush combines the popular zero sugar liquid with the vibrant cherry flavour – a combination that’s guaranteed to deliver results.
Cherry variants have delivered 55 per cent of the value sales growth across colas over the past year. Flavoured carbonates is the third largest category in soft drinks. Dr Pepper is the second-largest flavoured carbonate brand in GB, growing ahead of the total flavoured carbonates category in both value and volume sales.
A playful new can design featuring roses front and centre is guaranteed to deliver maximum stand-out on shelf, especially over the Valentine’s Day period. In testing, more than 70 per cent of consumers loved the concept and were interested to try it.
“Dr Pepper has a loyal fanbase thanks to its unique taste, and continues to deliver growth ahead of the wider flavoured carbonates category,” said Rob Yeomans, Vice-President of Commercial Development.
“We’re really excited for fans to try the new cherry twist on our zero sugar variant, a flavour which we know goes down well with shoppers and drives sales in retail. The supporting campaign is packed with personality – as is always the case with Dr Pepper – and we can’t wait to see how retailers get behind it and activate in store!”
This limited-edition flavour will be available from 27 January 2025 in 330ml, 500ml, 2L and 8x330ml packs. Priced-marked 300ml and 500ml single packs will also be available.
The launch will be supported by influencer partnerships, in-store sampling and experiential OOH advertising encouraging consumers to step into the Dr’s billboard-office for some romantic "advice".
Convenience retailers can request Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Cherry Crush POS materials and download digital assets via My.CCEP.com, to help bring the launch to life in-store.
Christmas may be in our rear-view mirrors but that only means that Easter is getting ever closer, which is why Gnaw Chocolate has introduced a range of reassuringly chunky flat eggs in an array of intriguing formats: Rocky Road, Totally Nuts, Chocolate Curls and Eggs-travaganza offerings.
Consumers might be under the misapprehension that Gnaw’s refusal to subscribe to hollow, “airy” eggs could be down to attention-seeking gimmickry but in truth you couldn’t be more wrong.
When a chocolatier insists on only using Columbian chocolate to assemble 40 per cent cocoa milk chocolate, it’s important to create a thickness that not only ensures a suitably satisfying snap but provides the all-important density that can accommodate the tasty inclusions.
More important of all, a flat egg requires less packaging than a rotund “image over substance” hollow egg, which is very important when Gnaw takes pride in its stance as an artisanal chocolate producer with strong sustainable values:
Leaning heavily on clean, solar energy provided by the panels on their manufacturing unit
Refusing to dabble in planet unfriendly palm oil
Using 100 per cent compostable/recyclable chocolate wrappers using planet-friendly vegetable inks
In 2025 relaunching their iconic chocolate buttons in leading-edge pouches with a zero micro plastic footprint
All four Gnaw eggs have a £10 RRP and vary in weight (148g – 115g depending on topping) and are available throughout the independent channel (via wholesalers such as Cress, Diverse & Cotswold Fayre).
JTI (Japan Tobacco International) has announced a price repositioning of its Mayfair Gold ready-made cigarettes from an RRP of £13.30 to £12.50 for a pack of 20.
Since its launch in October 2023, Mayfair Gold has achieved remarkable success, securing the top spot as the UK’s fastest-growing new brand in 2024. This has generated an impressive retail sales value of £94.4M. This new price adjustment positions Mayfair Gold as JTI’s most affordable ready-made cigarette offering, giving retailers the opportunity to stock a trusted, premium Virginia blend tobacco brand at a competitive price.
The RRP reduction is especially timely as the Ultra Value segment continues to lead in market share growth, now comprising 17.9 per cent of the total tobacco market. By offering Mayfair Gold at RRP of £12.50, retailers can capitalise on this upward trend, meeting consumer demand while enhancing their sales potential.
“We’re incredibly pleased with the performance of Mayfair Gold since its launch, and this price repositioning further strengthens its appeal," said Marketing Director Mark McGuinness. "With a reduction on the RRP of 80p per pack, we are making the brand even more accessible to shoppers, while providing retailers with an excellent opportunity to increase sales.”
He continued, “As costs continue to rise and consumer budgets tighten, we remain dedicated to offering retailers top-quality products at the most competitive prices, ensuring they can maximise their profit opportunities.”
This price repositioning follows the successful introduction of Mayfair Gold Rolling Tobacco into the Ultra Value category in September 2024, underscoring JTI’s ongoing commitment to innovation and meeting consumer preferences.
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.”