A yuletide-themed digital consumer campaign is spreading cheer across SPAR stores in Wales, Central and south east England.
Started on 7 December and running until 1 January 2024 Yule Spinner Winner offers shoppers the opportunity to win thousands of instant prizes on a daily basis, plus the chance to win a fantastic £10,000 grand prize.
The campaign has already generated over 200,000 entries and on track to outperform the summer’s Spinner Winner digital consumer campaign, when over quarter a million entries were made into the prize draw.
This new yuletide version is now live in participating SPAR stores serviced by A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd.
“After the great success of Spinner Winner during the summer we are delighted to launch Yule Spinner Winner, which has already seen a fantastic response from our customers and is driving footfall into our stores into the run up to Christmas,” Sarah Ellis, A.F. Blakemore group marketing director, said.
“Yule Spinner Winner will make our customers lives easier in the busy pre-Christmas period, with free products, discounts and a chance to win £10,000 not to mention the fun of just playing the game!”
This new digital consumer campaign runs across company owned and independent SPAR stores and A.F. Blakemore has invested heavily with in-store POS, SPAR in-store radio advertising, social media and PR.
Yule Spinner Winner is being supported by leading FMCG suppliers including AG Barr, KP Snacks, Walkers, Friesland Campina, Mars Wrigley and Grenade.
Fox’s Burton’s Companies (FBC UK) is bringing retailers a premium proposition of Fox's Fabulous Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Shortcake Rounds in a new price-marked pack (PMP) format. The luxurious treat from the number one big cookie brand features crumbly shortcake biscuits coated in a generous amount of smooth, rich milk chocolate. The new format will meet the current demand for accessible products that deliver on the taste and quality that Fox’s is known for.
There is a £5m opportunity for symbol and independent impulse outlets to sell more biscuits with Fox’s , particularly with the premium proposition of the range, and this is made more accessible to shoppers with the new PMP offering. The wider premium treat segment of sweet biscuits is worth £383m and is growing by 10.8 per cent year on year. Shoppers are using biscuits as an opportunity to treat themselves and to lift their mood, presenting a further £13.8m growth opportunity for retailers in the biscuit category.
“Value continues to be a key factor for shoppers and PMP formats give them reassurance and confidence that they are not being overcharged," said Colin Taylor, Trade Marketing Director at FBC UK. "As a result, price-marked packs present an ideal opportunity for retailers to take advantage of this and allows them to tap into the premium treat segment – encouraging consumers to trade up.”
“As the colder weather and darker nights draw in, sharing is especially important for the big night in occasion. Fox’s Chocolatey Rounds are the perfect treat for these delicious moments of enjoyment, particularly as the pack size means it’s perfect for sharing with others. The Fox’s PMP portfolio can help retailers make the most of the opportunity in this category.”
Fox’s Chocolatey Milk Chocolate Shortcake Rounds PMP are available from 18 November throughout wholesalers nationwide.
Pet care specialists Purina has launched a campaign to spotlight the amazing support pets provide to people in need, encouraging all to say a huge thank you to pets up and down the country.
The campaign comes as a new poll of 2,000 adults who have a cat or dog found that their four-legged friends regularly help t out when they’re feeling down.
They claim pets have helped improve their mood when they’ve been ill (47 per cent), after a bad day at work (39 per cent) and following an argument (22 per cent).
Actions that give humans the boost they need are their cat or dog snuggling into them (65 per cent) or greeting them when arriving home (58 per cent). More than half (54 per cent) believe spending time with animals acts as therapy.
The research, commissioned by Purina, also found three quarters said being a cat or dog owner has helped improved their mental health, while 49 per cent said it’s had a positive impact on their physical health.
Purina has teamed up with professional footballer Lucy Bronze, who is mum to West Highland Terrier, Narla, for the campaign.
“Narla has been the best thing ever for me – being a footballer is an absolute dream come true, and I couldn’t do it without her by my side. Being able to come home to someone who is so happy to see you after a long day is a great feeling, and I’m so grateful that she is there for me through all life’s ups and downs,” Bronze said.
Calum Macrae, chief executive of Purina UK & Ireland, said: “We believe that pets absolutely are the UK’s hidden support network – they really are the ones there by our side, often when we need them most.
“Harnessing the power of the pet-human bond creates real benefits to people’s wellbeing. As well as in everyday households, we see this truly come to life in the work we do to help our amazing charity partners. Like Cats Protection and their Lifeline service – a specialist cat fostering service for those fleeing domestic abuse; and Canine Partners, who partner highly trained assistance dogs with people with physical disabilities, providing them with greater independence and increased quality of life.
“It is life-changing and that’s why we have an ambition to help one million people in vulnerable situations improve their health and wellbeing by 2030.”
When asked about the ways people show appreciation to their pets, 59 per cent of owners do so by cuddling them, 45 per cent by getting them a new toy, and 11 per cent even put their favourite TV show on.
A fifth say (20 per cent) they initially got their pet to encourage them to do more exercise, while 16 per cent wanted a sense of responsibility and 14 per cent did so to combat loneliness.
It also emerged that cats and dogs have helped people overcome feelings of stress (52 per cent), loneliness (47 per cent) and anxiety (41 per cent).
Almost three quarters (73 per cent) even believe their pet can tell how they’re feeling and over half (54 per cent) have voiced their issues out loud to them.
More than a fifth (22 per cent) have some days where they only speak to their pet, and those surveyed spend an average of three hours and 45 minutes a week chatting to them.
A half (51 per cent) agree it’s amazing how their pet can make them feel better without being able to talk, and 43 per cent claim the companionship has helped them in life massively.
Half of those surveyed, via OnePoll.com, don’t think animals get enough credit for the support they provide humans and 58 per cent couldn’t envisage their life without their furry friend.
A fifth have referred to their pet as a therapist, while 19 per cent have even asked them for advice when feeling low.
Almost a third (32 per cent) feel they’d suffer from loneliness if it wasn’t for their pet and 56 per cent said they really are their best friend.
Purina said Felix, the leading cat food brand across Europe, is hitting the road with global superstar, Robbie Williams, as headline sponsor of his 2025 European Tour.
This is the first time a cat food brand has sponsored an A-lister music tour, bringing the pet and music industry together like never before. The tour marks the continuation of the partnership between the brand and the internationally acclaimed recording artist, with Robbie Williams writing a song, ‘It’s Great to Be a Cat’, exclusively for the brand’s advertising campaign last year.
The mischievous duo will be visiting 18 countries in Europe, starting on 31 May 2025 in Edinburgh and reaching London on the 6 June. The tour is scheduled to complete at the end of September 2025.
Robbie Williams said: “I’m pleased that my partnership with Felix has extended into the live touring space, and I’m excited that the brand will be coming on tour with me. I’m a proud cat owner, and whilst I can’t bring my cats on the road I am able to bring Felix on board as the headline sponsor of next year’s tour.”
Fabio Pietro Degli Esposti, European marketing group director at Nestle, Purina, said: “It’s a very exciting moment for us to continue our successful collaboration with Robbie Williams and Felix and connect two industries in such an unexpected way – for Purina and for the whole pet industry. This tour sponsorship elevates our It’s Great to Be a Cat ongoing campaign and highlights Felix’s mischievous approach to making sure its products are front and centre in surprising ways.”
Laurence Jones, Felix senior brand manager for Purina UK&I, said: “While we know real cats don’t travel well, we’re excited to see Felix hit the road with Robbie on his world tour, bringing the music and pet industry together in a way that hasn’t been done before. This sponsorship is an exciting evolution for our ongoing It’s Great To Be A Cat campaign and highlights Felix’s bold approach to making sure the brand is front and centre in surprising ways.”
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has launched a new initiative called ‘Local Moments of Joy’, giving independent and convenience retailers the chance to win a share of £48,000 ahead of the festive season to help make Christmas extra special for their customers and local area.
Live from Monday (18 November), independent convenience retailers must be registered on My.CCEP.com to enter the daily free prize draw. Each of the 12 randomly selected daily winners will receive £1,000 to thank them for their support in 2024.
The competition closes on 29 November, with winners contacted the day after each draw. More information and full terms and conditions are available on My.CCEP.com.
A further 12 lucky winners can claim up to £10,000, as part of a share of £36,000, to donate to a nominated registered local charity or good cause of their choice.
“For decades, the Coca-Cola brand has united people during memorable seasonal moments and become synonymous with Christmas. Convenience retailers embody that spirit – they are at the heart of their communities all year round, supporting local causes and creating welcoming spaces for everyone,” Ruth Fawcett, convenience & wholesale associate director at CCEP GB, said.
“With ‘Local Moments of Joy’ we want to celebrate and reward their generosity by helping them spread a little extra holiday magic this season. This fund allows retailers to make Christmas even more special, whether through charitable donations or putting on events. We can’t wait to see the joy they bring to their communities this Christmas.”
The new ‘Local Moments of Joy’ community giveaway runs alongside the return of Coca-Cola’s iconic Christmas marketing activity which launches later this month.
Retailers will also be able to access festive Coca-Cola branded point of sale materials from My.CCEP.com.
Maxi Babybel, the limited-edition, supersized version of the snacking cheese, Mini Babybel, is making a festive comeback.
At 10x bigger than Mini Babybel, Maxi Babybel was last year’s No.1 Christmas cheese NPD, proving that a well-executed novelty can truly capture shopper imagination. Racking up more than one million TikTok views and 80K likes in the first 24-hours of launch. Engagement hit 10 per cent – double TikTok’s average of five per cent, helping to drive nearly £550K of sales in just one month.
With its red wax jacket and brand new festive snowflake outer wrap, it makes a fun cheeseboard centrepiece. Plus, of course, it’s still made from the same four simple ingredients and naturally rich in calcium and protein, with no added colours, flavours or preservatives.
Supporting the launch is a creative social media campaign encouraging festive shoppers to “Go Big” with excitement fuelled by a playful video showing security guards sneakily positioning Maxi Babybel onto supermarket shelves ahead of the launch.
“We know that three quarters of Brits believe ‘going big’ at Christmas is not about spending big, but rather spending time with friends and family, that’s why we’ve made Maxi Babybel 10x bigger – perfect for sharing," said Oliver Richmond, Marketing Manager at Bel UK. "Around half of Brits said their favourite way to 'go big' at Christmas is with food and drinks, and nearly a quarter say the classic cheeseboard is their festive favourite. Almost a quarter say they look forward to seasonal and limited-edition products.
“If you look at the year-after-year success of seasonal, limited editions in other categories, it’s clear shoppers love the anticipation. Babybel already outsells it’s nearest cheese snacking rival by £73m, so we’re anticipating Maxi Babybel to drive incremental sales as shoppers get into the festive spirit. Last year proved there was a lot of demand for fun limited editions and we’re expecting this year to exceed expectations.”
200g Maxi Babybel is available from November 18 with an RRP of £3.50