Product news summary 13th February 2015
HEADLINES THIS WEEK:
– TOFFEE CRISP IN WHOLESALE AND CONVENIENCE CHANNEL EXCLUSIVE
– UNITED BISCUITS UNVEILS LARGEST-EVER IN-DEPOT ACTIVATION
– FANTA INTRODUCES SPECIAL-EDITION VARIANT
– CADBURY DAIRY MILK RETURNS TO TV SCREENS
WHOLESALE AND CONVENIENCE EXCLUSIVE
Nestlé Confectionery has announced plans to release a new limited-edition Toffee Crisp Honeycomb, exclusively in the wholesale and convenience channel.
Available from 16 February for 12 weeks only, the new bar has an rsp of 59p and taps into the popularity of honeycomb confectionery, which contributed an extra £6 million in sales to the category last year (Kantar).
Nestlé also reports that the honeycomb variant scored the highest of new flavour options during product testing. This follows the news that Toffee Crisp posted 21% sales growth in 2014, with the brand now valued at £31 million (IRI).
Tel: Nestlé Confectionery 020-8686 3333
UNITED BISCUITS RELAUNCHES UK DEPOT TOUR
United Biscuits (UB) has unveiled its largest ever in-depot activation scheme, designed to drive distribution of its core and NPD lines in the convenience and impulse channels across the UK.
The tour, which will see UB visit nearly 50 depots across the UK until 27 March, offers retailers advice on how to boost their biscuit sales, including UB’s tailored Five-Step ‘Better Biscuits, Better Business’ plan.
Point-of-sale display solutions are also available to help create unmissable biscuit displays in-store – one of UB’s five ‘Better Biscuits’ simple and easy steps to drive incremental sales uplifts.
UB reports that customers already implementing the steps have seen increased sales of over 50%.
Hena Chandarana, trade communications controller at UB, said: “We are committed to helping retailers unlock what we believe to be an £18 million (retail sales value) opportunity for biscuits in the impulse trade.
“In 2014, our depot tours reached over 7,200 retailers across nine weeks of dedicated activity. By offering targeted advice for retailers and strong promotional activity on the best-sellers, the Jacob’s ‘Snack Happy’ tour alone resulted in a depot sales increase of over 330%, compared to the same period the previous year.”
Remaining tour dates:
13 February: Bestway Manchester / Bestway Lewisham
16 February: Dhamecha Croydon
17 February: Dhamecha Hayes
18 February: Parfetts Stockport / Dhamecha Lewisham
19 February: Parfetts Sheffield / Dhamecha Wembley
20 February: Parfetts Somercotes / Dhamecha Wembley
23 February: Dhamecha Barking
24 February: Parfetts East End Smethwick / Dhamecha Barking
25 February: Bestway Birmingham / Dhamecha Enfield
26 February: Bestway Birmingham / Bestway Hackney
27 February: Landmark Birmingham / Bestway Luton
2 March: Bestway Enfield
3 March: Bestway Enfield / Batleys West Bromwich
4 March: Landmark Walsall / Bestway Park Royal
5 March: Blakemore Wolverhampton / Bestway Park Royal
6 March: Blakemore Wolverhampton / Bestway Southall
9 March: Hyperama Nottingham
10 March: Bestway Croydon / Bestway Leicester
11 March: Bestway Croydon
12 March: Parfetts Aintree
13 March: Parfetts Halifax / Landmark BA Cardiff
16 March: Batleys Leeds
17 March: Batleys Leeds / Bestway Acton
18 March: Bestway Romford
19 March: Landmark United Glasgow / Bestway Edgeware
20 March: Landmark United Glasgow / Bestway Tottenham
24 March: Bestway Barking
25 March: Batleys Gillingham
27 March: Batleys Southampton
Tel: United Biscuits 020-234 5000
NEW APPLE AND SOUR CHERRY VARIANT OF FANTA
Coca-Cola Enterprises has sought to capitalise on the growing popularity of special-edition flavours by introducing a Fanta Apple & Sour Cherry range.
Replacing Fanta Peach & Apricot, the new variant comes in a variety of pack formats, including price-marked 330ml cans (59p) and 500ml bottles (£1 PMP).
Six-can multipacks are also available, alongside non-price-marked 500ml and two-litre PET bottles.
The launch is backed by sampling, PoS and outdoor media activity, with a social media ‘share & win’ initiative also running to target potential shoppers.
Tel: Coca-Cola Enterprises (0845) 722 7222
KEITH IS BACK! CADBURY DAIRY MILK LAUNCHES TV CAMPAIGN
Mondelēz International has announced the return of Cadbury Dairy Milk on TV screens this month, as part of a £7 million campaign featuring outdoor, digital, in-store and sampling activity.
The 30-second advert, which features the return of Keith – a bored office worker – is designed to encourage consumers to explore and rediscover the full range of the nation’s favourite chocolate (Nielsen), with a particular focus on 120g and 200g SKUs.
Matthew Williams, marketing activation director for chocolate at Mondelēz International, said: “Focusing our campaign on the full range will encourage consumers to trial new variants or re-trial a forgotten favourite and provides a significant opportunity to drive incremental sales.”
Tel: Mondelēz International (08702) 400861
