NPD and Media

PICKS OF THE WEEK – COMPETITION

FERRERO ENCOURAGES RETAILERS TO SHARE THE VALENTINE’S LOVE

The brand’s campaign builds further on its successful Love Island association.

Ferrero UK has launched a Valentine’s Day competition, exclusive to convenience retailers, to drive engagement among shoppers. In addition to stock, five stores will each win five Ferrero Rocher-inspired rose bouquets (worth £50 each) to gift to loyal customers or members of their community who they believe deserve a reward.

The campaign highlights the importance of stocking the core Ferrero Rocher range ahead of Valentine’s Day, while point-of-sale materials will assist retailers in encouraging in-store cross-category purchases by bringing chocolate confectionery and flowers together. This year, the winning retailers will be further supported with comms to local media.

Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero, said: “Our competition and Ferrero Rocher-inspired bouquets had incredibly positive feedback last year, so we’re looking forward to bringing it back once again and working closely with the winners.”

Aman Uppal, of One Stop Mount Nod in Coventry, added: “We saw a sales uplift of over 100% on the Ferrero Rocher T16 compared to the previous year, and the competition also encouraged us to stock new formats for the first time with the T24 pack size, Ferrero Rocher Hearts and the Grand Ferrero Rocher. These all sold well, and I’d say the sales uplift was purely down to the Ferrero Rocher cross-category FSDU and the front of store display we created, so we really appreciated the support and would encourage fellow convenience retailers to get involved for 2022.”

Retailers can visit Ferrero’s dedicated trade website yourperfectstore.co.uk and order the Ferrero Rocher cross-category FSDU to be entered automatically. Alternatively, individuals who tweet Ferrero’s trade account or email FerreroYourPerfectStore@cirkle.com an image of their boxed chocolate collection along with their name, store name, address and contact details will also be entered. The competition runs until 31 January and the winners will receive their bouquets ahead of the Valentine’s Day weekend. Visit yourperfectstore. co.uk for full terms and conditions.

PICKS OF THE WEEK – BEL UK

BABYBEL GOES GREEN FOR PLANT-BASED LAUNCH

Babybel Plant-Based is made using a Vegan Society-approved blend of coconut oil and starch.

Bel UK has rolled out Babybel Plant-Based following growing public demand.

The new product launched in Sainsbury’s on 1 January and will be available to retailers nationwide from early 2022 in cases of eight, with an RSP of £2 per pack.

Packs contain five portions, each individually wrapped in a green wax shell – a move away from the brand’s traditional red covering.

With a smooth and creamy texture, Babybel Plant-Based is made using a Vegan Society-approved blend of coconut oil and starch, is free from artificial colours and preservatives, and is a source of calcium and Vitamin B12.

It comes in a fully recyclable paper outer bag – with the other elements of the packaging recyclable via Babybel’s TerraCycle scheme.

The launch comes as insights show that more than two-thirds (68%) of British consumers have considered a transition to a vegan diet and that dairy-free alternatives to cheese are growing faster than cheese itself.

Ollie Richmond, Brand Manager at Babybel, said: “We’ve seen overwhelming demand for the development of a vegan-friendly Babybel over the years, and with the plant-based market continuing to grow substantially, the new launch is perfectly timed to meet this consumer appetite.”

PICKS OF THE WEEK – QUORN

QUORN HAS SOME TASTY RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022 FOR 2022

‘Tasty Resolutions’ will run across TV, video-on-demand, online, and social.

Quorn has kicked-off 2022 with a new TV ad encouraging carnivores to swap out meat for Quorn this January.

‘Tasty Resolutions’, part of the brand’s Helping the Planet One Bite at a Time campaign, runs until the end of February across TV, video-on-demand, online, and social. The new ad is expected to reach millions of viewers across shows including Coronation Street, The Masked Singer, First Dates, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts, Googlebox, and Friends.

It features a meat-loving wrestler dad who, like a quarter of Brits, normally can’t keep to any resolutions. This year, he bucks the trend and wins at his resolution to eat more healthily, with a switch to Quorn.

Three of Quorn’s best-sellers appear in the ad: Quorn Sausages, Mince, and Pieces.

Gill Riley, Marketing Director at Quorn Foods UK, said: “January is the biggest month for new consumers coming into the meat free category.

Research in January 2021 highlighted that 90% of those that came into the meat free category during Veganuary, did so for health reasons.

“Add to that, the research showing 53% of New Year’s resolutions are to live more healthily, but nearly a quarter of them are never fulfilled, and it highlights a big opportunity to show that Quorn can be the perfect way to kick start a healthier year both for ourselves and the planet.

“Quorn’s Tasty Resolutions campaign has been developed to show that swapping to meat free can be an easy swap we can all make, even meat lovers. Why? Because, unlike most healthy behaviours, eating Quorn isn’t a compromise, it is delicious and nutritious.”

Riley added: “Quorn’s iconic orange branding is a beacon within meat free, providing retailers with a real opportunity to drive meat free sales with products that are synonymous with quality, taste and sustainability. Shoppers know they’re getting a delicious product that’s good for the planet and for them.”

PICKS OF THE WEEK – BIRDS EYE

BIRDS EYE ASKS SHOPPERS TO ‘DO-WHAT-YOU-CAN-UARY’

The campaign aims to empower shoppers to do their bit in reducing the amount of meat they eat, without feeling the pressure of going 100% meat-free.

Birds Eye Green Cuisine has launched a new campaign for Veganuary, to encourage shoppers to ‘do what they can’ when it comes to increasing their consumption of plant-based products.

Making a pun on the annual campaign that challenges people to avoid eating meat for a month, ‘Do-what-you-canuary’ seeks to empower shoppers to do their bit in reducing the amount of meat they eat, without feeling the pressure of going 100% meat-free for the whole of January.

The campaign rolled out on 3 January, across TV, video-on-demand and out-of-home in conjunction with in-store activity. Veganuary plays an important role in attracting new shoppers into the meat-free category, having seen a 20% increase in penetration last January, totalling £23m.

Victoria Westwood, Senior Brand Manager at Birds Eye, said: “We’re on a mission to show how plants can be at the heart of every meal, and

encourage people to increase their consumption of plant-based food for both the benefit of themselves as well as the planet. Yet, while Veganuary is crucial in attracting new shoppers to the category, we recognise that many are caught between wanting to make a difference but without having to commit to completely shifting away from meat-based products.

“Do-what-you-canuary targets flexitarian shoppers who want to reduce their meat consumption, but on their own terms and without the associations that come with being labelled as a vegan or meateater. We want to reassure shoppers to do what they can when it comes to enjoying meat-free food, and to do so free from the labels, pressures and pretention of plant-based eating. With the number of options available as part of our Green Cuisine range, we’re perfectly positioned to make it even easier for shoppers to add more plant-based foods to their diet, throughout January and the rest of 2022.”

PICKS OF THE WEEK – WKD

BRANSTON UNVEILS NEW HIGH-PROTEIN BEAN MEALS

The meals are high in protein, contain at least one of your five-a-day, are gluten free, and are low in fat and sugar.

Branston Beans has launched three new highprotein vegetarian/plant-based bean meals that are packed with protein and are quick and easy to prepare. The three variants are:

● Branston Chickpea Dhal (390g plant-based) – Full of chickpeas, whole brown lentils, onion, and red pepper in a mildly aromatic tomato sauce.

● Branston Mexican Style Beans (390g plant based) – A hearty chilli with a mixture of five beans, including borlotti, cannellini, pinto, flageolet, and red kidney beans in a rich tomato sauce with chilli.

● Branston Italian Style Beans (390g vegetarian) – A blend of borlotti and cannellini beans with mixed herbs in a creamy tomato sauce and a splash of olive oil.

With meat-free and health-conscious options becoming more popular, Branston’s new variants are high in protein; contain at least one of your five-a-day; are gluten free; are low in fat and sugar; and are free from artificial flavours, colours, and preservatives.

Dean Towey, Commercial Director at Branston Beans, said: “Branston Beans are already a staple within in the kitchen cupboard and we’re thrilled to introduce these new products that we know our customers will love. We’re certain the trio of new products will become firm favourites with consumers.”The meals are available now and have an RSP of £1.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

SIZZLING PMP

KP Snacks is looking to capitalise on the popularity of PMPs with the new McCoy’s Sizzling King Prawn range, marking the 25th SKU in the £1 PMP range. The rollout is expected to boost retailers’ sales as the value category continues to expand in demand.

SALMON GOODNESS

Burgess Pet Care has expandedits Supadog range of completedry dog food with a new Rich inSalmon line, suitable for all adultdogs. For every 12.5kg bag sold,Burgess will donate 20p to dogrescues across the UK in theform of free food.

VALENTINE’S PICK & MIX

Hancocks’ Valentine’s Day rangeincludes a selection of Valentine’s-themedpick and mix,chocolate boxes, and Bonds PunBoxes. Pink Hearts, Fruit Hearts,Milk Chocolate, Mallow Hearts,Guylian, and Lindt heart boxes are all available.

SUGAR-FREE ENERGY

Red Bull is extending its multipackoffering with the launch ofa new Sugarfree Price MarkedMultipack, available from Booker.The new pack bolsters thebrand’s current multipack portfolioand futureproofs the rangeahead of HFSS legislation.

CHILEAN RED

Accolade Wines has rolled out a new Jam Shed varietal, Chilean Merlot, which has an RSP of £7. The Jam Shed Merlot is rich and smooth with flavours of cherries, raspberry, and juicy plums. The brand hopes the launch will attract new, younger wine drinkers.

TASTE OF JAPAN

Soy sauce brand Kikkoman is launching a new limited-edition design to its 150ml dispenser bottle, depicting a set of classic Japanese images including koi carp and a lotus flower on the front of the bottle. Over 600,000 new bottles will be produced, on shelves from February/March.