PICKS OF THE WEEK

VIMTO REBRANDS

Vimto is launching a new visual identity to deliver a cleaner, bolder and more modern look. Centred around a striking ‘V’, the new design nods to the brand’s 113-year heritage with the inclusion of ‘since 1908’ as well as its iconic red, white and purple colour palette.

KA GETS FRESH

Barr Soft Drinks is launching three new flavours under its Caribbean brand KA: Tropical Krush, Strawberry Soda and Citrus Punch. The new flavours will be supported by a yearlong brand investment and online advertising campaign. RSP: 79p

RYE SMILE

Speciality Brands has brought Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2020 release to the UK. It is made by taking Michter’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Rye at barrel strength and then further ageing it in a second custom barrel. RSP: £98

RITTER GOES NUTS

Ritter Sport has unveiled a new milk chocolate cashew bar alongside a new look across its nut selection bar range. The redesigned Nut Selection range (formerly called Nut Perfection) includes five products. RSP: £1.50

EASTER BONDING

Confectionery brand Bonds of London has unveiled its Spring 2021 range featuring a raft of new and improved products including sugar bags, confectionery bags, ‘Pun Boxes’, Shaker Cups, and kids’ novelty and impulse lines. All are available from Hancocks.

CHEAT ON MEAT

Knorr has announced its return to the nation’s TV screens as part of its £6m ‘#CheatOnMeat’ campaign featuring cooking duo, The Hairy Bikers. The TV ad aims to raise awareness of the brand and encourage people to #CheatonMeat this Veganuary and beyond.

PICKS OF THE WEEK SPECIAL – MONSTER

Coca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is expanding its Monster range with three new additions: Monster Mule, Monster Ultra Fiesta and Monster Juiced Monarch.

The new lines have been created to help retailers tap into growing demand for flavour innovation in the energy sector and build on momentum behind the Monster brand after “a hugely successful year”.

Monster is now worth £287m and has delivered more than half of the sector’s £135.4m growth over the last two years in Great Britain [Nielsen, Sep 2020].

• Monster Mule – an energy twist on the famous Moscow Mule cocktail, with the taste of spicy ginger with a hint of lime. CCEP says it’s the country’s first ginger-flavoured energy drink.

• Monster Ultra Fiesta – a zero sugar, zero calories combo of juicy mango flavour with the renowned Monster energy blend.

• Monster Juiced Monarch – a mix of peach and nectarine, it combines real fruit juice with Monster’s unique energy blend and is named after the Monarch butterfly.

Simon Harrison, Vice President, Commercial Development at Coca-Cola European Partners GB, said: “72% of energy sector growth over the last year has come from new products [Nielsen, Dec 2020]. Much of this is thanks to the huge success of Monster’s new variants which contributed to over half of this.”

“We know there’s big demand in the market for new and exciting flavours, including in the low calorie energy segment. We’re confident that our latest launches, supported by impactful marketing campaigns that the Monster brand is known for, will appeal to new and existing energy drinkers and will drive sustained growth throughout this year.”

Convenience retailers will be able to choose between plain and price-marked 500ml packs of Monster Mule, Monster Ultra Fiesta and Monster Juiced Monarch for their shoppers to enjoy onthe-go.

All three new variants will also be available in four-packs later this year, and will be joined by Monster Pacific Punch, Monster Ultra Paradise and Monster Ultra Black.

PICKS OF THE WEEK SPECIAL – SWAN

Republic Technologies (UK) is rolling out a new range of Flavour Fusion Cards under its Swan brand. Available from next month, the Flavour Fusion Cards let consumers create their own level of flavour in a packet of cigarettes or rollyour-own tobacco in just 30 minutes.

The lines are being launched in two variants – Fresh Burst and Menthol – in outers containing 25 individual cards.

“Following the change in legislation last May, we have seen a significant number of consumers looking for flavour alternatives to menthol cigarettes,” said Gavin Anderson, Head of Sales at Republic. “Building on the successful launch of our Swan Crushball Menthol capsule filters last Spring, our new Flavour Fusion Cards will enable retailers to offer shoppers even more choice in flavour and format. The cards will also provide smokers with the ultimate in flavour impregnation.

“The iconic Swan brand is a beacon within the tobacco accessories category and is synonymous with quality and value and we’re confident that this latest product innovation will enable retailers to drive sales within their tobacco accessories fixture.”

The flavour card sub-category is set to deliver £18m in annual sales for retailers [IRI, Nov 2020].

RSP: 39p per card