Picks of the Week

PREMIER FOODS CAMPAIGN AIMS TO TACKLE FOOD WASTE

The food manufacturer has developed an online tool that displays recipes based on the food items most commonly found at the back of the fridge.

Premier Foods has launched a new campaign to help consumers transform their leftovers into meals.‘Fresh Take on Food Waste’ is an online tool, developed alongside WRAP UK, that displays recipes based on the food items most commonly found at the back of people’s fridges. Users can select the ingredient they want to use up and then pick from a bank of recipes to make at home that have been developed by Premier Foods’ chefs.

Shoppers can access the website by scanning a QR code located on the top-selling products within Premier Foods’ Homepride, Loyd Grossman, and Sharwood’s cooking sauce ranges.

Andrey Sokirkin, brand director for cooking sauces and accompaniments at Premier Foods, said: “Every year, an astonishing amount of food is wasted in UK homes – the equivalent of 490,000 bin lorries, according to WRAP UK.

“Through this campaign we want to encourage consumers to take simple, easy steps in making leftovers go a little bit further, and the versatility and affordability of cooking sauces makes them the ideal choice for people wanting to do just that. ‘A Fresh Take on Food Waste’ is all about championing those overlooked ingredients that often get thrown away and changing the way we look at leftovers. It’s been great working with our chefs to develop these recipes and I look forward to seeing our customers get creative in the kitchen and doing their bit to reduce their food waste.”

The national in-store execution for ‘Fresh Take on Food Waste’ will run from September to October in selected stores.

There will be in-store POS marketing support to help raise awareness of the campaign among shoppers.

FANTA REVEALS 2022 HALLOWEEN CAMPAIGN AND ON-PACK PROMO

Last year’s activity saw 12% value growth for the brand.

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners has revealed this year’s Fanta Halloween campaign, including an on-pack promotion offering prizes and surprises.

From 12 September, shoppers are invited to scan QR codes on limited edition, ghoulish packs of Fanta to find out instantly whether they’ve won an epic prize from a £50k pool of goodies. Prizes range from cauldrons of cash to home entertainment systems and supplies for the ultimate scary movie night in. Those who don’t win will receive exclusive digital content to scare their friends and family with instead.

What’s more, this year marks the first time Fanta Lemon, Fanta Fruit Twist Zero, Fanta Grape Zero, and Fanta Raspberry Zero are included in the brand’s Halloween activity.

The promotion will be supported by a multi-million-pound marketing campaign which includes the return of 2021’s TV ad, paid social media, digital and out-of-home advertising. In addition, free POS materials will be available whilst stocks last from My.CCEP.com by mid-September.

“Worth more than £270m and in 13.3% growth, Fanta is the no.1 flavoured carbonates brand in GB and has become synonymous with Halloween in recent years,” Martin Attock, vice-president of commercial development at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners GB, said.

“Fanta Zero is doing particularly well and led growth during the spooky season in 2021, which is why we’re including more of our popular zero sugar flavours this time around. Retailers can create in-outlet theatre with the front-of-store and aisle-end displays – where HFSS-compliant ranges like Fanta have a key role to play. This, combined with our £50,000 prize pool and the other marketing activity we have planned, will help Fanta and our customers achieve another year of strong growth at Halloween.”

ECO VAPE PARTNERS UP TO LAUNCH NEW HYBRID DEVICE

The new Bear + Aspire Hybrid R1 promises more than 3,500 puffs.

E-liquids manufacturer Eco Vape and vape coils producer Aspire have teamed up to list what has been described as the UK’s first hybrid product designed to meet an increasing demand for higher capacity disposable devices.

The new device boasts a nicotine salt range of e-liquids, providing the customer with over 24 flavours from the Eco Vape Bear Flavours range. The Aspire R1 is capable of more than 3,500 puffs and, because it is rechargeable, has a “significantly reduced impact on the environment”.

It is launching into 927 forecourt stores in September 2022.

According to recent retail data, the top 10 products have sold over 20 million units (through registered tills) in the last twelve-week reporting period alone, with an average retail price of £6.14 per unit for an estimated 600 puffs. This compares to the R1’s 3,500 puffs for an recommended selling price of £9.99.

“We have been working hand in glove for two months with Aspire fine tuning the e-liquid to produce what will be a game-changing product in the industry. The Aspire team have been the epitome of professionalism and it is our pleasure to work with them,” Robert Sidebottom, group managing director, Eco Vape, said.

Shay Kastro, Global BD & marketing director, Aspire, added: “Working with Robert and the team at Eco Vape has been a delight, their vision for the future of vaping is perfectly aligned with ours at Aspire and we look forward to the success of the ‘Bear + Aspire R1’ and the many benefits it will provide millions of vapers in the UK and beyond.”

The new device can be ordered from Eco Vape Wholesale.

CADBURY FINGERS TEAMS UP WITH NATIONAL DEAF CHILDREN’S SOCIETY

The initiative encourages people to learn some British Sign Language

Cadbury Fingers has partnered with National Deaf Children’s Society to launch a new integrated marketing campaign urging the nation to learn British Sign Language (BSL).

‘Sign with Fingers Big and Small’ aims to ensure that deaf people do not miss out on moments in the future. Spearheaded by a film on video-on-demand, connected TV and YouTube, the campaign also features lessons with sayings such as ‘Fancy a cuppa?’ or ‘Having a good day?’ to help kickstart people’s BSL learning journey.

Illustrated animations of these phrases will feature on digital billboards, on YouTube and in social activity on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. These illustrated phrases direct to BSL lessons, taught by the lead actor in the film, on the ‘Sign with Fingers Hub’, which also includes links to additional resources and learning, provides deaf awareness and inclusion advice, and discusses the various other communications methods deaf people use beyond BSL.

“The new campaign encourages the nation to learn some British Sign Language – a language in which hands and fingers play a crucial role,” Susanne Nowak, Senior Brand Manager for Cadbury Biscuits said. “The launch of the new campaign presents a big opportunity for retailers, who should stock Cadbury Fingers for all to consume and share.”

Brand owner Mondelez urged retailers to stock up on Cadbury Fingers to ensure they are prepared for the buzz it expects to be generated from the campaign, which includes out-of-home, digital, social, influencer and partnership activities.

GEEK BAR LAUNCHES POD REFILL SYSTEM WITH RECHARGEABLE BATTERY

Geek Bar’s latest device has been developed specifically for the UK and offers a pod refill system.

Vape manufacturer Geek Bar has launched its J1 Pod in the UK, featuring a disposable pod refill system and a rechargeable battery.

Developed with the UK market in mind, the J1 Pod allows consumers to switch flavours at a lower cost.

Available through specialist vape retailers and convenience stores, it has a recommended retail price of £8 for the pod system while a twin-pack of 2ml pod refills will cost £5. The 500mAh battery can be recharged via a USB device. Featuring the latest KA mesh coil technology, the J1 Pod aims to provide more vapour and a more consistent flavour.

What’s more, it hopes to offer an alternative vaping experience for people looking to give up smoking tobacco products.

Meanwhile, it boasts the company’s newly designed packaging, which features a more visible age restriction warning against the sale to minors.

The J1 Pod offers 11 different flavours: Ginger Soda, Tropical Skittles Blast, Orange Vanilla, Tropical Fruit, Lime Cherry, Mango Smoothie, Watermelon Ice, Pink Lemonade, Kiwi Passion Fruit Guava, Cheesy Blueberry Jelly, Lime Cactus.

The devices are lightweight and compact, suitable for on-the-go vaping and prefilled with 20mg of nicotine as well as up to 2ml of e-liquid. Offering 600 puffs per device, they are designed for mouth-to-lung vapers in particular, who want to replicate the experience of smoking through a consistent throat hit.

ROCKSTAR KICKSTARTS FRESHERS WEEK

The campaign will see samples and experiential activity across universities.

Rockstar is rolling out a new global messaging campaign to drive awareness of the Britvicowned energy drink brand. Over 900,000 samples, targeting Fresher’s Week specifically, will be handed out during September with a further 500,000 samples and experiential activity across universities.

The ‘Fuel Every You’ creative is running across PoS, as well as in and around convenience and impulse stores. The aim is to provide a call to action for consumers with variations of the ‘Fuel Every You’ message, including ‘Fuel The Do It All You’.

“Students are in many ways the ideal customers for the convenience retailer as they are likely to visit often, buy on impulse and are keen to try new things,” Ben Parker, GB Retail Commercial Director at Britvic said.

“With many away from home for the first time, they will be looking for offers and bargains, new ideas and tastes, quick meals, snacks and drinks to fit in with their busy lifestyles.”

Rockstar also provided its top tips for merchandising during the freshers period. It suggests:

● Stocking PMP ranges offering variety and value.

● Leveraging key events, like Freshers Week, using POS, supplier and brand assets.

● Leveraging activation based on key passion points for students.

● Considering digital pre-shop communication through social media or by geo-targeting shoppers.

● Keeping fixtures easy to navigate by brand blocking, so that products are easy to find.

● Where appropriate, linking with other categories such as crisps, snacks and nuts offering drink and snack promotions at key times of the day, such as mid-morning or afternoon.

● Within large stores, considering stocking up on HFSS-compliant products for student promotion.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

CLUB TROPI-CORONA

Corona has rolled out a new alcoholic sparkling water made with fruit juice in three exotic flavours – Guava & Lime, Raspberry & Lemon, and Grapefruit & Lemongrass. Launching in an 8 x 330ml format, they contain 96 calories and 2.4g of sugar per can.

CHRISTMAS CALLING

McVitie’s Christmas line-upincludes the new-for-2022 BlissfulsBelgian Milk Chocolate &Cream and the revamped Victoriaand Family Circle sweetbiscuit assortments. Jaffa Cakes

CASK STRENGTH

Orkney-based single malt distillery, Highland Park, has added a new whisky to its Cask Strength series. Launching as a permanent addition to the Highland Park range, Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 has been created using the traditional ‘straight from the cask’ method.

FRUITY VODKA

Smirnoff has added the new Mango & Passionfruit Twist premix RTD to its growing flavour portfolio. The new 250ml format is being rolled out across the offtrade from September onwards, available to purchase as a single slimline or a price-marked pack. RSP £2.39.

CHOCOLATE FUN

Milkshake and smoothie brand F’real has expanded its UK portfolio of self-serve shakes with the new Chocolate Fudge Brownie. The new flavour will be available to stockists from the end of September, launching in a new cup design. Downloadable promotional assets are available.

HUMMUS LOVE

Eat Real has added a new Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar flavour to its Hummus Chips range. The new addition is vegan along with being free from gluten, artificial colours, flavours and ingredients. The 45g grab bags have an RSP of £1.20 while the 135g sharing bags have an RSP of £2.