Sweet sensations!

Although the Irish are becoming more health conscious as a nation, taste remains the top priority for consumers when it comes to confectionery So while natural confections, as well as sugar-free and reduced sugar products are gaining momentum in the category, there’s still plenty of demand for indulgent treats.

Indeed, today’s sugar confectionery market is growing at a steady pace thanks to demand for on-the-go snacks, an increase in gifting,

A fresh new look

Ampersand, the leading distributor to the convenience channel, is proud to present a new look for its Sonas Sweets range of bagged jellies developed for sweet lovers. The new packaging is eye-catching and colourful just like the jellies within, with bursts of colour and sunshine in every bite and is 100% recyclable!

The new branding has been modernised while still featuring “sunshine and rainbows” on the packaging to reflect the brand name Sonas, which means “happiness” in Irish. In addition to the new packaging design, Ampersand has also rebranded the Sonas Sweets logo to feature a memorable mascot in the form of a smiling sun, incorporated modern typography and included vibrant rainbow colours throughout the new logo and packaging designs.

The packets are now colour-coded to reflect the three categories of jellies within the delicious 24 flavours of the hanging bag range The “Jellies” are now packed in striking red packs, the “Fizzy” and sour sweets are in vibrant yellow and orange packs and the “Nibbles” range of bite-size treats are packed in bright blue bags. The new look packaging has been designed to appeal to both children and adults alike.

Retailing from €1, Sonas Sweets hanging bags will bring a smile to your face with every flavour Also available, is the best-selling “€2 Mix-up” which contains classic favourites and unusual jellies in distinctive colourful and cheery packaging. The Mix-up packaging has also been refreshed in the rebrand and in and the introduction of new products with innovative flavours. In a constantly evolving sector, it is critical for retailers to ensure they are stocking the biggest brands to drive a strong rate of sale and therefore profit.

Euromonitor International made a number of pertinent findings in a report entitled ‘Sugar Confectionery in Ireland’, which was published in July 2022. According to the analyst, “healthy trends are likely to impact addition an exciting mix of confectionery in a rainbow of flavours has been added.

Sonas Sweets’ new and improved packaging has been designed to stand out in-store To further encourage and drive sales, Ampersand can provide some bright coloured stands, branded header boards and dump bins which will also brighten up any retail outlet.

“We are thrilled to relaunch the new and improved look for Sonas Sweets jellies, which we believe will be a hit with sweet lovers of all ages,” says Sinéad Smith, marketing manager at Ampersand.

“Our focus is to provide our customers with the highest quality products, and this rebrand the shape of sugar confectionery in the forecast five-year period with brands focusing on reducing the amount of sugar and adding extra vitamins to provide some nutritional value, which will be seen primarily in jellies and other sugar confectionery products. Manufacturers will focus on modifying and improving recipes of existing brands, which will likely reduce the amount of sugar to help support the category moving forward.” for Sonas Sweets is no exception,” she adds. “We are confident that the colourful packaging and delicious flavours will make our jellies a popular choice for those who are looking for a sweet treat. We are also planning some more exciting updates for our wider confectionery range this year which will reflect and reinforce Ampersand’s commitment to quality within our portfolio.”

The new Sonas Sweets range of jellies are now available for sale from Ampersand. For more information, contact your Ampersand representative or the Ampersand sales line on 01 413 0150

A firm favourite

Rowntrees, a brand long synonymous with sugar confectionery and one of Ireland’s favourite confectionery brands for over 140 years, has been performing strongly with MAT value growth +13.8% and YTD +27.3%.

Rowntrees continues to develop exciting products and in the last year expanded its vegan friendly offering to ensure as many people as possible can now enjoy its fruity chews Vegan friendly Rowntrees Fruit Gums and Rowntrees Pick & Mix joined the existing range alongside vegan friendly Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles and Rowntrees Jelly Tots. Suitable for those following vegetarian, vegan and religious diets, these new offerings are likely attracting incremental shoppers.

Further innovation this year includes the launch of a Rowntrees range of sharing bags containing real fruit juice and 30% less sugar, plus they have no artificial flavourings, colourings, or sweeteners.

The new range includes:

• Berry Hearts - Squidgy hearts in flavour favourites strawberry, raspberry and blackcurrant.

• Safari Mix - Giraffes, elephants, hippos and paw prints make up this fun mix with strawberry, orange, lemon and apple flavours.

• Gummy Bears – Nostalgic gummy bears in strawberry, orange, lemon and apple flavours.

In other Rowntrees news, Tropical Tots from the Jelly Tots range are now being rolled out nationwide with fruity flavoured sweets in five tasty flavours: passion fruit, peach, pineapple, grapefruit and mango

The full Rowntrees range of singles, multipacks and sharing bags contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Mints also play a critical role in achieving the optimum sugar singles range Mints are very much a functional/destination segment of the confectionery market, with shoppers actively seeking out products to freshen their breath after a coffee or lunch break. When shopping patterns were impacted by various lockdowns over the past few years, mints sales were

Rowntrees has launched a new range of sharing bags containing real fruit juice and 30% less sugar, with no artificial flavourings, colourings, or sweeteners affected as shoppers stayed at home and this resulted in fewer out of home consumption occasions.

However, with a return to more normal living patterns over the past year with people returning to work and travel, retailers have had an opportunity to boost their mint category sales once again. To continue to capitalise on this growth, retailers should ensure they are always stocking the best-selling packs across a range of usage occasions. Focusing on big brands which consumers know and trust will also capture shoppers’ attention in store. When it comes to mints, Polo is the original ‘mint with a hole’ providing minty crunchy refreshment. The Polo brand is growing MAT + 26.2% and YTD +29.1% and the Polo portfolio includes Original, Sugar Free, Spearmint and Fruit variants. Key locations to consider in-store space for Polo include displays at the till and secondary siting especially if located next to food and drink to go categories.

*(Source: Nielsen total scantrack incl. Dunnes & Discounter estimate data to wk 26/02/23)

Subhead To Be Supplied

Mints and gums are seeing positive signs of growth as more people continue to return to work following the Covid-19 lockdowns. Jason Sutherland, UK & Ireland sales director at Ferrero, reports that the Tic Tac brand also showed great resilience and overall, the sugar confectionery segment is on an upward trajectory, driven by mints and gum which is the second growing segment, rising with double digits. The sugar category is now worth £1.5bn, up 10% in the past year Within that, Tic Tac has shown steady growth, up 31% compared to two years ago and increasing by 13% this year, meaning this iconic brand is now worth £24.9m.

Tic Tac mints are showing rising penetration, with half of these buyers aged at 55 and 65+, translating into 1.3m additional shoppers who are spending 8% more. Tic Tac has gained more than £1m in sales through winning shoppers with its fruit flavours which are predominantly gaining traction with a younger audience under 35 and the brand is seeing many switch from more traditional hard candy or boiled sweets towards its vibrant, fruity flavours. The expanding Tic Tac Fruits range has also supported the brand’s results, bringing in five million incremental value sales by attracting a younger demographic. ■