SupermarketNews Magazine | March 2021

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March 2021 • Vol. 14 • No. 02

goodforyou (see page 20)

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ATTENTION GROCERY SUPPLIERS The Food and Grocery Council is an industry association for grocery suppliers providing members networking, events, industry information and strong advocacy.

Contact us for information on the benefits of membership: katherine.rich@fgc.org.nz • Networking • Industry Updates • Conference and Events • Education and Training • Advocacy and Law Reform

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food& grocery COUNCIL NEW ZEALAND

www.fgc.org.nz

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This magazine is published monthly under license. Please direct all enquiries and correspondence to Review Publishing Co Ltd. This magazine is a platform for the industry and may include content that expresses views and opinions by contributing writers. Content is attributed to the author, and these opinions and the view/s are those of the author/s. They do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organisation, employer or company. The opinions and material published in this edition are not necessarily those of the publishers unless expressly stated. All material appearing in the magazine, website and social media platforms is copyright and may only be reproduced with the written consent of the publisher. Copyright 2021

CHAIRMAN PUBLISHER GENERAL MANAGER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR EDITOR ADVERTISING SALES SENIOR DESIGNER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

ISSN No.

PETER MITCHELL Tania Walters, tania@reviewmags.com Kieran Mitchell, kieran@reviewmags.com Sarah Mitchell, sarah@reviewmags.com Caitlan Mitchell, caitlan@reviewmags.com Felicity-Anne Flack, felicity@reviewmags.com Raymund Sarmiento, raymund@reviewmags.com Debby Wei, debby@reviewmags.com

1173-3365

Retail 6, Heards Building, 2 Ruskin Street, Parnell, Auckland 1050 PO Box 37140, Parnell, Auckland Tel (09) 304 0142 or Fax (09) 377 2794

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food& grocery COUNCIL NEW ZEALAND

The NEW ZEALAND BEVERAGE COUNCIL is an industry association whose members cover all aspects of the non-alcoholic beverage market both in New Zealand and the export markets.

The Council members are spread throughout New Zealand and come together annually for a conference that covers industry issues and is addressed by international speakers. The organisation monitors product quality, sets standards for the industry and runs national competitions and awards.

THE NEW ZEALAND BEVERAGE COUNCIL (NZBC) P.O. Box 47, AUCKLAND 1140, New Zealand.

Email: info@nzbc.nz Phone: +64 9 309 6100 DDI: +64 9 302 9932

news A LITTLE GARDEN HARVEST This past year, kids at Manakau School swapped their iPads for gardening tools as the much-loved New World Little Garden returned to stores nationwide. Now, six months later with the school’s Little Garden produce ready for harvest, Manakau School celebrated by hosting a oneday, community cafe event with a menu featuring their home-grown veges and herbs.

“As a school we’ve been looking at ways we can contribute and give back to our local community. Driven by a creative teaching team and with an abundance of fresh vegetables on hand, the children started

experimenting in the kitchen, creating healthy and delicious meals out of their Little Garden produce.

This experimentation led to the idea of hosting a one-day cafe event, giving the wider Manakau community an opportunity to come into school to learn and taste for themselves what the kids have been up to, and growing, over the past year,” said Deb Logan, Principal at Manakau School.

The school opened Korimako Café and invited the Manakau community to taste for themselves what the kids have been learning, and growing, over the past few months.

From pizza slices served with salad, to zucchini chocolate cake and chilled lemonade, the Manakau community were spoilt for choice with a range of Little Garden veges making an appearance.

The day was labelled a roaring success, with people leaving with full

NEW MD FOR WOOLWORTHS NZ Woolworths New Zealand’s new Managing Director, Spencer Sonn, has officially started in the role this week after spending time in stores throughout Aotearoa getting to know the team and the wider business.

He joins the business from Woolworths Holdings South Africa where he spent the last five years as the Managing Director Food, responsible for the food and innovation portfolios across more than 400 supermarkets and 33,000 team members.

Sonn has a 25-year grocery career behind him, starting out on a store management graduate programme, and progressing through a variety of roles to gain valuable experience in fresh and long life food, operations and buying.

His passion for retail, first-hand experience working in stores, proven track record of developing innovative customer focussed

solutions, and strong focus on quality and store experience will be tremendous assets to the Woolworths New Zealand team.

“I’ve spent the past couple of weeks visiting stores and getting a good feel for how our business operates,” said Sonn. “It has really struck me how passionate our team are, right throughout Aotearoa, and particularly when it comes to delivering a great shopping experience for our customers and building innovative solutions that will see our business grow well into the future.

“I’m incredibly excited to be taking on this new role and continuing to build on the strong foundations that the leadership team have already put in place.

The immense potential that this business has was one of the key things that attracted me to this position, and I’m looking forward to leading and supporting the team to help realise that.” n

bellies and a deeper knowledge of how fresh produce is grown.

Learning about food provenance and healthy eating is only one aspect of what the kids have learned over the last few months. The students were the creative minds behind the one-day community cafe event, creating the menu and meals leveraging what’s ready in their harvest and creating posters to get the word out to their community.

To ensure Manakau School had an abundance of Little Garden seedlings when they were first getting their garden growing, New World Otaki stepped in to top up the school’s seedling stash to increase the size of

the school’s garden...and harvest.

“It’s been great seeing the kids in our wider community get excited about growing their own food and learning about nutrition,” said Steven Cole, owner operator of New World Otaki.

“New World’s Little Garden campaign has reaffirmed kids’ love and curiosity for the outdoors, and it’s great to see both parents and kids getting stuck into their own gardens.”

New World’s Little Garden campaign ended in October, but New Zealanders are continuing to reap the benefits of the campaign in their home gardens and for seasons to come. n

THE FUTURE IS CLEAR Frucor Suntory marks an important milestone by removing the colour from its 7Up plastic bottles – making it easier for consumers to recognise

that it’s recyclable.

“Although coloured plastic bottles are recyclable, replacing them with clear plastic will help improve recyclability,” explained Head of Sustainability, Ben Walkley.

By removing the colour from 7Up’s bottle range is the first of many milestones for Frucor Suntory’s colour removal programme, which began last year.

“Transitioning 7Up into clear recyclable plastic is a big win – but we’re certainly not resting on our laurels! Our Research, Development and Innovation team works alongside Suntory to investigate packaging alternatives and improvements all the time.”

In line with global 7Up branding, 7Up Light has changed its name to 7Up Free – to more accurately reflect that it contains no sugar.

And to ensure consumers can quickly and easily identify 7Up as a lemonade beverage, the cap is green – and eye catching new label artwork includes the subtle addition of a lemon and lime wedge. n March 2021

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SIGNIFICANT SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENT

Katherine Rich

Chief Executive NZ Food & Grocery Council

There’s been a lot of things going on in the grocery sector in the first two months of the year, and here are just five things to know about.

FMCG INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME This helps bring new talent into all parts of our industry, from suppliers to supermarkets. It’s backed by the Food & Grocery Council and helps young graduates get their foot on the career ladder. They can be recruited to any functional area in a company, from finance, accounting logistics, IT, and operations, through to marketing, sales, and merchandising.

The programme helps FMCG companies recruit great young people into their businesses, builds employer brand in the market, creates a pipeline of top talent keen to progress on an FMCG career path, and offers training support. Students and companies interested in exploring this further should contact Kelly Smith via BizAdvisor.net.nz

YEAR OF THE MERCHANDISER In February, I announced FGC had designated 2021 The Year of the Merchandiser. This was because we wanted to celebrate all those frontline workers who were so key to the success of keeping Kiwis fed and sustained during the challenging COVID-19 lockdowns and beyond.

I asked people across the sector to do their bit by taking a quick photo of their merchandiser extraordinaire, tap out a few quick sentences about why she or he is doing a fantastic job, and send it to me (Katherine.rich@fgc.org. nz).

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I can report nominations have started coming in and I look forward to receiving more and then sharing these short tributes through our social media pages, newsletters, and this column.

Help us say thank-you.

STUDY INTO THE GROCERY RETAIL MARKET It’s a popular misconception this study by the Commerce Commission is about grocery prices, but that’s not the only issue being considered. The Chair, Anna Rawlings, has made it clear they will also be considering the treatment of suppliers, which is an area where there is significant scope for improvement.

If you’d like to read FGC’s submission, you can find it on our website. In the meantime, the Commission has launched two online surveys to help suppliers and consumers inform its study into whether competition is working well in the sector, and FGC is encouraging everyone to participate.

The surveys are designed to help the Commission better understand how competition is working at supplier level, and consumer behaviour, including how shoppers decide where to shop and what to buy.

The Commission has also released fact sheets on how confidential information is handled and on potential outcomes, and how and when consumers can take part. The supplier survey is here. The consumer survey is here.

SHOPPER INTELLIGENCE FGC is currently hosting a webinar series looking at what guides consumers’ buying decisions. It’s run in conjunction with the experts at shopper researcher company Shopper Intelligence, and so far there’s been some interesting insights.

The first session was on the importance and benefits of the different types of shopper and retailer data available, while the second (March 10) is on how to tailor offers to different stores and shopper types. The last one (March 24), will be on shopper learnings from COVID-19 and what it means for the rest of this year. If you wish to take part you can register on the FGC website.

COVID-19 ISSUES Amid the disappointment of Auckland having to go into yet another lockdown, FGC continues to raise issues regarding the Government’s (at times confusing) lockdown rules, as well as the ongoing supply chain delays and problems getting product in and out of New Zealand.

Latest indications are the global shipping issues and container shortages behind this are likely to mean some imported goods will be missing from supermarket shelves for some time to come, maybe as far as the middle of the year. If your company comes up against any issues you think we can help with, please call. n

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STEVE ANDERSON STEPS DOWN

It’s been quite a journey from the bright lights of Otago Boys High School in the seventies and a first job as Four Square delivery boy at Wakari Four Square in Dunedin but you could say the writing was on the wall with that first taste of the cooperative as a young lad for Steve Anderson, CEO Foodstuffs South Island.

Supermarkets perhaps seemed an unlikely fit for Anderson, who completed a Bachelor of Science (Geology) with Honours and a Master of Business Administration (Marketing) at Otago University before heading off to London on his OE. After starting work at Shell Chemicals, New Zealand Ltd, Steve was subsequently relocated back to London to work at Shell International Chemical Company. He returned to New Zealand and took on a role at Mainland Products which was to be the beginning of his journey back to the supermarket cooperative.

After five years as General Manager of Sales at Mainland Products, Anderson took on the role of CEO Foodstuffs South Island Ltd, and after an action-packed 20 years is ready to hand the reins over to a new leader

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who will continue to grow and develop the cooperative as it delivers on its mission to ‘feed the South Island’.

Russell McKenzie, Chairman Foodstuffs South Island has worked with Anderson for over 20 years and describes him as a proud Southern man who outside of work enjoys mountain biking, fly fishing and his family life. Over the years Anderson has had many achievements taking the turnover of Foodstuffs South Island from $1.2 billion in 2000 to $3.3 billion in 2020 – this growth has required some ambitious decisions over the years which has stretched the cooperative at times,

but the results have been impressive.

The establishment of the Food for Thought Trust, a Foodstuffs initiative which is also delivered by the Heart Foundation, which sees nutritionists go into schools and educate year 5 and 6 students on how to make healthier food choices, has been a particular highlight for Anderson. The programme has educated over 180,000 students in over 2,100 schools since its inception in 2007. “Helping our young people understand the nutritional choices they can make so they are set up for future success with their health is something Anderson is deeply passionate about and the success of the programme is a real credit to his commitment to give back to the communities in which we operate,” said McKenzie.

“This is one of the driving forces behind the role of the Foodstuffs (South Island) Community Trust which was established in 2001 with the sole purpose of giving back to South Island communities. The Trust supports individuals, schools, charities and community organisations making funding available to provide support with community welfare, education and cultural and recreational activities across the South Island.”

Over 20 years there have been many

highlights for Anderson. “I really enjoy seeing an owner move through from their early days owning a Four Square, to taking on the larger stores such as a New World or a PAK’nSAVE – seeing them progress their careers over time and play a part in that development has been hugely satisfying,” said Anderson.

A few other projects stand out for Anderson including the opening of the expanded distribution centre at Hornby in 2015. “At the time it was the largest supermarket distribution centre in the country and the purpose-built building was not only designed to bring efficiencies to the business in terms of supply chain but to be leading edge in terms of design and ability to withstand the earthquakes Canterbury is now so well known for. From a state-of-theart picking module to storage systems constructed to deal with the forces generated by seismic events and specially developed post-tensioned concrete flooring, the building was carefully designed to behave predictably during earthquake events.”

McKenzie said across all aspects of the business Anderson has driven growth and development. “Market share has significantly increased with the cooperative delivering consistent growth over the years and a number of critical projects have contributed to this success including the roll out of SAP 11 years ago and the launch of New World’s Clubcard in 2014 which has enabled the business to use data to meet customers’ grocery needs more accurately.” n

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Partners in the road to recovery

13 Issue 11 November 2020 Vol

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are ideal for chiller storage and they are perfect for many types of packs including vacuum skin packs, thermoformed MAP packs, trays and clamshells.

Kiwi Labels’ specialised full wrap label materials are thicker than normal label paper and provide an up market, premium alternative to folded carton sleeves. Being self-adhesive, they are designed to stay in place until the consumer opens the product, making full wrap labels naturally tamper evident too.

Looking for a sustainable choice?

Choose full wrap labels using FSC®

certified label paper and join Kiwi Labels’ Liner Recycling Scheme. Kiwi Labels are committed to diverting 500 tonnes of glassine liner from landfill by 2025. Kiwi’s Liner Recycling Scheme offers a truly circular recycling program as the glassine liner is given a new life as high end gloss paper used in magazines that can be recycled multiple times.

For more information about Full Wrap Labels or Kiwi Labels’ Liner Recycling Scheme, contact: info@ kiwilabels.co.nz or 03 384 2903 n

initiatives.

ORGANIC VEGAN WINE WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL TWIST Rhino Run Organic Wine was created to build awareness around the rise in Rhinoceros poaching and their fight for survival. A portion of every purchase of Rhino Run Organic Wine is donated to conservation and anti-poaching

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hino conservation isn’t just about protecting Rhinos.

It’s also about fighting illegal rhino-horn trade globally, calling on experts, specialists and conservationists who can give the rhinos their best fighting chance in the future. Your contribution helps the establishment and maintenance of antirhino poaching units.

Perfectly suited to any occasion, delivers on quality and conservation.

Their organic, vegan approach to winemaking increases their green efforts.

In a world where we all want to help fight one or all the existential crises that we are faced with, we need to remember that it all starts with small acts. Buy your wines consciously. No contribution is too minor to make a difference.

INCREASING DEMAND FOR ORGANIC WINE

with a conservation benefit ORGANIC WINES

Demand for organic wine is increasing. Today’s flexitarian consumers are seeking cleaner, healthier, organic wines, without harmful chemicals and pesticides. These wine drinkers notice the difference in how they feel after drinking organic wines, aware of the reduced hangover impact from lower sulphite, organic wines. They are looking for wines that deliver on taste, while still respecting our planet.

ADDING INTEREST TO YOUR WINE LIST

Rhino Run organic wine range is perfectly positioned to deliver on these expectations, adding interest to your wine list: • Pinotage • Cabernet Sauvignon • Chenin Blanc • Sauvignon Blanc • Cabernet Merlot

SUPPORTING RHINO CONSERVATION

As well as being more eco-friendly, with a clear health benefit for the wine drinker, Rhino Run also supports the conservation of rhino, through the Player Ntombela Foundation, working to reduce rhino poaching - with a donation made from each bottle sold.

Making a difference – to wine drinkers, our planet and the rhinos.

PAUL KENNY, Managing Director, Mob: +64 21 986 121 Ph: + 649 263 9466

Alliance Marketing 2014 Ltd. Unit 1, 4 Civil Place, Rosedale, Albany, Auckland NZ www.alliancemarketing.co.nz

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DO YOU CAUSE OR ALLEVIATE BURN-OUT?

Key Causes Gerry Lynch The Real Leadership Company

Firstly, what is burnout and how do you recognize it in yourself or others?

Burn-out is defined as: Burnout is a reaction to prolonged or chronic job stress and is characterized by three main dimensions: exhaustion, cynicism (less identification with the job), and feelings of reduced professional ability (i.e. sense of failure).

More simply put, if you feel exhausted, start to hate your job, and begin to feel less capable at work, you are showing signs of burnout.

So that is what it looks like, what causes it? Well a lot of the time you cause it, or your inaction causes it! Most people think it is just high workload, this is one cause but there are many more:

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(one of a combination) 1. High Workload – Too much workload for too long will start to cause it. We all have peaks in workload and some people can cope better than others but some of the tell-tale signs are people consistently missing deadlines. If you are experiencing this ask the person when they can get the work done by and whether they need support. The other element to consider is whether the person has the capability to do the work you are asking; they may need coaching. Are they new to it or experienced? Do they need help to prioritise what you are asking for?

2. Lack of autonomy – If you are a micro manager that will put pressure on your direct reports, on the other hand if you clarify what’s expected, lay out the boundaries and let your direct report get on with it, being clear you are there for support then you will reduce the likelihood.

3. Lack of recognition – If you don’t acknowledge the work your team are putting in or are quick to jump to the next piece of work your team’s morale with drop. On the other hand if you comment on the effort, attention to detail, the focus etc from your people (i.e. their

inputs, not just the result) then you will have a team that feels more appreciated.

4. Lack of workplace community – What does this mean? When I was at Mars there were a number of things that contributed to building a strong community – having dogs at worked helped, having lunch together and not talking about work, having a quiz on a Friday, going for a lunchtime walk, doing charity days – the list is endless, but the key thing is giving your team a chance to get to know each other personally.

5. Lack of Fairness – I have been at companies where one department is treated like the star and another is the workhouse and never gets called out. I have also seen this with people in different teams where the accountant does not get recognised but the marketer or salesperson does. Again, it is firstly taking the time to get feedback and understand how people FEEL you are treating them, it may not be intentional but sometimes that is how it comes across and perception is reality.

6. Lack of Values/meaning – How people view their job has a big impact on the effort they put in and the quality of work they do. If your team buy into the purpose of the business and their part in it, then

they will work their socks off for you. On the other hand if you have a David Brent office where people feel like cogs in a machine you will get people who are less engaged and more susceptible to burn-out.

So the above are some of the causes, it might be one or a combination, the key thing is to look for ways to bring more meaning, more empowerment, more fun and community, more appreciation and to be vigilant to changes in your people and show compassion to them so they will go the extra mile for you and the company.

There are times when you will be busier, so think about what you can do to relieve the stress at these times, show extra appreciation, look for ways to have a bit of fun and be as flexible as you can. If you are the individual experiencing the high workload then make sure you have some coping mechanisms that work for you – exercise, get enough sleep, have regular breaks and go for a walk in the fresh air, have a laugh, whatever works for you.

I am passionate about building great leaders and high performance teams and cultures so if you need some help and want to be challenged to be your best drop me a line – Gerry@ realleadershipNZ.co.nz n

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S’wich It Up

Allergen-Reducing

Purina Pro Plan has introduced a revolutionary approach in the manage-ment of cat allergens for Kiwis: Purina Pro Plan LiveClear, the first and only cat food that reduces the allergens in cat hair and dander.

This new breakthrough is the culmination of more than a decade of Purina research dedicated to

finding a safe and effective way to address a problem that impacts up to one in five adults – that’s around one million people in New Zealand alone.

Purina Pro Plan LiveClear is a 100% complete and balanced dry cat food with outstanding taste and nutrition designed for daily feeding.

Ben & Jerry’s legendary Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavour took years to perfect but the team wanted to make it even cookier!

So, they turned the cookie-ometer right up to concoct this, vanilla ice cream with chocolatey cookie sandwiches, a swirl of chocolatey cookies (and of course, cookie dough chunks) in this new Cookie Dough S’Wich Up. It’s cookie sandwich-tastic.

For more information contact your local Unilever representative.

Beautifully Pink

Using a blend of red and white fleshed apples, this beautifully pink dry style cider is 4% ABV and has 50% less sugar and carbs* for ultimate refreshment. *Than Orchard Thieves Berry Cider

The Age Of Alternative Meat Who says you need animals to enjoy a delicious ‘meaty’ meal? Not us! New to the market, the Alternative Chicken Tenders look, cook, and taste like chicken, but are 100% plant based with protein made from soy, wheat, and pea. With nearly 14g of plant protein per serve, this delicious vegetarian alternative is the perfect chicken style substitute to add to your favourite salad or wrap. One in ten New Zealanders are mostly, or completely, meat free*, so Alternative Meat Co makes it an easy swap for vegetarians, the Monday meat-frees, and the Friday flexitarians. To find out more about our full range of alternative meat style products, visit www. altmeatco.com or @altmeatco. *Kalocsay K, King T, Lichtenstein T, Weber J. Plant-Based Meat: A Healthier Choice? Melbourne: Food Frontier; 2020 Aug 12.

Lunchbox Safe Alternatives Made from roasted chickpeas, VGood spreads are nut-free, lunchbox safe alternatives to peanut butter and choc-hazelnut spreads with a focus on great taste and a great eating experience. The unique PeaNOT Butter recipe delivers a real ‘peanut butter’ taste and texture, and the HazelNOT Choc is a delicious chocolatey spread, made completely free from peanuts and tree-nuts.

With over 50% chickpeas they offer active kids with a source of protein, fibre, and iron. HazelNOT Choc contains 60% less sugar than

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other choc-hazelnut spreads, and the range contains no artificial preservatives or colours.

VGood Spreads are great options for families wanting to save time in the mornings with simple yet healthy lunchbox solutions, as well as for nut-free baking, smoothies, savoury dishes such as satay sauce, and they are vegan friendly. The VGood production facility is free from peanuts, tree-nuts, gluten, soy and dairy. For more information contact hello@vgood.com or call +61 4522 37718.

Get Ready To Mingle Ultimate In Skincare For Baby

In its latest feat of innovation, Huggies has launched Ultimate Baby Wipes – a range of premium wipes that provide superior absorbency and a gently, thorough clean for baby’s sensitive and delicate skin.

New Huggies Ultimate Baby Wipes have been designed with baby’s skin top of mind. Skin is a complex organ for babies, wearing nappies can create a harsher environment than the skin is

Support For The NZRSA Continues Over the last six years, proud New Zealand company AFM Group has raised over $570,000 for the New Zealand Returned & Services Association (NZRSA) through their annual, collectable ANZAC biscuit tins.

These are available now for purchase, but the biscuits are also available 365 days of the year in 180g packets. The

designed for, resulting in conditions such as nappy rash. New Huggies Ultimate Baby Wipes are 25 percent thicker, and 72 percent of Kiwi parents say that Huggies Baby Wipes leave baby’s skin clean.

The new Huggies Ultimate Baby Wipes are available in two unique, skin-loving varieties that take care of product performance so parents can focus on taking care of their baby – Huggies Ultimate Over 99% Water Baby Wipes, and Huggies Nourish & Care Baby Wipes.

tins are launched each year in the leadup to ANZAC Day, with new and fresh designs to commemorate and remember the ANZACs, and also to raise money for NZRSA. The sale of each 180g packet results in a 30c donation, while each tin sold contributes a dollar. This has allowed AFM Group to donate over half a million dollars to the NZRSA since 2015. These funds help the Association with its ongoing mission of supporting those who serve our country and their families.

To order contact AFM Group on 0800 100 307 or sales@afmgroup.co.nz.

Mingle Seasoning is shaking things up in the Recipe base category at 180 Countdown stores with 7 healthy and convenient flavours that make for delicious, easy and healthy weeknight meals in a flash. Mingle stands for NO NASTIES and is the perfect cooking hack to allow for you to cook with confidence as they contain no added sugar, are lower amounts of sodium, have no fillers (flours), no refined vegetable oils or preservatives. Flavour is the most important part of the meal

and Mingle doesn't compromise on quality! Mingle is filling a gap and offering customers an option that is just as tasty, but with real health credentials behind it.

The flavours include Butter Chicken, Curry in a Hurry, Taco Mexican Fiesta, Red Curry, Green Curry, Hearty Stroganoff and Satay Stir Fry. Classic flavours the whole family will love and they're healthy too! To order contact your local House of Fine Foods representative on 09 410 1066.

Indulge Without The Dairy Consumers can now indulge without the dairy. New Magnum Non-Dairy Sea Salt Caramel Bar is made with a vegan sea salt caramel flavoured base that’s dipped in a cracking vegan milk chocolate shell.

Bite into this dairy-free treat for decadence that’s reminiscent of its classic Magnum bar. The vegan dessert is made from an expert blend of coconut oil and pea protein, a plant=based alternative to dairy.

Consumers can now be more adventurous with their flavour preferences.

For more information contact your local Unilever representative.

Licorice Infusion

Layer after layer of delicious licorice fun, there’s all sorts of irresistible flavours and twists of colour to enjoy when it comes to RJ’s. Its latest addition to the line-up is no exception.

Orange Chocolate Logs have made its way onto shelves after two years of research and is the first infused chocolate product from RJ’s.

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Love At First Bite

Light in texture, with an airy crispy crunch, these bite-size morsels are deliciously seasoned inside & out. And under 100 calories per serve.

Try these deee-lish potato snacks made to pop-pop-perfection!

Free The Bird, Bluebird.

For more information visit Bluebird.co.nz, or phone 0800 652 583.

More Gooey

Magnum Ego has introduced a new four pack of its Magnum Ego. Nothing but pure decadence. Premium creamy vanilla bean ice cream dipped in a chocolatey coating, caramel sauce, and milk chocolate. It’s pure ultimate indulgence. The brand has also improved the sauce to be a more gooey and buttery caramel sauce.

For more information contact your local Unilever representative.

Magnum Vibes With A Twist

Getting Tropical

Tropical Sherbert Fizz is the newest product in the Fabulicious lineup. Tropical Sherbert Fizz takes the tantalising taste of mango and adds it with a passionfruit flavoured sherbert, bringing a bursting tropical flavour to your mouth.

The Random One

A new addition to the Odd Company line up, The Random One delivers a tart yet sweet raspberry flavour, oddly but perfectly blended with a touch of exotic juicy pomegranate.

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Inspired by the taste of America, introducing Magnum Chocolate Cookie Crumble. Velvety chocolate ice cream covered in thick cracking Magnum white chocolate with cocoa cookie pieces.

Delicious classic Magnum vibes with a twist!

For more information contact your local Unilever representative.

Shaking It Up

Pascall has shaken up Kiwis’ tastebuds with its latest flavour combination, Pascall Milkshakes flavour Lumps.

The tasty new treat is a unique twist on two iconic Kiwi classics, with a chewy vanilla-flavoured centre inspired

by Pascall Milkshakes lollies and the much-loved chocolate coating and shape of Pascall Pineapple Lumps. It’s like a classic Kiwi milkshake created in your mouth.

The Most Luxurious National Treasure Now Frozen It’s a Kiwi icon like you’ve never seen it before. For the first time in its long history, the iconic Pascall Pineapple Lumps lolly has been reimagined. The new Pascall Pineapple Lumps frozen dessert brings together a delicious pineapple dairy flavour with a layer of pineapple flavoured jelly, covered in a dark chocolate coating.

“We know Kiwis have a sweet spot for frozen desserts and are big fans of Pascall Pineapple Lumps, so we thought why not join the two together for a truly delicious pairing,” said Joanne Raven, Licensing and Cobranding Manager ANZ.

Magnum LUXE is the first super premium ice cream, positioned at the top of the range of indulgent ice cream sticks and tubs – a permissible luxury. It’s Magnum LUXE range heroes sauce, this is what differentiates it from the core. Each tub features biscuit flavoured ice cream, toffee cinnamon sauce, with shortbread biscuit pieces in a gold caramelised cracking chocolate shell. Magnum LUXE, the most decadent and indulgent Magnum range yet. Magnum believes that a day without pleasure is a day lost & pleasure makes life worth living.

For more information contact your local Unilever representative.

‘Allo’ Allo

Say ‘allo to Yoplait’s latest range of yoghurt, Fruit Sensations and taste the bright side of life. Enjoy the creaminess of a thick and smooth yoghurt served over a real fruit layer.

It’s a yoghurt to enjoy your way: Mix it up or simply dig in.

Available in 3 delicious flavours, Strawberry, Peach and Raspberry in handy 6-packs. You can find them in your local supermarket chiller now with RRP$5.90.

So, let’s raise a spoon to enjoying all that Yoplait Fruit Sensations offers. After all, Yoplait is French for Yoghurt.

Distinctive Punch

This delightful new drop delivers the distinctive punchy aroma of feijoa perfectly balanced with a crisp apple base.

Comedic Duo

Netflix takes comedy seriously, as serious as Ben & Jerry’s takes making ice cream. But neither took themselves that seriously and delivered a punchy flavour to prove it.

A comedic duo of Brown Butter Bourbon and Almond Ice Creams with Roasted Almonds & Chuckles of Cherries. Netflix is a Joke, but this limited-batch flavour isn’t. This is the fourth product in the brands’ successful Netflix partnership.

For more information contact your local Unilever representative.

Value-Added Range

When it comes to prawns, United Fisheries have had decades of experience providing a quality product under their Sea Cuisine brand, so it is with confidence that they have launched a new value-added range this summer under United Fish Co. It will be hard to choose between the 3 coated range: Hot & Spicy, Salt & Pepper Battered or the Coconut Crumbed Prawns.

Perfect party snacks or even as a Bao Bun filling for that “Street Food” vibe. Convenience has been the focus with the 3 new butterflied prawns in Natural, Garlic & Herb or Sweet Chilli which are set to upgrade BBQ’s around the country although just as good baked or grilled in the oven.

Quick cook, easy peel & platter ready party pleasers!

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goodforyou

A Family Tradition Family owned business, Alamir Bakery, has been making authentic Lebanese food since its inception in 1992. The company distributes is hummus, falafel bites, pita bread and chips to supermarkets, restaurants and cafes throughout the country.

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“O

ur parents Jamil and Waafa immigrated to Wellington from Lebanon in 1990 due to the war,” said Ali Dia, managing director of Alamir

Bakery.

“I was just eight months old and at that time, my brother would have been two years old. My younger two brothers were born in New Zealand.”

When Dia’s parents first arrived, his father had a lot of different jobs, one of which resulted in being the caterer for the Iranian Embassy. The embassy quickly fell in love with Dia’s mother’s hummus and asked her them to cater every meeting for the next 18 months.

Following this, they started their businesses following encouragement from the founder of Mexican Corn Chips to sell their hummus to supermarkets.

“Our father and mother started this business in 1992, making small batches of hummus and falafel in a little commercial kitchen at the back of our house in Miramar, Wellington.

At this point the “Alamir” name wasn’t born yet – we were still trading as ‘The Delicious Lebanese Snack Co Ltd’, distributing to local Supermarkets, Restaurants and cafes.”

Slowly the product range grew, so the duo began thinking about how they could spread their natural and full-offlavour superfood to more people.

In 2001, Alamir Bakery was opened. They started out making traditional Lebanese Pita Bread and various types of Lebanese food; from kebby to pizzas to kebabs, in a small takeaway-style shop.

“Being so close to our customers, we really started to notice how much Kiwis love Lebanese food and great quality produce. We knew we were onto a winner – and it wasn’t long before we knew we needed to look for a bigger space.”

The team moved into their new space in 2006 in the Miramar Metro and since then, has been providing the country with delicious, authentic and

fresh Lebanese snacks and baking.

With the rapid growth of its bread range, they had to move production to a larger factory space, in doing so separating it from its gluten free hummus production.

“Today we make falafel bites, hummus, pita chips and bread to 160 Foodstuff supermarkets nationwide, 124 Countdown stores nationwide and more than 100 restaurant/cafes and other retailers.”

The team at Alamir make all of their own product and don’t outsource manufacturing. Everything is from raw ingredients and started from scratch every time, using raw chickpeas, spices mixed on-site and tahini sourced from Lebanon. “We use the same recipes our mother brought over from Lebanon 30 years ago. That was passed down from their family so this recipe has been passed down for generations.”

Its hummus is made up of authentic ingredients with no fillers, preservatives, or sodium. Other hummus products on the market can contain anywhere from 15-20 ingredients including thickeners and added flavourings to help increase shelf-life. continued on page 22

March 2021

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goodforyou continued from page 21

“Our ingredients are simple, chickpeas, tahini, garlic, salt and lemon. Our hummus has a shelf life of 21 days, with other brands being 3-4 months. As far as we are aware, no other brands make hummus from raw ingredients - we use raw chickpeas and soak them overnight. Other companies use can chickpeas. They also don’t use tahini, they use oil instead. You can’t make hummus without tahini!”

The hummus made by the team at Alamir has coincidentally become vegan and celiac approved just by following the traditional hummus recipe. With no fillers or flavours added, the original raw recipe that has been passed down from their family since biblical times in Lebanon is not only preservative free, but better for you too. The team has grown to be a team of 30 from its humble beginnings, which helps with the creation of over 300kgs of hummus a day!

Five years ago, the brand started to supply its pita bread to Pita Pit around the country, and a month ago have enlisted a distribution company to help with the deliveries.

“The distribution costs went through the roof, we were paying per delivery for each supermarket (170 outlets) and it was becoming difficult to manage, so engaging with a distribution partner means that we now send to just three different DC’s.

By bringing this distribution company on board, overnight we gained 32 new Countdown supermarkets because they were able to order smaller amounts which has really expanded our growth significantly.”

Dia is most proud of the team’s falafel offering as it is a difficult product to make with raw beans and vegetables, grinding and packing.

“When my dad was working in the business during the 1990s we had

people lining up to taste falafel in the local supermarkets. It went down so well, people actually thought they were eating meat!

Since then the product has blown up - everyone knows what falafel is.

We have grown from producing falafel one day a week to every day - NZ’s are consuming a lot of falafel.”

The small, family owned and operated business hopes to see its products expand into more

supermarkets around the country so that more consumers can get a taste of the authentic Lebanese food using quality ingredients.

The brand currently offers nine hummus flavours including Original, Chilli & Cumin, Crushed Garlic, Organic Chickpeas, Roasted Capsicum, Sundried Tomato and Beetroot. It also offers its popular Falafel bites in three flavour variants and Pita Chips in five flavours. n

or interdental brushes. By removing plaque twice daily through brushing and using interdental brushes and keeping the bad bacteria in your mouth under control, you will have a healthy mouth, clean teeth and fresh breath. It’s really that easy.

Aluro have represented Piksters in NZ for the last 10 years and were quick to establish the brand were forward thinking and had the environment in its foresight when developing new products.

“We have always challenged our suppliers thinking, as we do our own everyday as a company. If there is a better choice or alternative product that does better, we will choose that over price,” said Aluro spokesperson.

“Some of our eco-strategies within the company are about mindset rather than the products themselves. We encourage our customers to place fewer orders but in larger volumes to reduce shipping emissions and packaging and we offer freight cost incentives to support this.”

Aluro offer solutions, not problems and while they don’t want to be in the spotlight for getting everything right, they are doing their best to offer alternatives and educate its customers that there are greener choices available that are easily accessible.

For more information on Piksters Moral Choice or any other eco products in its portfolio, call or email 0800 800 085 or orders@aluro.co.nz. n

SINK YOUR TEETH INTO SUSTAINABILITY ALURO HEALTHCARENZ has been supplying dental and healthcare products to dentists, pharmacies and grocery for over 20 years.

Dentistry traditionally has a lot of single-use consumables and infectioncontrol protocols involving lots of plastic and waste. However, the team at Aluro take their environmental responsibilities to heart. NZ owned, the brand want to do their bit to ensure they are part of the solution, and not the problem.

With a great team culture and combined vision to be better and do good for the environment, the brand has actively engaged with its suppliers to bring better products to the market that are not only great for oral care, but also great for the world we live in.

An example of this is the Piksters Moral Choice range – a product line of bamboo interdental brushes, toothbrushes and floss that is sustainably sourced, biodegradable and delivered

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in sustainable biodegradable packaging, that does a great job of cleaning your teeth and gums. A win for everyone.

Your mouth is a mirror to your overall health, and it is the first port of entry, where bacteria (good and bad) can thrive in the right environment.

Gum disease (also known as gingivitis) is caused by a build-up of plaque and bad bacteria living under the gum line.

Gum disease is very common and has been linked to systemic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Consumers have become much more aware for the need to maintain good oral care and are searching for products to help.

Piksters is one of NZ’s leading brands in this sector. It is important to not only brush your teeth, but also clean in between your teeth, using floss

2x Faster Pain Relief, *

without the messy hands

NEW Applicator

*50% pain relief at 2 days vs 5 days for placebo.

Always read the label. Follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist, talk to your health professional.

Trade marks are owned by or licensed to the GSK group of companies. © 2020 GSK group of companies or its licensor.

GSK Consumer Healthcare, Auckland, NZ. TAPS NA12302. PM-NZ-VOLT-20-00045.

goodforyou

SUSTAINABLE AND ECO-FRIENDLY

Globally, over four billion wet wipes are produced a year with just one wet wipe taking 100 years to break down. They are the major cause of damage to wastewater sewerage pipes as when mixed with fats create a phenomenon called Fatbergs. The biggest Fatberg was uncovered in a UK drain weighing an incredible 130 tonnes and 250m long, the same as 11 double-decker buses in an East London sewer.

I

n New Zealand, Watercare processes 52 million wet wipes a year, with the Tauranga City Council processing two million wet wipes a week. Wipes causing blockages cost councils and wastewater facilities over $16 million a year, but they aren’t just a problem in New Zealand.

With no current solution to wet wipes on the market in Australasia,

BDÉT are not only conscious about what is inside of the bottle, but also what is on the outer, which is why their packaging is made from recyclable plastic and are also refillable.

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Billie Jo Hohepa-Ropiha came up with the idea in the late 90s and redeveloped the formula over time to create BDÉT. Officially launching in February of 2019, BDÉT is New Zealand’s eco-friendly personal hygiene brand that’s leading the way in personal hygiene innovation.

It’s Foam Wash turns ordinary toilet paper into a cleansing, hygienic wipe. Just pump the natural foam formula onto toilet paper, wipe, then flush down the toilet. It is currently the only alternative to wet wipes on the Australasian retail market and are now selling in major grocery outlets across New Zealand.

The business was born out of grassroots thinking and action. It wants nothing more than to take ownership of how its impact on our planet contributes to a more harmonious way of living.

BDÉT speaks to everyday people in any language, any climate and any situation in the world. The brand wants to break down barriers so that people feel that they can be their authentic true selves, because just like the persona of the brand, all it wants is to be accepted and loved.

BDÉT is about to launch a 100 percent flushable and eco-friendly solution for baby wipes, furthering their mission to replace a trillion wet and baby wipes globally by 2025.

BDÉT are not only conscious about what is inside of the bottle, but also what is on the outer, which is why their packaging is made from recyclable plastic and are also refillable.

“I always set out with sustainability and eco-friendly values in mind, thinking about how we packaging and distribute to our customers was essential, hence why being in the supermarkets was crucial in reducing our carbon footprint as customers could access it with their other shopping,” said Hohepa-Ropiha.

“If you look at our product compared to wet wipes, which a small 30ml bottle is the equivalent to 95 wet wipes, that’s 2.5 packets of flushable wipes, we are still a long way ahead in terms of reduction in

plastics. Wet wipes come in plastic, they have a thick plastic lid to keep the moisture in, and the product itself is made of plastic or polyester which take a hundred years to break down.

BDÉT on toilet paper flushed down the toilet, breaks down in seconds, and it out performs wet wipes in terms of convenience, performance in cleaning, softness and of course its ability to biodegrade in the sewerage system.”

BDÉT Foam Wash is made from 98.9% natural ingredients and made in New Zealand. “It’s been dermatologically tested on sensitive skin so it’s super gentle, good for you and the Earth. I get dermatitis on my hands so if I’m a great test for soaps as I tend to react within a few hours, sometimes instantly, that’s why I tell my whanau I can’t wash or dry dishes.”

The business has just been invited and launched onto the biggest B2B platform in the world, Alibaba.

This will open up the brand to new markets and get exposure around the world.

“We are also about to launch on ICBC’s e-commerce site Wei Bao, they are the biggest bank in the World and have created their online platform from their 400 million retail customers, so we were absolutely honoured to be invited onto their site after meeting with one of their Product Specialists at their Auckland Headquarters this year.

They loved the environmental factor and that it will be the only wet wipe alternative on their site, they have 372 sku’s of wipes but BDÉT will be their first alternative product. We are also in talks with a New Zealand Distributor based in Dubai who is looking at Distribution Rights for the Middle East and Africa territories, they describe BDÉT as an incredible product that they feel will have a great future in the MEA (Middle East/Africa) region. So, exciting times ahead!”

For more information contact bdet.company@gmail.com, or visit www.b-det.com. n

The Product You Never Knew You Needed

www.b-det.com

goodforyou TARGETED PAIN RELIEF WITHOUT MESSY HANDS

INTRODUCING VOLTAREN Emulgel with No Mess Applicator.

Voltaren Emulgel with No Mess Applicator delivers targeted pain relief with the additional benefit of a new No Mess Applicator.

This innovative applicator allows easy, clean application of Voltaren Emulgel directly on the point of pain. For targeted, local relief for pain and swelling (inflammation) in muscles, back and neck, as well as sprains, tendinitis and bursitis.

Voltaren Emulgel with No Mess applicator is currently available in a 75g tube. n

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BALANCING BACTERIA

THE TEAM AT LIVING GOODNESS are huge advocates of a well-balanced and healthy diet. For some that might involve meat, fish, diary, plants, or even all of the above.

However, one thing the team feel is essential, of course, are fermented foods.

Fermented foods contain live bacteria that help build & balance the bacteria in your gut. Studies have shown that the gut nervous system is linked with the central nervous system and together this is called the gut-brain axis. It therefore makes sense that a happy gut makes a happy brain and vice versa. To help you get that good

gut feeling add a little fermented food into your diet - its range uses plenty of vegetables from beetroot, to Wakame seaweed, kale, to carrots & heaps in between. For more information check out www.livinggoodness.co.nz. n

BETTER FOR YOU BEVERAGES IF YOU HAVE recently seen these rather unique beverage bottles – you’ve seen one of New Zealand’s latest launches in the ‘better for you’ beverage category, LeVeL Lemonade, a high magnesium, low sugar carbonated beverage.

What makes the proposition stand out from the other ‘better for you’ offers in the marketplace is that it tries to find the ‘sweet spot’ between ‘good for you’

and what they refer to as ‘craveable’.

It has clear benefits (160mg Magnesium, 40mg Vitamin C (100% RDI), low calories (97.5% Sugar Free)) and yet tastes and appeals like a regular soft drink. “It is for those of us who like a fizzy soda yet are nutritionary mindful enough to look for a healthier alternative” says Chrish Graebner, MD of Sydney based LeveL Beverages.

“Sparkling Coconut water and

Kombucha are certainly available ‘better for you’ options yet there are a great many people who do not find these drinks ‘craveable’.”

LeVeL Lemonade’s latest commercial plays into this internal dialogue between the self-indulgent ‘inner-devil’ and sensible ‘angel’ in the consumers’ heads (to be launch in NZ on online channels in March 2021).

Initially launched in Australia in

mid-2019, the innovative range has just achieved its 1,000,000th bottle sold Milestone.

LeVeL Lemonade comes in five tasty variants: Lemonade Original, Lemonade & Pineapple, Lemonade & Orange, Lemonade & Raspberry and soon as a Lemonade & Ginger.

For more information contact the NZ distribution via Neil Cropper on 09 579 0963. n

Good for your oral health and good for the environment.

0800 800 085 | orders@aluro.co.nz

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goodforyou PROMOTING GOOD HEALTH AND WELLBEING

KAITAHI AS ONE is on a mission to highlight traditional Māori ingredients and let them shine in the modern kitchen. The brand works with nutritionists and health food experts to create products that are both healthy and delicious. Its research findings from the very beginning of their journey are even more relevant now – people want tasty, fast and easy to use products that promote good health, wellbeing and nutrition.

Kaitahi As One frozen smoothy drops were launched at the end of 2018 by their iwi, Ngaa Raauru Kiitahi, in South Taranaki for the benefit of all of New Zealand to enjoy. There are three flavours in the range including, Triple Berry Protect, Kiwi C Boost and Super Green Zing and are specially formulated recipes using fruit, seeds and vegetables that are pre-blended and then snap frozen into droplets.

Currently available in select supermarkets and cafes, these superfood smoothy drops have been popular for those on-the-go: parents, young professionals, sports people and anyone who just wants a quick energy, mood and nutrient boost. It’s all about the 5 plus a day.

Uniquely designed so that you just add one part Kaitahi to three parts liquid in a shaker or mason jar, our frozen smoothies are natural, convenient and contain goodness in every drop. Just shake for 30 seconds and then enjoy!

And the best part? You get delicious immunity boosting smoothies without the blender, food prep or food waste.

To ensure the best quality, Kaitahi only source from trusted New Zealand based suppliers who share the same values and goals.

For the native Māori ingredients, they harvest the pūhā and kawakawa at their Kii Tahi nursery in Patea. These have been used by Māori for centuries in both cooking and rongoā (traditional healing practices). Pūhā is chock-full of goodness, containing the same amount of Vitamin C as oranges and is an extremely high source of Vitamin A. Normally found growing wild, the Kii Tahi nursery is the first in New Zealand to grow this native plant commercially. The Kawakawa plant, also native to New Zealand, is revered in Māori culture and plays an important role in both the physical and spiritual worlds. Its bright green, heart shaped leaves, have antimicrobial properties that fight against infections and can be used to help with indigestion, improve gut health, reduce inflammation and promote overall health & wellbeing.

With no added preservatives or sugars, other ingredients such as kūmara (sweet potato) and Rewarewa honey act as natural sweeteners to balance the flavours.

Kaitahi means to come together, as one, to share food and ideas. Food is important to the brand, it’s more

than just mixing ingredients, it’s about feeding the “Mauri” (source of life).

The Kaitahi smoothy drops are a great example of community and blending tradition with innovation.

With more research and development underway, the team hope to introduce more food and health & wellbeing products to the market over the coming years. The recently government

approved Provincial Growth Fund (PGF) to build their own processing plant will help them make significant strides in their journey to innovate and celebrate Māori ingredients and their place in the New Zealand retail market.

For more information visit www.kaitahi.co.nz or contact kiaora@kaitahi.co.nz n

DOSE OF GOODNESS INTRODUCING RAGLAN FOOD Co.’s newest family members - Probiotic Kefir! Four delicious flavours, each with different health benefits to get you through the day Gut Health, Cleansing, Energy and Immunity.

Dairy-free and sweetened only with coconuts and/or fruit, it’s a drink the whole family can enjoy. Our Kefir

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is packed with live probiotics and Vitamin C, so your gut (and taste buds) will thank you!

Pour it into a glass, or drink straight from the bottle to get your daily dose of goodness.

Find us in your favourite supermarket! To order please email orders@raglanfoodco. com n

ELEVATE YOUR SELF-CARE ROUTINE SOOCHI is flipping the script on the one-dimensional standard of beauty.

Soochi, derived from the Latin word ‘Suci’ means juice – commonly known as the nectar of life. Contrary to what modern society has been telling consumers, the brand is flipping the script on the one-dimensional standard of beauty. “We want you to forget anti-ageing, and think healthy-ageing,” said Tina Chou, CEO at Soochi Drinks. “We believe in a new attitude of prejuvenation - a cross between rejuvenation and prevention to help you radiate wellness from within.”

Soochi is elevating daily self-care with Prejuvenation Beverages. An intelligent and supercharged formulation that boosts brightness to unlock glowing skin, hair, nails and a healthy gut.

A beautifully curated berry spritz, infused with V​ERISOL​​Collagen + Elastin + Hyaluronic Acid + Prebiotics + Reishi + Vitamin C to enhance cellular protection from free radical damage, healthier digestion, increased skin plumpness, skin elasticity and noticeably smoother skin.Due to the clutter in the

beauty and wellness industry, consumers have found the entire process very highmaintenance and time consuming.

That’s why Soochi have created a ready-to-drink beverage that requires ​ no product integration​for ease of consumption (vs. supplements & powders). Soochi is high in efficacy with an ingredients-first approach to formulations. “I am a massive believer

in prevention through functional eating and drinking. It’s something we do three times a day - so we’re technically not doing anything different - only taking a more conscious decision in making the better choice for our wellbeing,” said Chou.

“Our vision is to help people live happier and healthier. We’re also delighted to announce beauty and

fashion icon Maddy Budd as the face of Soochi - she’s a personal friend from high school and having grown up with her, I know her beauty routine has always been super low-maintenance with a big focus on beauty from the insideout. She really encapsulates what we are trying to achieve at Soochi.”

For further information, please contact tina.chou@soochidrinks.com n

SMALL BUT SUPREME

THE SUPERSEED CRACKERS range are aptly named, packing a powerful punch when it comes to delivering on nutrition and taste. Using only organic seeds and nuts instead of flours and fillers, these ‘seed-only’ crackers are a quality source of healthy fats, protein, fibre, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. In today’s health crisis, the high fibre, high protein, low carb offering does well to meet the increasing need for nutritional wholefoods that support immunity and wellbeing. In the friendliest food form of all, the humble cracker, Superseed Crackers are a unique addition to enhance any snack range, premium or otherwise.

Baked in small batches until crispy, they’re a moreish, savoury snack either on their own or with toppings. The range offers three flavours; Garlic & Rosemary, Macadamia Nut and Lemon & Poppyseed – the latter being a completely new flavour profile in the cracker field. Featured near the deli to inspire premium platter purchases, or

strategically placed in the cracker aisle, their dense, textured appearance is a bold aesthetic that’s sure to stand out among other flour-filled alternatives – particularly to those who are searching for it. Superseed Crackers has had impressive local support among New Zealanders ever since they launched in 2017 – a testament to both the products’ quality and appeal, as well as to increasing appetites among kiwis for more plant-based and wholefood options.

The Superseed Crackers range also meets the growing interest and demand for keto and vegan products, which are becoming more recognised as an intentional health choice than a passing fad. Founder and chef Nikki van de Laar knows the importance of being both convenient and exciting when it comes to creating healthy snacks.

Whether they’re eaten on-the-go by busy professionals or loaded with extra protein for a nutritious post-gym snack, the Superseed range makes it easy to

eat well. “It’s nearly always the small choices we make that result in having the most impact, not just on the world around us but our bodies and minds too,” said van de Laar.

While the key ingredients in Superseed Crackers are teeny-tiny (flaxseeds and poppy seeds), they’re brimming with health benefits – seeming to inherently remind us that

small is the best place to start when making healthy changes to our lifestyles; whether it’s our own or inspiring those of our consumers.

For more information or to place an order please contact nikki@ creativecooking.co.nz. n

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nielsenfeature

COVID-19 CHANGED THE ADVERTISING PLAYBOOK. NOW WHAT? “Even as the world begins to re-open more permanently, it’s clear that the pandemic will have a lasting impact on consumer behaviour and brand-to-consumer engagement.

MY ADVICE: Learn to Heather Jordan

SVP, Product Management, Ad Intel, Nielsen

embrace uncertainty. After all, the only constant in today’s media ecosystem is change.

The good news is that 2020 offered us a wealth of evidence of what did and didn’t work, how brand messaging has shifted and how consumer behaviours accelerated. But the question for tomorrow is: which consumer behaviours will stick and which will revert? Here are three lessons.

Digital-First Is Finally Ubiquitous During peak pandemic months, Nielsen saw a rise in digital game purchases, streaming video engagement, online ordering, and

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working from home. Out of necessity, businesses quickly moved not just their workforces but their services and more of their advertising online.

While digital advertising was not immune to the knee-jerk reaction of reducing ad spending at the onset of the pandemic, brands quickly began to reinvest on digital platforms to keep a line of communication with consumers.

Even with the reduction in ad spending, advertising grew nearly 4% in 2020 over the prior year according to a Nielsen analysis done with BIScience.

In 2021, that shift could be even more significant as brands continue to navigate uncertainty and consumers embrace their digital lives even more. GroupM estimates that digital advertising will account for 55% of ad spend in 2021.

As advertisers adapt to the latest ad trend and cross-media currency becomes a reality one thing is for sure, digital-first has truly become ubiquitous with advertising.

Many of the digital-first behaviours consumers adopted during the pandemic will be permanent. Already, many companies are planning to allow their employees to continue to work from home, according to The Nielsen Remote Workers Consumer Survey, 80% of respondents said they would like to be able to work remotely from a location of their choosing.

These changes have begun to alter the economic and demographic landscape and will continue to have a significant impact on consumers’ media behaviour and free time.

As the world re-opens, people will gradually return to in-person dining and shopping, but the convenience of online ordering and curb side pickup will remain an important service for many retailers and restaurants.

Silence Is Deadly When the pandemic hit, some brands chose to go silent, while others doubled-down or tailored their messaging. In the first half of 2020 TV ad spend dropped 15.3% in the U.S. and 10.1% across France, Germany, Italy and U.K., compared with the previous year.

The biggest loss came in April, when ad spending fell by an astonishing 31.8% year over year in France, Germany, Italy and U.K. While reducing ad spend was a necessity for some, it was risky considering that it can take three to five years to recover both brand equity and revenue. Small and large brands that chose to continue advertising took different approaches, shifting media spend, messaging and tactics.

For example, Nielsen Ad Intel found that in the U.K., advertisers like Unilever actively increased their spending in the first half of 2020, compared with the previous year.

The brand doubled-down, moving its investment to digital and TV as consumers gravitated more toward those channels.

In the U.S., auto advertisers began ramping up their local TV spending in the late half of the year after cautiously cutting back in the initial pandemic months.

According to Nielsen Ad Intel, General Motors (GM), the No. 1 advertiser in local TV, had more than tripled its spending in November to $72.4 million from $19.7 million in June. We saw similar jumps in advertising investments from Toyota Motor and Ford Motor, among others.

Not surprisingly, GM outperformed the industry in the fourth quarter.

These smart, flexible, yet bold,

choices helped these brands remain top of mind for consumers, helped shrink the overall impact to sales and provided a positive launching pad into 2021.

Covid Fatigue Is Real And Will Be Back At the start of the pandemic, many brands immediately reacted with health-safety messaging, which helped to build trust with consumers.

As the situation wore on and brands established their pandemic protocols, COVID-fatigue began to set in and

brands began to focus their messaging more on hope, support for health care workers and embracing the new normal within pandemic life.

The percent of COVID-themed TV ads in the U.S. declined from 18% in the second quarter of 2020 to 12% and 11% in third and fourth quarter 2020 respectively.

Internationally, COVID-related ad creative peaked, making up 48% of total ads in the second quarter of 2020, according to Nielsen Ad Intel.

This figure dropped to 20% by the fourth quarter as COVID-fatigue set in among consumers.

Now a new line of messaging is ramping up around the vaccine and

continued health safety. At the same time, many consumers are looking forward to emerging from a pandemic world. It’s safe to assume that as more people get vaccinated, and as we reach the one-year mark for lockdowns, another wave of fatigue will set in.

Advertisers will need to remain cognizant of which communities and consumers were more affected by the pandemic and will need more help rebuilding their former lives.

Understanding these trends, embracing uncertainty and remaining agile are keystones to a successful advertising and messaging strategy in 2021.

When A New Challenge Arises, Use These Three Guiding Principles To Stay On Course: • Be flexible and iterative • Maintain a consistent share of voice • Reach consumers where they are n

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