Leading frozen pizza brand Chicago Town has announced the introduction of seven new products to its popular range of Chicago-inspired pizzas, including new trend led flavour combinations, new bases and new premium toppings.
The brand said the innovations are set to keep it front of mind for consumers and keep category energy high. Chicago Town, worth £127.7m, has a market share of over 26 per cent in the total frozen pizza category, which is worth £474.8m and growing 1.9 per cent year-on-year (IRI).
First up, Chicago Town is introducing ‘premium tiers’ to its Takeaway and Deep Dish ranges. New to Takeaway, the ‘Weekender’ (RRP £5.73) delivers all the indulgence and taste of a takeout with two tempting new, first to frozen, topping choices, Salt & Pepper Chicken and Philly Cheesesteak at a fraction of the price of the high street.
New to Deep Dish, ‘The Ultimate One’ (RRP: £3.05) will bring two new unique flavour choices aimed at younger consumers who look for interesting and special ingredients. A product combining everything that’s great about Deep Dish just made ‘ultimate’ - not just exciting new toppings but flavoured crusts to create something unique - Chilli Pepper Crust with Picante Nduja and Black Pepper Crust with Peppered Cheesesteak, all delivered within HFSS compliant formats.
The frozen pizza brand is launching an entire new range – a pizza with an innovative super thin and crispy base. Inspired by ‘Tavern Style’, a local favourite in Chicago, the unique ‘Crispy Chicago Thin’ (RRP: £5.19) is much thinner than anything on the market and loaded with delicious indulgent toppings, edge to edge. Launching in Loaded Cheese or Sausage ‘N’ Pepperoni these sharing pizzas are perfect for that weekend together treat occasion.
And, with 74 per cent of weekend together treat occasions featuring sides and accompaniments for that ultra-indulgent experience, Chicago Town is introducing new Tiger Crust Cheesy Garlic Bread (RRP: £2.50). In a category currently dominated by own label, the new super tasty side offers a point of difference, featuring the brand’s unique and much celebrated Tiger Crust base and allows Chicago Town to offer a fully branded solution for a weekend together treat or indulgent mid-week treat.
“Innovation is crucial to our brand growth strategy. We know that consumers are really motivated by ‘new’ and look to Chicago Town for exciting new pizza experiences,” Paula Wyatt, head of marketing for Chicago Town, commented.
“We’ve invested heavily into research, we regularly send our entire team to Chicago to gather first-hand insight and pull in pizza experts. This has allowed us to deliver our most ambitious programme of new products in some time, bringing first to the frozen category flavours like Nduja, Philly Cheesesteak and Salt and Pepper Chicken.
“We know more and more consumers are discovering that frozen food offers outstanding quality, great value and now more than ever can help manage household budgets. Our aim is convince more and more pizza lovers to look to frozen.”
Chicago Town is also investing heavily in reaching new customers. Over the Summer, 75,000 samples of Deep Dish were given out to pizza and music lovers across 15 days at festivals up and down the country, including a festival exclusive, Sausage and Blueberry Deep Dish which blew up the brands’ socials.
The new innovations will be supported by a heavy-weight marketing campaign which will see Chicago Town invest £3.7 million in 2022. The brand will be back on TV in Q4, focused on football spots to link into the weekend together treat occasions. In addition, VOD, out of home spanning major cities, digital, shopper marketing, PR and commercial partnership campaigns will see the personality led brand dominate the frozen pizza category.
WARP, the UK’s fastest-growing independent snacks manufacturer, has unveiled its new identity.
From March 25, the company will be known as PROPER SNACKS, a name change that reflects its ambition to lead the European snacking industry into a new era of innovation, taste, health and purpose.
With a presence in 10 countries across Europe and a newly established manufacturing hub in Nuneaton, PROPER SNACKS has proven itself as a true innovator in the snacking category.
The company’s portfolio includes two well-loved brands:
PROPER: a brand that revolutionised healthy snacking in 2011 through its bestselling PROPER popcorn then challenged the status quo with PROPER chips range, the most successful savoury snack innovation in the last 10 years
Eat Real: the UK’s No. 1 Free-From snack company and pioneer in plant-based innovation since 2014
In a landmark achievement, PROPER SNACKS has been recertified as a B Corp - this time as a manufacturing company - solidifying its position as the UK’s largest certified snacks manufacturer.
This milestone underscores the company’s commitment to responsible sourcing, natural ingredients, and a palm oil-free future.
In 2025, PROPER SNACKS will accelerate its investment in innovation, sustainability and growth, doubling down marketing efforts and brand awareness campaigns.
Consumers can expect bold new flavours, innovative product launches and strategic partnerships, building on PROPER’s Barbie and Netflix collaborations of 2024.
Alex Brittain, CEO of PROPER SNACKS, commented, "Improving snacking has been in our DNA from day one. We are a proud B Corp, and our third recertification is a testament to our commitment to raise standards for our snackers, our people, and the entire industry.
We're here to reinvent snacking as an act of positive wellbeing and our new identity is a reflection of our mission.
"As we look ahead to a year of increased investment and innovation across our brands, PROPER SNACKS is doubling down on making snacks that not only taste great but drive positive change."
US snack brand Cheetos is gearing up for a major relaunch in the UK this year. With plans to scale the brand to new heights, Cheetos will capture the attention of Gen Z shoppers and please existing lovers of the brand. The relaunch will kick off with the introduction of a brand-new flavour, Fiery Jalapeño and Cheese, which will be available from March 17 in a 105g sharing bag (£2 RRP), and two price marked packs (PMPs) – 70g (£1.49 RRP) and 27g (49p RRP). Cheetos will also be updating its packaging across its existing Twisted Sweet & Spicy range, which is growing +31.1 per cent, bringing a bold, eye-catching design that resonates with Gen Z and emphasises its American heritage.
Cheetos is worth $2.9 billion in the US and holds the title of the number one Puffed Snack and number-two Gen Z Snack brand. At a time where Gen Z over-index with loving spice, it is looking to expand its UK fanbase by leveraging its bold American heritage and innovative flavours. The growing popularity of the brand will not only attract new shoppers but also reignite excitement among those familiar with Cheetos from the US, helping to drive footfall and increase basket spend as consumers seek out the iconic US brand in store.
Cheetos will also be optimising its existing Twisted Sweet & Spicy PMP range by upweighting its packs from 65g to 85g – a 30 per cent increase. The move comes as younger shoppers are becoming more conscious about getting the best value for their money, with 74 per cent of Gen Z comparing products to find the best deal.
“Cheetos is an iconic brand in the US, and we see a huge opportunity to bring the same level of energy, innovation, and cultural relevance to the UK market,” said Phoebe Chapman, Senior Brand Manager at Cheetos. “This re-launch marks the start of a new and exciting journey for Cheetos in the UK.
“We’re confident it will be a hit with shoppers and the available formats will play a strong role across all channels. Retailers who stock Cheetos can expect a high-energy, trend-driven brand that resonates with the Gen Z audience. This is about more than just snacking occasions; it's about making Cheetos an integral part of daily life and connecting with the next wave of snackers who want to connect with brand culture.”
The relaunch will be amplified with a significant media spend in 2025, spanning in-store shopper support, as well as a new campaign which will include content on TikTok, which will see the brand partner with Gen Z influencers to drive awareness and excitement of Cheetos. The media burst will be live from late April, with additional support appearing later in the year.
Cheetos Fiery Jalapeño and Cheese flavours will be available across grocery, convenience and wholesale in multiple pack formats from 17 March. From April, the new Sweet & Spicy packs will also be available across grocery, convenience and wholesale in a 120g sharing bag at £2 RRP (£1.50 RRP when on promotion), an 85g price- marked-pack at £1.49 RRP and a 30g price-marked-pack bag priced at 49p RRP.
Cheetos Sweet & Spicy 85g [£1.49] RRP is 30 per cent bigger compared to the 65g £1.25 RRP price-marked pack which was in market up to May 2025
KP Snacks today announces that Butterkist, the UK’s number one popcorn brand, has launched an exciting series of new video-on-demand tie-ups to drive the brand’s association with movies and encourage consumers to grab their favourite bag of Butterkist.
In a new £1M media investment running until 19 July, Butterkist will appear across movie content on major video-on-demand services: ITVX, Sky Cinema, and Disney+ with a series of fun and playful adverts. Featuring the tagline, “For every movie moment, Go Grab The Butterkist”, the campaign creative includes a series of 20 and 10 -second indents to draw the viewer into a film opening in the style of either a horror or romance, before being comically interrupted by characters commenting on the movie from a red sofa while sharing Butterkist popcorn.
The campaign will also run across social media and capitalises on the increasing popularity of Big Night In occasions, with Butterkist representing the perfect snack to make every movie feel like a fun, shared experience.
“We are delighted to announce that Butterkist is featuring prominently across ITVX, Sky Cinema, and Disney+ through a series of engaging, movie-inspired adverts," said Rachael Rayner, Brand Manager, KP Snacks. "We know that Butterkist is the nation’s favourite popcorn brand, and we are keen to reinforce the brand's position as the must-have snack for movie nights in with family and friends. With the brand continuing to grow and prove its popularity, this investment will further drive brand awareness and consumer engagement.”
Toffifee is on a mission to bring families together with its latest on-pack promotion. Starting from 1 May to 30 June, Toffifee is giving shoppers a thousand chances every week to download the latest films with a £5.50 voucher on Rakuten – creating the ultimate movie night.
With at-home socialising still an important part of family life, watching movies at home has become the UK’s #1 popular social activity, enjoyed regularly by a massive 87 per cent of people. This promotion supercharges confectionery purchases, adding extra value while driving in-store excitement by tapping into these unmissable moments.
Toffifee is supporting retailers in growing sales of boxed chocolate, which are the perfect accompaniment to a movie night at home. Toffifee’s brand momentum is stronger than ever, now valued at £14.5 million, up +7.5 per cent from last year, with volume growth of +4.3 per cent – outpacing the category. With 83 per cent of Big Night In purchases pre-planned, retailers can maximise sales by stocking up ahead of peak weekend demand.
“Toffifee and movies go hand in hand, as both have the power to bring families together for special shared moments together, with 64 per cent of consumers snacking to connect with others,” said Rebecca Robert, Marketing Director at Storck. “We’re excited to partner with Rakuten to make at-home movie nights even more special with the delicious taste of Toffifee.
“We know shoppers are being more cautious with their spending, but value-added initiatives like these, that extend beyond price promotions, are key to driving shopper interest. We’re confident that this, paired with POS that we are providing to drive awareness of the campaign, will help encourage more footfall to the confectionery aisle and help retailers drive more sales.”
The on-pack promotion, launching on 1 May, will be available across grocery, impulse and wholesale channels. To enter, shoppers simply need to purchase a 125g promotional pack of Toffifee and scan the QR code, and enter the unique code found inside. Winners will be chosen through weekly prize draws, giving them the chance to plan the ultimate movie night with Toffifee. For full T&Cs, please visit: www.toffifeeprizes.com
PWR-BRU, from IRN-BRU, the No. 1 Scottish grocery brand, is introducing its first new flavour innovation since launching in 2023. Dynamo Fruit Punch will be hitting shelves from April 2025 in a 500ml big can format.
“PWR-BRU has been packing a powerful flavour punch in the fast growing Scottish energy market since launch," said Kenny Nicholson, Head of IRN-BRU Brand. "The range, with its distinctive can design and real IRN-BRU essence, provides something unique and individual. This latest flavour innovation is arriving with retailers just in time to maximise profit opportunities in the summer sales peak.”
Scotland’s energy drinks market is the nation’s fastest growing category, adding the most value for retailers and selling an additional five million units per month during summer. Flavours are still driving these sales, as data shows flavoured SKUs are 60 per cent incremental to the market.
“We have been driving trial and frequency, achieving 35 per cent increase in penetration last year, thanks to our unbeatable flavours and unmistakable branding.
“Just two years after launch, PWR-BRU already has the third highest repeat purchase in stimulant energy, and we’re attracting three times the amount of ‘young shoppers’ vs. the rest of the category,” added Kenny.
Dynamo Fruit Punch performed incredibly well in consumer research with 93 per cent saying they would buy it and 81 per cent of shoppers who loved the taste. A full range of impactful and eye-catching PoS will be available for retailers to drive sales around launch and throughout summer.