Premium vodka-based RTD brand Four Loko has released its new limited edition flavour, Black, which consists of a surprisingly green serve.
With notes of kiwi and an ABV of 8.4 per cent, Four Loko Black delivers a fresh and fruity blast to “excite the senses”, while the striking black and green can delivers high on-shelf visibility to help maximise sales and encourage shoppers to the fixture.
“With the festive season now upon us, this is the perfect time for consumers to get their hands on this limited edition release and embrace the season with an exciting new taste sensation,” said Clark McIlroy, Managing Director of Four Loko distributor Red Star Brands.
Four Loko Black is now available in 440ml cans, RRP £3.49, for a limited time only. Sales support focusing on the new ‘Party in a Can’ campaign includes a range of in-store POS material featuring shelf barkers, wobblers and digital aisle fins, as well as high-profile social media and influencer campaigns.
“We know that NPD drives consumer interest in the RTD category so we’re excited to add some more vibrant colour in the run-up to Christmas,” added McIlroy. “Dark Berry Burst launched in May 2024 and is now the number two fastest-selling SKU behind Four Loko White, so we have high hopes for Black.
“The fact that premium priced RTDs have grown faster than any other segment in the last two years means that there are some great opportunities out there for retailers to capitalise on this popularity.”
The launch of Four Loko Black is being supported by the “Party in a Can” campaign, designed to engage the brand’s target Gen Z audience through multiple platforms and social media channels. The campaign encourages consumers to share their #FourLokoMoments – authentic, fun experiences where Four Loko is part of the celebration. This user-generated content approach will help create organic brand ambassadors, showcasing real-life enjoyment of Four Loko and highlighting the spirit of #PartyInACan.
Selected entrants will have the chance to receive exclusive merchandise and become part of Four Loko’s brand story. To further support the launch, Four Loko has also partnered with Snappy Shopper in Scotland for Black Friday promotions, offering exclusive deals on For Loko Black during the festive season.
“The idea is to bring to life the brand’s authentic, bold positioning while driving deeper connections through social engagement,” added McIlroy. “This exciting campaign is anchored by out-of-home executions and influencer content that complement these consumer-driven stories.”
Four Loko’s premium vodka-based, caffeine-free RTDs are all available in 440ml cans. The launch of Four Loko Black brings the total range available to 10 flavours; other variants include Pink Melon, Dark Berry Burst, White, Strawberry Lemonade, Tropical, Blue, Fruit Punch, Gold and Tutti Frutti (all 8.4 per cent ABV).
Natural energy drink brand TENZING has launched its first Christmas ad campaign – calling for the return of the original Santa Claus. The 60-second video looks at the changing physique of Father Christmas having signed a sponsorship deal with a famous sugary drink brand over 100 years ago.
The jolly character, depicted as he’s now known, did not always sport a round belly and bursting belt. Back in the day he was slim and strong, a powerhouse of festive energy – hauling trees and presents himself. No sleigh, no reindeer, and definitely no truck. In the video, we see Santa having to make a decision; continue with the cash or opt for a healthier alternative. The ad ends with the return of the original Santa, half the man, fuelled with double the energy having chosen to drink TENZING.
The Christmas campaign has been launched in support of the brand’s latest launch – Fiery Mango, which is the first energy drink of its kind created specifically for the winter months. Unlike Santa’s current soft drink of choice, this innovative new recipe is 100 per cent plant-based and boasts a powerful combination of natural ingredients from Vitamin D and C to Magnesium and Lion's Mane. It would be perfect for fuelling Santa over the festive period when vitamin D levels, energy levels, mood and immunity are all notoriously low. It’s the clean, natural energy he needs to power his sleigh the way he used to – no truck required.
The advert is launching with Lad Bible, Google and TikTok today
Pepsi MAX has debuted its Christmas advert and UK-wide festive campaign, including a prime time slot during the first episode of the new series of I’m a Celebrity: Get Me Out of Here! Edits will also run across TV, BVOD, Audio, Digital and Social.
The TVC ad kicks off the brand’s Christmas campaign that highlights how one of the most magical parts about the holiday season is that it's acceptable to park the to-do list, and put that extra time and energy into the stuff we really enjoy.
The ad is sound-tracked to a remix of the festive classic, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, by up and coming UK artist, Poppy Adjudha, and showcases how life’s ‘have-to-do’s’ like work, the heading to the gym and studying can wait until January, putting a spotlight on how Pepsi MAX is an ally for Christmas fun and enjoyment as friends and family come together.
The out of home campaign features different scenes from the TVC showcasing a deserted office, gym and library, alongside taglines "Spreadsheets can wait, it’s Xmas after all", "Leg day can wait, it’s Xmas after all" and "10,000 words can wait, it’s Xmas after all". This will be supported by OOH creative that focuses on a Pepsi MAX can, alongside slogans that highlight the joy of embracing the Christmas season and ladder up to the "It Can Wait" campaign, such as "all day PJs for the win, it’s Xmas after all". The campaign will also run across Digital on Meta, Snapchat, YouTube shorts, in addition to Digital OOH.
Steven Hind, Senior Marketing Director, Beverages UK & Western Europe commented: “The festive season is all about making memories and having fun with those we love, and taking the time to enjoy the festive season. As December hits, we know that a lot of things – whether that be work, studying or working out, can very much feel like a January problem as we all look to prioritise those precious moments together instead. Our Christmas ad really brings to life this ‘tools down’ mentality to prioritise enjoyment during the festive period, while also embodying our brand ethos of being ‘thirsty for more’.”
Coca-Cola’s iconic The World Needs More Santas ad has returned to the nation’s screens, building excitement ahead of the festive season.
The advert aims to remind everyone that one act of Christmas kindness can bring out the ‘inner Santa’ in each of us, supported by video-on-demand, cinema, and out-of-home advertising. The ad features a cover of Anyone Can Be Santa by British singer-songwriter Celeste.
“Coca-Cola has been bringing people together at Christmas for more than 130 years, and this year is no different,” Rob Yeomans, vice-president, commercial development at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) GB, said.
“As the biggest soft drinks brand in GB, Coca-Cola has become a festive staple thanks to its iconic and eagerly awaited Christmas campaigns, famous Coca-Cola truck and on-pack promotions, making it a must-stock for retailers this season.”
Soft drinks remain a staple of Christmas occasions and generated more value sales at Christmas 2023 than any year previously, with Coca-Cola the soft drink of choice for more than 10m households.
Purity Soft Drinks, makers of leading fruit juice and juice drink brands Juice Burst and firefly, is expanding distribution for Juice Burst Apple. The brand’s bestselling flavour has confirmed additional distribution across Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Morrisons Daily stores; and is launching in Iceland for the first time in January 2025.
The new listings follow the soaring popularity of apple flavoured drinks along with the brand’s investment in its biggest marketing campaign to date. Juice Burst Apple has overtaken Orange as the brand’s bestselling variant, growing to become the number one apple juice SKU in drink now. Its nationwide summer campaign – Punchy To The Core – amplified the flavour to over 30 million UK adults and was seen 174 million times through a combination of digital and out of home advertising.
HFSS-compliant and SDIL-exempt with no added sugar, and containing one of your five-a-day in every bottle, the popularity of Juice Burst Apple has been attributed to the increasing number of health-conscious consumers post-pandemic. The brand has grown by 60 per cent since 2019 to reach a value of £80m in recent months.
“We entered 2024 with big ambitions for Juice Burst Apple," said Sarah Baldwin, CEO of Purity Soft Drinks Ltd. "Research we commissioned found that when choosing a soft drink, health is now the second most important consideration after taste, with 41 per cent of juice drinkers choosing a product because of its health credentials and 36 per cent preferring products that provide one of their five-a-day.
“We’re delighted by the success we’ve seen for Apple in the market, and the vote of confidence shown by our retailer partners who are stocking the brand in more stores for their shoppers.”
The announcement is the latest in a series of growth and development successes for Purity Soft Drinks. Catering to consumer demand, the company recently expanded its latest flavour Juice Burst Peach Ice Tea into a larger 500ml format, and rolled out 100 per cent recyclable packaging across the entire Juice Burst range this summer.
This winter, Red Bull is broadening its no sugar offer with the global launch of Red Bull Zero, delivering Zero sugar and Zero calories, with the popular flavour of Red Bull Original Energy Drink, the leading single serve soft drink in the market.
Health is now a key concern for shoppers, with 75 per cent considering health when they choose a soft drink [Appinio, July 2024], however, taste continues to be the number 1 driver of purchase [Kantar, July 2023] highlighting the need for a sufficient offering of great tasting no sugar and zero alternatives alongside full sugar soft drinks.
Red Bull Sugarfree caters to this need, providing a no sugar offering but with a distinct flavour that has built up a loyal shopper base. Red Bull Zero aims to fill a gap in the current line-up, for a liquid closer to the taste of Original Red Bull Energy Drink. It meets demand by delivering the same energy boost and taste, but without the sugar, targeting incremental category occasions.
With health such a key consideration for soft drink consumers, Red Bull said it is important to cater to this need within the Energy category. Offering more no sugar options is key to building incrementality for the category with more users, consuming energy drinks more often, and across more occasions. Red Bull has been key to driving this growth, with a portfolio that offers choice, growing shoppers and frequency of its no sugar products year on year and Red Bull Zero aims to drive this further.
The new can also compliments the Red Bull Energy Drink line-up, featuring the brands’ two most distinctive and recognisable assets – the core blue and silver rhombus design and the bull brand logo, along with a ‘New Taste’ flash.
Available in 250ml plain (RRP: £1.65) and £1.60 PMC cans, 355ml can (RRP: £2.10), 473ml can (RRP: £2.60), 4 x 250ml (RRP:£5.40) and 8 x 250ml (RRP: £9.50) can multipack.