Mondelēz International (MDLZ) is once again bringing their festive favourites to market this year with a sleigh-load of confectionery and biscuit treats. It will be helping retailers to make the most of a potentially great festive period with treats from iconic brands such as Cadbury, OREO, Maynards Bassetts and Green & Black’s.
Mondelēz International is central to Christmas confectionery, leading the market with the #1 SKU in seven sub-categories – seasonal sharing, advent calendars, selection boxes and tree decorations, just to name a few. Shoppers clearly trust MDLZ to bring them the products they love come Christmas-time, with total seasonal sales growing over six per cent last year. In seasonal biscuits, MDLZ also has a strong presence, growing over three per cent last year with top-performing products from Cadbury Biscuits and OREO.
This year sees a re-design across the seasonal range with new and eye-catching packaging that raises the "specialness" element and builds on seasonal and gifting cues present on-pack. The new look will help drive further value for retailers and shoppers with a fresh touch of Christmas magic guaranteed to create excitement in-store.
The Season – Part One: "Fast Start"
Remember that the festive season actually starts as early as September, with shoppers beginning to cosy-up indoors due to the darker nights and cooler weather. As a result, retailers may see an increase in Big Night In sharing occasions, which they can cater to with sharing packs, multipacks and block formats. Cadbury’s range of sharing pouches (such as Cadbury Dairy Milk Classics and Cadbury Roses) are shopper favourites in the category, with the Cadbury Heroes pouch achieving the #1 SKU in Grocery.
In October, the upcoming seasonal occasions are becoming prevalent in shoppers’ minds, and many will be looking for self-treat and sharing novelties. MDLZ is launching an NPD, the Cadbury Mini SnowBalls 110g Bar, the ultimate combination of the UK's #1 sharing novelty treat, now in a tablet format. OREO will be bringing a playful twist to Christmas with seasonally coloured cremes through the classic Original flavour. OREO Festive Colours are perfect for sharing, with three 114g roll packs which include red, green, and white coloured-creme options. Cadbury Puds made a much-anticipated return last year, and were quickly a huge hit with shoppers becoming the season’s #1 NPD.
The Season – Part Two: Driving the Excitement
By November, the countdown to Christmas has begun. Shoppers begin preparations for the season by purchasing of advent calendars and tree decorations. This year, Mondelēz International is bringing consumers a Christmas challenge in the form of brand-new Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Bar featuring 25 individually-numbered chunks of the nation’s favourite chocolate, with a resealable wrap for stand out on-shelf. Tapping into festive fun, the unique "One Chunk a Day Challenge" is something everyone can take part in.
Finally, as we enter December and the big day approaches, retailers can profit by stocking up on larger gifting and sharing formats. This year, Mondelēz International is rolling out a brand new treat, the Cadbury Chunk Collection, to include individually-wrapped chunks of various Cadbury chocolates, including Cadbury White, Cadbury Dairy Milk, and Cadbury Dairy Milk Wholenut. The Chunk Collection is available in a 243G Carton format, with an eye-catching design that is sure to stand out on-shelf. The iconic Cadbury Heroes Tin will also be available in a new "Who Am I?" card game edition that will bring the entire family together. These gifting and sharing formats elevate festive moments, and are a fantastic opportunity to drive maximum sales from shoppers by providing the option to “trade up” their treats.
All in all, MDLZ have executed a fresh and coherent, excellently integrated re-design of the Cadbury range, using the (now copyrighted) purple livery in a subtle and enticing manner to best present a slew of NPD and traditional favourites.
Susan Nash, Trade Communications Manager at Mondelēz International, commented that despite the growing cost-of-living crisis, the prospect for improved sales over the festive period is excellent this year, due to shoppers looking for "value self-treats" and gifting chocolates in place of more expensive consumer durables.
The products
September/October: Festive Firsts
Cadbury Mini Snowballs Bar
Brand new for 2022, Cadbury Mini Snowballs Bar sees the combination of the #1 Christmas sharing novelty product, Mini Snowballs with the nation’s #1 chocolate, Cadbury . This unique treat comes in the iconic Cadbury heartland tablet format which is perfect for both sharing and self-treat occasions. Retailers can use this irresistible proposition to drive their fast-start to the season and repeat purchase rate. RRP £1.49, Weight: 110g x 20 per case
Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp
Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp is a top performer come Christmas-time , tapping into festive flavours with delicious mint crunchy pieces. New for 2022, it will be available in a 360G block format making it the perfect small gift for Cadbury lovers. What’s more, it’ll be rolled out with a new and impactful gifting design that is sure to stand out on-shelf, driving incremental sales and encouraging shoppers to ‘trade-up’. RRP £3.99, Weight: 360g x 13 per case
Cadbury White Jingly Bells
Cadbury Jingly Bells are expanding their range with a brand new White addition for 2022. Jingly Bells are individually wrapped in large sharing pouches, making them an ideal treat to share among your family and friends. The Jingly Bells range have an eye-catching seasonal design of snowflakes on a cosy knitted background which invites shoppers to celebrate the festivities, and this new addition will only drive excitement further! RRP £1.49, Weight: 72g x 16 per case
November: Countdown To Christmas
Cadbury Chunk Collection
The brand new Cadbury Chunk Collection provides the nation’s favourite chocolate in individually-wrapped chunks of various flavours, including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Cadbury Dairy Milk Caramel and Cadbury Dairy Milk Wholenut. This collection’s elegant packaging stands out on-shelf, but also has an aspect of versatility which allows retailers to tap into various seasonal shopper gifting occasions. RRP £5.00, Weight: 243g x 5 per case
Cadbury White Santa
Chocolate Santas are a must-have for chocolate lovers when it comes to the festive season, making them a fundamental part of any retailer’s Christmas confectionery offering. This year, Mondelēz International is rolling out a brand new chocolate Santa, made from indulgent Cadbury White. This delicious flavour is accompanied with a stand-out design of Santa wearing white, rather than his traditional red. This exciting addition to the range is sure to engage your shoppers. RRP £2.99, Weight: 100g x 8 per case
Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Bar
Mondelēz International has a brand new challenge for chocolate lovers this Christmas with the launch of Cadbury Dairy Milk Advent Bar! Delicious Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate will be sectioned into 25 individually-numbered chunks that can be broken off and enjoyed each day in the lead up to Christmas. This unique new bar will add a touch of magic to the advent countdown for consumers and is sure to be a talking point! Retailers can join in with the fun by encouraging their shoppers to take part in the ‘One Chunk A Day Challenge’. Who’ll be able to resist? RRP £3.49, Weight: 270g x 14 per case
Oreo Festive Colours
OREO will be bringing a playful twist to Christmas with the launch of brand new OREO Festive Colours. For the first time across Europe, there will be red, green and white coloured cremes whilst also keeping their iconic Original Vanilla flavour. The product includes three 114g roll packs, each with a different colour making it an ideal sharing treat to celebrate the festivities together. With an eye-catching seasonal design, retailers can drive excitement in their stores with this unique treat. RRP £2.50, Weight: 462g x 6 per case
December: Christmas Magic
Cadbury Dairy Milk Tins
Tins are a growing category in Christmas confectionery which drives value and offers shoppers the opportunity to ‘trade up’. This year, Cadbury are launching two new beautifully designed tins filled with delicious Cadbury Chunks. Tins make a great gifting proposition for the festive season, and these new additions will give shoppers two different sizes to choose from for their recipient, 396g or 850g. Small Tin: RRP £5.99, Weight: 396g x 6 per case. Big Tin: RRP £12, Weight: 850g x 1 per case.
Cadbury Heroes Game Tin
The iconic Cadbury Heroes tin is a must-stock for the Christmas season and this year, Mondelēz International is rolling out a brand new version that is sure to create excitement in-store. Cadbury Heroes Who Am I? features all of the treat-sized shopper favourites you’d expect, but with a brand-new in-built game for all to enjoy while they share and indulge in their treats. This enhanced value proposition will bring family and friends together during the festivities, and will provide retailers a fantastic sharing option to offer to their shoppers. RRP £12, Weight: 900g x 1 per case
Toblerone Selection Box
Toblerone is a popular with premium chocolate shoppers, and Christmas is the perfect time for shoppers to ‘trade up’ and treat themselves and those around them. That’s why Mondelēz International has developed a new Toblerone Selection Box, filled with four 100g bars and a mix of treat-sized Tinies in delicious milk, white, and gingery orange flavours. This selection box is perfect for retailers who want to tap into the high-end seasonal gifting opportunity with a well-loved premium chocolate brand. RRP £10, Weight: 480g x 7 per case
Cadbury Favourites Selection
Finally, the brand new Cadbury Favourites selection box is ideal for seasonal indulgence, offering shoppers several of their favourite Cadbury Dairy Milk treats in one including a sharing bag of Buttons, a box of Fingers, a Twirl bar and 100g tablet. The impactful design sets out the product proposition clearly for the shopper, and includes the label “for someone special”, making it a perfect personalised gift for any festive occasions. RRP £5.95, Weight: 370g x 7 per case
Leading Prague beer Staropramen has launched a new 10x440ml can ‘Fridge Pack’ in response to rising demand for multi-pack can formats in the world beer category.
The packs will launch in stores nationwide from Monday, 17 March, with the most recent data showing that 30 per cent of shoppers who purchase multi-packs in the world lager category exclusively buy can formats.
The new cans are encased in a new recyclable cardboard sleeve and include an easy-to-carry handle and quick tear-open fold.
The launch will be supported by a new marketing campaign including in-store POS, digital assets and a paid social media programme.
Each 440ml can and outer sleeve will include a scannable QR code, giving consumers access to exclusive Staropramen content as well as the brands website where they can learn more about Staropramen’s heritage and brewing process.
“Shoppers want a pack format that works for them. Adding a mid-size pack to our range enables retailers to provide more choice, making sure their world lager offering has the formats to suit all shopping habits,” Bethan Roberts, assistant brand manager at Staropramen, said.
“Every pack comes with a scannable QR code to give customers access to exclusive Staropramen content and promotions, as well as an insight into the brands heritage and brewing processes.”
Boost Drinks has announced the exciting introduction of limited edition NPD in both its Energy and Sport ranges; Blue Raspberry Energy and Cloudy Lemonade Sport.
ENERGY Leveraging its position as the third largest brand in Energy Stimulation, growing +15 per cent in value vs. two years ago, Boost’s new Blue Raspberry limited edition is bringing excitement and incremental sales to the 250ml market.
The latest launch aligns with growing demand from consumers for new flavours. 40 per cent of consumers are looking for new flavours within energy, and Blue Raspberry is an established and visually appealing flavour profile that appeals to both Millennial and Gen Z demographics, through nostalgia and modern relevance.
With 90 per cent of consumers that have tried Boost’s Blue Raspberry Energy ‘’loving’’ the flavour, this exciting NPD drop offers huge opportunities for retailers to boost their sales and draw more shoppers to the sector.
SPORT
Sports is a category in which flavours drive excitement and growth, contributing £9m last year. As the number two brand in Sports Drinks and growing +70 per cent in value vs. two years ago, Boost has seen huge success with limited edition releases, with Raspberry & Mango in 2023 and Watermelon & Lime in 2024 both driving demand and increasing incremental sales in the category.
Boost Cloudy Lemonade Sport taps into the popular citrus flavour profile with a tasty twist. Cloudy lemonade flavour profiles have been growing in popularity in recent years with trends relating to authenticity and craft becoming more prevalent in soft drinks, and Boost is now offering retailers the chance to cash in on this with an exciting new 500ml product.
“These latest limited edition launches across Energy and Sport are helping us provide an increasingly diverse range of drinks, that tap into multiple consumer trends and flavour desires," said Adrian Hipkiss, Head of Energy Brands at AG Barr. "The two new flavours will build excitement in their respective rapidly growing categories, ultimately supporting our retail partners to drive more sales.
“Our limited edition launches in the Sports range have always been a huge success and Cloudy Lemonade will be no different, tapping into proven consumer interest in zesty flavours with something new and exciting. We are also very excited to be bringing a limited edition flavour to our Energy range, with Blue Raspberry offering another popular and trending new taste that appeals to a wide range of consumers.
“Limited editions create a buzz around the chiller, with shoppers keen to try before it’s gone and we will be supporting both new flavours with a social and sampling campaign. We’d advise retailers to stock up on both formats and ensure availability, particularly during peak times. We're confident that these new additions will continue to delight consumers and reinforce our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence within the energy and functional categories.”
On shelf: April 2025
Packs: Cloudy Lemonade: 12 x 500ml PET sports cap 89p PMP Blue Raspberry: 12 x 250ml can 75p PMP
Delice de France, the UK experts in bread, bakery and food to go, is launching Café Delice, a new coffee-to-go concept where outlets selling 35 cups a day can earn margins of 40 per cent.
The move will enable bakery customers of Delice de France to extend their food-to-go offering with quality hot drinks at competitive prices.
Café Delice is a monthly rental hot drinks concept, which includes a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine, linked milk cooler, branded housing unit and menu, as well as product and waste storage areas. Full servicing and cleaning packs for the agreement period are provided.
It is a modular set up, with floor-standing and counter solutions available to cater for different sized outlets and needs. Café Delice’s menu includes coffee, tea and hot chocolate.
Outlets can earn 40 per cent margin when they sell 35 cups a day, working to Delice de France’s suggested retail price of £2.75 for a regular 12oz latte.
This margin takes into consideration the cost of the coffee and the monthly rental. With monthly rental options starting from £360 per month, outlets could make more than £10,000 a year based on a forecast of 35 cups per day.
Delice de France has partnered with Modern Standard for its coffee bean, with a focus on its hero product Momentum Espresso, a 100 per cent Arabica – Medium Roast product that is 70 per cent Brazilian and 30 per cent Columbian, a combination that offers the strength and depth that other coffee-to-go products can lack. It is available in cases of 12x1kg bags, with each bag serving 55 cups.
Modern Standard is one of the few female-founded and -run coffee businesses in the UK. Founder Lynsey Harley spotted a gap in the market for a full-service specialty coffee roaster. Working with world-leading farmers while packing themselves, Modern Standard enables retailers and foodservice outlets to offer a specialty coffee at an accessible price. The company has locations in Fife, Edinburgh and London.
For its tea, Delice de France has partnered with Dorset-based Clipper to offer a range of organic and fairtrade teas that are plastic-free. Café Delice outlets can offer English Breakfast, Decaf and Earl Grey.
Hot chocolate is provided by Barry Callebaut – Le Royal Choco Flavour Mix, which is supplied in 10x1kg bags. Each bag contains enough for 35 cups.
The solution also offers a range of sugars and syrups, including brown, white and sweetener sticks, and Sweetbird Vanilla, Caramel and Hazelnut syrups. Each syrup bottle is one litre, which is enough for 62 cups using two pumps.
In packaging, Delice de France offers a range of Edenware coffee cups and lids, which use a plant-based lining as an environmentally friendly alternative.
“With Café Delice, we have a reliable and strong brand that offers our partners lucrative margins and completes their to-go offer," said Thierry Cacaly, Delice de France CEO. "Through our partnership with Modern Standard, we are offering the quality that consumers expect at a price point that will ensure our partners can be competitive.”
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Authentic flavors, ready in minutes – Pekis Taco Fillings !
Empire Bespoke Foods, the specialist global food importer and distributor, has unveiled an exclusive new range of "heat and eat" taco fillings based on the most popular world food flavours in response to growing consumer demand for exciting and convenient meal solutions.
Pekis Taco Fillings are based on traditional and authentic recipes from around the world, cooked with 100% premium quality, natural ingredients and no preservatives. Ready to heat, eat and enjoy, the range comprises Chicken Jalapeno, Tikka Masala, Chicken Teriyaki and Chilli Con Carne. Each 180g pack will fill four average-sized taco shells.
“Shopper spending in Mexican has increased by nearly 10 per cent over last year with Mexican, Indian, Chinese and Japanese cuisines now accounting for the vast majority of world foods sales,” said Madina Kaiumova, brand manager at Empire Bespoke Foods.
Quick, delicious, and packed with world flavors!
“The rapid rise in consumer demand for taste adventure, combined with the popularity of replicating restaurant-style meals at home, means that there is now a huge opportunity for retailers to capitalise on these growing trends.
“These fillings combine the true taste of some of the most popular world cuisines with the familiarity of the much loved Mexican taco, and with shortcut products increasingly in demand,” added Kaiumova.
“Sixty per cent of consumers now consider convenience a key decision factor when purchasing world foods, and with 80 per cent now claiming to be ready for ’safe adventure’ through familiarity, we fully expect the Pekis range to satisfy the growing consumer appetite for these winning combinations of great flavours and absolute convenience.”
The Pekis range of taco fillers require only ambient storage and contain all the ingredients necessary to create each dish within minutes. They are now available exclusively through Empire Bespoke Foods.
RSP: £3.99 per 180g pack.
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Sip smart this St. Patrick’s Day with Kahlúa’s Schneaky Espresso Martini glass
Cocktail lovers can rejoice this St. Patrick’s Day with the release of Kahlúa’s “Schneaky” Espresso Martini glass. Disguised to look like a pint of stout, the specially designed, hand-blown glass sneakily conceals an Espresso Martini inside a pint glass. The crafty solution was created following research revealing that cocktail lovers feel “St. Patrick’s Day pressure” to drink stout – even if they don’t savour its flavour.
According to the study, around two in three drinkers (64 per cent) have felt the need to order a "certain stout drink" to fit in and nearly half (42 per cent) fear they might be judged poorly for choosing a cocktail over a pint on St. Patrick’s Day. Enter the Schneaky Espresso Martini glass by Kahlúa – a saviour for many cocktail lovers on 16 and 17 March.
Kahlúa has enlisted former England rugby star and devout stout drinker James Haskell to raise awareness of the Schneaky Espresso Martini glass – showing that even the most loyal fans of stout can sip undercover.
“For any punters looking to avoid an unwanted pint of stout, Kahlúa has got you covered,” said Haskell. “The Schneaky Espresso Martini glass means you can enjoy the deliciously indulgent cocktail you crave, without the fear of being judged.”
Following the huge success of last year's St. Patrick’s Day campaign – Feliz St. Patrick’s Day – Irish TikTok sensations Tadgh & Derry are joining forces with Kahlúa again. They join 3bucksleft in a cheeky video revealing the Sneaky Espresso Martini glass in all its glory.
On 16 and 17 March, Kahlúa is giving away free Schneaky Espresso Martinis* in its bespoke glasses exclusively at two pubs – the Howl At The Moon pub in Hoxton, London and O’Loclainn’s in County Clare, Ireland. Punters can try the undercover glass for free by ordering a “Schneaky Espresso Martini” at the bar**. There will also be an exclusive opportunity to win a Kahlúa Schneaky Espresso Martini glass via the Howl At The Moon’s Instagram page.
Alison Perrottet, Brand Director for Pernod Ricard UK, said: “Kahlúa loves showing up in unexpected ways and that’s exactly what we’re doing this St. Patrick’s Day. While stout has traditionally been a favourite for St. Patrick’s Day, it’s time to stir things up with a Schneaky Espresso Martini, and what better way to celebrate than with the UK’s number one coffee liqueur. Slainte!”
**T&CS: The activation is open to all individuals aged 18 years or older, operating the “think 25” policy. Customers must present a valid photo ID to prove eligibility. Only one free drink per person will be given, subject to availability and the discretion of pub staff. The activation is valid from 12pm to 11pm on Monday 17th March at Howl At The Moon and from 5pm to 11pm at O’Loclainn’s on Sunday 16th March, subject to stock lasting. Alcohol consumption should be done responsibly. The pub reserves the right to refuse service to any individual who is intoxicated or behaving inappropriately. The Sneaky Espresso Martini by Kahlúa cannot be substituted for any other alcohol or item. The Schneaky Espresso Martini glass by Kahlúa is not available for purchase nor giveaway, all glasses are the property of Pernod**Customers can claim one Kahlúa espresso martini using the codeword “Schneaky Espresso Martini” at the bar, subject to T&Cs.