Nestlé Confectionery unveils spring 2021 range

Nestlé Confectionery has unveiled its spring 2021 range, aiming to help retailers bounce back after a 2020 season hit by shopping restrictions and lockdown measures.

The popular KITKAT Bunny, which became the No.2 impulse novelty on the market after the launch this year, will be headlining the 2021 spring range.

Generating sales of £3.1 million across the range of formats, it will once again be available in multiple formats making it ideal for everything from indulgent treating and egg hunts to Easter gifting.

The range includes the KITKAT Bunny impulse bar (RRP 65p), KITKAT Bunny Mini Bunnies sharing bag containing six individually wrapped bunnies (RRP £1.00), KITKAT Bunny x5 multipack (RRP £3.00) and a KITKAT Bunny Giant Easter egg complete with a KITKAT Bunny impulse bar and Mini Bunnies bag inside (RRP £7.49).

The leading white chocolate MILKYBAR will get a brand-new seasonal launch to its portfolio, MILKYBAR Bunny.

It will be available in a range of three sizes to meet different shopper needs: impulse 17g (RRP 65p), small novelty 44g (RRP £1.49) and medium novelty 88g (RRP £2.49).

The new launch will join the SMARTIES Bunnies range which launched in 2020 and is made up of five fun characters, each one a different colour: Cool (blue), Cute (pink), Smart (green), Happy (yellow) and Silly (orange).

Each bunny comprises of a chocolate shell with mini SMARTIES inside. They are available in a range of sizes including impulse 18.5g (RRP 65p), impulse multipack (RRP £2.00), small novelty 50g (RRP £1.49) and medium novelty 94g (RRP £2.49); both ideal as ‘thinking of you’ gifts.

There is also the Bunny Family Gift Pack which contains one 94g bunny and three 18.5g impulse bunnies (RRP £3.99).

The Mini Eggs category will benefit from a brand-new launch from flagship brand KITKAT: KITKAT Mini Eggs (RRP £1.00).

Each foil-wrapped egg comprises of a milk chocolate shell with a rich chocolatey centre and crunchy wafer pieces.

Completing the 2021 Mini Eggs range are the popular SMARTIES Mini Eggs, MILKYBAR Mini Eggs pouches, and AERO Milk Chocolate Mini Eggs (RRP £1.00), which were launched this year.

The 2021 Nestlé range comes packed with gift-worthy eggs for all recipients and includes new products from favourite brands, including two brand new giant eggs.

Capitalising on the success of SMARTIES Buttons, which launched in January 2020, is the new SMARTIES Buttons Giant Egg (RRP £7.49), which comes complete with SMARTIES Buttons pouch.

SMARTIES Buttons proved an instant hit with shoppers achieving over £12 million in sales since launch.

The second new giant egg is the AERO Peppermint Mini Eggs Giant Egg (RRP £7.49) which comes complete with an AERO Peppermint mini eggs pouch. The actual chocolate egg is peppermint flavoured, making it the only peppermint egg available nationally.

Finally, KITKAT will also launch a brand-new variant of the much-loved Incredible Eggs. The KITKAT Chunky Cookie Dough Incredible Egg (RRP £12.00) comprises a cookie dough flavoured milk chocolate egg with caramel inclusions, alongside three KITKAT Chunky Cookie Dough bars.

KITKAT Chunky Cookie Dough has been a consumer favourite since the impulse bar was unveiled in 2016 becoming the biggest selling new product launch of the year.

Nestlé has also recommended that popular formats from big, well-loved brands are must-stock eggs for convenience retailers. These include the MILKYBAR small egg (RRP £1.73) as well as medium and large eggs from KITKAT Chunky and SMARTIES.  Both have RRP £2.92 and RRP £5.41 respectively.

As part of its sustainability commitments, all hollow eggs in the range will be plastic free, whilst a number of the packs in Mini Eggs range have reduced their packaging by up to 20 per cent. This will be communicated to shoppers with an on-pack flash.

“There is a strong opportunity for brands and retailers to drive growth in 2021, by ensuring the right brands are available in the right formats at the right time for the shopper. The early season remains key, with 80 per cent of shoppers who buy in the early season returning to buy again,” Nestlé said.