Nichols plc, the international drinks business established in 1908, is introducing a new bottle design across its iconic Vimto squash range. Currently rolling out into market, distribution is planned to be fully integrated by mid-summer. The launch will also be supported by the return of the "Find Your Different" multichannel marketing campaign.
The new distinctive bottle features a contemporary design with fruit peel texture – delivering further stand out on-shelf and bringing to life the uniquely distinct Vimto flavour. The texture of the new bottles serves to highlight the ‘healthy hydration’ messaging the brand is passionate about by mirroring the real fruit contained within every Vimto squash bottle. The newly-designed bottles will remain widely recycled and made from 51 per cent rPET, supporting the Nichols plc Happier Future strategy.
This summer will also see the return of Vimto’s Find Your Different campaign. Building on the strength of last year’s activation, the campaign will continue to drive overall brand engagement whilst showcasing its broad squash flavour range and vitamin benefits through a multimillion media investment which includes advertising across TV and VOD airing from 20 June and in cinemas from 17 June, along with a social and digital activation through the summer. Reaching over 80 per cent of an audience of families, the campaign will be seen by around six million consumers.
“We are passionate about continuously developing our brand in line with consumer needs," said Jenny Powell, Marketing Manager. "This new bottle design highlights the importance of healthy hydration and the inclusion of real fruit juice within Vimto. As a business, we want to ensure that we’re creating a happier future for our planet by doing things the right way, and having widely-recycled bottles across our range also ensures we’re doing our bit. In addition, we are striving to reach 100 per cent rPET by 2025.
“The return of our Find Your Different campaign allows us to engage with our consumers even further, encouraging them to find their different which is at the heart of the Vimto brand. This is a fantastic way for us to engage families and help them explore our range.”
The creation of a bespoke, structural bottle embodies the brand’s personality, allowing for clear stand-out on shelf. The move builds on Vimto’s continued success, with its brand value currently sitting at its highest ever total of £105.6m, and bolsters Vimto’s position as the fastest growing squash brand in the UK, currently positioned as the No.2 squash brand in value sales.
Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has urged retailers to stock up early on new Kingsway products ahead of Veganuary.
Year on year Veganuary continues to grow and in 2024, 25 million people worldwide took part in the challenge.
Hancocks has introduced new vegan and vegetarian products this year to their Kingsway range including Vegan Sour Dummies, Raspberry Liquorice Slices, Mega Value Vegan Assorted Fizzy Mix, Giant Cola Bottles, Sugar Coated Strawberries, Vegan Mega Value Sour Bears, Vegan Cherry Fish, Sour Apple Cubes and Fried Eggs.
“Veganuary and veganism is becoming more and more popular each year and it's important for retailers to keep up with this demand,” Kathryn Hague, head of marketing at Hancocks, said.
“We’re really proud to be able to offer such a wide range of vegan products to our customers to help them cater to the needs of their shoppers with different dietary requirements.”
Kingsway Vegan Cherry Fish are bright red coloured, cherry flavoured gummy sweets. These moreish fish shaped sweets are ideal for pick and mix displays or repackaged into smaller bags.
The Sour Apple Cubes offer a twist on a pick and mix classic for vegans and vegetarians to enjoy and eye-catching Raspberry Liquorice Slices are also expected to be a popular addition to the vegan range.
The raspberry flavoured sweets have a sugar paste filling with small pieces of liquorice.
Kingsway Giant Cola Bottles are also new to the vegan range, alongside Kingsway Sugar Coated Strawberries and Kingsway Fried Eggs.
“Vegan products work best in store when they are clearly branded and categorised, helping shoppers to distinguish the products available. During Veganuary placement will be key and it’s a great time to increase the visibility of these ranges,” Hague added.
Godawan Artisanal Indian Single Malt, Diageo India’s most awarded single malt, made its highly anticipated debut in the UK.
Developed under the philosophy and programme of The Good Craft Co. - Diageo India’s craft and innovation hub, Godawan is rooted in the ideals of mindful luxury. The liquid uses locally sourced six-row barley and is distilled in Alwar, Rajasthan, at one of the highest-rated sustainable distilleries in the country.
The purpose-driven brand is working towards the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard - a majestic bird that symbolises Godawan’s legacy, heritage, and home, once widespread across India but is now labelled Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
Godawan has previously launched Godawan 100, winner of the ‘Taste Master of the Year’ at The Spirits Business World Whisky Masters 2024 and ‘Single Malt Whisky of the Year’ at the London Spirits Competition 2024, a limited edition with 100 bottles, an ode to the 100 surviving birds.
“This is a momentous occasion for us as a company, and for Indian craft spirits,” Hina Nagarajan, managing director and chief executive of Diageo India, said.
“With its distinctive quality and exceptional craftsmanship, we’re excited to introduce this award-winning Indian single malt to the UK market. We have always said that it’s not just about luxury – but rather luxury with a purpose, which Godawan embodies in every facet. We are thrilled to be able to offer consumers in UK a taste of Indian excellence.”
Vikram Damodaran, chief innovation officer of Diageo India, added: “Godawan is more than a single malt – it is exceptional in every form, a tribute to Indian artistry and heritage, and a rare spirit crafted with a unique purpose. The festive season is a perfect occasion for whisky lovers and enthusiasts to spend time and explore the pinnacle of Indian craftsmanship by Diageo. This expansion is bringing a taste of that luxury and artistry to people across the world.”
The brand’s Rich & Rounded and Fruit & Spice expressions (ABV: 46%) are now available across London in 700ml bottles. RRP: £65.
Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks is offering retailers a chance to make the most of their exclusive Pick N Mix Station Deal.
The unique deal includes the brand new Pick N Mix Station stand, 20 bags of Kingsway pick and mix sweets, plus all accessories.
The Pick N Mix Station package deal provides retailers with everything they need to create their own pick and mix stands in stores, at £849.
Retailers can stock the stands with delicious pick and mix sweets from Kingsway, a sweetie brand that’s been trusted and loved by shoppers for more than six decades.
With a range of over 200 products, including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options, Kingsway offers the biggest and most diverse pick and mix range in the UK.
Best-selling lines from Kingsway’s wide selection of pick and mix include Strawberry Bon Bons, Watermelon Slices, Sour Dummies, Tongue Painters, Fizzy Bubblegum Bottles and Giant Strawberries.
The vegan and vegetarian lines include customer favourites such as Peach Rings, Fizzy Cola Bottles, Sour Bears, Cherry Fish, Fizzy Dracula Teeth, Mini Eggs and Raspberry Liquorice Slices.
When stocking up their Pick N Mix stations, retailers can take advantage of the Kingsway Multibuy Offer. This offer provides a discount of 20p per bag for purchases of 10 or more bags, and a discount of 50p per bag for purchases of 20 or more bags.
With the average Kingsway customer buying 40 bags per week, the new deal could save them up to £1,000 a year.
The Pick N Mix Station package deal is available in Hancocks stores, the Kingsway Multibuy Offer is available online and in stores.
For most effective merchandising, Hancocks advised retailers to place Pick N Mix Stations in a high-traffic area in the store, for example near the entrance or tills, or next to other sweets and snacks.
It’s also important to fill the display with a variety of sweets, offering plenty of choices for all kinds of sweet lovers and regularly rotating the offerings to keep shoppers interested.
“We’re very excited to launch our Pick N Mix Station Deal and we’re inviting retailers to come and make the most of it in our Hancocks stores nationwide,” Kathryn Hague, head of marketing at Hancocks, said.
“This exclusive deal is perfect for retailers who wish to tap into the growing pick and mix trend and set up a sweetie stand in their stores, or for those who already sell pick and mix but want to freshen up their display.
“The deal includes everything you’d need to create your own pick and mix station, including the colourful and eye-catching stand, 20 bags of delicious Kingsway sweets and all accessories including the scoops, bags, cups and lids.
“Additionally, we’re offering big discounts for retailers through our Kingsway Multibuy Offer, with super sweet savings starting from buying only 10 Kingsway products.
“Offering pick and mix in your store is a great way to drive sales and attract new customers as it creates a theatre and a more personalised experience, allowing shoppers to have complete control over the selection of sweets they wish to include in their mix.”
A festive treat once again awaits rolling tobacco smokers across the UK this year in the form of limited-edition, retro-themed rolling papers from Imperial Brands.
Available in Golden Virginia Original, Amber, and Yellow, the limited-edition papers have proved a major hit over the years, with some smokers collecting the packs as well as using the papers to roll tobacco.
As always, consumers can be assured of the unique taste, quality, and value they have come to expect from Golden Virginia, which combines 20 separate fine tobacco grades from four continents, making this limited-edition product the perfect festive gift for smokers.
Andrew Malm, UK Market Manager for Imperial Brands, explained: “We’re delighted to introduce our 2024 limited-edition rolling papers to retailers this Christmas. Demand for these rolling papers has traditionally proven to be high, with great interest in the pack designs from consumers.
"We therefore recommend that retailers stock up now to maximise on the business opportunity available this festive season!”
Retailers should contact their wholesaler for availability or speak to their local Imperial Brands representative if they require more information.
Luxury single-origin dark chocolate brand, Cox & Co, has created the perfect mini treat for dark chocolate fans with the launch of its new 15g bar selection.
Providing bite-sized versions of its most popular flavours, the new 15g bars are available in four delicious flavours; Miso & Caramel (47 per cent), Blood Orange Crunch (60 per cent), Mint Crunch (60 per cent) and Plain Milk (41 per cent) and are perfect for retailers looking for high quality grab and go sweet treats.
Cox & Co’s chocolate bars are crafted from the finest single-origin Colombian cacao, using Luker Chocolate blended with delicious superfoods to create unique flavour combinations.
“We launched a smaller version (25g) of our luxury dark chocolate bars earlier this year and found them really popular with customers, so we decided to create a bite-sized bar, perfect for those looking for a quick sweet treat whilst on-the-go,” explains Gavin Cox, Founder of Cox & Co.
Targeting eco-conscious chocolate lovers, Cox & Co. is launching the new 15g range in its innovative paper flow wrapper, helping to reduce the huge amount of confectionery packaging waste that currently ends up in landfill, or contaminates current recycling.
“We are phasing out our current wood-pulp based, home compostable wrapping, in favour of new paper flow wrappers,” continues Gavin. “There is a demand for confectionery that doesn’t make customers choose between being ethical or enjoying an indulgent treat and our new mini bars place equal importance on both.”
Cox & Co’s mission is to create delicious chocolate that is truly different, made with care and sustainability in mind. Working with Colombia’s Luker Chocolate estate, Cox & Co invest in farmers, communities and sustainable farming methods to produce chocolate that’s as ethical as possible.
Cox & Co’s new 15g chocolate bars are available to all retailers. Wholesale price 70p per bar, RRP £1.25.