Andy was born in London just in time to see England win the World Cup, and much later began his career in academia, gaining a PhD in American Literature and lecturing at several universities, including Maryland and Gothenburg in Sweden, and pursuing a sideline in sheep-farming before moving back to London and becoming a literary agent and TV documentary-maker (working for various broadcasters and making series such as the BBC’s Monsoon Railway, set in Bengal).
He has written several biographies, including the Second World War story American Pimpernel, and became the official biographer of India’s Prime Minister (then Chief Minister of Gujarat) publishing Narendra Modi, a Political Biography (Harper Collins).
Andy joined Asian Media Group in 2018, his first “proper” job, and has been there ever since, believing that, while trade journalism might not save the world, it might just save journalism.
Treasury Wine Estate's (TWE) premium wine brand, Wolf Blass, is bringing its award-winning range of no alcohol wines to the UK this spring – Wolf Blass Zero.
The Wolf Blass Zero range consists of Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, Sparkling & Rosé. (ABV 0.5 per cent). Wolf Blass Zero Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz are all RRP £5.50.
More than half of all age groups 25 to 74 are reducing alcohol intake and now, the highly regarded brand has carried its excellence into the low and no alcohol category. Globally renowned for excellence, character and consistency, Wolf Blass has earned its quality credentials by receiving over 10,000+ awards (2,000+ Gold), with Wolf Blass Zero wines recognised by award bodies including the IWSC, Australian Drinks Awards and Winepilot 2022 Zero Alcohol Wine Show, since its launch.
In the UK, Treasury Wine Estates will be supporting the launch of Wolf Blass Zero wines with a compelling integrated marketing campaign which will include trade press, social media and in-store activity.
“We recognise there is sizeable and growing demand for no and low products in the UK, and consumers are leaning towards big brands within this space for reassurance on taste," said Ben Blake, Head of Marketing EMEA at Treasury Wine Estates. "With the launch of the exceptional Wolf Blass Zero range into the UK, we aim to use the quality credentials of our award-winning wines to recruit more consumers into the category.
“Therefore, when developing this range, it was vital to deliver the same high quality level consumers have come to expect from the Wolf Blass brand. We’re thrilled with the 4 wines in the portfolio and no doubt Wolf Blass Zero will be a firm favourite of consumers seeking wines for mindful drinking occasions, for years to come.”
The Hero Zeroes:
Wolf Blass Shiraz – Red fruits up font with chalky tannins, darker fruits texture throughout the mid-palate
Wolf Blass Sauvignon Blanc – Good crisp acid with citrus flavours with a touch of sweetness to fill out & balance
Wolf Blass Sparkling – Good balance of sweetness and acidity. Dried pears, grilled pineapple with nutty characters
Wolf Blass Rosé – Refreshing and crisp red apple acidity with a touch of strawberries and cream
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.
On (Scottish) shelves from April 2025
PACKS: 500ml x 12 cans
RRP: £1 PMP
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Strawberry flavour with a playful new look, perfect for family snacking.
Fox’s Burton’s Companies has announced the introduction of a limited-edition Strawberry flavour to the Fox’s Party Rings range.
With a creamy taste and smooth finish, these sweet treats are available from today (24) with an RRP of £0.90 per 125g pack.
The limited-edition flavour is designed to engage and excite existing customers as well as bring in new users, with a particular focus on attracting families.
Strawberry was named the number-one flavour across all family age groups, with 85 per cent purchase intent – and with Party Rings featuring in 50 per cent of children’s occasions – it makes this new limited-edition flavour a must-stock for retailers wanting to boost family basket spend.
Party Rings Strawberry joins the Party Rings range, which includes biscuits for a variety of shopper needs and missions. From the classic, full-size Party Rings, through mini formats to the Party Rings Minis Chocolate flavour which launched back in 2023 and have proved popular with shoppers looking for on-the go snacking options.
“We know Party Rings fans love a new flavour and that flavour variants do a great job of attracting families, so we’re confident that the addition of Strawberry to the range will drive excitement amongst our customers and opens up incremental biscuit and basket spend," said Robin Norton, Head of Category Insight at FBC.
“The launch of this limited-edition range will also see the introduction of our brand-new look and feel designed to give the brand a more fun, modern appearance that will stand-out on shelf. We have some exciting things to come for Party Rings this year and this is just the first step on our journey to make sure we’re bringing more fun to the everyday for everyone!”
The brand refresh will see packaging across all flavours and formats updated to reflect the new, playful “colour me in” design. The new revamp will be completed by May 2025.