Snacking major pladis has unveiled its 2022 Christmas ranges from Jacob’s and Carr’s, featureing a combination of returning Christmas favourites, and non-HFSS products.
The nation’s biggest savoury biscuit brand, Jacob’s, is back for 2022 with a refreshed line-up of its ever-popular Christmas Caddies – whereby 50 per cent of the range is now non-HFSS.
The seasonal savoury range will also include an array of Jacob’s signature savoury biscuit assortments, plus returning favourites from its fast-growing Carr’s brand (+40% YOY), following a bumper Christmas for Carr’s in 2021 (up 50.8% versus 2020).
“As always, we’ve focused heavily on offering shoppersquality and choice with our 2022 savoury Christmas range,” said Cassie French, Marketing Director – Seasonal& Cake at pladis UK&I. “We’re proud to present a combination of returning favourites and new non-HFSS products within our Caddies range - catering to the snacking preferences of a whole host of seasonal shoppers.
“We’ve no doubt our portfolio of cracker selection boxes – whether family favourites from Jacob’s, or our extra special offerings from Carr’s – will be particularly popular this year. As Brits tuck into cheese boards and gather together with friends and family in larger groups, products which are perfectly placed for sharing will perform well.”
The Jacob’s and Carr’s seasonal portfolio will be supported via a home sampling drive, along with in-store cross-category shopper marketing, bringing the ‘Ready Steady Christmas’ message to life through branded POS.
Further supported by Carr’s core ‘Crack on’ campaign, the savoury seasonal range is expected to surpass last year’s performance – in which it contributed towards 91.4 per cent total savoury seasonal category growth.
The Jacob’s and Carr’s Christmas products will be available to the wholesale and convenience channels.
pladis 2022 Savoury Biscuits Range
New for 2022
Jacob’s Christmas Caddies
Following a year of record sales in 2021 (£11M, up +16.9%), Jacob’s Christmas Caddies (200g-280g, RSP: £2.79) are back and better than ever.
This year, longstanding fan favourites, Jacob’s Mini Cheddars Original and Treeselets, will be joined by two new lighter options to extend appeal by offering shoppers more choice.
Jacob’s Mini Cheddars Nibblies Cheddar & Smoked Paprika will join the collection for 2022. Containing 30% less fat, this HFSS-compliant recipe is sure to drive appeal among seasonal snackers seeking healthier alternatives to their favourite snacks. Plus, Jacob’s Mini Twiglets is returning to the line-up with a new non-HFSS recipe which is both high in fibre, and 60% lower in salt.
Returning in their brightly-coloured, novelty festive packaging, they will help to steerconsumers towards festive snacking fixtures.
Savoury seasonal staples
Jacob’s The Festive Selection
This year’s Jacob’s Festive Selection has had a festive makeover. The new, seasonal packaging dials up the brand’s foodie credentials in line with a wider brand relaunch for Jacob’s, which shines a light on its longstanding baking heritage and expertise.
Ready for topping, dipping, or sandwiching – the Jacob’s selection includes some of the brand’s biggest sellers, such as the signature Jacob’s Cream Cracker.There’s no doubt this selection box is a sure-fire way to drive higher frequency sales as families gear up for seasonal celebrations.
Jacob’s The Selection is available in a 300g box (RSP: £3.25), a 450g Festive themed box (RSP: £4.40) or 900g box (£7).
Jacob’s Heritage Tin
Jacob’s is re-releasing its novelty Heritage Tin in time for Christmas 2022. Whether shoppers are looking for the perfect Christmas gift, or elevating the everyday with a special assortment, this heritage tin contains a selection of the brand’s bestselling crackers – including Jacob’s Cream Crackers and Jacob’s Digestives – and is sure to drive overall basket spend.
Available in a giftable, vintage-style tin (300g, RSP: £6) – Jacob’s Heritage Tin is perfectly placed to help retailers capitalise on the Christmas gifting mission, whilst tapping into the trend towards togetherness.
Jacob’s Savours Selection
This Christmas, Jacob’s has gathered the ultimate selection of crackers, all in one place… introducing the Jacob’s Savours Selection (250g, RSP: £3.50). Following successful sales in 2021 – where this product saw 12.3% growth – Jacob’s Savours Selection is back by popular demand.
With a choice of four tried-and-tested cracker flavours – Cheese, Sour Cream and Chive, Salt and Cracked Black Pepper, and Sweet Chilli – all perfect for pairing with cheese, this selection will drive sales among shoppers looking to add festive flavour to their celebrations.
Carr’s Melts Warm Chilli Flavour
After a successful sales performance last year, Carr’s Melts Warm Chilli flavour will be returning for Christmas 2022. These deliciously crisp wheaten biscuits embody Carr’s signature light, melting texture – with the added gentle heat of chilli to spice up seasonal celebrations.
Perfectly primed for topping with cheese, or snacking on straight out the box, Carr’s Melts Warm Chilli flavour (RSP: £1.69) will unlock sales across a whole host of seasonal occasions – from festive gatherings, to evenings spent watching movies.
Carr’s Melts Selection
Christmas 2021 marked a large uplift in sales for the Carr’s brand (+50.8%) which was driven by festive favourites, such as the Carr’s Melts Selection Pack. Now, this is returning for its second year.
This festive selection includes a trio of Carr’s finest quality biscuits – Carr’s Melts Original, Carr’s Melts Cheese and Carr’s Melts Warm Chilli flavour. Available in a 450g box (RSP: £5), Carr’s Melts Selection offers the perfect array of flavoursome savoury biscuits for all occasions– from a Christmas party, to a post-dinner cheeseboard.
Carr’s Seasonal Selection
Returning for the 2022 Christmas period is the classic Carr’s Seasonal selection – a premium collection of Carr’s finest quality biscuits.This year’s assortment offers a variety of nine savoury biscuits and crackers – such as Carr’s Melts Cheese and Carr’s Table Water–making it ideal for hosts looking to spruce up their cheeseboards with a comprehensive cracker assortment.
After a hugely successful Christmas season last year, which saw share for Carr’s reach 7.4%– Carr’s Selection 200g (RSP: £3) and Carr’s Selection Carton (400g, RSP: £4.50) –are must-stocks for retailers looking to maximise value sales during the seasonal period.
A Kansas City Chiefs helmet, the Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Philadelphia Eagles helmet are seen ahead of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome on February 03, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Leading confectionery wholesaler Hancocks has advised retailers to maximise their sales potential ahead of the Super Bowl by stocking up on popular American sweets and implementing effective merchandising strategies.
The Super Bowl, one of the biggest sporting events in the US, is not just about American football – it’s also a major occasion for food and snacks. In the UK, an increasing number of fans tune in to watch the game, creating a lucrative opportunity for retailers to cater to this growing audience by offering authentic American confectionery.
Last year, the final game of the NFL season was the most watched NFL game on record for Sky Sports and ITV in the UK on television, with a combined total of 3.4 million unique viewers (+48% YoY).
This year’s Super Bowl clash between the two-times defending champion Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will take place on Sunday, 9 February.
Merchandising tips for retailers
Retailers are encouraged to optimise their store layouts to attract customers looking for game-day snacks. Experts at Hancocks highlight the importance of clear signage, strategic product placement, and enticing promotions to boost sales. Key recommendations include:
Positioning American sweets in high-traffic areas such as store entrances and near checkout tills.
Using clear pricing, promotions, and special offers to increase customer engagement.
Ensuring shelves remain fully stocked for maximum visual appeal.
Using branded point-of-sale (POS) materials, such as Warheads shelf edge strips, to enhance merchandising displays.
Gemma Allanson, National Field Sales Manager for World of Sweets, said: “We’re always encouraging our customers to make the most of big seasonal events, including the Super Bowl. That’s why we have an incredible range of American candy that retailers should stock up on.
“It’s also important to us to provide them with the knowledge and equipment to merchandise these products correctly to help drive sales.”
Top-selling US confectionery for Super Bowl
Demand for American sweets has surged in recent years, with major sporting events like the Super Bowl driving further interest. To help retailers capitalise on this trend, Hancocks parent and confectionery distributor World of Sweets has revealed its top ten best-selling US confectionery lines:
Warheads Super Sour Gel 20g
Warheads Theatre Box Chewy Cubes 113g
Warheads Super Sour Candy Spray 19g
Warheads Lil’ Worms Theatre Box 99g
Warheads Sour Jelly Beans Theatre Box 113g
Sour Punch Blue Raspberry Straws 57g
Red Vines Original Red Twists 142g
Sour Punch Strawberry Straws 57g
Warheads Ooze Chews Theatre Box 99g
Warheads Super Sour Gel Trio Wheel 51g
“The Super Bowl presents a great opportunity for retailers to drive sales by stocking up on popular American candy lines. Sports fans around the country will be preparing for the big sporting event by shopping for snacks they could share with their family or friends while watching the game,” Kathryn Hague, Head of Marketing at World of Sweets, said.
“Retailers can capitalise on this by offering a wide range of top-selling US confectionery products that cater to the growing demand for authentic American treats. From super sour sweets to classic chewy candies in theatre box formats, these products not only bring a fun and unique snacking experience but also help create the perfect game-day atmosphere.
“To capture shoppers’ attention, we’re encouraging retailers to create dedicated American candy displays in-store and position them in high-traffic areas such as end of aisles or near the till.”
Leading confectionery distributor World of Sweets has unveiled two new product launches catering to different snacking preferences. The latest additions include Sweet Vibes Mallow Dunkz, a bold and playful marshmallow treat, and Bonds Trail Mix packs, a nutritious and flavour-packed snack designed for health-conscious consumers.
Sweet Vibes Mallow Dunkz
Following the successful launch last year of Sweet Vibes, a confectionery brand aimed at teenagers, World of Sweets has introduced Mallow Dunkz – a delicious and innovative snack designed to stand out. These treats feature marshmallows dunked in chocolate and coated in a crispy candy shell, available in two flavours: strawberry and vanilla.
Packaged in bright, eye-catching pouches, Sweet Vibes Mallow Dunkz is set to be a hit among younger consumers looking for unique and exciting confectionery. Retailers are encouraged to stock up on the new range to appeal to this key demographic. The new Mallow Dunkz pouches are available for a recommended retail price of £2.50.
“We’re always looking for ways to support our customers and fill those gaps in the market,” Hannah Rodenby, Brand Manager at World of Sweets, said. “We are so pleased to be launching these innovative mallow bites - they are expected to be a best seller among retailers. We can’t wait for customers to get their hands on them, they're delicious!”
Sweet Vibes Mallow Dunkz Vanilla Pouch
In addition to Mallow Dunkz, the Sweet Vibes lineup includes Freakshake Cups in Banana, Strawberry, and Choc-a-Lot flavours (RRP £3.50) and Freakshake Bags (RRP £1.25). To support retailers, Sweet Vibes also offers various merchandising solutions, including branded shelf edge strips and free-standing display units (FSDUs).
“We always encourage retailers to stock a variety of products for every age group - and the Sweet Vibes range hits those right in the middle, teenage customers who can be difficult to reach through confectionery products,” Rodenby added.
“Teenagers and young people often feel like there’s nothing left for them in the confectionery market. Everything either feels too young or too old to them. “This is where Sweet Vibes can help! Freakshake Candy Cups, Freakshake Bags and Mallow Dunkz are all available now for retailers to shop.”
Bonds Trail Mix
For those seeking a more nutritious treat, World of Sweets has launched Bonds Trail Mix packs, designed as part of their healthier snacking initiative. The new range offers snack-sized 25g pouches, perfect for on-the-go indulgence, with an RRP of just 70p per pack.
Bonds Trail Mix is available in three flavours inspired by classic desserts:
Banoffee Pie Mix – Dried banana chips, caramelised peanuts, dried diced dates, and yoghurt-coated bananas.
Each pack contains 114 calories or fewer, making them a portion-controlled and guilt-free indulgence. The Bonds Trail Mix pouches align with the growing trend towards healthier snacking, with major grocers increasingly segmenting their healthier options to meet consumer demand.
Bonds Banoffee Pie Trail Mix
“We’re very excited to announce the launch of our brand new Bonds Trail Mix packs,” Kathryn Hague, Head of Marketing at World of Sweets, said.
“This innovative new product line combines healthier snacking with classic dessert flavours, offering health-conscious shoppers a delicious snacking option for when they’re on the go.
“With many major grocers and retailers already stocking a wide selection of healthier snacking products, it’s important for retailers to tap into the healthier trend to remain competitive.
“In order to drive sales, we’re encouraging retailers to group their healthier products into eye-catching displays to provide shoppers easier in-store navigation.”
The male toiletries brand Lynx is ensuring young men smell great and targeting further growth in 2025 with the addition of Sunset Fresh to its core portfolio.
Available across convenience and wholesale channels, the revitalising Sunset Fresh fragrance is available in multiple formats - body spray, anti-perspirant, stick and shower gel formats* – to appeal to a wide range of shoppers. The fragrance profile has been designed to resonate with Lynx’s core audience of 11-34 year olds.
Formulated using refreshing ingredients from nature, the fragrance aims to leave consumers smelling great and bursting with energy throughout the day. Tapping into the trend for "aquatic fragrances", Sunset Fresh is a refreshing, crisp and invigorating scent. With uplifting tropics notes of mango and sweet mandarin, it’s a natural cocktail for success.
“Innovation is vital when it comes to exciting shoppers and bringing new consumers into the personal care category," said Monique Rossi, General Manager, Deodorants, Unilever UKI. Lynx is a signpost brand for male grooming and Sunset Fresh has been developed with a clear target audience in mind, whilst helping retailers to freshen up their shelves.
“Fragrance is still the number one confidence driver amongst young males, who are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd and feel good about themselves. We’ve had considerable success with our two latest editions to the Lynx core portfolio, Epic Fresh and Jungle Fresh, which have contributed to the brand’s recent growth. We expect Sunset Fresh, with its vibrant fragrance profile to appeal to young guys by resonating with the latest personal care trends. We’ll be supporting the launch with substantial marketing investment across the summer months, so now is the ideal time for retailers to refresh their personal care shelves.”
Lynx Sunset Fresh will be backed by a £2m marketing campaign running from July to September. All Lynx products are PETA Approved Vegan, and all new Lynx innovation is packaged in infinitely recyclable cans.
Unilever is the number one deodorant manufacturer, with over 54 per cent of the market. Its three market-leading brands, Sure, Lynx and Dove, all lead in the three key need states which form 97 per cent of the market – Protection, Protection & Care and Fragrance. In the last year, the deodorants category continued to see significant growth, with Unilever contributing £42m of this.
Philip Morris Limited (PML), the UK and Ireland affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI), has announced the expansion of its TEREAPearls capsule range with the launch of two new dual-flavour variants; Riviera Pearl and Provence Pearl.
Featuring innovative capsule technology, the TEREA Pearls range enable users to switch seamlessly from a traditional tobacco blend to a unique flavour with a single click. This enhancement elevates flavour delivery, offering an enriched experience for users of its IQOS ILUMA heat-not-burn device.
The latest duo adds two new flavours to the portfolio, bringing the full TEREA flavour range to fifteen, meeting the top taste preferences of legal-aged nicotine users in the UK:
NEW Riviera Pearl: Raspberry Rose (on a click)
NEW Provence Pearl: Grape with Menthol (on a click)
Abora Pearl: Strawberry and Basil (on a click)
Amelia Pearl: Watermelon with Menthol (on a click)
Starling Pearl: Green Apple with Menthol (on a click)
Twilight Pearl: Blueberry with Menthol (on a click)
The TEREA Pearls range caters to the high demand among adult smokers and nicotine users for smoke-free, capsulated tobacco products. Early sales data revealed that nearly one in five TEREA packs sold in a top-four grocery multiple within the first three months were Pearls, demonstrating a strong preference for these capsulated products.
“For some adult smokers, having responsible access to a preferred flavour can be an important factor in making the switch from smoking cigarettes,” said Anthony Loinsard, Head of IQOS at PML. “Capsulated heated tobacco products offer retailers a unique proposition for legal-aged nicotine users to seamlessly switch from traditional tobacco blends to unique flavour blends of their choice with a single click,” he added.
“With the addition of two new flavours, Riviera and Provence, we will continue to strengthen the taste portfolio of IQOS ILUMA, providing an appealing and real tobacco alternative for adult nicotine users who would otherwise return to smoking cigarettes,” Loinsard concluded.
Available across all indirect retail channels, retailers can benefit from profit-on-return (POR) offers on selected TEREA Pearls, which are used exclusively with IQOS ILUMA.
IQOS ILUMA complements gantries because, when used with TEREA, it delivers tobacco taste and satisfaction, but with 95 per cent less harmful chemicals compared to cigarettes and enables savings of up to £3,300 a year.
IQOS ILUMA is part of PMI’s expanding portfolio of smoke-free products available in the UK, including ZYN nicotine pouches and VEEV ONE, the latest innovation in PMI’s VEEV E-Vapor range.
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Unilever sponsors Women's EURO 2025 with top brands
Unilever and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have on Thursday named brands from Unilever’s foods and personal care business groups as official sponsors of UEFA Women’s EURO 2025.
The tournament, set to take place in Switzerland this summer (2–27 July), is anticipated to be the most viewed and attended UEFA Women’s EURO to date. With the game’s growing popularity, Unilever aims to leverage the platform to showcase its portfolio of brands – including Power Brands Hellmann’s, Knorr, Dove, and Rexona (also known as Sure) – with integrated campaigns.
“We are thrilled to partner with the UEFA Women's EURO 2025, enabling our foods brands to connect with a large audience who come together enjoying the thrill of a football match with friends whilst sharing delicious foods,” Robbert de Vreede, general manager Unilever Foods Europe said.
“Just as a great BBQ brings people closer, football unites fans in a shared experience of passion and camaraderie. In this partnership we will create memorable moments that highlight the best of summer – good food, great company, and beautiful games.”
Fulvio Guarneri, general manager Unilever Personal Care Europe, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for some of our biggest brands to tap into a big cultural moment and connect with millions of consumers who will be watching the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025. It’s a great time for women’s football, and this partnership fits perfectly with our Personal Care products which are all about feeling clean and confident, and taking part in sports.
“Together with our retail partners, we look forward to building on the success of last year’s men’s tournament, delivering unmissable campaigns across a variety of channels that celebrate the power of women’s football.”
The partnership builds on Unilever’s previous sponsorship of the UEFA EURO 2024, in which it activated across 16 brands, 24 markets, and over 126,000 stores. It will see the brands activate a range of initiatives designed to enhance the fan experience and promote the company's commitment to growing the women’s game, removing barriers to entry, and inspiring the next generation.