Global snacking company pladis is helping retailers find the best seasonal sales with their 2020 ‘Merry McVitie’s’ Christmas range.

Tapping into key seasonal consumer trends – indulgence, togetherness and gifting – the McVitie’s selection comprises iconic festive favourites, as well as fresh innovation.

The return of popular products such as the festive edition of McVitie’s Family Circle and McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole is hoping to drive excitement amongst shoppers in the lead-up to 25th December.

“Christmas is all about spending time with loved ones – and what better way to get into the festive spirit, with the people closest to you, than by indulging in a few delicious treats,” says Jonathan Bull, head of McVitie’s commercial & seasonal brands at pladis UK&I.

“Whether it’s a quick snack to keep you going whilst the Christmas dinner is cooking, or settling down for the evening to share a box of biscuits, every product in the McVitie’s seasonal range has been skilfully selected as the perfect sharing treat for a range of consumption occasions.

“Nothing says Christmas quite like some of our long-standing seasonal favourites, including McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole and Tin.

By combining these with inviting NPD, we’re appealing both a new generation of seasonal shoppers, as well as existing fans seeking something extra special for the festive season.

“This year we’re taking the range one step further by giving some of our bestsellers – McVitie’s Digestives and McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes – a festive transformation, offering retailers the chance to take an even bigger bite out of the £161 million3 seasonal sales opportunity.”

The seasonal range will help retailers drive sales growth during the crucial festive period – which presents a £161 million incremental opportunity.

This year, pladis is giving its £59 million McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives brand some updates, with the launch of McVitie’s Christmas Pudding Milk Chocolate Digestives and McVitie’s Gingerbread Milk Chocolate Digestives.

The introduction of these never-before-seen flavours will help retailers to drive interest in and sales for McVitie’s in the crucial Christmas period.

The new additions have performed exceptionally well in consumer testing – with 73% of shoppers stating their intent to purchase McVitie’s Gingerbread Milk Chocolate Digestives(5) – and the introduction of these never-before-seen flavours will help retailers to drive interest in, and sales for, McVitie’s in the crucial Christmas period.

For Jaffa Cake lovers a limited Orange & Cranberry flavour is expected to drive sales among the brand’s loyal and young shopper base at an RSP of £1.20.

Consumers seeking a bit of variety may find that the McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Present is the perfect gift, comprising of original and seasonal options, this family favourite is RSP for £3.

But for original McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes enthusiasts, the bestselling McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Pole (40 Jaffa Cakes, RSP: £3) and McVitie’s Jaffa Cakes Christmas Tin (239g, RSP: £5) will be returning to deliver based on popular demand.

McVitie’s fans can celebrate over 180 years of biscuits with the Heritage Tin (400g, RSP: £8) the most premium offering in this year’s seasonal line-up.

Available exclusively as part of the ‘Merry McVitie’s’ 2020 seasonal range its a must-stock for retailers looking to maximise sales.

White chocolate lovers will enjoy the bite-sized McVitie’s White Chocolate Digestive Nibbles, made up of golden-baked digestive biscuit, coated in snowy-white chocolate for £1.

The McVitie’s Family Circle still remains the number one everyday assortment brand, will be a must-stock for retailers looking to drive higher frequency sales during the Christmas period.

This year, the Christmas assortment will be available in a 310g box (RSP: £3.09), a 620g box (RSP: £4) and a new 1.24kg box (available exclusively at Costco) for those looking to stock up for the season (RSP: £5.49).

Returning for another year is McVitie’s Victoria – the number one Christmas biscuit assortment(10), which will be available in boxes of 300g (RSP: £3), 600g (RSP: £6), 825g (RSP: £8) and 1.2kg (RSP: £12).

Finally, retailers looking to stock premium assortments can consider McVitie’s Moments Signature Chocolate Biscuit Selection (400g, RSP: £6) comprising of 26 biscuits smothered in McVitie’s iconic silky-smooth chocolate.

Products in the McVitie’s Christmas range will be available at various UK wholesale, convenience channels and grocery retailers – including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Morrisons – as well as discounters.

Notes:

5 Toluna tested concepts – base size 450 respondents

10 Kantar Worldpanel 52 w/e 30.12.19