Stocking up for Christmas: Snacks and Confectionery
There's more choice than ever as Walkers releases its biggest Christmas programme of festive snacks.
Walkers Snacks has announced its biggest ever Christmas programme with the launch of a range of limited edition festive products including Sensations Nut Clusters, limited edition Doritos Christmas Trees (pictured), a new seasonal Sensations crisp flavour and the return of last year's popular limited edition Turkey and Paxo flavour crisps.
Sensations Nut Clusters are the first new nut product that Walkers has ever launched and contribute to an increasingly innovative sector of the snacks market.
The peanuts covered in a crunchy, nut cluster in a choice of three flavours - Chilli Spice, Sweet Tomato Salsa and Sour Cream and Onion - aim to build on the phenomenal success of Sensations crisps which are already worth more than £70m.
Nut Clusters hit the market at a time when premium snacks are growing in popularity and reach their annual sales high as more than half the UK's 12.9 million households buy nuts for Christmas.
Added to this, Walkers is launching a new festive limited edition Sensations crisps in Honey Roasted Ham flavour. Available for 16 weeks only it has already proved popular in consumer taste test trials.
Tapping into the demand for bigger packs are limited edition Doritos Christmas Trees in a 200g sharing bag. The new novelty-shaped Doritos will be available in Lightly Salted flavour and will supported by a £1m TV campaign.
Turkey and Paxo flavour crisps will also return for 16 weeks over the Christmas period. Launched last year as a limited edition the flavour became Walkers' sixth best selling standard bag over the two months it was available.
"Salty snacks experience huge growth at Christmas and we are urging retailers to fully stock up on all the festive snacks to take advantage," commented Walkers' trade marketing manager Nicky Seal.
"Our new Christmas launches will allow them to cash in on three elements that are key to sales growth during the festive season - new flavours, new pack sizes and product innovation."
Sweet success in the bag for pubs
While customers are in the mood to indulge themselves, this Christmas could be a good opportunity to give confectionery a try. Cadbury Trebor Bassett is one company that is targeting the pub trade over the festivities.
"As many people will be out celebrating and spending more money then usual, a greater choice of indulgent products is an important factor in the licensed trade, particularly when it comes to pub snacks," argues customer relations director Chris Morgan. "Publicans keen to maximise this opportunity should stock up early to take full advantage."
Sales of sweets and chocolates through pubs are expanding. But, according to Chris, the trade really needs a tailored solution.
Cadbury's answer is "pub cards" which, using the tradtional nuts display format, position confectionery alongside snacks in the consumer mind. The cards feature Fruit and Nut Tasters, Dairy Milk Tasters, Bassetts Jelly Babies and Butterkist Popcorn.
Another innovation from Cadbury has been Kids' Fun Packs. Aimed at family pubs where there can often be a need to entertain the younger members of the family while dining, each pack contains a selection of kids' favourites including Chomp, Buttons, Fudge and Freddo plus some Crayola Crayons and an activity sheet. The packs are displayed in a specially designed unit, which can be placed on or behind the bar.
"The licensed sector of Cadbury Trebor Bassett's business is an area we are constantly developing," said Chris.
