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Page 6 April 2011Email: grocery@flame1.com BIG NIGHT INTel: 01923 272960APRIL DOUBLE BUBBLE SPELLS ‘BIG NIGHTS IN’ BONANZATHE COMMENT FROM THE GROCERY TRADERhen spring comes, the weather gets celebrate at this point. The timing couldn’t be better. The tionary spending like the World Cup did last year. has benefited from a second year ofwarmer and the days get longer. latest Office for National Statistics figures show UK Meanwhile, looking at the products we enjoy on a Big general improvement in UK soft drinkWConsumers become more relaxed, and workers’ take-home pay down for the first time since 1981, Night In, the numbers show we still enjoy a Big Night In sales as consumers look for low-costmore inclined to grab the opportunity to relax withfriends and family, including having ‘Big Nights In’ outside.It’s much the same every year. But the big bonusthis April is the ‘double bubble’ of the Easter weekendand the Royal Wedding. With millions taking the periodoff as holiday, it effectively creates a second festivefortnight, hopefully with a good dollop of sunshine toadd to the feel good factor and push the purchasing. Andyou can be sure those who can’t get the whole time offwill be enjoying a Big Night In or three as well.Royalists or republicans, we should all be grateful Willand Kate are tying the knot and giving Brits an excuse toafter last year saw prices rise faster than incomes.The economy’s still in the sick bay: property isn’tshifting, although mortgage providers expect to makemore loans in the next three months, according to a newBank of England survey, offering an olive branch to thefloundering housing market. Meanwhile real householddisposable income fell 0.8%, with the news announced onthe heels of George Osborne revising 2011 UK growthforecasts downwards in his budget.The figures forecast the decline speeding up 2.0% thisyear, putting even more pressure on the celebrationsaround the Olympics to jumpstart consumer discre-with family and friends, even if it’s shandy rather thanchampagne these days.According to Mintel the growth of the crisps and saltysnacks market only slowed slightly in 2010 versus 2008and 2009, with slightly slower rates in 2010. Like other‘Big Night In’ product categories, underlying growth hasbenefited from consumers cutting back on going out infavour of evenings in during the recession. The role ofcrisps and snacks as an affordable luxury has helped tosustain demand, together with more relaxed attitudestowards less healthy treats.In Soft Drinks, another ‘Big Night In’ bastion, AG Barrcheap treats in the ongoing uncertainty.Irn Bru sales grew 4 per cent overall, and10 per cent in northern England. Barrbrandedtraditional carbonated drinksgrew 22 per cent.So the message this spring is clear:consumers might be choosing more carefully, but they’restill treating themselves and their friends and family. Staystocked up through April into May with treats for sharing,at attractive prices, and the consumers will keep comingback for more.The Grocery TraderTO READ MORE COMMENTS FROM THE GROCERY TRADER GO TO WWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UKBIG NIGHT IN CONSUMERSTURN TO HOT SNACKING PRODUCTSThe rising cost of dining out is providing another significantboost for the UK’s fast-growing hot snacking market.As young adults spend more time at home in the evenings, manyof them are eating hot snacking products while they’re watchingmovies, playing on games consoles or simply spending time on-line.“People enjoying a night in, whether it’s a few drinks withfriends, watching a film or playing the latest computer games,want tasty, filling snacks that don’t interrupt what they’redoing,” says Stuart Meikle, Grocery Business Unit Controllerfor Kepak Convenience Foods (KCF), market leader in theUK’s hot snacking market.by providing existing Rustlers consumers with an alternative“That’s where hot snacking products really come into their to our market-leading burger, Panini and sub-style productsown. One of the advantages of all Kepak products is that they we will increase the category spend per buyer.”can be cooked in less time than it takes to boil a kettle.”The Rustlers Hot Wraps range comprises two variants,Kepak is capitalising on growing demand for its products Chicken Salsa with Cheese and BBQ Chicken with Cheese.with major levels of brand investment including television Both products are made with authentic wraps filled withadvertising and NPD.flame grilled chicken breast and melted cheese.Rustlers Hot Subs has recently made its national TV debut “The launch of Rustlers Hot Wraps marks the start of anand will be followed soon by Zugo’s Deli Café, the UK’s innovative NPD programme for KCF which will include severalleading panini-based hot snacking range.firsts for the hot snacking category and builds on the success ofThe company is also continuing its proven track record of Rustlers, Rustlers Hot Subs and Zugo’s Deli Café which accountintroducing successful foodservice concepts to the retail for 64% of the hot snacking category*,” concludes Meikle.market with the launch of Rustlers Hot Wraps. The products Kepak is urging retailers to ensure their market-leading productsare readily available to meet the growing consumer demand.have been launched as part of an on-going commitment todouble the size of its business in the next five years.* Nielsen Impulse Market 52 w/e 27/11/10Meikle says the range will introduce new consumers to hotsnacking and strengthen the Rustlers brand as the consumers’Kepak Convenience Foodsnumber one hot snacking choice.Tel: 01772 688300“Rustlers Hot Wraps will add incremental value to hotwww.kepak.comsnacking by introducing new consumers to the category. Plus,TREATS FOR SHARINGPerfect for family sharing for anight in or on a journey, WalkersWalkers Nonsuch150g Sharing Bags have a favouriteTel: 01782 321525for everyone!www.walkers-nonsuch.co.ukIdeal variety for the summermonths, Walkers Nonsuch,England’s finest toffee makerhas launched new ChocolateToffees to add to their 150gbag range. Suitable forwarmer days, plain chocolate(minimum cocoa solids70%) is combined with originalcreamy toffee, creatingan indulgent treat withoutany melting or mess.The complete range alsoincludes favourites likeEnglish Creamy Toffees andLiquorice Toffees, not forgettingMilk Chocolate Éclairs,Nutty Brazil, Assorted Toffeesand Chocolate Éclairs andTreacle Toffees (perfect for theBonfire night!)Walkers use only qualityingredients like whole milkand butter and there are noartificial colours, preservativesor hydrogenated vegetable oilsin this unique recipe.Bags come in a ‘shelfready’ box of 12’s. RRP from99p / bag.NEW MOUTHY CHOCOLATE SET TO PACK A CRUNCHJaxx Mouthy Chocolate, anexciting new confectionery brandhas launched a delicious cheekyrange of chocolate sweets called JaxxCrunches, which is set to pack apunch with the ‘tween-teen’ market.The product is the brainchild of confectioneryspecialist Yehudi Lipmanwho held senior EMEA positions withBestfoods, Unilever and Nestle for overtwo decades. He said: “There was a gapin the market for something new thatreally connected with the 10-18 year old‘early teen’ target audience. So we’vedeveloped Jaxx from the ground up.”Available in 50g packs at 69p, thethree-strong range - milk chocolate,double-chocolate coco and orangecrunches is listed in more than 3,000stores throughout the UK and Irelandincluding Londis, Budgens andMartin McColl and distribution isgrowing fast.A groundswell of support hasalready been generated, withFacebook being the location of choicefor discussion and debate. Alongsidethis a website, www.jaxx-world.com,has been custom-built and is workingwell to engage and interact via competitions,games and ‘webisodes’ (funand relevant videos and mini documentariesuploaded by the audience).To date, the Facebook page hasreceived 10,500 Likes - a remarkablefeat in just three months.To reflect the target audience, JaxxMouthy Chocolate offers vibrant,young packaging, as well as strikingPOS; including floor stands, clipstrips, display cases and t-shirts forpromotional and give-away opportunitiesfor retailers. All packagingfeatures the Jaxx ‘mouthy’ charactervoicing a daring slogan, fully emulatingthe spirit of the brand.Bonds Confectionery’s PhilipCourtenay-Luck, Chief Distributor ofJaxx Crunches says: “Jaxx is differentto almost any other product out therein the confectionery market. Apartfrom being incredibly refreshing thatit is produced independently to thethree big manufacturers, it really doestaste great. With a tasty crunchycentre and made more real cocoa thantypical chocolate confectionery, therange is of an exceptional quality andthey are incredibly moreish, unlike alot of chocolate sweets which can be alittle too heavy.”Jaxx Mouthy Chocolate is continuouslydeveloping and expanding itsmarketing operation. The latest innovationis a sampling campaign acrosssix major cities to raise awareness ofthe brand and its dynamic flavourwith target consumers in environmentsclose to point of sale. Inaddition, influential bloggers andambassadors will be targeted via asocial media campaign.Bonds ConfectionaryTel: 01623 446001CAPTAIN TIPTOESRECEIVES OUTSTANDING WELCOMEContinued from front pageFull of fun maybe, but CaptainTiptoes has a serious pedigree.“When everyone else seems to begoing down the health and nutritionroute in a bid to attract consumersthe tone can sometimes be a littlepreachy and pious. We felt thatsomething a tad leftfield and thoroughlybuffoonish to make peoplesmile and relax is just what’s neededin this current climate. The packagingand offering is thoroughlylight-hearted but we’re exceedinglyserious about what we do.Everything we source and roastinside the packs is selected withextreme care,” said Giles Henschel,founder of Captain Tiptoes andaward-winning Dorset food companyOlives Et Al who have been at theleading edge of speciality food forover 17 years.The range of five initial recipes are• Cajun Spiced Nuts• Fire Cracker Rice puffs• Chilli Harissa Nuts• Salt & Pepper Nuts• Wasabi Flaming RiceAll come with their own, twoword, tag line from the “irresistiblytaut” to the “courageously pert”highlighting the assertion that theworld of Captain Tiptoes really is aplace where seriously splendidsnackage meets complete and utterbuffoonery.Captain TiptoesTel: 01258 474300Email ahoy@captaintiptoes.comWWW.GROCERYTRADER.CO.UK