With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, demand for sharing formats and individually wrapped treats for parties and trick-or-treating is expected to be higher than ever as people celebrate throughout the weekend.

As the UK’s No.1 supplier of variety bags*, Swizzels’ Halloween portfolio continues to go from strength to strength, with Scrumptious Sweets 134g, Luscious Lollies 132g, and Curious Chews 135g (all £1.25 MRSP PMP) remaining a must-stock for the Halloween season.

Packed with fan favourites such as Love Hearts, Refreshers, Drumstick Chews, Fruity Pops, Fizzers and more, each sweet is individually wrapped, making the range ideal for trick-or-treaters, family sharing, and seasonal displays. With bright, eye-catching packaging and strong shelf visibility, these packs provide retailers with a reliable way to maximise impulse purchases and drive profits throughout the Halloween period.

Thanks to its all-year-round appeal, the sweet maker’s variety bags range retains its sales potential well beyond Halloween, making it a smart investment for retailers looking to manage seasonal stock efficiently.

Swizzels’ Halloween-themed range is also set to perform well this year, featuring popular packs such as Monster Treats (440g, MRSP £4), Mummy Mix (340g, MRSP £3) and the Trick or Treat Lolly Mix (330g, MRSP £3).

For shoppers seeking bigger, great-value formats, the Swizzels Sweet Shop Favourites Tub (MRSP £5) remains a Halloween essential for retailers, offering a wide selection of individually wrapped treats that appeal to the whole family.

Clare Newton, trade and shopper marketing manager at Swizzels, said: “Halloween has become one of the biggest seasonal events and this year it falls on a Friday, meaning retailers should stock up in preparation for bigger celebrations across the weekend and expect heightened demand for sharing formats for parties and events.

“Our variety bags are an absolute staple at this time of year. They’re packed with treats to suit every taste, perfect for sharing, and ideal for trick-or-treating thanks to their individually wrapped format.

“Alongside our themed products and sharing tubs, Swizzels’ Halloween portfolio has something for everyone, helping retailers maximise seasonal sales and providing fun, affordable treats for the occasion.”

*Source: Circana, Confectionery category, Value Sales 52wks to 12/05/2024, Total Market

The post Swizzels urges retailers to stock up on Halloween range as demand continues first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Nicotine pouches are rising in popularity in the UK, with sales volumes increasing by 93% from 2023 to 2024, with this trend expected to continue.

Currently a legal loophole means there is no minimum age restriction on those wanting to buy nicotine pouches, meaning as a result they could be purchased by children and young people. It is expected that the incoming Tobacco & Vapes Bill will address this issue and close this loophole, with retailers urged to act responsibly and not sell these products to those who are underage.

The disposable vape ban is certainly impacting consumer behaviour, forcing disposable vape users to quit or seek alternative products, but what other factors are encouraging UK residents towards nicotine pouches?

Research from Northerner, part of the Haypp Group shows that the most common reason people started using nicotine pouches was to quit smoking, with 57% per cent of respondents saying this was their main motivation, with 95% said they felt better since making the switch to pouches. The Haypp customer survey was conducted with 1581 nicotine pouch customers across the UK.

According to pouch users in Northern Ireland, the three main advantages of using pouches compared to other nicotine products are that they’re more discreet (69%), they feel healthier (69%) and they’re cheaper (57%).

The majority of users in Northern Ireland typically purchase around three cans per week, according to Northerner, while the average age of pouch users is around 40.

According to pouch users throughout the UK, the main advantages of nicotine pouches over other nicotine products are that they are more discreet (68%), feel healthier (64%) and don’t affect others (54%). On average, users typically purchased around three cans per week, with mint being the most popular flavour.

Nicotine pouches have made headlines recently, with stories about product packaging and flavours being targeted at youth. This research shows the average nicotine pouch user is 33 years old.

Markus Lindblad, from Northerner,said: “Following the disposable vape ban here in the UK, we anticipated a rise in nicotine pouch use as vape users transitioned to alternative products.

“We expect the increase in nicotine pouch use to continue as more people become aware of them as an alternative to smoking. There is a legal loophole that means that there is no minimum age to purchase nicotine pouches.

“This loophole will be closed by the Tobacco and Vapes Bill in due course, but until then, it’s critical that access to these products is limited to adult nicotine users, and it’s up to responsible retailers to make sure this is the case. Online retailers and brick-and-mortar store retailers must act responsibly until the loophole is closed.”

The post Two thirds use nicotine pouches as means of quitting smoking: survey first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

Landing just in time for Halloween, Trick or Treat Minis feature bite-sized biscuits in fun Halloween-inspired shapes, including bats, cats, and pumpkins. Each biscuit is topped with vibrant, seasonal icing colours created especially to delight (and fright!) during Halloween festivities.

Available in a 10-pack of mini bags, the format is ideal for those expecting trick-or-treaters or hosting a spooky get together. In consumer testing, the product achieved an impressive 86% ‘overall liking’ score, which is significantly higher than the 70% average in the Sweet Biscuit category, highlighting its strong appeal ahead of launch. 1

The NPD builds on the strong performance of the Party Rings’ Minis range, which is now worth £14m, growing at +4% vs year average and outperforming the overall mini’s segment 2. It also follows the success of ‘Under the Sea Minis’, a recent sea-themed innovation that introduced new shapes to the portfolio for the first time earlier this year.

David Hebson, Trade Marketing Director at FBC said: “We’re thrilled to bring a seasonal twist to the much-loved Party Rings Minis with our new ‘Trick or Treat’ edition.

“Following the fantastic response to our ‘Under the Sea’ Minis earlier this year, this latest launch continues our journey of playful innovation during a year of packaging refreshes now live in stores. Halloween is a huge seasonal moment traditionally dominated by confectionery, and we’re excited to bring one of the UK’s most iconic biscuit brands into seasonal aisles.

“It also reflects our wider brand momentum – with exciting product development, refreshed packaging, and major marketing support helping us connect with new and loyal consumers alike.”

The 10-pack of mini bags (10 x 21g per bag) are available at Asda, Tesco, Sainsburys, as well as multiple discounters from mid-September for MRSP £2.10.

1. Toluna / Party Rings Concept Screen 2024
2. NIQ Total Coverage (52 we 28.12.2024) and Kantar, Bargain Stores & Hard Discounters (52 WE 29.12.2024)

The post Party Rings debuts spooky new shapes with Halloween ‘Trick or Treat Minis’ first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

The ‘Sweet Bazooka Summer’ activation reached thousands of people through large-scale sampling activations at family and retail destinations, including Emerald Park, The Square Tallaght, and Nutgrove Shopping Centre.

Shoppers and families got the chance to sample some of Bazooka’s most popular treats, including Bazooka Chews, Juicy Drop and Push Pop, putting the brand directly into their hands.

Reinforcing Bazooka’s reputation for edible entertainment, the sampling campaign was amplified with an experiential activity through a Bazooka Candy Factory-themed custom art installation at Nutgrove Shopping Centre by artist Mark Cronin.

Online, Bazooka ran three targeted influencer gifting campaigns with micro influencer platform, FetchIreland, delivering over 65 pieces of original online content, reaching over 200,000 accounts in two months. Through user-generated and relevant content, the campaigns built awareness of Bazooka’s range during a key selling time, sparking conversation and encouraging trial.

Commenting on the success of the campaign, Adam Gosling, Head of Retail, UK and Ireland, Bazooka Candy Brands said: “Our sweet summer of activation in Ireland delivered. We reached over 35,000 people directly with our products and spiked interest in our key products, including Bazooka candy and Juicy Drop, during the summer months.

“Ireland is an important market for us, and as a brand, we’re committed to supporting our retail partners by marketing Bazooka products, encouraging trial and driving shoppers to our retail partners’ stores. With several new lines due to launch in the coming months, we’re committed to further investing in Ireland and ensuring our products remain firm favourites with Irish families.”

For further information on Bazooka Candy Brands, please contact your local Valeo Sales Rep.

https://bazookacandybrandsinternational.com/

The post A sweet summer for Bazooka Candy first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.

For every pack of ‘Heinz Meanz Mealz’ purchased, Heinz will donate to Barnardos Breakfast Clubs as well as their family support programmes, helping to provide vital support to vulnerable children and families in Ireland.

The re-launch follows new research commissioned by Heinz exploring the pressures of modern life on family mealtimes, revealing that 88% of kids in Ireland crave family connection during mealtimes, but instead many are distracted by phones or watching TV, highlighting the importance of family connection and a sense of belonging among children in Ireland.

Look out for the new-look ‘Heinz Meanz Mealz’ three-packs in major retailers including Dunnes Stores, Tesco, SuperValu, Aldi, and select convenience stores throughout August and September.

RRP: €3.59 (pricing at the discretion of individual retailers).

The post Heinz and Barnardos launch limited-edition ‘Heinz Meanz Mealz’ Beanz three-packs first appeared on Neighbourhood Retailer.