World Cup 2014: where will consumers watch and what are they going to eat?

Convenience market to be worth nearly £50bn by 2019

The latest research from IGD shows the UK convenience market is worth £37bn, with this number set to increase to £49bn by 2019.

Multiples show strong growth

The latest view of the market shows it has grown 5.2% year-on-year bringing the total value to £37bn. Within the channel, multiples have shown the fastest growth - up 16.3% for the 12 months to April 2014 and are now worth £7.3bn. Symbol groups still hold the largest market share at £15.5bn, representing £4 in every £10 spent in the convenience channel.

	Convenience sales 2014 (£m)	Share of sales 2014 (%)	Sales change year to April 2014 (%)
Symbol groups	15,537	42	5.1
Convenience multiples	7,277	19	16.3
Unaffiliated independents	6,528	17	-0.1
Convenience Forecourts	3,962	11	-0.5
Co-operatives	4,125	11	2.3
Total convenience	37,430	100	5.2

Source: IGD Retail Analysis

Symbols and independents dominate

The convenience market is going through period of transition, with store numbers up 1.3% to 49,579. This increase has been driven by fewer independent retailers leaving the market and the continued growth of symbols and multiples. The multiples and symbols have increased store numbers by 13.6% and 2.8% respectively. Although multiples delivered the strongest growth, they still represent less than 10% of total stores.

	Convenience sales 2014 (£m)	Share of sales 2014 (%)	Sales change year to April 2014 (%)
Unaffiliated independents	18,630	38	-1.0
Symbol groups	17,080	34	2.8
Convenience forecourts	7,418	15	-1.6
Convenience multiples	3,771	8	13.6
Co-operatives	2,680	5	1.6
Total conveniecne	49,579	100	1.3

Source: IGD Retail Analysis and William Reed Business Media

Convenience sector continues to build on its success

Joanne Denney-Finch, chief executive, IGD, said: “The convenience sector continues to build on its success and we’re forecasting almost £12bn in extra sales between now and 2019. Convenience stores are benefiting from changing social demographics, such as smaller households, and shoppers spreading more of their spending across a variety of grocery formats. Our latest ShopperVista research shows that seven out of ten (71%) of them are using both a supermarket and convenience shop in any given month. Our 24-hour, seven day a week society means people can buy anything, anywhere and at any time. Convenience stores are well placed to make the most of this trend as shoppers use them more than any other type of grocery format."

Source: IGD, 23rd May 2014

Sweet spreads category performs well

The overall sweet spreads category is in growth with both penetration and purchasing frequency on the rise. According to latest data from Kantar Worldpanel, the category is worth €49.5m in Ireland and increased in value by 5.7% in the twelve months to Feb 2014.

Honey, marmalade and chocolate spread are all attracting new shoppers, while price increases and a wider choice of products in the category is resulting in customers moving away from jam. 

 

However the launch of health and wellness products such as diabetic, reduced / no sugar and high fruit content spreads is generating renewed interest in the category in line with the consumer lifestyle trend of ‘Quest for health and wellness’.

Honey remains the highest yielding category in terms of sales with a value of €26 million in 2013, growing by 10% from the previous year according to Euromonitor.
Consumers are continuing to see the health benefits of honey and products such as manuka honey are performing well due to the medicinal and anti-bacterial properties. Consumers are also using honey to sweeten their hot cereals and porridge and adding it to drinks as a more natural and healthy sweetener.
Older shoppers are purchasing a higher proportion of marmalade while chocolate spread and peanut butter are atttating younger shoppers with the discounters performing extremely well in these sub categories. Breakfast is the key occasion for most sweet spreads, including jam, honey and marmalade. Chocolate, hazelnut spreads and nut butters are mainly eaten as part of a snack.
Sales of sweet spreads is forecast to grow by 3% per year in value terms with sales set to rise to €66 million by 2018 according to Euromonitor. It is expected that honey will continue to drive growth within the category as consumers continue to seek out health and wellness products.
Bord Bia is currently conducting research into the sweet spreads category to provide manufacturers with key insights into shopper motivations and trends in the category and to identify future trend opportunities. The results of the research will be available in June.

Source: Linda Cullen, Food and Beverage Division, Bord Bia - Irish Food Board, 23rd May 2014

Innocent relaunches Veg pot range

The innocent brand is set to relaunch its ‘veg pot’ range in June, introducing three new variants and updating three existing ones. The company said the revamp aims at providing consumers with a more diverse range of spice levels, health benefits and methods of cooking, as well as using new ingredients.

The three new recipes are a British inspired seasonal veg pot (with pearl barley, veg, leek, potato and cracked black pepper), an Indian madras (grilled aubergine, chickpeas & red chilli), and an Indian lentil sambar (with coconut, roasted spinach and curry leaves).

They will be joined by three revamped variants - Mexican chipotle chilli with red pepper, sweet potato and smoked paprika; Caribbean jerk with coconut rice, pineapple and scotch bonnet chilli; and a Thai coconut curry with edamame beans, water chestnuts and lemongrass.

The relaunch will be supported with marketing activity, including a partnership with the Evening Standard, digital initiatives, in store promotions and POS activity.

NamNews - Thursday 29th May 2014

Savy grocery shoppers hunt for supermarket savings

Driven by economic uncertainty and rising costs of living, UK shoppers have evolved into bargain hunters with a keen eye for savings at the supermarket. According to new research by Datamonitor, 69% of UK consumers consider it important to find bargains when grocery shopping – well above the global average of 58%. To highlight the various strategies that shoppers employ to save money on groceries, Datamonitor has created an infographic which shows 20 different ways that consumers look for better deals when shopping (see below).

As the drive to economize becomes a major part of the UK grocery scene, Datamonitor found that British shoppers are placing considerably more trust in private labels. With half of UK shoppers actively buying more private labels to save money, lower-priced store brands are clearly growing their share of basket among value conscious consumers. However, Datamonitor believes marketers need to explore other ways to appeal to consumers’ sense of value besides simply dropping prices.

Personal care products for example deliver superior value by offering multi-functional benefits that not only save money, but also time and storage space. Food and drinks manufacturers are also leveraging this by offering customization or emphasizing versatility to serve multiple needs at once.

Katrina Diamonon, Senior Analyst at Datamonitor noted that “value-for-money” positioning must be implemented carefully so as not to infer a sense of compromise: “Particularly in the premium market, value-focused brands need to balance the emotional desire to treat oneself with the rational appeal of saving money. Positioning products as ‘affordable luxuries’ or ‘earned indulgences’ are effective and credible ways to convey superior value-for-money.”

NamNews - Wednesday 28th May 2014

New Tesco Brioche Hot Dog

　

New Own Label Brioche Hot Dogs spotted in Tesco at the end of May 2014

　

Convenience market to grow 30% over next five years

The UK convenience market is due to be worth £49bn by 2019, growing by over 30% over the next five years from a current value of £37bn, according to data released by IGD.

Symbol group operators (such as Costcutter and Nisa) have the biggest overall share of convenience sales, accounting for just over £4 in every £10 spent in convenience stores. Sales at symbols groups represent more than the next two largest groups (convenience multiples and unaffiliated independents) combined.

The convenience multiples have experienced the fastest growing increase in sales in the 12 months to April 2014 and are now the second largest part of the market:

	Convenience sales 2014 £m	Share of sales 2014 %	Sales change year to April 2014 %
Symbol groups	15,537	42	5.1
Convenience multiples	7,277	19	16.3
Unaffiliated independents	6,528	17	-0.1
Convenience forecourts	3,962	11	-0.5
Co-operatives	4,125	11	2.3
Total convenience	37,430	100	5.2

Source: IGD Retail Analysis. Please note individual segments do not add up to the total convenience value due to rounding

Unaffiliated independents and symbol groups account for over 70% of the total number of convenience stores and while growing at the fastest rate, convenience multiples still represent less than 10% of total stores:

	Number of Stores 2014	Share of stores 2014 %	Stores change year to April 2014 %
Unaffiliated independents	18,630	38	-1.0
Symbol groups	17,080	34	2.8
Convenience forecourts	7,418	15	-1.6
Convenience multiples	3,771	8	13.6
Co-operatives	2,680	5	1.6
Total convenience	49,579	100	1.3

Source: IGD Retail Analysis and William Reed Business Media

Joanne Denney-Finch, Chief Executive, IGD, said: “The convenience sector continues to build on its success and we’re forecasting almost £12bn in extra sales between now and 2019.

“Convenience stores are benefiting from changing social demographics, such as smaller households, and shoppers spreading more of their spending across a variety of grocery formats. Our latest ShopperVista research shows that seven out of ten (71%) of them are using both a supermarket and convenience shop in any given month.

“Our 24-hour, seven day a week society means people can buy anything, anywhere and at any time. Convenience stores are well placed to make the most of this trend as shoppers use them more than any other type of grocery format.

“Building on the success of click and collect, convenience shops continue to offer a link between digital and physical shopping – acting both as a drop-off and collection point. This also provides another reason for shoppers to visit, helping them combine two tasks in one journey”.

She added: “With all types of retailers focusing so much on convenience, it’s an incredibly exciting time to be involved in this sector. However, it’s vital convenience shops stay close to shoppers changing needs and keep innovating to maintain this momentum. One convenience operator, for example, tweets alerts about seasonal products while another has an interactive digital ‘smart pad’ allowing customers to view local suppliers and leave feedback.”

NamNews - Friday 23rd May 2014

Tesco removing confectionery from checkouts at all stores

 

Tesco has announced that it will remove sweets and chocolate from checkouts across all of its store formats by the end of the year in what it claims is a first amongst the big four multiples. .

The move follows research by the group that found nearly two thirds (65%) of customers said removing confectionery from checkouts would help them make healthier choices. Just over two thirds of parents (67%) told Tesco that confectionery-free checkouts would help them make healthier choices for their children.

A spokesman said confectionery would also be removed from areas adjacent to the tills - for example racks of sweets at children's eye level next to checkout queues.

Tesco removed confectionery from its 740 larger stores 20 years ago but the most recent move will apply to all stores in the UK including 1,800 smaller Metro and Express outlets. It will trial a variety of healthier products at checkouts before implementing the full change by the end of December.

Tesco Chief Executive Philip Clarke said: "We all know how easy it is to be tempted by sugary snacks at the checkout, and we want to help our customers lead healthier lives.

"We've already removed billions of calories from our soft drinks, sandwiches and ready meal ranges by changing the recipes to reduce their sugar, salt and fat content. And we will continue to look for opportunities to take out more.

"We're doing this now because our customers have told us that removing sweets and chocolates from checkouts will help them make healthier choices."

In January, Lidl banned confectionary from the checkout at all 600 of its UK stores after surveying parents. It replaced racks of sweets with dried and fresh fruit, oatcakes and juices.

Health campaigners and parents' groups welcomed Tesco's move. Katie O'Donovan of Mumsnet said: "Popping into a shop with a small child in tow can sometimes feel like navigating an assault course. If you've made it to the checkout in one piece it can be really frustrating to then be faced with an unhealthy array of sweets designed to tempt your child. It's really positive to see a supermarket responding to the views of their customers and trying to make life that little bit easier."

NamNews - Thursday 22nd May 2014

 

Income and Education: Who eats what - Desserts and sugar

Income and Education: Who eats what?

Kingsmill launches new bagel thins

Kingsmill has launched a category first product, called ‘Bagel Thins’, which features a bagels that are significantly thinner than regular varieties. The Bagel Thins, which contain just 122 calories, are available in a 6-pack format (RRP £1.39), and are currently listed at Tesco. Janene Warsap, Head of Innovation at Allied Bakeries, notes: “Across the food and drink industry we are seeing a rising demand from consumers for smaller, lighter, healthier versions of their favourite foods. With this insight front of mind, we have developed our unique Kingsmill Bagel Thins, which are thinner with a less doughy texture, making them lighter to eat, but still high in taste”. Martin Garlick, Category Director at Allied Bakeries, added: “Interestingly, the US bagel thins market is already well established and currently worth nearly 10% of the total US bagel market in volume terms. We believe there is a similar opportunity in the UK which will help retailers drive growth in the bakery category by encouraging incremental sales and attracting new customers to the category.” NamNews - Tuesday 20th May 2014

Chips de Lentilles CoFresh

La société Britannique CoFresh présentera son innovation lors du salon international "Le monde de la Marque distributeur" qui se déroulera les 20 et 21 Mai prochain.

Son innovation est des chips de lentilles, produites à base de lentilles. Ces chips existent en 4 parfums (sel de mer, aneth, tomate et basilic) et sont disponibles en paquet de 40 g ou 113 g. Elles conviennent aux végétaliens et aux personnes allergiques au gluten. D'un contenu protéique élevé, elles sont sans colorant, sans arôme artificiel et sans conservateur.

 

 

Source: Magazine LSA conso, 16th May 2014

 

Source : Magazine LSA Conso

Consumer desire for treats driving bakery innovation

 

The latest figures from Kantar Worldpanel (to 5th January 2014) show that the RoI ambient bakery market is up 2.2% in value and 1.2% in volume to reach €504m as higher prices per pack and higher volume per buyer adds value to the market.

Within the segments, Bread has regained some value and volume share this year at the expense of Cakes and Pastries while Morning Goods has the highest growth, increasing by 6.5% to take a 17.5% value share.

In the UK market, according to Mintel’s report on Bread and Baked Goods in September 2013, Sweet Baked Goods also recorded the strongest growth over 2012-2013, posting value growth of 9% compared to 4% in the overall market. This reflects consumers' taste for more indulgent breakfast items and also the rising “morning treats” market. Crumpets were among the fastest growing categories, along with fruit loaves and American muffins, while croissants were flat. 
 
The British Baker also recently reported on the rising interest in the classic ring doughnut, partly sparked by the hybrid cronut (discussed in a previous Food Alert) which enjoyed global fame in 2013.
The major American players lead the way in doughnut innovation, with Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts predicting new trends such as exotic fruit fillings, savoury flavours and seasonal varieties. Elaborate toppings and finishes also add interest and consumer appeal. Krispy Kreme’s new range Chocomania for example includes three indulgent chocolate variants. They have also featured a Coffee Collection and, for Valentine’s Day, Heart Doughnuts.

There is great scope for bakers to tap into this trend by trialling new flavours, shapes, sizes, ingredients and combinations.

Source: Bord Bia, 16/05/2014

Shoppers finding love in the supermarket aisle

Forget bagging a bargain, research from shopper marketing app, Shopitize, has found that supermarkets are the hottest new place to pick up a date. Brits are going wild in the aisles, according to the consumer insight data from Shopitize, with one in eight shoppers admitting to exchanging numbers with a fellow trolley-pusher. 6% have dated someone they met in the supermarket, whilst staggeringly, 2% of those questioned said they had married someone they met at the supermarket.

• Supermarkets were deemed a fertile breeding ground with almost a quarter (23%) of those surveyed saying a person’s shopping basket was a good indicator of their personality. 
• Nearly two thirds (63%) admitted they would be more attracted to someone if they shared similar shopping and eating habits, such as a fellow health nut, foodie or frugal shopper.
• A fifth (20%) claimed the broad cross-section of people in a supermarket made it a great venue for meeting people, while one in eight (13%) said it was easy to break the ice in a supermarket.
• Nearly one in ten (9%) reported that supermarkets make the perfect pick-up joint as they were more relaxed than bars and clubs, while two per cent admitted that they didn’t get out much so it was a good place to meet people.
• According to insight revealed by the Shopitize app, 6:38pm is the best time to bag a beau with most singles hitting the shopping aisles in the early evening.
• Women looking to hone in on a hunk in the supermarket should shop in Sainsbury’s on a Saturday with Shopitize data showing this is the most popular day and supermarket for guys hitting the aisles.
• Men looking for a filly in the freezer aisle should venture out on a Tuesday, where there is a greater percentage of women compared with men. The most female-friendly supermarket was Morrisons; 60% of all the shoppers were women so men searching for love should check-in.

Psychologist Dr David Holme commented: “Lust-fuelled moments in darkened clubs and bars are the worst times to be selecting a partner for life. In contrast, in the clear light of the supermarket aisle, the contents of our trolley will say more about our personalities and habits than interrogation by a dating website. Anxious approaches and trite chat-up lines are not needed when you can offer to help pass goods or give advice in an unpretentious easy atmosphere, free from deafening DJs or hundreds of prying eyes. In the relaxed supermarket isles, we are more likely to engage naturally with prospective partners than be subject to the artificial barrage of people ‘on the look out’.”

NamNews - Thursday 15th May 2014

Kantar Brand Footprint annual report - France

Tendance: vers une personnalisation croissante des produits agroalimentaire

 

D'ici cinq ans, les consommateurs pourront « customiser » leurs produits selon leur propres goûts, selon le groupe Sidel. ...

Les consommateurs demandent de plus en plus la personnalisation de leurs produits, et cette tendance devrait s'accentuer dans les cinq années à venir.

La tendance à la personnalisation des produits agroalimentaires est croissante. D’ici cinq ans, les consommateurs pourront « customiser » leurs produits selon leur propres goûts, estime Isabelle Maillot, vice-présidente du groupe Sidel, en charge de l’innovation.

 

« Grâce au packaging, le produit pourra proposer de lui-même des recettes, en fonction du comportement du consommateur, qui sera analyse avec les nouvelles technologies », affirme-t-elle.

Personnalisation des aliments grâce au cloud

« Par exemple, un frigo pourra analyser les légumes choisis par un consommateur, ou pourra savoir si ce dernier boit plus de soda ou d’eau, etc. et envoyer ces données sur le cloud. »

Les information seront transmises jusqu’au produit acheté et il serait alors possible de rappeler au consommateur la date de péremption d’un produit ou encore de lui donner des indications pour avoir une alimentation plus équilibrée.

Personnalisation des produits : de nombreuses opportunités de développement

La principale difficulté, explique Isabelle Maillot, est de vendre le produit en interne et « de convaincre les gens qu’il doivent commencer à travailler sur une problématique aujourd’hui, pour créer le marché de demain. Il est également très difficile de choisir parmi les multiples idées et opportunités qui nous sont présentées en interne et en externe. »

 

 

Source: agro-media.fr, 9th May 2014

Seattle's best coffee making its debut in the UK

Asda has completely rebranded 70 of its in-store cafés as Seattle’s Best coffee areas.
The Starbucks-owned speciality coffee retailer is making its UK debut with trials also active at selected KFC and Kiddicare branches.

Seattle’s Best Coffee, which has locations throughout the US, said it would have 1,000 distribution points across the UK by the end of the year. A spokeswoman said it was “confident” Asda would convert all of its 252 in-store cafés. Asda has said that it will create up 12,000 jobs over the next five years as it expands its business into new areas of the country.
Asda recently began implementing a five year strategy to grow the business into parts of the country where it does not currently have stores, particularly in the south of England. It expects to open around 40 new conventional superstores, 100 new supermarkets, 150 forecourt shops, 1,000 new click & collect points and greater online penetration.

Source: Nielsen Homescan and Grocers

Own Label milk prices down - Branded lines up

Tesco’s recent milk price decreases have triggered price matching by Sainsbury’s. Whilst overall price drops have been seen on Standard Own Label milk, a number of branded milk products have experienced price increases.

The graph below details the price for Own Label 4 Pint variants when they are not on promotion – Whole, Semi Skimmed, Skimmed and 1% Fat. Sainsbury’s were quick to react to the price drop seen in Tesco, lowering their price the following day (5th March) to match the £1.00 point set in Tesco and Asda. Morrisons continue to maintain a base price of £1.39.


When taking a closer look at the effect of promotional activity on the price of milk, we can see that both Tesco and Morrisons ran Buy 3 for £3 promotions prior to Tesco’s price drop announcement, meaning that consumers could have previously purchased milk for £1 per unit if they had opted for the multibuy offer. Tesco implemented this multibuy from July 2013 onwards, briefly removing the promotion before making changes to the base price in March. Morrisons have run this promotion consistently for more than 52 weeks.

Whilst Own Label 4 Pint milk has experienced base price decreases across retailers, the following graph tells us that the base price across leading branded milk SKUs have seen price increases this year.
Alpro has increased in price throughout January and February this year. This has been driven by increases of up to 20p in Tesco and 21p in Sainsbury’s.
Cravendale’s average price increase is primarily driven by Asda’s changes to the Skimmed, Semi Skimmed and Whole Milk 2000ml variants, from £1.98 to £2.20.

Lactofree’s average price has decreased, driven by price drops in Morrisons, from £1.39 to £1.34. Price increases for Lactofree were, however, experienced in Sainsbury’s and Tesco in February, up by between 1p and 5p.
The price of Organic Own Label milk in Tesco increased the same day as the price drops for Standard Own Label 4 Pint SKUs. A total of eight organic milk lines increased on 04 March, up by between 2p and 14p.


Source: brandview.com, 11th May 2014

Barny gets his paws on the convenience and impulse markets

Barny, already the number two children’s biscuit brand after one year on the shelves, is coming to the convenience channel in a new 30g format for on-the-go snacking.

Barny is a bear-shaped sponge snack with a chocolate hidden centre. Carefully baked with ingredients including wheat flour, milk, chocolate and eggs, the product contains no artificial colours or preservatives.

The new pack is a convenient, individually wrapped 30g portion ideal for small stores, and  aims to attract shoppers looking for a little snack to pick up on the move.

Barny will be supported by a £4 million UK marketing investment in 2014, including TV advertising, showing how the brand can be a companion to discovery and inspire adventures.

It is already the number two brand in children’s biscuits, with 7 per cent penetration, putting it in the top five per cent of all new biscuit launches over the past four years.

Rick Lawrence, head of biscuits at Mondelēz International, said: “We’re excited to bring the Barny magic to new channels.

“The 30g format aims to drive new purchasing occasions, particularly within convenience and impulse, for mums looking to pick up a little snack on the go.

“We’ve been delighted with the success of Barny – it’s been one of the biggest biscuit launches in four years, and has already achieved more than £7 million sales in less than 12 months.

“This new format is the new stage on the Barny journey, and we hope it’s going to help even more consumers discover the brand.”

Source: Food & Drink Innovation Network, 8th May 2014

New Pop'n'Pour products from Butterkist

Tangerine Confectionery has unveiled a brand new innovation in the popcorn industry, with the launch of a range of Pop ‘n’ Pour products. The products invite consumers to enjoy microwave popcorn in a new and exciting way. The Pop ‘n’ Pour cartons consist of two bags of plain popcorn and two sachets of flavoured sauce.

Consumers warm a sachet of sauce in warm water, whilst the popcorn is popping in the microwave; once ready they drizzle the sauce over the popcorn, creating their own treat in minutes. Available from May, the 220g Pop ‘n’ Pour products launch in two flavours, Chocolate and Chocolate Orange.
The products have a MRRSP of £2.29. Helena Blincow, Butterkist Brand Manager, said:

“We’re very excited to announce the launch of this truly innovative product to the Butterkist portfolio.

Pop ‘n’ Pour has been developed based on the rising trend of consumer engagement and involvement with products. “In the last year alone the Butterkist microwave range has seen a sales growth of +32 per cent*.
“We predict the Pop ‘n’ Pour range to do extremely well, especially as the Chocolate flavour boasts only 64 calories per serving and the Chocolate Orange 67 calories.
“The new range adds to the variety of popcorn that can be enjoyed from the comfort of consumers’ homes.”

Source: Food & Drink Innovation Network, 9th May 2014

Cuckoo new Bircher muesli launching in the UK

Cuckoo offers consumers a revolutionary take on traditional Bircher muesli with new varieties designed to appeal to Britain’s adventurous palate.
Inspired by the century-old Swiss recipe for Bircher muesli and the Alpine lifestyle, Cuckoo combines tradition with pioneering flavour combinations and contrasting, complementary textures.

Every spoonful of Cuckoo Bircher muesli is varied with juicy berries, crunchy dark linseeds and flavourful swirls of fruity compote. The bold colours and layers of quality natural ingredients ensure Cuckoo Bircher muesli appeals to the eye and stands out on the shelf.

From a range of five, including Elderflower & Cranberry, Choco Sour Cherry and Mango & Coconut, the on-the-go pots are designed to be enjoyed at any time: not just for breakfast. With fewer than 300 calories per 190g single-serve pot, Cuckoo Bircher muesli is low-GI and a great source of fibre, making a healthy way to start the day, an afternoon pick-me-up or a dessert option.

Cuckoo is also offering smaller pots (90g or bespoke sizes as required) for the travel market. Cuckoo Bircher muesli is proud to be made in Britain with home-grown jumbo oats and creamy West Country yoghurt and provides consumers with a balance of health and deliciousness.

The Cuckoo Bircher muesli selection comprises five flavours, all RRP £2.49 for a 190g single-serve pot:

• Apple & Cinnamon Spice, with raisins
• Elderflower & Cranberry, with a blueberry and blackcurrant compote
• Choco Sour Cherry, with a layer of Madagascan vanilla
• Mango & Coconut, with a tropical twist of lime and ginger
• Apricot & Madagascan Vanilla, with a raspberry compote

Co-founders Lucy Wright and Anna Mackenzie are childhood friends with a passion for good food. They said: “We thought the on-the-go breakfast and snack sector needed a fresh new brand which was as much a treat for the taste-buds as it was for your body.

“Bircher muesli is a classic Swiss breakfast dish and we were keen to give it a fun, young and modern twist with recipes reflecting our taste for bold, interesting flavours, designed to be eaten at any time.”
Leah Anderson-O’Loughlin, Selfridges Bakery and Dairy Buyer said:

“I’m delighted to launch Cuckoo; the girls have worked hard to source the best ingredients and production methods, resulting in an exceptionally high-quality product.

“The packaging is fun and peppy, whilst communicating to customers that they’re buying a luxury muesli, that’s also very good for you.
“Selfridges are keener than ever to support young food producers and Anna and Lucy are a prime example of the kind of young food entrepreneurs we love to work with.”

Source: Food & Drink Innovation Network, 9th May 2014

Demand for healthy foods drives sales at Pret a Manger

Popular sandwich chain Pret A Manger has reported a 15% jump in sales to £510m, boosted by expansion and demand for healthy foods such as porridge, bananas and vegetable juices. Underlying profit was up 9% to £67m for the year to January 2014.

Chief Executive Clive Schlee said: “Sales are still pretty much at the same pace as last year and profits were affected by the expansion into new markets. Growth is still very strong.”

Schlee added: “The drive for healthier food has been a real growth area — we now sell more cold-pressed vegetable juices than super club sandwiches. People wanting the choice to sit down has also helped sales and we are closing our smaller takeaway outlets and opening larger shops with seating.”

After opening 40 outlets last year, the company now operates 352 stores and plans to continue its UK and global expansion with more shops in New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston, Paris and Hong Kong. Schlee said the group is also looking at Shanghai.

NamNews - Friday 9th May 2014

Coupon craze reaches new heights

UK shoppers’ appetite for coupons has reached new heights, increasing by over a third (35%) in 2013 compared to the previous year. According to coupon experts Valassis, coupons and vouchers worth £1.7bn were redeemed last year showing that the coupon craze is far from over even though the economy is strengthening. This means the average household redeems coupons and vouchers worth approximately £64 in a year.

Figures from Valassis retailer clients revealed that coupon and voucher redemptions increased by 35% with 603 million coupons redeemed in 2013, up from 448 million in 2012. Whilst retailer-issued coupons have driven growth, manufacturer-issued coupons are increasing.

The figures also show that coupon redemption is continuing its upward trend, with volumes increasing by 223% since 2010. Retailer-issued coupons are driving most of the growth and account for 71% of redemptions or 466 million coupons.

Charles D’Oyly, managing director of Valassis, commented: “The 35% increase in coupon redemptions in 2013 is exceptional. Bearing in mind that retail sales in 2013 grew by just 1.6% compared with 2012, such growth is remarkable.

“The recent increases in retailer-issued redemptions are primarily due to the popularity of coupon-at-till promotions and price matching promises which mean the consumer would not have been able to buy certain items as economically elsewhere.”

Compared to 2012, and indeed any of the last five years, redemption of manufacturer-issued coupons is rising once again and 2013 saw a 50% jump in the volume of such redemptions, compared the previous year.

D’Oyly added: “What’s behind this growth? Our recent research indicates that consumers’ use of coupons is widespread across all demographics, and supermarkets have responded accordingly by increasing their use of coupons as the promotion of choice for targeted consumer offers.

“We were also encouraged to see that part of the overall growth was driven by manufacturer coupons which have been largely flat for a number of years. We attribute this resurgence partly to increased awareness of couponing’s efficiency and effectiveness as a promotional tool, as well as the tendency for manufacturers to take their lead from retailers’ promotional activity. In 2013, average face value decreased from £1 to 85p, which suggests that manufacturers are refining their coupon tactics and trying to find optimal offer points that trigger behavioural change with consumers.”

NamNews - Thursday 8th May 2014