Bonfire Night 2022 will offer plenty of opportunities for retailers to light up their sales.
By Gaelle Walker
The air is alive with the crackle of fireworks and the scent of bonfires, burgers and mulled beverages. Falling on a Saturday in 2022, this year’s Bonfire Night looks set to offer retailers an array of smoking hot opportunities to ignite their sales with a little extra sparkle too.
With large community events and private garden gatherings on the cards, sharing formats of key categories are sure to win big this Bonfire season, with sugar confectionery expected to lead the charge.
Within the traditional confectionery segment, sharing has continued to grow by 5.1% according to Perfetti Van Melle, with Fruittella sharing bags growing 18.3%, driven by the core range of Juicy Chew and Duo Stix bags.
Chupa Chups Mini Lollipop bags are also growing, up 3.5% year on year.
Perfetti Van Melle will also be hoping for sizzling sales of its new Mentos Fanta brand, following a collaboration with the beverage giant earlier this year.
Available now and into 2023, Mentos Fanta Orange is available in sharing, gifting and on-the-go formats to suit all occasions.
The Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill was passed on the 29 June bringing into force an array of new rules governing the sale and purchase of fireworks in Scotland.
The Bill specifies that certain fireworks can only be supplied to, and used by, members of the public at certain times, including:
- Vaisakhi
- Guy Fawkes Night
- Hogmanay
- Chinese New Year
- Diwali
The Bill has also introduced a fireworks licensing system for people wishing to purchase and use fireworks.
It is an offence for retailers to sell fireworks and other pyrotechnic articles covered under the Bill to under-18s.
The Bebeto brand has also strengthened its range of sweet sharing bags in time for the Bonfire Night opportunity with new bags of ‘Just Bears.’
Each 150g sharing bag contains 12 different types of bear-shaped gummies in on-trend flavours including blue raspberry, watermelon, cherry, and grape.
Just Bears have launched in £1 price-marked packs, which Bebeto describes as “the ideal format” for a sharing confectionery launch.
“£1 PMP ranges are the main driver of confectionery sales growth in convenience and impulse, and represent 70% of the sharing segment,” Gabriella Egleton, Senior Brand Manager of Kervan Gida UK says.
Novelty product lines are also expected to help sales go with a bang, with the category already enjoying significant success.
Swizzels is already reporting “huge growth” in its many novelty product lines, in particular its Candy Whistles which grew by 94% in value in the year to 17 April 2022 while its Love Heart Lip Sticks soared in value by 114%.
The brand also introduced a Minions-themed Tropical Fizz individual chew bar to its range, following an agreed licence with Universal earlier this summer.
Meanwhile, shoppers looking to ignite their Bonfire celebrations with healthier cake options will also have their needs met by Premier Foods, which has just announced the launch of new Mr Kipling Deliciously Good Toffee Apple Pies.
“With 15% of shoppers looking for healthier sweet treat options at key seasons – equating to over 10 million people – the launch aims to help retailers capitalise on this demand,” Premier Foods Brand Director for Sweet Treats Mathew Bird says.
Available this month, Mr Kipling Deliciously Good Toffee Apple Pies are made with real fruit and have 30% less sugar than standard pies. Cadbury Mini Bonfire Logs also return for the season.
Valeo Snackfoods just released new £1 PMPs of three of its best-selling Poppets variants – Original Toffee, Salted Caramel Fudge and Mix Ups.
The new PMPs will be available exclusively to the convenience channel.
Russell Tanner, Marketing Director at Valeo Snackfoods says: “We know that PMPs are set to be more important than ever in the coming months with the cost of living crisis, and we anticipate that the market for affordable treats is set to continue post lockdown.
“Offering consumers the products they love at a more affordable price given current economic pressures is something we’re very keen to do. The £1 price point is critical for consumers looking for an indulgent but affordable treat.”
