There’s a Santa-sackload of exciting NPD ready to take centre stage this Christmas.
The stage is set, the key players are primed – and with less than three months to go, it’s time to raise the curtain on Christmas 2024 – which is already promising to be a rip-roaring performance.
Low-cost impulse novelty and self-eat ranges always put on a good show at this time of year, as shoppers rush to enjoy a first taste of festive fun – as do sharing formats, perfect for enjoying with friends and family during the build-up.
We’ve rounded up some of the best festive products waiting in the wings to make their on-shelf debuts and lend your sales some sparkle this festive season.
Hancocks
Hancocks saw “significant sales increases” in low-cost impulse novelty ranges last year and it’s expecting this year to be similar. As a result, many of its new product launches for 2024 are geared towards these formats.
Included in its line-up this year is a new range of festive Elfie treats thanks to a partnership with the Elves Behavin’ Badly brand.
With an RSP of £2.50, Naughty Elf Mix candy cups are filled with a mix of sugar-coated mallows, candy canes and gummy elves.
Shoppers can also get their mitts on Giant Gummy Elfies with an RSP of £1.50 and Elfie Tongue Painters Bags which have an RSP of £1.25. The blackberry, raspberry, lemon and orange-flavoured gummies paint tongues blue.
Fox’s Burton’s Companies
Capitalising on the “sustained growth in white chocolate” – which was up 111% year-on-year in December 2023 according to NIQ data – Fox’s Burton’s Companies is launching Merryland White Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies this festive season.
The crunchy mini cookies are packed with white chocolate chips and are available in a 150g sharing carton with an RSP of £1.75.
The brand is also seeking to make the most of demand for spiced flavours this Christmas season with the launch of new Fox’s Fabulous Winter Spiced Cookies which have an RSP of £2.50.
Each milk chocolate chunk cookie is half enrobed in smooth milk chocolate with the addition of warming winter spiced flavours.
Mondelez International
Cadbury Puds made their triumphant return to shelves in 2021 and the range is expanding this year with the launch of new Cadbury Mini Puds.
The bitesized offerings feature a truffle centre with hazelnut pieces and rice crisps and a Cadbury chocolate coating.
The 73g bags have an RSP of £1.98 and are sure to appeal to shoppers looking for self-treats and/or stocking filler gifts.
Oreo is also joining in on the Christmas fun this year with the launch of limited-edition Oreo Gingerbread. The embossed gingerbread-flavoured cookies are available in packs of 154g and have an RSP of £1.50 each.
A number of festive favourites are also returning to the Cadbury line-up this Christmas to help retailers get in on the gifting opportunity. These include Cadbury Buttons Selection Boxes and Cadbury Dairy Milk Winter Mint Crisp tablets.
Kellanova
American food giant Kellanova is also hoping to make a splash on UK shores this Christmas, following the launch of its Cheez-It brand.
Described as “a one-of-a-kind snack experience baked with 100% real cheese and a unique combination of wheat, corn and potatoes,” Cheez-It Snap’d is available in two flavours: Cheese & Chilli and Double Cheese. These are available in several sizes, including 40g plain packs (RSP £1.09), 65g £1.25 price-marked packs, and 150g sharing bags (RSP £2).
The launch targets the UK’s 22.8 million cheese-flavoured crisp buyers and is supported with an £18m media spend, spanning a TV advert, radio, out of home, sampling, PR, and social.
