School’s out for the summer and a fridge-load of cool opportunities lie in wait for local retailers as the holiday season kicks in and shoppers continue to get out and about.
Offering a strong range of on-trend lunch-to-go solutions, supported by a quality soft drinks offer, is of course key for those retailers looking to capitalise – especially given that one-in-four shoppers are currently consuming more soft drinks than last year, according to Suntory Beverage & Food GB & I (SBF).
So what do those busy on-the-go shoppers want from stores when it comes to soft drinks? Well, with the focus on health and wellbeing continuing at pace, SBF Wholesale Channel Director Matt Gouldsmith expects demand for sugar-free variants to remain high.
Demand for new and innovative flavours will also continue to fuel sales he says – especially within the energy category where the Lucozade Alert brand recently brought a brand-new flavour to shelves in the form of Lucozade Alert Original.
Also helping retailers to maximise lunch-to-go sales this summer is Coca-Cola Europacific Partners’ (CCEP) Oasis brand, which is rolling out new marketing activity targeting the key young adult market.
A newly launched campaign focuses on young adults in urban centres looking for refreshment whilst on the go and to accompany their lunch.
Martin Attock, Vice President, Commercial Development at CCEP GB, comments: “Across the juice drinks category we have seen sales of on-the-go formats return to growth, up 29% over the past 12 months, with Oasis on-the-go formats up over 42%.
“We expect this trajectory to continue, particularly throughout the summer, and this new campaign will help keep Oasis front of mind with consumers on their lunchtime shopping mission.”
Price-marked packs have seen significant growth in the last number of years, with the format expected to continue increasing in both relevance and popularity according to KP Snacks.
Trading Director Matt Collins explains: “We’ve seen a recent increase in grab bag and £1PMP sales as people are tempted by the bigger packs.
“Not only do PMPs offer consumers great value for money, the clear pricing also gives them assurance that they are not being over charged.
“PMPs are a hugely versatile format that caters for multiple missions and occasions, whether that be hunger fill or sharing. 70% of shoppers purchase items on impulse and PMPs drive these sales through clear messaging and displays,” he adds.
And with inflation soaring and price front of mind for shoppers at the moment, the need for strong Meal Deal solutions encompassing soft drinks, snacks and main meal options will also help retailers to capitalise, KP Snacks Trading Director Matt Collins adds.
“Weekday lunchtimes are the most popular time for eating on the go, with 62% of consumers saying they enjoy picking meal deal combos,” he says.
“53% of shoppers look for meal deals when buying food to go and 34% of shoppers say they would pay more than £5 for meal deals if the products were high quality.
“KP Snacks’ portfolio delivers the top-three-selling meal deal SKUs, with Hula Hoops Big Hoops BBQ Beef the top selling PMP in the convenience channel.
“McCoy’s Salt & Vinegar and Flame Grilled Steak are the Number 2 and Number 3 best-selling meal deal choices, perfect for livening up lunch.”
Also helping to sweeten lunch-to-go occasions are of course chocolate confectionery singles, which according to Mondelēz International are once again enjoying growth. Susan Nash, Trade Communications Manager at Mondelez International says: “We’ve seen the impulse occasion return across single format confectionery with latest MAT and 12-week data showing singles in growth.
“In fact, in a recent survey we asked independent retailers how their singles sales changed during 2021, and 43% said they’d increased.
“Looking at chocolate confectionery, Cadbury Twirl Orange single bar was the top-selling NPD in the market and Cadbury Caramilk single bar was the 9th best-selling NPD, with four of the top 10 being singles.
“Single chocolate bars as well as smaller packs of sugar confectionery and mints remain crucial to a retailer’s range to help them meet the demands of impulse shoppers looking for treats on the go during the day.”
Earlier this summer Cadbury expanded its Twirl range with the launch of an all-new, limited-edition Caramel flavour in a move which Mondelez said would bring will bring the #1 best-selling chocolate flavour (Nielsen) to one of the nation’s favourite confectionery bars.”
What’s new?
Rustlers has expanded its Cook in Box range with the launch of a new ‘Peri Peri Chicken Tenders Burger.’
What’s the deal?
The new burger features Southern Fried Chicken tenders and a Peri Peri sauce and taps into “on-trend flavour profiles” made popular by restaurants.
What’s the format?
Like the other variants in the Rustlers Cook in Box range, the Peri Peri Chicken Tenders Burger has an RSP of £2.75 and comes in case sizes of four.
What does Kepak say?
Elaine Rothballer Head of Marketing Consumer Brands at Kepak says: “As food-to-go missions return, shoppers are looking to brands and retailers who can provide them with variety, inspiration and value for money.
“From cold sandwiches and salads to wraps and pasta, chicken has long been the dominant protein in the food-to-go fixture. However, there is an opportunity for a different product proposition that is more aligned to Quick Service Restaurants.
“Thanks to the patented dual-purpose packaging of Cook in Box, eliminating any messy preparation whilst also acting as a product carrier to enable easy consumption on the go, the product is not only convenient for consumers, but ideal for convenience retailers looking to offer a hot food-to-go option.”
