Back to school lunch box and school bag essentials

With the start of the school year fast approaching parentings throughout the country are already starting to stock up on breakfast, lunchbox and schoolbag essentials, writes Donna Ahern

Brand Central

29 July 2024

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As parents gear up for the new school term, the focus on nutritious lunch box options intensifies. With rising
concerns about child obesity, there’s a growing demand for healthier snacks.

Brands are stepping up, offering innovative alternatives to sugary treats.

As we approach the end of the summer, parents will be on the lookout for fresh and affordable breakfast and lunch options.

Allied to this it is imperative that grocery retailers ensure that they pack their shelves with all of the back to school essentials such as stationary and classroom supplies.

However, it is important for retailers to be mindful of the fact that most parents will be under further financial strain because of cost-of-living pressures.

Therefore, in-store special offers and stocking up on multi-packs is key to ease the financial strain at this expensive time of the year for many parents.

Kellogg’s and UNO! partner for a fun-filled back to school breakfast adventure

Kellogg’s has announced that it is bringing both taste and fun to the breakfast table through a partnership with card game UNO! as part of the company’s latest on-pack promotion.

As part of this partnership, Kellogg’s cereal packs will feature UNO-themed designs and a QR code on pack which you scan to play a game to be in with a chance to win. By scanning the QR code and playing a Kellogg’s
x UNO! themed game, participants will have the opportunity to win one of more than 29,000 bespoke Kellogg’s themed pocket sized UNO! pack of cards.

UNO!, known for its fast-paced gameplay and universal appeal, shares Kellogg’s commitment to bringing families and friends together through shared experiences.

The partnership aims to enhance these moments by adding an element of excitement and the chance to win an exclusive Kellogg’s x UNO! pack of cards. to be mindful of the fact that most parents will be under further financial strain because of cost-of-living pressures. Therefore, in-store special offers and stocking up on multi-packs is key to ease the financial strain at this expensive time of the year for many
parents.

“We are excited to team up with UNO! to o er our consumers a fun breakfast experience,” said Ann Rose Eng, brand activation manager, Kellogg’s Ireland. “At Kellogg’s, we believe in fostering connections and creating moments of joy, and this partnership really brings that to life.”

To be in with a chance to win these amazing prizes, all you have to do is pick up a pack of Kellogg’s cereal, scan the QR code on the pack, enter the last four digits of the barcode and play to win.

Residents of participating European Countries only, 18+. Ends 1 December 2024.

For full terms and conditions, visit: www.kelloggs.com/UNO

Fresh & Juicy lunch box fillers

Nourish young minds and bodies with Keelings Fresh & Juicy berries. From strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Packed with vitamin c and antioxidants which support your little one’s immune systems. Just
on time for back to school as we approach the cold and flu season.

These delicious berries may help children stay healthy during the busy school year.

Packed with colourful benefits

• Red fruit and veg: Often contain lycopene which is a powerful antioxidant that has been shown to protect against heart disease and prostate cancer.

• Purple, blue and black: Rich in vitamin c but getting their colour from anthocyanin gives them double the number of antioxidants! These purple powerhouses can help improve memory, boost immunity, protect against cancer and heart disease.

Healthy lunch box fillers made easy!

Going back to school is a busy time for families. Keeling’s fresh berries offer a stress free lunch box favourite. They are delicious and convenient with 125g punnets or sharing boxes available for all the family.

Keelings is a consumer favourite packed with vitamins and nutritional benefits making for the perfect lunch box filler, cereal toppers, smoothies snacking and much more.

What is the answer to your shoppers’ lunch time dilemma’?

John West – a trusted family name, John West is the expert when it comes to canned tuna, salmon and other fish, since 1857.

And the great thing is – most consumers already know this. That’s why they have a can of John West Tuna in their cupboard. It’s John West’s job to remind them, so they make it part of their lunchtime routine, and so they buy it frequently.

John West products are a great option for lunch. Each tin of John West Tuna provides 25g protein per 100g, and John West No Drain even provides 28g protein per 100g!

In comparison, consumers need to eat four eggs to get 25g protein.

As a natural source protein, John West products are also a great alternative to cooked ham, as canned Tuna is also considerably lower in salt than a processed meat option (ham contains approximately three times more salt per 100g than tuna).

John West is also the only brand in the category that brings innovations, providing your shoppers with both taste and convenience, and making it easy for them to get natural nutrients into their lunch!

This season, John West is delighted to bring to your shelves a much-needed innovation in Salmon: John West Salmon Pots. They are not only rich in natural protein, but also high in natural Omega 3. Those delicious 80G pots of pink salmon come in three variants: Natural, Sweet Chili, Lemon & Herb. Your shoppers will love them. John West. Lunch strong, trade strong!

Alpro – the plant-based pioneers

Alpro has been leading the food revolution for the past 40 years and it has been banging that big, plant-based drum ever since. Its mission back then was the same as it is now: to help people make positive choice when it comes to food. Long before oat flat whites became the drink of choice, Alpro was making
plant-based products back in 1980, where its story began with a soya drink recipe.

Alpro’s extensive range caters to various preferences and times of day. Its core drink line includes Oat, Almond, Soya and Coconut, with no-sugars options available.

On-the-go soya drink choices in Chocolate or Strawberry flavour, along with plant-based alternatives to yogurts in flavours such as Blueberry, Strawberry, Vanilla and Passionfruit, o er convenient, tasty snacks.

Alpro wants to help people make positive choices when it comes to food and our products can be used
in a variety of ways to do this.

Whether consumers are looking for a smoothie, a way to refresh your overnight oats or a weekend brunch, Alpro has a product that suits consumers needs. Alpro is always developing new innovative products and 2024 will be no different with a new extension to the range set
to hit shelves and online in 2024 which is sure to be a big hit among a whole new audience demographic.

Find Alpro online or in the nearest supermarket including Dunnes Stores, Tesco and SuperValu.

Stock up on lunchbox fillers ahead of the back to school rush

Kilmeaden Cheddar Snack Bars are the perfect solution for lunchboxes – naturally high in protein, filling and satisfying, with no sugar.

Made with just one natural ingredient – cheese – these snack bars are high in calcium (perfect for growing bones) while containing no additives or preservatives. Each snack bar is also high in protein – something that tops many consumers’ nutrient list, especially when it comes to snacking. It helps to satisfy those
cravings with only 78 calories per bar.

These bars were designed to help Irish consumers make healthier snacking choices.

Kilmeaden snack bars are available in individual 20g bars or five x 20g multipacks, ideal for lunchboxes.

Kilmeaden has been crating high quality mature cheddar for over 50 years and is today available in a number of formats including block cheddar, grated and sliced. Kilmeaden is the No.1 branded cheese block in Ireland.*

*(Source AC Nielsen Scantrack 52 w/e 16 June 2024).

White’s Oats lunch box fillers

For many young ones, snacks aren’t just an afterthought but are the main event and with snacks accounting for around 25% of its calories, it’s important to focus on healthy and nutritious treats.

These fun, delicious and healthy back to school lunch box fillers from White’s Oats, Ireland’s leading producer of oat-based cereals, will keep little ones fuller for longer.

Packed full of vitamins and nutrients so their hearts, minds and bodies get the goodness they need to keep them fuelled all day long, oats are a tasty, healthy, versatile and inexpensive cupboard staple. From delicious flapjacks to moreish muffins, its nutritious oat snacks are so quick and easy that even the youngest members of the family can help make them: For more inspiration visit here.

Raspberry ruffle energy balls

45 mins cook time. Makes 10.

Ingredients
• 150g frozen raspberries
• 70g pitted medjool dates (about 10 dates)
• 50g dessicated coconut
• 50g White’s organic Oat Flakes
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 30g 70-85% cocoa chocolate
• pinch of sea salt

Method

1. Melt the dark chocolate in a glass bowl over another bowl of hot water from your kettle.
2. Combine the raspberries, dates, coconut, oats, sea salt and vanilla in your food processor and blitz until well mixed.
3. With wet hands, divide the mixture into 10-12 portions and roll into balls.
4. Drizzle the dark chocolate over the top and pop into the fridge for 20-30 minutes to set a little.
5. These energy balls will keep for a week or so in your fridge.

Actimel – supports your immune system

All day, every day, your immune system is working hard to keep you healthy. And when you take good care of it, it takes good care of you.

Actimel’s scientists are its in-house experts and have been working for over 20 years to develop its unique cultures. Every shot of Actimel is bursting with 10 billions L. casei cultures and contain vitamins D and B6 which help support your immune system. Actimel shot contains 33% of your daily Reference Intake (RI) for Vitamin D and 15% of your daily Reference Intake (RI) for Vitamin B6.

Actimel supports your immune system and has a wide variety of delicious flavours including Strawberry, Multifruit or Raspberry (also available in 0% added sugar & fat) or the latest innovation Actimel Plus in Mango & Tumeric containing 100% of your recommended intake of Vitamin D in one shot.

The range can be found in a selection of pack sizes to suit the whole family.

*Actimel contains Vitamins D and B6 to help support the normal function of the immune system.
**Vitamin B6 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. ∆RI: Reference intake of an average adult (8400 KJ/2000 Kcal) (as per Food Information Regulations). Enjoy as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle.

Green Farm – naturally high in protein

Green Farm provides a range of tasty, cooked chicken and turkey products that are naturally high in protein, providing a nourishing addition to any sandwich, salad, stir fry or snack.

The Green Farm range comes in a variety of convenient formats. From slices and pieces to cooked fillets, there is a product to suit any meal!

The latest development in the Green Farm brand is the recent launch of its Chicken Bites range, consumers perfect solution to snacking on the go! Each pack contains 100% natural ingredients, is packed with 20g of protein and contains a skewer to allow consumers to power up their protein on any occasion.

Brady Family keeps meals interesting

Going back to school is a busy time for families. Brady Family offers an assortment of proteins and formats to keep meals interesting, while making the hustle and bustle
of everyday life a little bit easier.

Keep it traditional with its succulent slices of Brady Family Carvery Ham. It’s carvery range is made from the fi nest Bord Bia approved pork topside. It’s Just Add range is the perfect dinner time ingredient – this shredded ham is an excellent accompaniment for consumers favourite pasta, pizza, or salad dishes. It’s

Brady Family at the Delicatessen range offers delicatessen-quality ham, chicken and turkey readily carved for consumers to simply grab and-go. The Master Butcher Edition is a unique collection of dry aged hams to add to consumers charcuterie boards when they are hosting or winding down in the evening.

Brady Family’s at the Delicatessen range offers consumers delicatessen quality ham and poultry in a convenient pre-wrapped format making it ideal for lunches during the busy school period. It’s ham is cured for three days using 100% Bord Bia Irish approved pork, and previously under the Homebird brand, it’s Irish
raised Chicken and Turkey is produced to the same multi award-winning recipe as Homebird.

Dipped with deliciousness

Nature Valley™, one of Ireland’s most loved snack brands, helps families across Ireland ‘Get Equipped for Life’ with its wide range of snacking solutions. Nature Valley™ Crunchy Dipped snack bars are a must-have for
the school lunchbox this year.

These individually wrapped snacks offer an irresistible crunch with the delicious taste of whole grain oats and dipped in a smooth delicious coating of chocolate or the brand-new salted caramel flavour. Available in multipacks with eight packs of two 20g bars in both chocolate and salted caramel flavours, they are an excellent and convenient treat for everyone in the family.

Made with whole grain oats with no artificial flavours or colours, each individually wrapped pack contains less than 95 calories. Nature Valley™ Crunchy Dipped are available in supermarkets across Ireland. Check out the full range of Nature Valley products in store.

Reach Stationery – a one-stop shop for all stationery requirements

Reach Stationery is one of Ireland’s leading stationery wholesalers, supplying an extensive range of products to retailers throughout the country. Along with the very popular Supreme Stationery brand, which is owned by Reach, the company also distributes a full range of other leading brands including Staedtler, Bic, Crayola, Stabilo, Sharpie, Pukka, Aisling, Casio and more.

Reach Stationery has a reputation for excellent customer service and its nationwide team of sales executives are always available to call in to discuss retailer requirements and to advise on how best to prepare for the busy back-to-school period. Its next-day delivery service is a huge advantage for any retailer who finds themselves out of stock of essential lines, while Reach Stationery also offers the customer the option of placing advance orders for delivery at a later date.

Reach Stationery is truly a one-stop shop for all stationery requirements, from school to home and office. Their schools range includes all essential classroom resources such as wall charts, notice boards, reward stickers, dictionaries and a selection of novels for Leaving Cert and Junior Cert syllabus.

The company also carries an impressive range of school bags, lunch ware, partyware, hygiene products and till & visa rolls.

To contact Reach Stationery visit: www.reachstationery.ie. Call: 023-888 0414 or email: custservices@reachgroup.ie.

Solv-X allows convenience retailers to be highly competitive

Solv-X o er convenience retailers a combination of over 100 quality own-brand products plus brands such as BIC, Papermate, Loctite, Sellotape and Helix to maximise retailer sales and profitability.

With own brand sales growing strongly in all categories, the Solv-X brand range allows convenience retailers to be highly competitive on quality and value with specialist stationery suppliers and discounters. Stationery was at the forefront in the growth of convenience non food sales, with the new range of post and pack continuing to benefit from the growth in online home trading. Similarly, arts and crafts continue to warrant extra space in stationery
planograms.

Solv-X have a suite of planogram options, from their 0.46M display up to their largest 3M display. Smaller convenience stores are increasingly allocating a designated space for stationery as an everyday category that can gain strong impulse sales. The full range of Solv-X stationery can be ordered via your local area manager, online at www.solv-x.com or phone 042 9377055.

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Back to school lunch box and school bag essentials