Glad tidings we bring!
From stocking up the fridge with enough food to feed a small army to decorations, festive treats and whatever you’re having yourself, Christmas is a busy time for any retailer. Ensure you don’t miss out on sales by carrying the top sellers your customers will be on the lookout for in the coming weeks
Print2 December 2015
Posting positive results!
The Christmas Stamp Booklet delivers value for your customers as one free stamp is included with every booklet purchased
Christmas is an ideal time to choose PostPoint as your preferred electronic services supplier. Retailers who join PostPoint this month can offer their customers festive favourites such as One4all Gift Cards and the Christmas Stamp Booklet.
Both of these are popular products which are well established in the Irish marketplace, giving PostPoint retailers a competitive advantage when trying to attract customers into their stores this Christmas season.
The Christmas Stamp Booklet is great value for your customers as one free stamp is included with every booklet purchased. Each booklet retails at €17.50, meaning your customers receive 26 stamps for the price of 25.
The One4all Gift Card is accepted in over 6,000 retail outlets nationwide
The One4all Gift Card is Ireland’s leading multi-store gift card and is exclusively sold through post offices and PostPoint outlets. The One4all Gift Card makes the perfect gift for any occasion as it is accepted in over 6,000 retail outlets nationwide.
PostPoint retailers can order stamps and One4all conveniently and quickly through the PostPoint helpdesk on 1890 20 42 20, and all orders are delivered free of charge straight to the retailer’s door.
The One4all Gift Card is exclusively sold through post offices and PostPoint outlets
PostPoint retailers process over 18 million transactions every year, including essential footfall driving services such as mobile phone top up, bill payment, waste management, tolling, parking and international calling cards. Additions to the BillPay suite this year included Irish Water as well as pre-paid electricity for Airtricity and Energia.
PostPoint supplies electronic services to almost 2,000 retailers in every town and village across Ireland. By joining PostPoint retailers enjoy the support of a dedicated customer services team as well as an award-winning sales support team on the road.
PostPoint works with all major retail brands including Spar, Centra, SuperValu, Tesco, Gala, Mace, Londis, Costcutter, Daybreak, Topaz and Applegreen.
If you would like to find out more about joining PostPoint, call the company on 1890 20 42 20.
It’s the cream that makes Christmas!
Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream is ideal for Christmas pudding, mince pies and all your favourite Christmas treats
A must for everyone’s shopping list this and every Christmas is Avonmore Cream. Ireland’s favourite cream has a wide range of creams to suit every occasion over the festive season including Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream, which is already whipped for added convenience, tasty Avonmore Sour Cream for party dips and appetisers, indulgent Double Cream for cakes, sauces or soups and Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream, a luxuriously thick cream, perfect for Christmas pudding, mince pies and all your favourite Christmas treats.
Already whipped and ready to serve, Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream is the perfect accompaniment to Christmas puddings, mince pies, Irish coffees and Christmas desserts. Research carried out by Avonmore shows that Avonmore Whipped Cream is particularly popular at Christmas due to its added convenience and 25% ofconsumers will purchase Avonmore Whipped Cream for Christmas desserts in addition to their regular cream.
Also very popular at Christmas, luxuriously thick Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream is perfect for pouring directly over festive desserts. The smooth, thick consistency is the perfect accompaniment to mince pies, Christmas pudding, trifle and all your favourite Christmas treats. Avonmore Fresh Dessert Cream is an extra thick cream and requires no additional whipping providing consumers with added convenience during the busy festive occasion and is available in both a 250ml and 500ml re–sealable bottle.
Back by popular demand with a fresh new look Baileys Whipped Cream in a 585ml pot combines the unique and great taste of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liquer and Avonmore Freshly Whipped Cream. Luxurious and delicious on top of a chocolate cake, in a latte, or with any dessert of your choice. Two great Irish products – one unforgettable taste.
Avonmore is the cream market leader with 57% branded cream share (Source: MAT August 2015). With such a wide range of cream products, Avonmore has a cream to suit every consumption occasion throughout this festive season and is a must stock item in stores. Avonmore Cream will have a heavyweight support plan in place comprising of radio and TV support, in-store sampling and activation, digital and PR support.
Making Christmas sales taste better
The Grand Ferrero Rocher 240g (RSP: €11.99) will help retailers to capitalise on the growing trend of premium gifting
“Christmas is a vitally important for retailers with the period between October and December representing 27% of the sales of chocolate confectionery*. As the fastest growing company in chocolate confectionery*, we’ll be ramping up our Christmas offering this year with a raft of new seasonal products and a €850,000 marketing investment across our Pralines portfolio,” says Levi Boorer, customer development director, Ferrero UK and Ireland.
Kinder Joy 20g (RSP: €1.29) will be returning by popular demand as a winter limited edition, sporting Christmas inspired packaging. The product has crispy cocoa wafer balls in a tasty milky and cocoa cream on one side, served with a spoon, and a fun toy on the other side. To highlight the uniqueness of the product, the brand will be investing in eye-catching out of home and shopper media support.
Boorer continues: “Kinder Kids is now worth €9.2m and represents 20% share of the confectionery market in Ireland**, so we take new product development (NPD) that is based on consumer insight very seriously. Kinder Joy was a resounding success when it launched as a limited edition earlier this year, experiencing as much as +79% incremental sales for retailers and 40% of Kinder Joy consumers were new to the Kinder brand***. We’re really excited to reintroduce Kinder Joy as a Christmas exclusive. The Christmas self-eat segment will be key to drive impulse sales this year due to an even shorter trading period. Unique and successful NPD, like Kinder Joy, will be essential to generate growth for retailers.”
This Christmas will also see the introduction of a T48 Kinder Surprise winter pack (RSP: £0.86), exclusively for the convenience channel in Northern Ireland, to deliver stand-out and seasonal relevance on shelf. Retailers are urged to get behind the seasonal exclusive with its attractive countertop unit from the game-changing brand.
Kinder Chocolate Happy 102g (RSP: €3.02) will also join the seasonal line-up as a special sharing option this Christmas; a sharing bag of 12 individually foil wrapped Kinder Chocolates in seasonal shapes.
After the success of the Grand Ferrero Rocher 125g during Christmas 2014, a new and grander Grand Ferrero Rocher 240g (RSP: €11.99) will be available this Christmas, taking the figures and shapes category to another level and helping retailers capitalise on the growing trend of premium gifting.
“To ensure Ferrero Rocher, Ferrero Collection and Raffaello are completely unmissable this year in the lead up to Christmas we’ll be launching three multi-platform campaigns for the brands, worth a combined investment of circa €850,000 in media. We’ll also introduce a new design on pack for both Rocher and Raffaello.
“Kicking off from the start of November, we’ll be ramping up the support for Raffaello with a fully integrated campaign worth €550,000 just in traditional media. The activity will include a brand new TV advert, video on demand, digital, print, extensive in-store media, nationwide sampling and experiential stunts. Ferrero Rocher will also be live on TV with the same loved creative from last year, with additional support including video on demand.
“With Ferrero Collection also receiving TV and video on demand support, our full core Pralines portfolio will feature on air from the start of November through to the end of the year, achieving a total of 29% SOV with our key three brands,” concludes Boorer.
To put Ferrero’s success last year into context, Ferrero Rocher T24 is the sixth biggest SKU in the category, growing all-year-round as the ideal special gifting option****. Ferrero Collection also experienced a phenomenal Christmas with +231% MAT growth and 41.9% during December****.
**(Source: Nielsen, Kids Confectionery AYR & seasonal, MAT 12.07.15)
***(Source: Retailer insight, 52 w/e 05.04.15)
****(Source: Nielsen ROI – Value Sales MAT w/e 12.07.2015)
Going coconuts for quality
Raffaello has the highest repeat rate of purchase within the praline portfolio
Ferrero is launching the biggest ever marketing campaign for its Raffaello brand in the lead-up to Christmas, worth €550,000 to drive consumer awareness and tap into the full sales potential for the top quality coconut praline. The heavyweight activity kicked off this month and includes a brand new TV advert, video on demand, digital, sampling, print advertising, in-store activation and a new design on pack.
Alongside the marketing campaign, the brand is also reintroducing its seasonal products to leverage the opportunity at Christmas, including a Raffaello Mini Cube (RRP €3.66) containing seven individually wrapped Raffaello chocolates and a Raffaello Star Tree Decoration (RRP €2.40) with four individually wrapped Raffaello pralines which is sure to attract shoppers on the lookout for new and unique gifting solutions.
Levi Boorer, customer development director, Ferrero UK and Ireland, comments: “Raffaello delivers a fresh, special and unique praline experience that no other brand can offer in the market. A praline that is as delicate and high quality as you would expect from Ferrero products, yet delivering an experience that requires no special occasion or time. It has huge potential, with the highest repeat rate within the pralines portfolio, which shows that once shoppers try it, they love the product. This is why we are looking to raise awareness levels and drive trial of the brand with our significant marketing investment.
“Raffaello was launched in 2006 and we feel the time is right to really accelerate the size of the brand, particularly as it not only lends itself perfectly to occasions such as Christmas with our seasonal SKUs, but the core range can also be given as a gift all year round, offering the ideal premium sales opportunity for retailers.”
To drive trial of the brand and showcase its delicious and unique taste, sampling will form a key element of the campaign including in-store activity, sampling squads in town centres nationwide and a large scale experiential sampling stunt. This will be supported with a complete shopper marketing plan including a full suite of eye-catching POS in the lead up to Christmas and throughout 2016, in order to drive year-round sales for retailers.
Ferrero began building distribution of Raffaello from September, with the marketing campaign kicking off this month to ensure that the product is available when consumers are actively looking for it in-store. The core all year round SKUs for Raffaello include T24, T15 and T3 with respective RRPs of €9.75, €6.29 and €1.25.
It’s all gravy!
Bisto is a family favourite in Ireland with 61% share of total gravy sales. Bisto Gravy delivers a classic taste time and again, with its smooth texture and rich flavour. The range is made up of three formats; Bisto Best, Bisto Granules and Bisto Powder, so there is sure to be a format to suit all meal occasions.
Bisto Gravy Granules Beef is the number one gravy SKU in Ireland, The Best range contains real meat juices and the Powder range is ideal for traditional gravy lovers. Perfect for the Christmas roast, the brand is advising consumers to make sure to have this Christmas essential in their cupboard this Christmas.
(Source: Nielsen Total Scantrack Mat w/e 4 Oct 2015)
Baking up a Christmas treat
Farmbake offers a tempting Christmas range
Farmbake, the Irish owned and family run cake business, has expanded its seasonal range of Christmas cakes and treats that will be at the top of your customers’ Christmas wish-lists this December.
The selection of ten festive favourites, which include Luxury Christmas Slices, Mince Pies and a traditional Christmas Pudding, are perfect winter warmers that the whole family can enjoy. They are also an ideal treat to leave beside the fireplace for Santa on Christmas Eve.
New products for Christmas 2015 include;
- Farmbake Mince Rounds, six mince lattice cakes
- Farmbake Christmas Stars, two crumbly shortcrust pastries filled with a rich mincemeat of vine and citrus fruits
So, whether it’s a hot cup of tea with the family or a glass of mulled wine with friends, the Farmbake Christmas range of cakes are treats are an ideal accompaniment for cold and frosty winter evenings by the fire.
The Farmbake Christmas range consists of:
- Farmbake Luxury Mince Pies – €2.49
- Farmbake Luxury Christmas Slices – €2.99
- Farmbake Christmas Pudding 1lb – €4.99
- Farmbake Christmas Iced Cake 600g- €5.99
- Farmbake Christmas Fruit Cake 840g- €5.99
- Farmbake Christmas Oxford Lunch 860g – €5.99
- Farmbake Whiskey Cake 500g – €3.99
- Farmbake Oxford Lunch 1.3kg – €9.99
- Farmbake Fruit Cake 1.3kg – €9.99
- New Farmbake Mince Rounds 300g – €2.00
- New Farmbake Christmas Stars – €2.49
Farmbake is managed by father and son team, Jim and Alan Divney, who both understand the importance of spending time with the family, especially over the busy Christmas period, and they have handpicked the Farmbake Christmas range to make life easier for consumers this Christmas.
The Farmbake range, which consists of 40 cake and treat options, is available in approximately 2,500 stores nationwide, including leading retailers such as Spar, Mace, Daybreak, Tesco, Londis, Applegreen, Gala and Costcutter.
For more information, visit www.farmbake.ie or find Farmbake Ireland on Facebook for some opportunities to win great prizes in the run up to the festive season.
Gourmet choice
Kettle Chips are the original hand-cooked, gourmet potato chip. Every bag of Kettle Chips is hand-cooked, using the best potatoes to create a naturally crunchy and tasty chip.
The potatoes used are specially grown for their size and bold flavour giving the crisps their distinctive crunch and taste. The best of these potatoes are then thickly sliced directly into pure sunflower oil that enhances the flavour of the potatoes. The crisps are then carefully stirred by hand, a batch at a time, until they are cooked to golden perfection. Kettle Chips are seasoned with 100% natural ingredients – no preservatives, additives, artificial flavourings or colouring.
Kettle Chips are distributed by Stafford Lynch Ltd. and are available in both 40g and 150g bags.
The ranges of flavours include – Lightly Salted, Sweet Chilli with Sour Cream, Balsamic Vinegar & Sea Salt, Sour Cream & Sweet Onion and Sea Salt with Crushed Black Peppercorns.
Kettle Chips are ideal for those who appreciate healthier, natural products but without sacrificing quality and taste.
Go nuts this Christmas!
The nuts category is in growth (Source: +1.1% value, +2.9% Kg Nielsen MAT J/A 2015). KP Nuts is Ireland’s number one nut brand (Source: Kg share Nielsen MAT J/A 2015) 25% of the total volume (KG) sales of nuts are in the last two months of the year. As Christmas approaches there is increased opportunity for sharing occasion based consumption. Retailers are advised to stock up on larger bags as well as flavoured nuts.
At Christmas, shoppers trade up into brands. Whilst KP Nuts’ core packs are the 300g Salted and Dry Roasted Peanuts, to maximise on this seasonal opportunity, the brand has Christmas livery on 500g Salted And Dry Roasted nuts along with a more niche range of Christmas nuts in selected retailers only. Cross merchandising nuts with complimentary categories and incremental display of nuts will help drive sales at this key time of year.
Supporting an important cause
O’Donnells, Ireland’s number one hand-cooked and gluten free crisps brand is proud to announce its support for Meningitis Research Foundation.
Meningitis is a deadly disease that can strike without warning and is easily mistaken for a milder illness. The risk heightens as winter approaches when people’s immune systems are weakened.
Meningitis Research Foundation is a charity that not only promotes awareness of meningitis but also helps families affected and funds research to prevent death and disability.
O’Donnells is supporting Meningitis Research Foundation this year with a donation and creating awareness by featuring Meningitis Research Foundation’s logo and details on the new seasonal branded packs of O’Donnells crisps. Speaking about the Meningitis Research Foundation, Ed O’Donnell says: “It’s the combination of their services and my own personal experience that make this charity close to my heart.”
Ed O’Donnell contracted bacterial meningitis as a child, and although he recovered well he suffered permanent hearing loss as a result of contracting the disease. He has total hearing loss in one ear and partial loss in the other ear. Ed is one of the lucky ones, as many as one in ten of those people affected will die and one in three survivors will be left with life altering after-effects. Meningitis kills more children in Ireland than any other infectious disease.
Meningitis Research Foundation is warning people to be aware of the signs and symptoms as the diseases can strike anyone at any age and vaccines don’t cover all forms. Anyone who is concerned about the symptoms should contact their Freefone helpline on 1800 41 33 44. Donations can be made online but people can also donate €2 from their mobile phone by texting MENB to 50300.
It’s beginning to look a lot like ‘Blissmas’
Lindt Lindor is the leading premium boxed chocolate brand
As an ideal premium chocolate gift for any occasion, Lindt Lindor caters to all your customers’ needs, making Lindor the leading boxed chocolate this “Blissmas”. Maintaining its position as the number one premium boxed chocolate brand, Lindt Lindor continues to outperform the market and now holds 9.3% market share with +15% year-on-year growth.
Lovingly crafted by the Lindt master chocolatiers, each Lindor Milk truffle is surrounded by a shell of luxurious premium chocolate that once broken, releases an irresistibly smooth melting filling. From the classic Lindor Milk to the irresistible Lindor White, consumers can choose from a wide range of exciting and delectable flavours.
Retailers can expect to see a heavyweight national support plan behind the Lindor brand this Christmas with Lindor TV advertising returning to your screens and a strong push in-store with premium point of sale and display.
Lindt Lindor 200g retails at €6.99 and Lindor 337g retails at €9.99.
*(Source: AC Nielsen 52 weeks to 23 Sept – MAT)
Take a star to dinner this Christmas!
Ireland’s number one selling breadcrumb and stuffing brand, Mr. Crumb, is a must have for your customers this Christmas. Mr. Crumb will be running an extensive consumer marketing campaign this Christmas on national radio and in magazines to support the category.
Hand-made in small batches in Finea, Co. Westmeath, the multi award-winning range includes Sage & Onion 225g, Garlic & Herb 225g, Lemon & Thyme 100g and Apple & Apricot 225g.
Mr. Crumb has also launched Gluten Free Breadcrumb 200g and Gluten Free Sage & Onion Stuffing 200g which have received great feedback. All products are made using natural ingredients and heat in their own tray taking just 2 ½ minutes in the microwave or 15 minutes in the oven.
Mr. Crumb Fresh Breadcrumbs are ideal for the consumer looking to make their own stuffing or Christmas pudding this festive season and come in both 200g and 400g packs.
Mr. Crumb has also secured a contract to produce a new range of 100g Flavoured Butter Logs for a leading multiple in the UK and Ireland. The range includes Garlic & Herb, Red Chilli, Three Peppercorn and Chocolate Chip & Maple Syrup which will be stocked in over 600 stores.
Mr. Crumb branded products are available through Musgrave, Tesco, Dunnes Stores and BWG.
Cake comfort
Cadbury and Mr. Kipling cakes are the number one and number two brands in the ambient packaged cakes category over the key Christmas period. New for 2015 is a range of cakes targeting key seasonal usage occasions. Ideal for gifting, sharing or as an individual treat there is sure to be something in the range for everyone. Your customers might even decide to leave one for Santa!
Giftsets to suit all preferences and budgets
Nivea is the number one female face and body care brand in Ireland* and the world’s number one male skincare brand**.
Nivea is inviting consumers to immerse themselves with Nivea’s Christmas must-haves, showcasing this season’s amazing gifting purchases. Nivea Christmas Giftsets have been available from pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide since October 2015.
Whether your shoppers are in search of that essential stocking filler or fabulous gift bags for a loved one, Nivea has something to suit every need. Consumers can enjoy a variety of products, ranging from caring face creams to nourishing body lotions and shower gels – everything they will need for the perfect gift.
For him
Nivea has 10 different giftsets for men, ranging in prices from a RRP of €6 up to a RRP of €50, so there’s an option to suit every budget and price point. Below are some examples of what’s available.
Nivea Men – Minis For Him (RRP €6)
- Active Clean Mini Shower
- Cool Kick Mini Deo
- Sensitive Mini Shaving Gel
- Sensitive Post Shave Mini Balm
Nivea Men Originals (RRP €14)
- Originals Deep Cleansing Face Wash 100ml
- Originals Shaving Gel 200ml
- Originals Rehydrating Moisturiser 75ml
Nivea Men Sensitive Kit (RRP €30)
- Sensitive Shower Gel 250 ml
- Sensitive Protect Deodorant 150 ml
- Sensitive Shaving Foam
- Sensitive Post Shave Balm 100 ml
- Sensitive Mini Moisturiser 15ml
Nivea Men Ultimate Sports Kit (RRP €50)
- NM Sensitive Cool Balm
- NM Sensitive Shave Gel
- NM 150ml Sport Deo
- NM 150ml Active Fresh Deo
- 500ml Power Refresh Shower
- Men’s Sports Bag
For Her
There is also a wide range of giftsets for women, again ranging in price points from a RRP of €6 up to €50. Below are some examples.
Nivea Minis For Her (RRP €6)
- Fruity Shine Strawberry Lip
- Crème Soft Shower 50ml
- Soft 25ml
- Pearl and Beauty Roll On Mini
Nivea Skin Nourishment (RRP €7.50)
- Rich Nourishing Body Moisturiser 250ml
- Crème smooth shower cream 250ml
- Shower Puff
Nivea Skin Gorgeousness (RRP €12.50)
- Powder Touch Deo Roll On – 50ml
- Water lily & Oil Shower – 250ml
- Soft 200ml
- Shower Puff
- Female Wash bag
Nivea Skin Heaven (RRP €50)
- Diamond Touch Shower Gel 250ml
- Essentials Rich Caring Body Milk 250ml
- Powder Touch Deo Spray 150ml
- Crème Soft Tub 200ml
- Shower Puff
- Vanity Case
New Nivea Christmas Giftsets are stocked by pharmacies and grocery stores nationwide. For more information, visit www.nivea.ie or www.facebook.com/niveaireland.
All I want for Christmas is…..sweets!
Confectionery maker Swizzels has a host of Christmas treats available this festive season that are perfect for a retro themed gift or low cost stocking filler. Love Hearts, Drumsticks and Refreshers are amongst the confectioner’s most popular products and these will be available in festive themed gift tubes available in Dunnes, Tesco, Heatons, Supervalu, Centra and Daybreak.
Simon Demery, Swizzles Ireland, said: “Our Christmas themed gifting tubes make the perfect festive treats and are also the ideal alternative to chocolate treats over the Christmas period.”
Swizzels is the UK’s largest family-owned independent sugar confectionery business. The company makes a range of iconic products including Love Hearts, New Refreshers, Drumstick Lollies, Rainbow Drops, Double Lollies and Fruity Pops. See the full range at www.swizzels.com.
Plan the perfect Christmas with gift packs for him and her
The new Dove DermaSpa giftset is an indulgent present for mum, sister or girlfriend
The beauty of giving is something to cherish during the festive season. Shopping for a partner, loved one or kris kindle is on everyone’s to-do list and, this year, Unilever has something to suit all beauty and grooming needs.
Unilever has a beautiful range of Christmas gift packs suitable for all ages and needs this festive season. Perfect as stocking fillers, these gorgeous and affordable Christmas packs are stocked nationwide by leading retailers. The Unilever Christmas packs feature a range of products from Unilever’s most beloved beauty and grooming brands including Dove, TRESemmé, Toni & Guy, Simple, Radox, Lynx, and Impulse.
The Lynx Black Essential Collection giftset is ideal for the male grooming enthusiast
The new Dove DermaSpa giftset is a beautifully indulgent present for mum, sister or girlfriend and the Lynx Black Essential Collection giftset is perfect for the male grooming enthusiast.
Stocked by leading retailers nationwide and ranging from RRP €24.49 to RRP €8.99, consumers gift some of Ireland’s most treasured beauty products this Christmas with these giftsets.
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