Moving on up

Pierre’s new addition to its chicken range, the Snak Stik, is a fun and tasty lunch or snack option

Manufacturers are creating new options to keep consumers interested, meaning on-the-move snacks are only moving in one direction; that's up.

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Brand Central

At a glance: FOOD-TO-GO

• Pierre’s is the market leader within the food-to-go category
• Pierre’s recently added the Snak Stik to its chicken range
• Kerryfresh introduced several new products in 2009, including Cajun Chicken Pieces, Battered Chicken Bites, Cooked Cumberland Jumbo Sausages, Traditional Oxtail Soup and Ballyfree Carvery Stuffed T u rkey.
• Kepak Convenience Foods (KCF) will sample tens of thousands of consumers in Dublin and Cork for their views on UGO’s Deli Café, Ireland’s best-selling hot snacking panini range
• In Ireland, people eat more breakfast cereal than any other country in the world, 8kg per head annually, and 2kg more than the UK, the world’s next biggest cereal eaters
• Kellogg’s Consumption Survey 2008 shows one in four Irish people admit that they don’t have time for breakfast, even though the majority recognise it helps achieve a healthy balanced diet.

According to market analyst Mintel, attitudes towards eating in the street have relaxed considerably. This has created significant growth in the number of adults snacking on the go at least once a day. Travel and a lack of time are the prime reasons, although one in seven adults says they do so due to work commitments. A similar proportion is seeking relief from boredom, rising to a quarter of 15 to 24-year-olds.

Meanwhile, manufacturers have responded to the trend towards healthier eating by reformulating products to reduce sugar, salt and fat, as well as introducing new lines, many of which contain ingredients such as dried fruit and nuts.
In 2007, Mintel reported that in terms of performance, traditional plain products such as crackers, crispbreads and oatcakes were stagnating, while growth was concentrated in savoury, mini, snacking and ‘healthy’ segments. Consumption patterns were also said to be shifting in favour of snacking, dipping and lunch boxes.

Research by Kellogg’s has also found people in Ireland eat more breakfast cereal than any other country in the world; 8kg per head annually, and 2kg more than the UK, the world’s next biggest cereal eaters. However in a 2008 survey the brand found only one in four people have time to eat breakfast at home. Kellogg’s therefore believes new product innovation, its cereal-to-go range in portable cups, will drive sales. 

Certainly, busy consumer lifestyles in recent years have led to the widespread growth of ‘dashboard dining’. Freshly prepared, hot and cold food-to-go options are increasingly popular with customers who want a nutritious lunch in a hurry. Studies have shown that the average office worker now has a lunch break which lasts only 22 minutes. Customers are also demanding a wide range of options to stop them becoming bored with the same choice everyday.

It is also worth bearing in mind that merchandising plays a central role in developing on-the-go sa les, since many on-the-go snackers are, by definition, short of time and will only make their selection from the choice immediately available to them.

Pierre’s is a market leader with a food-to-go range including sausage rolls, Jambon, Hot Dog Lattice and the new Snak Stik

Grab it, bite it, share it

The Pierre’s chicken range offers a wide variety of options, including the Spicy Chicken Goujon Wrap, the Original Chicken Fillet Baguette, the Roast Chicken Kebab, Flame Grilled Chicken Wings and a Southern Fried Drumstick.

Pierre’s has now introduced a new addition to its chicken line, the Chicken Snak Stik; a unique breaded chicken kebab. Generous chunks of whole chicken fillet, covered in a golden breadcrumb, make this newcomer a fun and tasty lunch or snack option.

Pierre’s is constantly looking for new opportunities, to provide a range of best in class snacking and meal solutions that include something for everyone.

What’s more, in the overall food-to-go sector, Pierre’s is a market leader, offering an extensive range of convenient hot food products. Pierre’s continuously strives to produce fresh thinking meal solutions, exotic new flavours and unique product ranges, with full marketing support to drive sales in hot deli counters.

Its range encompasses a number of ‘snacking on the go’ products such as sausage rolls, Jambons, Hot Dog Lattice and more recently, the new Snak Stik. Pierre’s believes its range is ”ideal for the progressive retailer committed to satisfying today’s busy consumer.” For more information on the Pierre’s range, contact your local Cuisine de France category specialist. And look out for Pierre’s new Jumbo Sausage Roll and Twister Fries, coming soon to the category.

Ballyfree Carvery Stuffed Turkey is a recent addition to Kerryfresh’s super-premium Carvery Meats range

Freshening up foodservice

Kerryfresh is one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of quality foodservice ingredients and food-to-go concepts for delicatessens, sandwich bars, coffee shops and workplace caterers. The company continues to work closely with customers to develop its food-to-go offering; to ensure it’s suitable for both current and target customers. New products and ideas keep customers interested and so far 2009 has welcomed the launch of Cajun Chicken Pieces, Battered Chicken Bites, Cooked Cumberland Jumbo Sausages, Traditional Oxtail Soup and Ballyfree Carvery Stuffed Turkey.

An addition to the super-premium Carvery Meats range, Ballyfree Carvery Stuffed Turkey can be used in hot or cold sandwiches, for take home purchases or cut into thick slices for hot meals to go.

This summer also sees the launch of new Kerryfresh pasta products, summer salads, prepared meals and cooked meats. For more information about Kerryfresh and on how it can help you grow your business, contact LoCall 1890 560 960 or visit www.kerryfresh.ie.

Deli to desk

Kepak Convenience Foods (KCF) is launching a major sampling campaign for UGO’s Deli Café, Ireland’s best-selling hot snacking panini range. The campaign headlined ‘Deli For Your Desk’, will focus on Dublin and Cork, sampling tens of thousands of consumers.

The sampling activity will be complemented by radio promotions, giving listeners the chance to win a free lunch for the office. A viral marketing campaign will also target media and consumers in all the sampling locations, with PR activity focusing on women’s interest titles.

“This is a high impact, highly targeted campaign that will introduce new consumers to the hot snacking category. We will be focusing on product quality and great taste delivery, positioning UGO’s Deli Café as ideal for busy consumers who want a hot lunchtime snack that can be prepared in minutes,” said Kepak Convenience Foods’ marketing manager, Mike Lorimer. 

UGO’s Deli Café was launched in autumn 2007 and was boosted recently by the introduction of a third variant, Four Cheese and Sweet Red Onion Chutney, which is sui table for vegetarians.

Kellogg’s cereal-to-go range offers the recognisable Kellogg brand portfolio in a convenient on-the-move cup

A mobile wake-up call

Here in Ireland, people eat more breakfast cereal than any other country in the world; at 8kg per head annually, that’s 2kg more than the UK, the world’s next biggest cereal eaters. However, despite a love of cereals, Irish people are regularly missing breakfast; the most important meal of the day. According to recent research conducted by Kellogg’s (Kellogg’s Consumption Survey, 2008), one in four Irish people admit that they simply don’t have time for breakfast, even though the majority recognise the vital role that it plays in helping achieve a healthy balanced diet.

Breakfast is at the heart of what Kellogg’s does and the brand claims: “With our unrivalled market share, there is no doubt about the popularity of our brands with Irish consumers.” Kellogg’s cereal-to-go range represents a unique opportunity for businesses that cater for out of home food needs, offering the recognisable Kellogg brand portfolio in the portable convenience of an on-the-go cup.

Available in five of the most popular varieties; Kellogg’s Special K, Kellogg’s Special K Red Berries, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Kellogg’s Crunchy Nut and Kellogg’s Coco Pops, Kellogg’s cereal-to-go pots offer a convenient on the go solution to those who don’t have time to breakfast at home in the mornings.

With a comprehensive range of innovative POS support, Kellogg’s says it can help retailers maximise stand-out and use of space in-store. The company believes moreover that this is one consumer trend retailers cannot afford to lose out on.

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