Ferrero unveils latest line-up of festive treats aiming to shine this Christmas
As the crucial Christmas retailing season begins, the Ferrero group has expanded its series of new products across its core chocolate confectionery brands, including refreshed novelty figures and advent calendars, writes Neill Barston.
The company noted that festive confectionery experienced value sales of £737m last year according to Nielsen studies, which was a slight decrease from the previous year as a result of the pandemic. However the gifting occasion specifically saw increased growth.
This was likely down to loved ones being unable to see each other and turning to gifting instead. This year, with restrictions hopefully eased, Christmas celebrations should be able to return and support in driving the seasonal confectionery category as a whole.
Levi Boorer, Customer Development Director at Ferrero, comments: “We are all hoping to be able to enjoy a Christmas with our loved ones this year. With the easing of restrictions many of us are eager to celebrate by getting together and this is a promising time for retailers too. We have developed our seasonal range across Kinder, Ferrero Rocher and Thorntons to provide both individual treats and sharing formats to meet shopper demand for all occasions. Although our core range may be available all year round, our Ferrero Rocher and Thorntons range make great gifts during seasonal occasions. We’ve also recently rolled out our new Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Bars and Thorntons Pearls, which will give shoppers even more choice within the premium chocolate segment when it comes to me-time moments and sharing with friends and family.
This year, Ferrero is expanding its Grand Rocher range with Grand Rocher Dark 125g – available in grocery and convenience. Featuring a thick, hollow dark chocolate shell with hazelnut pieces, the product will have an RRP of £5.00. Capitalising on the much-loved brand, the large format is ideal for gifting and sharing, with the launch supported by POS and digital assets.
Christmas is a golden opportunity for boxed chocolate and Ferrero Rocher. Last year the pralines segment saw strong Christmas performance with significant growth coming from the Rocher brand. The Ferrero Rocher 300g is the perfect gift. Having had huge success last Christmas, the product is the number one in classic boxed chocolate1 with growth of +31% and adding +£5m to the range. Christmas is a key time of the year for socialising with family and friends and a box of chocolates from a trusted and iconic brand is the perfect way to mark the occasion.
The Thorntons moulded figures range will be relaunched for Christmas 2021, with a new Cheeky Reindeer and Cheeky Elf 90g. The figures will liven up the popular Christmas stocking occasion and provide a premium treat for families.
Last year, the Thorntons brand saw great success as gifting occasions were popular in the absence of being able to see loved ones; during 2020, the Thorntons Continental range generated a sales value of £14m, whilst the Thorntons Classics range is currently in growth of +21%, worth £27.8m in value sales. This positive performance showcases a key opportunity for a strong core boxed range all year round, as well as at Christmas, without requiring retailers to create extra space on shelf or run the risk of having residual seasonal specific products left that may lose relevance after the occasion.
Advent calendars have long been a popular festive tradition among shoppers, particularly in recent years. To support retailers in offering shoppers more choice and driving excitement in the lead up to Christmas day, Ferrero is launching a 167g Kinder Bueno Advent Calendar, including 8x classic, 7x white, 7x dark mini Kinder Buenos with door 24 hiding a full classic Kinder Bueno. With an RRP of £7, the advent calendar will increase relevance of the Kinder brand during this peak season for chocolate confectionery.
