Ritter Sport delivers Tesco initiative, amid brand’s key UK retail expansion
Ritter Sport's pistachio bar has been a big success, as it launches major Tesco initiative. Pic: Ritter
Premium chocolate brand Ritter Sport has marked its debut digital in-store activation across Tesco stores nationwide, which comes amid a period of significant expansion in the UK for the German-founded business, writes Neill Barston.
The business has been founded on delivering strong ethical standards, having just been named in the sixth annual chocolate scorecard as among the most transparent operators within the wider industry.
As the company explained, its latest promotion supports an ongoing Tesco Clubcard promotion across Ritter Sport’s full UK range, including its top-performing Pistachio variant. This off-feature display is secondary to the main fixture, showcasing six key SKUs, spanning core variety promotions and dedicated nut-focused offerings.
Among the highlighted flavours are Marzipan, Milk Whole and Dark Whole Hazelnut, and Rum Raisin, alongside the fast-growing Pistachio bar, which has seen remarkable success since landing in Tesco. It became the 14th top-performing SKU in its category within just two weeks.
As the company enthused, its Pistachio bar in particular has recorded particular success, with the 100g block reportedly dominating the nut category and outperforming expectations in grocery multiples. The luxury line, which was introduced last September, has become Ritter Sport’s fastest-ever selling SKU in the UK, with a staggering 136,000 units sold to date. Its performance in Tesco, which launched the block in March 2025, has been particularly impressive, breaking into the top 15 SKUs in the category within its first two weeks. Across total grocery multiples, the product has been rated in the top 20% of SKUs in the category.
In true Ritter style, the pistachio block takes an innovative approach to the Dubai chocolate trend, with golden roasted, perfectly salted pistachios wrapped in smooth milk chocolate for pure indulgence. Benedict Daniels, Managing Director of Ritter Sport UK, commented: “The chocolate category in the UK thrives on innovation, and Ritter Sport has always been at the forefront of pioneering new flavour experiences. Our Pistachio 100g block is a testament to our ability to identify and capitalise on key consumer trends. The phenomenal success of this SKU highlights the strong demand for high-quality, nut-infused chocolate, and we’re excited about the opportunities this presents for the brand in 2025 and beyond.”
Speaking on its Tesco initiative, he added: “This is another milestone moment for Ritter Sport in the UK. Our first nationwide in-store activation with Tesco allows us to better engage with shoppers at the point of purchase, and we’re eager to analyse the impact to inform future retail strategies. With Dunnhumby data showing that 67% of our sales are incremental to the category*, we’re excited to introduce even more consumers to the square and watch their love affair begin.”
