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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced the launch of Monster Energy's latest promotion in partnership with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), to help retailers get in on the action and tap into energy drinkers' thirst for live Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) entertainment. Win a Mega UFC Experience From now until Wednesday 30 April, Monster Energy fans can scan QR codes on in-store POS or visit MonsterEnergy.com to enter for a chance to win a mega UFC experience. One lucky winner will receive two tickets to enjoy an adrenaline-packed evening of ringside action to see their favourite fighters up close and personal. Monster will use its impressive roster of UFC athletes to boost awareness of the promotional activity and Monster's wider UFC sponsorship, which has been running since 2015. UFC is the world's fastest growing sport, renowned for showcasing the best fighters from around the world, broadcast in over 165 countries and viewed by over one billion people globally.

Nescafé has unveiled its latest launch, Nescafé Iced Latte, offering, for the first time ever, ready-to-drink iced coffees in the ambient coffee aisle in a brand-new multi-serve format. Available from March in two flavours, Iced Latte and Iced Caramel Flavour Latte, these indulgent tasting lattes were specifically designed to be enjoyed cold and could not be easier to prepare. Simply shake the carton well to mix, prepare your chosen glass with ice and pour 250ml over it, then sip and enjoy! Each carton contains 3 servings, making it easier than ever to enjoy a delicious and refreshing iced coffee at home, any day of the week. "We are so excited to be introducing the new Nescafé Iced Lattes to coffee lovers in the UK," Ingrid Hayes, marketing director for Nescafé UK and Ireland, said.

Vapes touted as "nicotine free" to UK consumers can have traces or even considerable amount of nicotine, shows a new report as Trading Standards continue to unearth new intelligence around the illegal vapes market. As part of Operation Joseph, a Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) funded initiative tracking the sale of illicit vapes and underage sales, 76 products sold as nicotine free vapes were tested by Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, working together with Trading Standards teams in Salford and Berkshire. More than one in every eight (13.2 per cent) of the products were found to contain nicotine in amounts ranging from 0.06 mg/ml to 27.02 mg/ml - around the amount delivered by a pack of 20 cigarettes. All ten were also found to exceed the limit on the amount of e-liquid permitted in vapes with two found to exceed both the e-liquid and nicotine strength limit. As a result, consumers hoping to buy nicotine free products would have been exposed to nicotine and its addictive effects and in significant quantities with eight of the ten failed samples. Lord Michael Bichard, Chair, National Trading Standards, said, "Nicotine free vapes can be a useful tool to quit smoking and reduce nicotine dependency, but these findings reveal that people can actually continue to be stuck in a cycle of addiction if sold the highly addictive substance unknowingly.

Dole Packaged Foods has appointed of Erik Hamel as Managing Director for Dole Packaged Foods Europe, replacing Isabelle Spindler-Jacobs Isabelle joined Dole in 2019, where she took the lead in relocating the business from Paris to Rotterdam during the challenging time of the Covid pandemic, where she established a fantastic office and team by focusing on diversity and valuing individuals. Under her leadership, Dole Europe has gone from strength to strength through the exploration of new markets and route to market expansions. Delivering category growth in the UK, now with over 40 per cent share of total ambient fruits, and growing ahead of the category Isabelle has overseen the relaunch of Doles Tropical Gold canned pineapple into major mults, along with launch of Dole's 198g Pineapple and Tropical Fruit pots, perfect for a healthy on the go snack, gaining listings in Sainsbury's and a first ever listing for Dole in B&M. Another first for Dole, under Isabelle's leadership is the award-winning Add Some WoW campaign, where we stoked controversy for Dole by adding pineapple to the infamous Full English breakfast through a compelling social media and PR campaign that led to two awards.

When the expats' favourite, British Corner Shop - which made traditional and much-loved Brit skus available abroad - went into administration, gasps were heard around the globe from homesick Brits who were used to rely on this e-commerce platform. For this cousin duo from Newcastle, British Corner Shop's debacle presented a moment to not only turbojet their retail career but also to venture into the promising world of e-commerce. In an exclusive conversation with Asian Trader, Hayer shared insights into how their paths crossed with British Corner Shop and their future plans. "My cousin Amar and I both finished our degrees and started helping in our family-run convenience store in Newcastle. Though we liked working in it, within three to four years, a sense of restlessness started settling in both of us. "It was a decent business, but it wasn't growing fast enough for us. I wanted quick growth and was struggling with several ideas. I initially thought about launching a chain of shops, but it was time-taking and difficult to find good locations, so I started leaning more towards online.

Fish4Ever, a small yet influential tin-to-table voice within sustainable, responsible fishing is proud after many years of polite jockeying to finally add Cornish Sardines to its new look range for 2025. Probably best known for its award-winning, 100 percent pole-and-line tuna, which was once described by Greenpeace as "the best tuna in the world for sustainable and equitable sourcing", Fish4Ever has also secured a distinguished +20-year reputation selling Scottish mackerel and sprats. "As a UK protected, designated origin hero, Cornish sardines are a 'local shores' success story we've been seeking to champion for many years at Fish4Ever, albeit it was imperative we worked with a like-minded, home-grown cannery in keeping with our 'socially positive' priorities," said founder Charles Redfern. "Sardines are not only insanely moreish but a nutritionally-ripped, lean protein superfood jam-packed with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, B12, calcium, selenium and phosphorus."

With the new financial year weeks away, leading gifting and reward experts Love2shop have urged businesses and organisations to shake up their employee benefits packages. The PayPoint-owned business noted that this will meet not only rising business costs including the upcoming National Insurance hike, but the cost of living demands faced by the staff too, as employees want to save money on essential, everyday living costs more than ever. The newly launched Love2shop Perks platform hosts over 150 retailer discounts in one handy place, offering staff discounts of up to 38 per cent which they can take advantage of in seconds. It comes as businesses across the UK face unprecedented financial challenges and look to offer more cost effective ways than ever to support and retain workers.

Cocktail lovers can rejoice this St. Patrick's Day with the release of Kahlúa's "Schneaky" Espresso Martini glass. Disguised to look like a pint of stout, the specially designed, hand-blown glass sneakily conceals an Espresso Martini inside a pint glass. The crafty solution was created following research revealing that cocktail lovers feel "St. Patrick's Day pressure" to drink stout - even if they don't savour its flavour. According to the study, around two in three drinkers (64 per cent) have felt the need to order a "certain stout drink" to fit in and nearly half (42 per cent) fear they might be judged poorly for choosing a cocktail over a pint on St. Patrick's Day. Enter the Schneaky Espresso Martini glass by Kahlúa - a saviour for many cocktail lovers on 16 and 17 March. Kahlúa has enlisted former England rugby star and devout stout drinker James Haskell to raise awareness of the Schneaky Espresso Martini glass - showing that even the most loyal fans of stout can sip undercover.

Warnings have been issued against slush ice drinks by medical researchers, saying that poor transparency around slush ice drink glycerol concentration makes estimating a safe dose tricky. Public health advice on the safe consumption of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks, also known as slushees, may need revising, stated medical researchers after carrying out a detailed review of the medical notes of 21 children who became acutely unwell shortly after drinking one of these products. Brightly coloured slush ice drinks are designed to appeal to children, note the researchers. Slush machines are becoming a common fixture in convenience stores as retailers are increasingly recognising the potential for increased foot traffic and profits. The findings, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, show that in each case the child became acutely unwell with a cluster of symptoms soon after drinking a slush ice drink, which the researchers refer to as glycerol intoxication syndrome.

Delice de France, the UK experts in bread, bakery and food to go, is launching Café Delice, a new coffee-to-go concept where outlets selling 35 cups a day can earn margins of 40 per cent. The move will enable bakery customers of Delice de France to extend their food-to-go offering with quality hot drinks at competitive prices. Café Delice is a monthly rental hot drinks concept, which includes a fully automatic bean-to-cup machine, linked milk cooler, branded housing unit and menu, as well as product and waste storage areas. Full servicing and cleaning packs for the agreement period are provided. It is a modular set up, with floor-standing and counter solutions available to cater for different sized outlets and needs. Café Delice's menu includes coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Cadbury has announced the launch of its latest innovation: Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff, combining the best of smooth, creamy, Cadbury Dairy Milk with the much-loved crunch and unique taste of Lotus Biscoff's biscuits. The partnership between two iconic brands looks to unite their respective classic tastes and textures into one product- proving that both is best. The launch looks to tap into consumer interest in new flavours and textures and drive cross-brand excitement to help drive incremental growth. To support retailers in this launch, the campaign will be boosted by a range of eye-catching co-branded POS materials, showcasing the coming together of Cadbury and Biscoff's branding with the iconic purple synonymous with the Cadbury brand, alongside the bold red Biscoff branding. "We are delighted to be partnering Cadbury Dairy Milk with the much-loved flavours and textures of Lotus Biscoff," said Connor Gould, Brand Manager, Cadbury Dairy Milk. "Combining two delicious favourites is a great way to give consumers the best of both, creating the perfect pairing for them to enjoy the smooth, creaminess of Cadbury Dairy Milk mixed with the classic crunch and unique flavour of Biscoff that consumers love. As a result, the new Cadbury Dairy Milk Biscoff is sure to utilise consumer demand for unique flavours to help drive category growth."

Philip Morris Limited (PML), the affiliate of Philip Morris International (PMI) in the UK and Ireland, is stepping-up its fight against the illicit trade with the appointment of Catherine Goger to the role of Illicit Trade Prevention Manager. In this new role, Catherine is responsible for co-ordinating operations to tackle the sale of illicit products in the UK, continuing the company's working relationships with local authorities and supporting PML's Field Force and retail partners. Since joining PMI in 2022, Catherine has led the Fraud Prevention Team at Philip Morris Japan. Prior to PML, Catherine's career involved fighting money laundering and corruption across Latin America, Asia, and Europe. She also held senior positions at Ernst and Young, HSBC and Prudential. Her background in fighting illegal activity makes her well-equipped to understand how illicit operations impact legitimate retailers' businesses and strategies to overcome them.

As leading retailers become the latest victims of cyber-attacks, leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM UK is advising businesses to review their cyber risk controls to ensure they are as robust as possible. Earlier this month the government launched its National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) Cyber Governance Code of Practice, providing organisations with clear guidance and best practice on managing cyber risks. Jacqui Baker, partner and head of retail at RSM UK, said, "Retailers are already navigating a difficult trading environment shaped by fragile consumer confidence, increases in employment costs and shifting spending habits. "The recent wave of cyber-attacks adds another critical layer of risk, one that can significantly damage consumer trust, disrupt operations, and harm brand reputation overnight.

PWR-BRU, from IRN-BRU, the No. 1 Scottish grocery brand, is introducing its first new flavour innovation since launching in 2023. Dynamo Fruit Punch will be hitting shelves from April 2025 in a 500ml big can format. "PWR-BRU has been packing a powerful flavour punch in the fast growing Scottish energy market since launch," said Kenny Nicholson, Head of IRN-BRU Brand. "The range, with its distinctive can design and real IRN-BRU essence, provides something unique and individual. This latest flavour innovation is arriving with retailers just in time to maximise profit opportunities in the summer sales peak." Scotland's energy drinks market is the nation's fastest growing category, adding the most value for retailers and selling an additional five million units per month during summer. Flavours are still driving these sales, as data shows flavoured SKUs are 60 per cent incremental to the market.

US snack brand Cheetos is gearing up for a major relaunch in the UK this year. With plans to scale the brand to new heights, Cheetos will capture the attention of Gen Z shoppers and please existing lovers of the brand. The relaunch will kick off with the introduction of a brand-new flavour, Fiery Jalapeño and Cheese, which will be available from March 17 in a 105g sharing bag (£2 RRP), and two price marked packs (PMPs) - 70g (£1.49 RRP) and 27g (49p RRP). Cheetos will also be updating its packaging across its existing Twisted Sweet & Spicy range, which is growing +31.1 per cent, bringing a bold, eye-catching design that resonates with Gen Z and emphasises its American heritage. Cheetos is worth $2.9 billion in the US and holds the title of the number one Puffed Snack and number-two Gen Z Snack brand. At a time where Gen Z over-index with loving spice, it is looking to expand its UK fanbase by leveraging its bold American heritage and innovative flavours. The growing popularity of the brand will not only attract new shoppers but also reignite excitement among those familiar with Cheetos from the US, helping to drive footfall and increase basket spend as consumers seek out the iconic US brand in store.

Representatives of UK's convenience sector as well as those of independent retailers have heavily criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for ignoring the pleas of retail in her Spring Statement, thus pushing some local store operators towards closure. Delivering the Spring Statement today (26), Reeves did not budge in reduction in business rate relief, National Insurance hike and in minimum wages. She said she will stick to her cast-iron "fiscal rules" and blames the Liz Truss mini-budget for pushing up borrowing rates and harming "ordinary working people" two years on. The Association of Convenience Stores has responded to the Chancellor's Spring Statement, warning that the impact of the Government's tax increases on retailers is already being felt, with more challenging conditions to come.

A food and drink makers body is calling on the government to work with industry to boost growth and the competitiveness after a recent survey drop in the confidence among the maker as inflationary pressures including energy, labour and raw material costs gain pace. According to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), business confidence plummeted to -47 per cent in the final three months of last year, down from -6 per cent in the previous quarter, as companies in the sector were hit by measures announced in the October budget. The confidence score among the country's 12,500 food and drink businesses has slid to its lowest level since the final quarter of 2022, a time when inflation was surging after Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier in that year.

New rules about how and where foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) can be promoted and displayed in larger shops and online have been passed by the Senedd. The regulations are designed to prevent impulse purchases and over-consumption and expected to help to tackle the growing problem of obesity in Wales. The Food (Promotion and Presentation) (Wales) Regulations 2025, which largely mirror rules already in place in England, will: restrict promotions that can encourage over-consumption, such as multi-buy offers and free refills of sugary drinks restrict the presentation of foods high in fat, sugar and salt products at prime selling locations such as store entrances, checkouts and website homepages

Most shoppers like the use of technology in the stores though frustrations emerge when that tech falls short of expectations, shows a new report, also highlighting retailers' enthusiasm towards adaptation of technology. According to new insights from the Virgin Media O2 Business Movers Index, 77 per cent of Brits use tech to enhance in-person shopping. 42 per cent have adopted new tech in the last year to improve operations, with a third (30 per cent) aiming to boost sales and customer connections. One in three Brits (34 per cent) have spent more time in stores or returned due to enjoyable or useful technology, rising to 57 per cent of 25-to-34 year olds.