AS consumers seek to recreate coffee-shop experiences at home, the demand for luxury coffee and hot chocolate products continues to grow, says Kenco and Cadbury brand owner Mondelez International.
Quoting Nielsen research, it says the total UK coffee market is worth £984.7m, while the hot chocolate market is worth almost £137m.
“Independent retailers should look to take advantage of the continuing trend towards premiumisation to help them make the most of this important category,” said Susan Nash, the firm’s trade communications manager.
“The key growth areas in coffee include wholebean instant (which is now worth £64m and is growing at 51.4% according to Nielsen) and super premium. These higher-quality coffee formats are driven by consumer desire for a better quality drink, fuelled by the growth in coffee-shop coffee, while still enjoying the convenience of instant.
“Retailers should look at cashing in by stocking premium brands like Kenco, super-premium brands like Carte Noire and innovative wholebean instant products such as Kenco Millicano.”
Earlier in the year Cadbury Hot Chocolate launched new impulse-friendly, price-marked packs across the range. Case sizes have also been reduced from 12 to six packs.
The whole range also had a revamp, in a bid to give a coherent new look across the portfolio.
Following 2013’s launch of Wispa Hot Chocolate, this year’s NPD is Wispa Gold Hot Chocolate, introduced in February. The Fairtrade-certified product is available in a 246g jar and a single-serve 27g sachet.
Cadbury Wispa Gold hot chocolate 246g jar contains nine servings. RRP is £2.79. It comes in a case of six. The sachet is RRP 38p, available in a case of 30.
• The Drinking Fudge range from Fudge Kitchen has a new flavour, Chocolate Chilli. It comes in three heats: mild, medium and hot – each one using a separate variety of chilli. Hot contains Scotch Bonnet, medium uses the smoky Chipotle and mild is made with Habanero.
Drinking Fudge is packed in pouches and stirred into milk.
Other flavours include Moreish Mint, Rich Chocolate and Sea Salted Caramel.
