We highlight new products that Scottish c-store retailers might want to stock
1. Equi’s Strawberry Cheesecake ice cream
FAMILY-RUN ice cream brand Equi’s has rolled out its range of ice creams to Scotmid stores following its win in the Scotmid Scottish Favourites competition.
Available across the retail group’s Lanarkshire stores, a range of Equi’s ice cream flavours are now available in Scotmid locations, including the already award-winning new Strawberry Cheesecake flavour, as well as its Sea Salt & Caramel and Pistachio Swirl variants.
The Strawberry Cheesecake is offered in two formats – a 460g tub and 120ml smaller tub, with RRPs of £3.75 and £1.50 respectively.
Alex Equi, sales and marketing manager at Equi’s Ice Cream, said: “We’re so proud to see Equi’s Ice Cream on the shelves at Scotmid. My great-grandfather started this business over 100 years ago and, while so much has changed, our focus on quality and commitment to Scottish ingredients has never wavered.
“Winning the Scottish Favourites competition is a huge honour, and we’re excited for consumers in Lanarkshire to enjoy our new Strawberry Cheesecake flavour, along with the rest of the range.”
2. Kepak Grab a Bite food-to-go brand
KEPAK Foods Division has announced its latest expansion in the out-of-home sector with its new Grab a Bite brand.
The convenient new brand offers consumers a range that is catered towards the most popular dishes in the food-to-go market, says Kepak, with options consisting of Barbecue Chicken Burger, The Classic Cheeseburger and The Morning Sausage and Cheese Muffin, appealing to all kinds of meal times in the process.
Retailers will receive the range frozen to help store owners to manage their stock levels more efficiently, before serving through a thaw, heat and serve process.
Brian Farrell, chief executive at Kepak Foods Division, said: “We are excited to announce the launch of ‘Grab a Bite’ into the out of home market.
“Consumers are increasingly demanding no-compromise food offerings at a time and place that suits them while operators are under increasing pressure from the cost of doing business, particularly the availability and cost of labour.
“We saw a gap in the market to make a great tasting hot food that can be prepared easily by operators. Grab a Bite sets a new standard of quality in the market and has been thoroughly researched.”
3. Hobgoblin Amber Beer
BRITISH ale brand Hobgoblin has launched its latest variant into the off-trade – Amber.
Boasting floral and citrus notes, the new 4.5% ABV beer is available across Tesco stores now in four packs of 568ml pint cans as well as single 500ml bottles.
The four-pack carries an RRP of £6.20, meanwhile the single bottle comes in at £1.75 to help offer consumers a touch of difference in the off-trade section, without breaking the bank.
Already a firm-favourite among ale drinkers, parent firm Carlsberg Britvic reckons this new launch for the brand will tap into consumer demand for more amber ales in the market.
Jo Marshall, director of marketing for ales and craft at Carlsberg Britvic, said: “Hobgoblin Amber is a refreshing and tasty ale that offers drinkers a new flavour experience, perfect for spring. We know that when people shop for ales, they shop by either brand or style of beer, so we wanted to give them everything they are looking for with Hobgoblin.
“Amber is the best-performing ale style in the market and Hobgoblin is the best-performing premium ale brand, with our market share having increased from 10% of total premium ale to 12.17% in the past year.”
4. Inch’s Cloudy Apple Cider and 0.0 Apple Cider
HEINEKEN UK is out to reinvigorate the cider category with the launch of two new variants for Inch’s Cider.
This will see the new Inch’s Cloudy Apple Cider and Inch’s 0.0 Apple Cider roll out, marking the brand’s first de-alcoholised cider in the UK market.
Both come in 440ml cans across four-packs and 10-packs in a bid to appeal to younger drinkers seeking sweeter drink choices.
Rachel Holms, cider brand director at Heineken UK, said: “With Inch’s Cloudy and Inch’s 0.0, we’re delivering innovation that not only tastes great but also challenges perceptions of what apple cider can be.”
