Mary Carmichael
- News
Can’t stand the heat? Get into the kitchens...
As retailers squeeze margins, manufacturers are turning their attention to supplying the foodservice sector, reports Mary Carmichael
- News
The winning ticket
Raised consumer expectations combined with new technology have changed the face of competitions in recent years. So what makes a competition work, asks Mary Carmichael
- News
Buyer Survey
The industry is ahead of the game when it comes to removing unwanted ingredients. But there's a danger that the recent negative press surrounding an FSA-commissioned study linking certain additives with health and behavioural problems in kids...
- News
Six of the Best Confectionery buyers
Bartlett started her career a decade ago on Asda's graduate training scheme. She managed home and leisure sections in branches before moving to HQ as a buying assistant for babycare. She was...
- News
Buyers must achieve skilful balancing act
Confectionery may be under siege from sectors that have a healthier image but there is still mileage in a spot of indulgence, say the suppliers who nominated this month's winning buyers. Their votes have gone to buyers who show fairness...
- News
Onken Mousse moves into premium desserts
Onken Mousse is moving upmarket as brand owner Dr. Oetker aims to compete with the likes of Gü in chilled pot desserts. The range is being relaunched and rebranded as Dr. Oetker Onken Mousse this month and segmented into 'creamy' and...
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Princes revives TV ads to push ranges
The Princes brand returns to the small screen for the first time in a decade next months in a £4m marketing drive. The TV campaign will centre on a new strapline - 'Yours to enjoy' - and feature the brand's tuna range being enjoyed at different...
- News
Hines opts for festive gift box
A gift box shaped like a book has been chosen for Christmas by Hine Vintage Cognac. The box, which closes with a magnet, is lined in red fabric and uses the brand's signature gold, bronze, red and cream colours. It contains a bottle of Hine Rare...
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Luxury liqueur for the lounge
The classic lounge bar is the inspiration behind Grand Marnier's latest Cordon Rouge limited-edition bottle. Featuring luxurious velvet, leather and metal, the new red bottle is the fifth in the annual series. It has been designed to evoke the...
- News
Kepak targets women with hot panini snack
A new range of hot paninis targeting more discerning snackers - and women in particular - is set to hit the UK next month. Ugo's Deli Café is produced by Kepak Convenience Foods, maker of the microwaveable Rustlers burgers, which dominate hot...
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Eco-detergent: will it wash this time?
It should be an obvious move. Consumers think clogging up the environment with chemicals is a bad idea and just about every fmcg market is looking for greener alternatives. Yet eco-friendly laundry detergents are a tiny niche.
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Masterfoods powers forward with Planets
Masterfoods is launching its flagship confectionery brand Mars into new territory next month with bitesize Mars Planets. The new arrival - an impulse pack that contains three balls in caramel, nougat and crispy chocolate flavours - is...
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Britvic gearing up for child health challenge
Britvic is bringing out new juices under its Robinsons and Fruit Shoot umbrellas in a bid to boost the brands' health credentials and avoid the looming ban on advertising to children. A range of Robinsons Smooth Juice will appear on...
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Dove range to target mature women's skin
Skin, hair and body care brand Dove will reveal its charms to older women this month, with the launch of its first range aimed at females aged 45+. Supported by a £12m marketing investment, Dove Pro Age is an eight-strong collection of...
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Brand giants are listening
Coke, Walkers, Birds Eye, Magners and Pringles are among the major brands that have grown in value - in some cases spectacularly - this year, as the industry shows it can respond to consumer needs without government intervention. The...
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The to products survey 2006
Big brands are back on top but, as The Grocer's Top Products Survey 2006 reveals, there's still room for smaller players canny enough to use today's key trends to their advantage. Low-fat, low-sugar and low-salt products have been pushing...
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Out go the chimps - in comes knitted monkey
Comedian Johnny Vegas and Monkey, the knitted puppet with a cult following, have teamed up with PG Tips to front an £18m advertising campaign for the tea brand in the new year. Owner Unilever will be pouring out £1m a week for the first 12...
- Profiles and QandAs
Floella is getting all playful in the Kitchen
Floella Benjamin, known to a certain age group as a presenter of TV's Play School, is capitalising on her later reputation as a champion of Caribbean cuisine by developing a food range. Set for launch in March, the first products off the...
- News
A virtuous circle as Cafédirect rebrands
Cafédirect is revamping its packaging with a new corporate logo to reinforce its Fairtrade credentials and to unite its family of products. It is also adding new Intense and Special Selection products to its freeze-dried instant coffee...