Red Band Launched: Sept 2006 Sales: £800,000 to date Star rating: ? ? ?



If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Leaf UK should be very pleased with itself. Its healthier confectionery brand Red Band was ahead of the curve, so rivals Cadbury and Nestlé Rowntree have had to play catch-up. One million packs have been sold and Leaf UK predicts sales of £1.5-£2m in 2007, boosted by last month's addition of a fliptop box for impulse channels.

Hi Life Just Desserts Launched: November 2006 Sales: £34,000 Star rating: ? ? ?



A pudding range for dogs may seem a wacky idea, but sales of Just Desserts shows dogs do have a sweet tooth. Town & Country Petfoods's product will never achieve a serious share of the £324m canned dog food market but it has performed well in spite of its super-niche positioning. Larger players will be looking at its success carefully.

Carling C2 Launched: June 2006 Sales: £707,000 Star rating: ? ? ?



Coors Brewers' attempt to rejuvenate the British tradition of a lunchtime pint with its 2% abv C2 has brought credibility to the low-alcohol beer market. But its retail performance has failed to live up to its success in the on-trade - probably because there is less demand for a low-alcohol product at home than there is in a pub.

Seriously Strong Spreadable Launched: January 2006 Sales: £685,000 Star rating: ? ? ?



Getting consumers to buy a spreadable Cheddar has proved difficult for Lactalis McLelland and, with a market share of only 0.4%, the product is some way behind closest competitor Dairylea. That said, it was still one of the biggest branded NPD launches in the category and was ahead of its time - only now are its rivals attempting similar launches.

Spam Stinky French Garlic Launched: September 2006 Sales: £144,000 Star rating: ? ? ?



Spam's revival has continued with its limited-edition Stinky French Garlic variant. The product's overall performance has been good considering its availability has been limited to Asda and Tesco and it has no presence in the convenience market. An interactive website and Spamalot game have helped to increase sales.

Gillette Fusion Launched: August 2006 Sales: not available Star rating: ? ? ?



P&G is keeping tight-lipped about the impact of its Gillette five-blade razor but the trade reports that sales have been good, particularly those of the battery-powered option. A range of Fusion shaving foams has also boosted the brand. However, Fusion's price tag - it costs nearly £15 for eight replacement blades - could be a barrier to people adopting the newcomer.