- Dried fruits, nuts, and seeds market leader announces changes being made to key range to ensure compliance with initial HFSS restrictions that came into effect at the start of this month.
- Whitworths invest in on-the-go Sunny Raisin packs to help kids hit their 5-a-day in line with a universal drive to provide healthier snacking options.
SHOTS HFSS
Despite official HFSS legislation being pushed back to 2023, Whitworths is working to ensure its key ranges are compliant with restrictions being put in place by leading supermarkets this October, which will further secure its position as a leader in the healthier snacking category.
Worth nearly £117m*, 2022 has been a big year for Whitworths, and in particular its SHOTS range which accounts for 10% of total branded sales. This has been further bolstered by new listings in 75 WH Smith distribution points across the UK and 1,400 one-off free standing display unit listings in Tesco stores nationwide over the summer months.
Whitworths’ HFSS compliant SHOTS range currently consists of four SKUs: Toffee & Pecan, Chocolate & Hazelnut, Chocolate & Orange Cranberry and Salted Caramel Nuts, with each pack in the core fruit and nut range containing under 100 calories and 100% recyclable packaging.
In order to align with HFSS legislation, the healthier snacking brand is adjusting the contents of its Chocolate & Raisin SKU, whereby chopped apricots will be added and the current dark chocolate pieces will be replaced with a new dark chocolate that is higher in fibre and lower in sugar. Further, in line with feedback from taste panels, Whitworths has improved the flavour of the SKU to increase appeal with a wider market of consumers. This SKU is due to be rolled out in Q4 this year.
Whitworths Commercial Director, Phil Gowland comments: “Based on what we know from the recent National Food Strategy Paper, significant changes need to be made to the nation’s eating habits for health, economic, and climate reasons. Part of this is reducing the consumption of products High in saturated Fat, Salt, and Sugar. We are committed to helping everyone eat a little healthier everyday which means improving the experience of our existing products to make healthier options more accessible to all.”
Sunny Raisin Impulse On-The-Go Packs
This October, Whitworths is launching new Sunny Raisin packs designed for front of store and impulse on-the-go locations. Given just 18% of 5–15-year-olds are currently eating their recommended five portions of fruit or vegetables in a day*, the new range has been developed in line with a universal drive to provide healthier snacks for kids and create good habits from an early age.
The category leader recognised a gap in the market to cater to the current consumer need for a healthy, nutritious snack that is convenient for on-the-go, easy to serve, tasty, fun for kids to eat and doesn’t turn quickly like fresh fruit.
Available in the new on-the-go sizes are Sunny Raisin Natural Californian Raisins and Sunny Fruit Mix-Ups in the Apricot & Mango and Strawberry & Sultanas SKUs, all of which count towards kids’ 5-a-day and are perfect for lunchboxes or as a snack. The Natural Californian Raisins are available now in WH Smith and Sainsburys stores nationwide and stockists for both Sunny Mix-Ups SKUs are to be confirmed in late 2022/early 2023 (RRP: 75p per 14g pack). These ranges are out of scope for HFSS.
Whitworths Commercial Director, Phil Gowland comments: “As a parent myself, I know how hard it can be to get kids to eat their fruit and veg, let alone if they’re fussy eaters. We know our customer, and this range has been designed to not only make snacking on-the-go that little bit easier but to encourage kids to adopt a 5-a-day attitude.
Dried fruit has all the nutritional properties of fresh fruit, without the threat of it spoiling if it’s not eaten within a couple of days. The on-the-go nature of these packs aligns with our purpose to make healthier snacking accessible, to help everyone eat a little healthier every day.”
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