Following the continued success of Tango’s rotational flavour series Tango Editions, Britvic is bringing its latest ‘Edition’, Tango Mango, to shelves and chillers this February. Tango Editions combine bold tastes, liquids and pack designs to produce striking products that stand out on shelves and in chillers. Succeeding Tango’s popular Paradise Punch flavour, this latest rotation is set to meet the demand for Mango flavoured drinks, giving shoppers more sugar-free options without compromising on taste.
Tango has more than doubled in sales in the last three years1, now worth over £96m RSV, and is still in double digit growth (+ 24 %).2 The brand’s successful rotational flavour series has seen Tango Paradise Punch become the number one flavoured fruit carbonate new product development of 20233, now worth over £13.6m RSV,4 with the year before seeing Tango Berry Peachy crowned the number one fruit flavoured carbonate new product development of 20225. What’s more, following its launch last June, Tango Apple Sugar Free is now worth £23.5m RSV6. These results demonstrate the brand’s well-placed position to grow the fruit flavoured carbonates category further with its latest flavour, particularly with mango flavoured drinks in double digit growth versus last year (+ 26 %).7
Ben Parker, Britvic’s Retail Commercial Director in Great Britain, said: “Our next big flavour launch, Tango Mango, drives appeal among new and existing Tango fans, generating additional sales opportunities for retailers. We understand retailers don’t have infinite space for new products, but the Tango Editions range has already proven to drive additional sales, and the rotational change seasonally maintains excitement and engagement with the brand. In addition, Tango Mango aims to attract a broader range of shoppers including Gen Z and families, expanding sales opportunities for retailers. Innovating in the fruit flavoured carbonates category will always be important to Tango – with new and exciting sugar free flavours, which play on the brand’s bold, fun tone and personality, helping to increase consumer purchases.”
Tango Mango is the latest sugar free flavour from Britvic, with the company’s continued innovation and reformulation programmes meaning an average of just 22 calories per 250 ml serve across its drinks portfolio globally. All activity is enabling the company to offer consumers healthier choices as part of its long-term Healthier People sustainability strategy.
Available from 1 February for 12 months, the fruit flavoured carbonate will be available to enjoy in formats to be consumed at home or on the go, helping retailers to tap into this market and drive soft drink sales with a popular flavour. The latest Edition is expected to be another success following consumer research8 and features a bold, modern pack design that is sure to catch shoppers’ attention and encourage them to Get Tango’d. The flavour will be available in a variety of formats: 330 ml can, 500 ml bottle, 2 litre bottles, 8 can multipack and 24 can multipack. The launch of Mango Tango will be supported by social media and influencer activity to increase awareness.
1NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Fruit Flavoured carbonates Britvic Defined, Product Range, Value Sales, Latest 52 Wks 3YA – w/e 09/01/21 (£46,393,571) vs Latest 52 Wks – w/e 06/01/24 (£96,161,604)
2NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Fruit Flavoured carbonates Britvic Defined, Product Range, Value Sales, Value % Chg vs YA, Latest 52 weeks to 30.12.23.
3NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Value/Volume sales, Fruit Flavoured Carbonates, Britvic Defined, YTD Calendar year 2023- w/e 30.12.23
4NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Value sales, Fruit Flavoured Carbonates, Britvic Defined, Latest 52 wks w/e 30.12.23
5NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Value/Volume sales, Fruit Flavoured Carbonates, Britvic Defined, YTD Calendar year 2022- w/e 31.12.22
6NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Fruit Flavoured carbonates Britvic Defined, Product Range, Value Sales, Latest 52 weeks to 30.12.23.
7NielsenIQ RMS, Total Coverage GB, Value sales, Total soft drinks, Mango flavoured drinks, Latest 52 wks w/e 30.12.23
8MMR Consumer Research 2023 Base, rep sample n=159
Tango is continuing to give the tastebuds in the UK a spanking with the launch of its popular apple flavour in a sugar free format. Tango Apple Sugar Free is the latest addition to the popular range, tapping into the growing demand for sugar free products. It captures that same great Apple Original taste, sugar free.
The Tango brand has doubled in size in the last five years, becoming the fourth largest brand in the fruit flavoured carbonates category1. Now worth over £61million2, Tango is well placed to continue its growth through sugar free flavours, which currently deliver £25million (+ 54 % vs last year) in value sales3. Tango Apple has a lot of heritage and has seen multiple organic social campaigns asking to bring it back in more pack formats. To satisfy consumer demand for sugar free flavours4 and, as the number one factor when choosing soft drinks is low sugar content5, it is the perfect time to introduce Tango Apple in a sugar free formulation.
Ben Parker, Retail Commercial Director at Britvic commented: “Tango has a proven track record when it comes to new product development with Tango Berry Peachy Sugar- Free the number one new fruit flavoured carbonate in 20226. Tango’s long heritage with the apple flavour and strong taste credentials, mean Tango Apple Sugar Free is well placed to continue this success and drive growth.”
Britvic is a leader in healthier soft drinks and well over 90 % of its brands in the UK are either no or low sugar drinks. Globally, its portfolio contains an average of 25 calories per 250 ml serve, with drinks in its Great Britain market being even lower.
Tango Apple Sugar Free is available in Tesco now and launches from mid-September across the wider market in a range of pack sizes.
1Nielsen IQ RMS, Fruit Carbonates Britvic Defined, Total Coverage, Value Sales, MAT 23.4.22
2Nielsen IQ RMS, Fruit Carbonates, Britvic Defined, Total Coverage Value sales MAT to 23.7.22
3Nielsen IQ RMS, Fruit Carbonates, Britvic Defined, Total Coverage Value sales MAT to 23.7.22
4Lumina Intelligence Channel Pulse, October 2021
5Mintel Soft Drinks Review – UK – June 2021
6Nielsen IQ RMS, Fruit Carbonates, Britvic Defined, Total Coverage Value sales MAT to 23.7.22
South Korea’s Ministry of Environment has recognised the recyclability of Ecolean’s aseptic packages, which rank higher than most other food and drink packaging solutions in the country’s new recyclability grading system.
The absence of aluminium, which is often used for aseptic cartons and other liquid food packaging, means Ecolean’s portfolio ranked ‘good’ in a four-grade scale to determine how easily packages can be recycled.
The announcement follows South Korea’s introduction last December of the Act on the Promotion of Saving and Recycling of Resources, requiring food and beverage packaging to contain labels that show a material’s recyclability grade, thereby encouraging resource efficiency and the use of easy-to-recycle packages.
A nine-month grace period for businesses to comply with the new regulations ends this September.
“The South Korean Ministry of Environment’s grade of the Ecolean packages’ recyclability only confirms that we are on the right path – developing and manufacturing unique packaging solutions that make a difference in the long run,” said Paul Mellbin, Senior Advisor, Ambient Technology at Ecolean.
“As a global producer of lightweight packaging, Ecolean makes it easier for consumers, liquid food brands as well as the environment.”
Aluminium-free packaging
Ecolean’s lightweight portfolio consists of aseptic, flexible packaging made from polyolefins and up to 35 % chalk, which gives the packages their strength, stiffness and smooth surface.
The printed, shaped and fully sealed packages are sterilised using electron beam treatment before shipping to the filling machine at the customer’s site. Prior to opening, filling and sealing in the filling machines, the outer surfaces of the packages are desterilised using a system of 1 % peroxide spray and UV light.
“The fact that our type of sterilisation process is separated from the filling machines and performed at the Ecolean manufacturing plants is quite unique in the industry and something we are very proud of. It makes the process easier for our customers, and that as well as having sustainability in mind when designing our lightweight packaging solutions is key. The confirmed recyclability of our packages in Korea just further adds to the fact that our unique approach is crucial for the beverage, dairy and liquid food industry” Paul Mellbin said.
Ecolean increased its footprint in South Korea last year with Yakult selecting its Air Aseptic range for two new launches in the country.
“The Ecolean package is the perfect fit for us, since it is lightweight and flexible, yet extremely durable. We have already seen a huge interest from consumers,” Jeonghyeon Hong, Marketing Manager, Yakult Korea, said.
At this year’s Gulfood Manufacturing in Dubai, Hydrosol is focusing on sugar-reduced milk beverages.
Less sugar, same enjoyment
Given the worrying increase in obesity around the globe, reducing the amount of sugar in foods and beverages is a major issue worldwide. More and more governments are demanding low sugar products or introducing sugar taxes. But sugar isn’t just a matter of taste. It also gives products body, texture and a pleasant mouth feel. These are the effects that Hydrosol’s individual stabilising and texturing systems address. They are suitable for many different applications – yogurt, drinking yogurt, pudding, refreshing fruity drinks, energy drinks, ketchup, whippable plant cream with reduced sugar content, and more. Natural flavourings round out the flavour profile. Hydrosol’s sister company OlbrichtArom, also exhibiting at Gulfood, offers its SugarBooster for reduced-sugar products. This natural flavouring amplifies the delicate taste profile of the final product without influencing its characteristic flavour.
New to the product range are stabilising systems for very diverse milk mixed beverages, from conventional varieties like cocoa, vanilla and strawberry to trendy flavours like cappuccino, walnut and pistacio. These proven systems are offered in a carrageenan version, which enables stable products without high-pressure homogenisation, as well as in an alternative version with gellan. This lets milk beverages be filled at high temperatures, up to 40°C. The stabilising systems in the Stabiprime MFD Range are soluble in water as well as in sweet whey. They can be used for the manufacture of sugar-reduced as well as low-fat or lactose-free milk beverages. High-protein milk drinks are also possible.
Free From Functional & Health Ingredients (FFF&HI) broke records when it welcomed more than 7,800 key buyers and decision makers from the free from food, drink and sustainable packaging industries through its doors in Barcelona from 28 – 29 May. Now in its seventh year, this staggering 52 % increase on visitor numbers reflects the dynamic growth and development of the global free from market and cements the show as Europe’s leading platform for the free from industries.
Visitors took advantage of the unique platform the show provides, informing and inspiring decision makers from the world of retail, ingredients, wholesale, distribution and foodservice with a packed schedule of conference sessions, pioneering brands and products plus multiple networking opportunities.
Leading the field
Five core areas of the free from market; free from, vegan, natural and organic, functional and health ingredients were represented across four conference stages with insights from key speakers.
Highlights from the packed conference schedule revealed the latest data covering key areas including the 11.5 % increase in sales of free from foods across Europe in the past year1 and the 133 % growth of the UK free from market since FFF&HI began in 2013.2
Show partners, ProVeg International hosted a dedicated vegan area and a series of seminars at the vegan conference stage. Verena Wiederkehr, International Head of Food Industry and Retail at ProVeg International revealed the most prominent trends driving the sector including sensory experiences, clean-label products and raw materials, explaining the opportunities for businesses who tap into this buoyant sector.
Pioneering exhibitors
FFF&HI was the platform for new brands and product launches from those shaping the organic, vegan, functional foods and ingredients markets.
On the first day, FFF&HI unveiled the winner of its Product of the Year Awards – a celebration of the most cutting-edge free from food and drink products launched in the past year. Manufacturers and producers put their best innovations for contention to be crowned winner and runner up across three categories, Product of the Year, Best New Brand, Free From Plastics.
Product of the Year Award
- Winner: Qwrkee Foods – Pea M’LK
- Runner-up: Ambrosiae
- Runner-up: Pizza Mi – gluten free pizza bases
Best New Brand
- Winner: I am Bart’s – Vegan Nutrition Bites
- Runner-up: Juustoportti – Organic and Gluten free Oat Drinks made from Finnish Premium Oats
Free From Plastics Packaging
Winner: EncajaBio – Packaging system and cellulose film which sustainably reduces the carbon footprint
The lifetime achievement award was given to Molino Nicoli, European leaders in gluten free cereal-based production, who have exhibited at FFF&HI since the first show in 2013.
I Am Bart’s launched a range organic snack bars made with vegetables, fruit and seeds without preservatives and added sugars. Commenting on winning Best New Brand, Founder, Bart Veldkamp said: “We are delighted to have won an award, especially as it’s our first time exhibiting at a trade show. We’ve been impressed with this dynamic show and the high quality of the visitors. The team has worked very hard and we are very proud of this win. It’s great to be recognised as we’re in the company of such interesting brands showcasing fantastic products – I’m very proud to be surrounded by such great innovators!”
FFF&HI Exhibition Director, Ronald Holman commented: “It was fantastic to return to Barcelona and we are absolutely delighted with the number of visitors that came to discover what’s happening at the forefront of the free from industry. It’s great to see returning exhibitors and new ones coming to showcase such a diverse range of products and the industry leading experts who drive the market forward.
We’ve received a fantastic response from show visitors and exhibitors alike. We’re looking forward to hearing about the outcomes for our exhibitors this year and seeing what the show will bring in 2020.”
FFF&HI will return for its eighth edition in Amsterdam from 23-24 June, 2020.
1https://www.statista.com/topics/3285/free-from-foods-in-europe/
2Mintel UK Free From Food Market Report – UK – December 2018
The arrival of alternatives for almost everything in food and beverages has been driven by a number of factors, but health remains the leading reason. According to Innova Market Insights, 1 in 2 US consumers report that health is a reason for buying alternatives to meat or dairy, compared with 36 % who cite variety in their diets, 18 % who are interested in novelty and 17 % in sustainability.
Alternatives to All is one of Innova Market Insights’ Top Trends for 2019, reflecting the rise of replacement foods and ingredients. Dairy alternatives have benefited particularly from this, with 18 % average annual growth in food and beverage dairy free launches (Global, CAGR 2014-2018). Lu Ann Williams, Director of Innovation at Innova Market Insights reports, “More consumers are adopting vegan or lactose free diets, while others are turning to plant-based foods for other perceived health benefits. In the western world, in particular, the market is evolving rapidly and has diversified beyond dairy alternative drinks to include alternatives to yogurt, cheese and ice cream, while at the same time, the range of ingredients used to replace milk continues to expand and advance.”
NPD in dairy alternatives has been increasing across the board, with double-digit CAGRs in launch numbers between 2013 and 2018. The market was largely pioneered by and continues to be led by beverages, with dairy alternative drinks accounting for over 7.6 % of global dairy launches recorded by Innova Market Insights in 2018. Spoonable non-dairy yogurt has also seen strongly rising levels of interest, but from a smaller base, taking its share of dairy launches from less than 0.5 % in 2012 to 1.7 % in 2018.
In the move to offer something new, an increasing variety of non-soy plant-based ingredients are appearing, including cereals such as rice, oats, and barley. We are also seeing an increase in nuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts, and macadamias, as well as coconut and more unusual options such as lupin, hemp, and flaxseed.
Dairy alternatives are thriving across North America and Western Europe but positioning and formulation choices can vary from country to country and national knowledge remains vital to development. For example, some countries are increasingly influenced by a rise in veganism, while others are still driven primarily by lactose concerns.
Williams concludes, “Product choice has never been so diverse and innovators are continuing to deliver more complex, convenient and indulgent options. Key opportunities include the use of a wider range of plant-based ingredients, greater segmentation with the more mainstream, and the development of more indulgent options, while one of the key challenges may be improving sustainability credentials in some instances”.
