F1 Kit Kat

KitKat’s new global partnership with Formula 1 marks a strategic move to align the brand with one of the world’s fastest‑growing sports, strengthening its visibility across key international markets. By launching an industry‑first chocolate product shaped like an F1 car, Nestlé is showcasing its investment in advanced R&D and high‑precision manufacturing—differentiating KitKat through innovation and reinforcing its position in a competitive confectionery landscape. The collaboration also unlocks significant consumer‑engagement opportunities, with integrated activity planned across trackside branding, retail promotions, social media, exclusive merchandise and targeted advertising around Drive to Survive. This 360° approach aims to deepen brand relevance among younger audiences and drive incremental sales throughout the 2026 season. With nationwide distribution for the new product in the UK and Ireland, KitKat is positioning itself for strong commercial impact as the partnership rolls out.

BBQ - Do you think this will be a successful product for Nestle?

F1 Kit Kat

Pepsi Swipe At Coca-Cola in Superbowl Ad

While excitement circles around the event’s musical performances and the match between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, there’s certainly a viewer or two eager to see what the commercial lineup is. Pepsi’s Super Bowl LX spot, “The Choice,” directed by Academy Award®–winning filmmaker Taika Waititi, puts taste to the test as a cola‑loving polar bear takes the iconic Pepsi Challenge—and chooses Pepsi Zero Sugar. The spot brings the Pepsi Paradox to life, proving once again that when labels disappear, Pepsi wins on taste. According to Pepsi, the idea for the bear’s taste test came from real data from its 2025 Pepsi Challenge. Last year, the company conducted Pepsi Challenges across 34 markets, with 66% of participants preferring Pepsi Zero Sugar to Coke Zero Sugar in taste tests. Showcasing the brand’s success, Reyna noted that Pepsi Zero Sugar had 30.8% growth in the Zero Sugar Cola category in 2025. The marketing exec explained that the polar bear in the ad is “just another cola lover that represents the vast majority of Americans.”  Last year, when the Kansas City Chiefs met the Philadelphia Eagles, a record audience of 127.7 million people tuned in. Ahead of Super Bowl LX on NBC, which will be contested between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks on February 8, Bloomberg reports that the cost of a 30-second ad has reached a high of $10 million.

BBQ - Is the cost of a SuperBowl Ad worth it? How would you prove it?

Pepsi Advert

Walkers Crisps Brand Refrsh

Walkers has unveiled a major brand refresh inspired by its farm‑to‑crisp story, introducing a new sun‑inspired logo that puts real ingredients and 100% Great British potatoes at the heart of the pack, alongside the signature of founder Henry Walker to honour its heritage dating back to 1948. The relaunch is supported by flavour innovation, with the introduction of a new non‑HFSS Hot Honey variant from 12 January, expanding its Flavours of the World range, and a four‑week ‘Golden Potato’ promotion from 26 January offering over 500,000 prizes to drive in‑store excitement. The new identity also rolls out across Walkers’ Better‑For‑You portfolio, including the newly renamed Walkers Oven Baked range with two new flavours and sharing‑bag formats, as well as Walkers 45% Less Salt, which will become Walkers Lightly from mid‑February. Together, the redesign, new products and promotional activity mark a significant step forward for the brand as it reinforces its heritage, quality credentials and leadership in flavour innovation across the grocery channel. Walkers suggest this is their biggest brand refresh in 80 years!

BBQ - What are the benefits of a brand refresh for a well‑known company like Walkers?

Walkers Refresh

UK Bans BOGOF Junk Food

The UK government has banned “Buy One, Get One Free” deals on unhealthy food and drinks in shops and online, aiming to curb rising obesity rates. The new rules, effective from 1st October 2025, also stop free refills of sugary drinks in restaurants. Items like fizzy drinks, crisps, cakes, and certain pizzas are affected. Health experts say these promotions encourage overeating and poor dietary choices. The ban is part of a wider strategy, including restrictions on junk food advertising before 9pm, expected to help prevent thousands of cases of childhood obesity. While some retailers had already limited such deals, the law now ensures consistency across the UK. Retailers and food manufacturers may now need to rethink their promotional strategies. With multi-buy offers restricted, businesses could shift towards healthier product bundles, loyalty schemes, or price reductions on nutritious options. This change could also influence consumer behaviour, encouraging more mindful shopping and healthier eating habits.

BBQ - Explain one way this change could affect marketing strategies used by supermarkets.

BOGOF Ban

The Golden Flake

High-street bakery giant Greggs has made a playful jump into the hospitality sector by opening its first-ever pub, The Golden Flake Tavern, located within the Fenwick department store in Newcastle. This limited-time pop-up, running until February, is the latest in a series of highly successful marketing ventures that aim to elevate the brand beyond its famous sausage rolls. The pub features a menu of Greggs-inspired pub classics, such as a Steak Bake Mixed Grill and a Sunday Carvery where a Greggs bake is the centrepiece. Additionally, the bar serves exclusive, novelty draught beers like the Pink Jammie Pale Ale, alongside Greggs-themed cocktails. This creative move is a shrewd public relations (PR) stunt designed to generate massive media buzz, refresh the brand's image, and offer a unique, premium experience to its loyal fanbase. It’s a clear example of experiential marketing—creating a memorable, shareable event that keeps the brand relevant and exciting.

BBQ - What are the risks of a public relations stunt?

The Golden Flake

No Longer White Chocolate

 

If you look closely at certain packets of McVities Digestives and Nestlé KitKats in the UK, you might notice something rather surprising. They are no longer being described as ‘white chocolate’ biscuits.  Instead, you’ll find that it just says the word ‘white’ rather than ‘white chocolate’ on the front of the packs. The product descriptions have also been tweaked to say the biscuits have a ‘white coating’ or a ‘white chocolate flavour’. It can’t be helped though, as the sweet treats no longer contain the required level of cocoa butter needed to legally be described as chocolate. In order to be classified as white chocolate a product needs to contain a minimum of 20% cocoa butter. However, the amount in White KitKats (including the Chunky version) no longer meets this requirement. Interestingly, McVities has removed cocoa butter from its White Digestive recipe altogether. Instead, both brands now use a mixture of palm and shea fats to make their white coatings.  As such, Nestlé quietly removed the word ‘chocolate’ from the front of its White KitKat packets earlier in 2025, while McVities made a similar change to the White Digestive packaging recently. ‘Recently, due to a business continuity issue with our coating supplier, we have carefully crafted a new recipe for White Digestives. Sensory testing with consumers showed the new recipe delivers the same great taste and texture as the original they know and love.’

BBQ - Would this impact your decision to purchase these products?

Not White Chocolate

Lynx Africa April Fools

 

The announcement that Lynx Africa was being discontinued sent shockwaves through its fanbase, with many taking to social media to express their dismay. The iconic scent, which has been a staple in British bathrooms since 1995, was initially declared discontinued by Lynx's official Twitter account This sparked a frenzy, with fans mourning the loss and even stockpiling cans in fear of its disappearance. However, Lynx soon revealed that this was all part of a clever marketing stunt designed to promote a product upgrade. The brand clarified that Lynx Africa isn't going anywhere; instead, it's getting a fresh new look and improved formula. The new design and enhanced fragrance are set to hit stores across all formats, including body spray, shower gel, antiperspirant, roll-on, and stick deodorants. Additionally, Lynx has reformulated its body sprays to last even longer and upgraded its antiperspirant range to include new "no white marks" technology. This playful approach not only created buzz but also highlighted Lynx's ability to engage with its audience in a fun and memorable way. So, rest easy, Lynx Africa fans—your favorite scent is here to stay, just with a new twist!

BBQ - Discuss the impact of Lynx's marketing stunt on consumer behavior and brand loyalty. How might this approach influence the company's sales and market positioning?

Lynx Africa

Fanta Launches New Flavours

Fanta is boosting its zero-sugar offerings with the addition of three exciting new fruity flavours: Apple, Raspberry, and a limited-edition Tutti Frutti. This new product development (NPD) aims to help retailers broaden their customer base and capitalize on the 2.5 million shoppers who regularly purchase Fanta flavours, according to Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP). Apple and Raspberry will be available from February 24th in various formats, including 330ml cans, multipacks, and 500ml and 2L rPET bottles. The limited-edition Tutti Frutti, a vibrant mix of peach, pineapple, and banana, will launch mid-March in a sleek 250ml can. All three flavours will be supported by a multi-million pound marketing campaign encompassing influencer partnerships, out-of-home advertising, social media activity, and experiential events. CCEP's VP of Commercial Development, Rob Yeomans, highlighted the new Apple and Raspberry options as catering to consumer demand for those specific flavours, while describing the Tutti Frutti as a "carnival in a can" with a nostalgic flavour profile. These new additions come as Fanta seeks to revitalize sales after a £1.9m decline last year, according to The Grocer's Top Products survey.

BBQ - Analyze how the launch of these new Fanta Zero flavours, supported by a multi-million pound marketing campaign, could impact Fanta's market share and brand image, considering the reported sales decline of £1.9m last year.

Fanta

 

Jaguar Rebrand

 

Jaguar, the iconic British luxury car manufacturer, is undergoing a significant rebrand as it seeks to redefine its identity in the modern automotive landscape. The rebrand aims to position Jaguar as a leader in electric vehicle innovation, reflecting the industry's shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation. This transformation includes a new logo and a refreshed design language that emphasizes sleek, futuristic aesthetics while maintaining the brand's heritage of elegance and performance. By embracing cutting-edge technology and sustainability, Jaguar hopes to attract a new generation of environmentally conscious consumers and secure its place in the future of luxury motoring.  The teaser video has faced backlash, with many critics pointing to the fact it doesn't feature an actual car. Others have praised the company for being bold and shaking things up.

BBQ: How do you think Jaguar's rebranding towards electric vehicles will impact its market position and consumer perception in the luxury automotive industry?

Jaguar Rebrand

Chrismast Advert Mega Spend

Spending on highly-anticipated Christmas adverts in the UK is hitting record highs. Advertisers are projected to spend £10.5 billion over the festive season, according to industry trade body the Advertising Association and data provider WARC. Films have already been launched by the likes of Aldi, Marks & Spencer, Boots and Sainsburys. The record spending on campaigns by retailers hoping to stand out and attract Christmas shoppers is an almost 8% increase from the £9.7bn spent last year. Excluding the post-pandemic recovery year of 2021 the rise will be the biggest since records began in 1982. James Murphy, chief executive of Ogilvy UK, who has previously worked on campaigns for M&S and John Lewis - the behemoth of Yuletide adverts - described Christmas as the "UK Super Bowl of marketing". Mr Murphy added: “Christmas ads have evolved from just showcasing products to focusing on storytelling.” The data also highlights a shift in spending from television to digital. While TV advertising is still important for retailers' Christmas adverts, with films this year still being shown on soap ad breaks and during hit shows such as This Morning, advertising through search engines is expected to rise almost 9% to more than £4bn, with online ads including on social media sites rising the most by 16% to just under £4bn. The amount of money expected to be spent on TV advertising has fallen almost 5% to £1.4bn.

BBQ: Does an increase in advertising always guarantee an increase in sales?

Christmas Adverts

Greggs Champagne Bar

Greggs, the popular UK bakery chain, is launching its first-ever champagne bar in Fenwick’s Newcastle store from October 24 to December 31. This pop-up bar will offer a unique dining experience, pairing Greggs’ signature pastries with a selection of fine champagnes, including high-end options like Louis Roederer Cristal. The menu will feature gourmet twists on classic Greggs items, such as sausage rolls with hot honey sauce and steak bakes with peppercorn aioli. This initiative follows the success of last year’s Bistro Greggs and aims to attract both loyal customers and new visitors with its innovative approach

BBQ: How can Greggs’ strategy of launching a champagne bar in collaboration with Fenwick’s impact its brand image and customer base?

Greggs x Fenwicks

Wonka Is Back

Nestle are bringing back the Wonka chocolate range with new bars developed for the UK market. Two variants will be first introduced with Nestle focusing on something "exciting, genuinely new & different". This will be backed with a marketing campaign costing £3.6 million. Is there room in the market for a new chocolate bar?

HTC Champions League

HTC has struck a three-year deal with UEFA to become the official mobile phone supplier of the Champions League and the Europa League as the manufacturer looks to expand awareness of its brand around the world and tap into its customers’ passions.

Crispello - It's Not For Guys

Cadburys are set to launch their first new chocolate bar since the 1990's & they have been doing their market research on this one. The Crispello is aimed squarely at a female demographic, and specifically at weight-conscious women.  A brilliant example of segmentation but have they found a gap in the market?

Cadburys Crispello

Britain's Coolest Brand is...

Aston Martin has been top of the annual cool brand survey for six out of the past seven years. Follow the link to see if Apple have managed to knock them off their top spot as the coolest brand in the UK.

Coolest Brand UK

The New Red Bull?

Inspired by the Olympics Dragon Rouge has redesigned milk as an energy drink. Could a design like this make milk appeal to a whole new market?

Energy Milk

McSmoothie

McDonalds has been trailing out two fruit smoothies over the past few weeks and is aiming to roll them out nationwide soon to replace the Innocent brand smoothies it used to stock. Will this help McDonalds push for a more healthy image?

McSmoothie

I'm Sponsoring It

McDonald’s and Coca-Cola have defended their sponsorship of the Olympic Games after criticisms about their involvement. Is it ethical that these notoriously unhealthy companies are sponsoring the world’s biggest sporting event? 

Olympic Sponsorship

BBC Olympics Advert

BBC 'Stadium UK' from Passion Pictures on Vimeo.

Who are the top 10 grocery brands in the UK?

The Grocer magazine has released its survey of Britain's Biggest Brands, in association with Nielsen. Follow the link to countdown the top 10.

Top Ten Grocery Brands