Ferrero has announced its 2021 Christmas range, which includes a host of new products across its Kinder, Thorntons and Ferrero Rocher brands, to help retailers capitalise on the festive season.

The range includes refreshed novelty figures and advent calendars, as well as the supplier entering new confectionery segments.

Last year, Christmas confectionery experience value sales of £737m, the supplier has said, which is a slight decrease from the previous year as a result of the pandemic but gifting experienced increased growth.

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According to Levi Boorer, customer development manager at Ferrero, the decrease was likely down to being unable to see each other and shoppers turning to gifting instead.

“With the easing of restrictions, many of us are eager to celebrate by getting together and this is a promising time for retailers too. We have developed our seasonal range across Kinder, Ferrero Rocher and Thorntons to provide individual treats and sharing formats to meet shopper demand for all occasions.

“Although our core range may be available all year round, our Ferrero Rocher and Thorntons range make great gifts during seasonal occasions. We’ve also recently rolled out our new Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Bars and Thorntons Pearls, which will give shoppers even more choice within the premium chocolate segment when it comes to me-time moments and sharing with friends and family.”

Below, we’ve rounded up what’s new across the three brands.

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Ferrero Rocher

Starting with Ferrero Rocher, new to 2021, is Grand Rocher Dark, a hollow dark chocolate shell with hazelnut pieces.

It will be available in a 125g format (RRP £5) and is ideal for gifting and sharing, with the launch supported by PoS and digital assets.

Meanwhile, Christmas is a key opportunity for boxed chocolate and Ferrero Rocher 300g is key to supporting retailers drive festive sales.

Ferrero Rocher 300g experienced growth of 31% and added £5m to the range, according to the supplier, and is a key brand to add to a store’s festive range.

Thorntons

The Thorntons moulded figures range will be relaunched this year, but with a new Cheeky Reindeer and Cheeky Elf (RRP £2.50), both designed to liven up the Christmas stocking occasion and provide a premium treat for families.

Boorer recommends including the Thorntons Continental range, which generated a sales value of £14m last year, as well as the Thorntons Classics range, currently in growth of 21% and worth £27.8m in value sales.

“This positive performance showcases a key opportunity for a strong core boxed range all year round, as well as at Christmas, without requiring retailers to create extra space on shelf or run the risk of having residual seasonal specific products left that may lose relevance after the occasion,” Boorer explains.

Ferrero’s Levi Boorer on maximising your festive confectionery

Kinder

Rolling out from September is a 167g Kinder Beuno Advent Calendar (RRP £7), which will include eight classic, seven white and seven dark mini Kinder Beunos with door 24 hiding a full classic Kinder Bueno.

The launch is designed to support retailers in offering shoppers more choice and drive excitement in the lead up to Christmas day.

Meanwhile, the Kinder brand is undergoing a full refresh of its Christmas artwork on all seasonal lines to offer a modern look and feel, to create standout on shelf and encourage purchase.

Returning this year is the Santa Hollow Figures 100g (RRP £2.50), Santa surprise 75g (RRP £3.03) and the Kinder Egg 100g (RRP £6.35) to help shoppers looking for stocking fillers.

Boorer said: “Last year, Kinder stocking fillers had strong value sales of £2.7m as shoppers celebrated the festive season by picking up a range of smaller treats that can either be great stocking fillers or simple self-treats.

“Kinder is a trusted and loved brand by shoppers all year round, which translates on-shelf at Christmas, with the novelty shapes and figures featured across the seasonal range to drive excitement during the festive period.”