Product innovation will be at the very top of the agenda when the UK’s only independent convenience show returns this (March 30th March -1st April, NEC Birmingham). The National Convenience Show (NCS) floor will be alive with 130+ exhibitors, boasting over 30 brand new product launches.
Convenience retailers will get the inside track on 2020’s latest, greatest launches, alongside the chance to see, sample and secure a fast track to profitability.
The NCS exhibitor line-up reads like an industry ‘who’s who’ with no fewer than five symbol groups in attendance, alongside innovators like Eat Natural, General Mills, Juul, Graze, Maximuscle, Phillip Morris International, Muller Yoghurt and Desserts, Mondelez, Love Raw Limited, Nestle UK Ltd, Ritter Sport Chocolate UK Ltd, Tetley and Weetabix Ltd, to name but a few.
High Protein Snacking
With demand for healthy, high protein snacks growing by over 40% last year*, National Convenience Show is set to highlight to C-stores how they can take their share. Yes! Snacks (Stand G51) will be unveiling its newest Dark Chocolate, Banana & Pecan Fruit & Nut Bar mixing sweet pieces of banana with crunchy pecans and dark couverture chocolate. High in protein, fibre and completely gluten-free, it also contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is wrapped in recyclable paper made from sustainable sources.
Warrior (Stand E70) CRUNCH Banoffee Pie Bars are reportedly the result of over 12 months of research and development – a high protein (20 grams – almost as much as a chicken breast!) low carb, low sugar snack bar encased in a layer of caramel, and wrapped in chocolate, which the makers call the ‘perfect bar for dieting, eating clean, and keeping lean all year round’.
CLIF® (Stand G60) will be showcasing its Nut Butter Filled Bars, helping customers satisfy their tastebuds and benefit from a snack that includes 6-7g of plant-based protein. Available in Chocolate Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Hazelnut flavours, this certified organic range is sure to catch the eyes of mindful snackers.
CBD Innovation
Labelled as the ‘most important ingredient of the decade’ CBD is finding its way into all manner of products. As interest around its usage and so-called miracle properties grows, National Convenience Show will be offering retailers the inside track.
Two Wise Chimps (Stand L61) says it has hit upon the easiest and tastiest way to get CBD into a daily routine by way of its sugar-free, CBD chewing gum. The gum not only delivers 5mg of high purity CBD per piece, it also freshens breath. The innovative company also has two more flavours – Caffeine and Charcoal – for C-store owners to get their teeth (and gums) into.
Endo Sport’s (Stand F81) Berry and Tropical and Orange flavoured sports drinks have been formulated with 10mg of CBD, derived from all natural, agriculturally grown hemp. The company’s newest flavours also provide optimal hydration whilst replacing electrolytes lost through physical activity.
Tobacco and Vaping
Helping C-stores drive further basket spend and compete with specialist vaping stores is Aquavape’s (Stand G21) innovative new Vape Store in a Store Concept.
The company has partnered with well-known vaping brands such as Innokin and Smok to create sales solutions for any size store from countertop stands to 2m display kiosks with integrated touch screen displays, all the way up to a full ‘shop in a shop’ setup.
Aquavape’s installation teams are accredited shop fitters and can create bespoke furniture to suit any store footprint.
Designed to fit either under a counter or at the bottom of the back wall, the RDLE Low level dispenser from Navarra Retail Systems (Stand L58) frees up the back wall to display more profitable lines like spirits and vapes. Available in two sizes the dispensers are just 900mm high and 500mm deep. The larger unit is 2,650 mm wide with 84 channels for boxes and 12 for RYO pouches, while the smaller 1450 mm wide unit has 42 channels for boxes and 6 for RYO pouches.
Hot and Cold Beverages
One of the UK’s market leading fruit purée and cocktail mixer brands, Funkin Cocktails (Stand E78) is launching a range of ready to drink 5% ABV nitro cocktails in a 200ml can. Available in five flavours; Pina Colada, Passion Fruit Martini, Espresso Martini, Amaretto Sour and Pink Gin Fizz, the nitro -infused cocktails offer a creamy, cascading foam head and velvety mouthfeel – and can, says the maker, be enjoyed anywhere.
Aimed squarely at consumers who want to live a more active lifestyle, Actiph is reportedly the UK's first high alkaline, ionised water. Supercharged to a pH 9.0+, Shropshire based makers Actiph Water (Stand D29) say its product offers hydration and refreshing taste in a convenient 330ml serve.
Billed as the ultimate fitness-focused beverage to support all performance needs, Monster Energy Europe Ltd (Stand C20) will be unveiling its new REIGN total body fuel range. Blended with BCAA’s, 200mg of natural caffeine and B vitamins, Monster says its newest addition is designed for active lifestyles, offering zero sugar, just 3 calories, and no artificial flavours and colours.
XITE Energy (Stand E61) caused a furore last year when its drinks sold out nationwide in Holland & Barrett in their first two weeks of sale. Now the brand, founded in parallel to co-owner Oliver Bennet’s FIA World Rallycross career, is bringing an innovative new flavour to launch at NCS.
The company’s newest addition is an infusion of real raspberries, watermelon and guava. Naturally caffeinated from green coffee beans with zero sugar and enriched with cognitive nootropics and B-vitamins, the company describes it as delicious, nutritious and ahead of the curve, in terms of drinks offers.
Registration is now open for the, the National Convenience Show; the meeting place for likeminded convenience retailers hungry for everything new in a market worth some £47bn*. With key issues such as crime, technology, political engagement, sustainability, plastics, CBD, health and wellness, food-to-go, social media and the ban on menthol cigarettes, set to be tackled head-on, visitors can go to: https://www.nationalconvenienceshow.co.uk today to register for their completely free badge.
The UK Food Shows are a product of the award-winning team at William Reed.
*Source IGD
