Branston, the UK’s best-selling pickle brand, is to launch a UK sampling tour this month, as part of a wider marketing initiative to aimed at reinforcing the pickle brand’s positioning as ‘the perfect partner for cheese’.

The activity will amplify the success of the brand’s ‘Please The Cheese’ campaign and bring Mr. Cheddar, the down to earth hero of the TV ad, to life. At each event, Mr. Cheddar will greet consumers with samples and tap into the nation’s love affair with cheese by encouraging them to pose and upload photos on Instagram using the #PleaseTheCheese hashtag.

The tour will take place at 11 events and 12 supermarkets and comprises of 39 live activities across the UK from now until the end of the year. Key dates include Lambeth Country Show in London (21-22 July), Bristol Balloon Fiesta (9-12 August) and Bournemouth Air Festival (30 August-2 September).

At the events, consumers will be able to try different products from the Branston pickle and chutney ranges, accompanied by Cathedral City cheese and Jacob’s crackers from the Branston sampling van. With up to 5,000 samples distributed per day, Branston’s sampling activity aims to reach more than two million consumers in total and recruit a new generation of pickle lovers by reminding them of the delicious taste combination of cheese and pickle.

Branston lunchboxes, key rings and goodie bags will be handed out and consumers will also be given recipe cards, Branston dip pots and money off coupons for Branston pickle.

Nisha George, senior brand manager at brand owner Mizkan, says: “We wanted to bring this association to life in an impactful way to reconnect with our loyal customers, engage a host of new ones and to invigorate the pickle category nationwide.”

The Branston brand is owned by Mizkan Euro, the European subsidiary of Mizkan, a privately-owned Japanese business started in 1804, which is the number one Sushi seasoning supplier in the world. Mizkan is a global business with over 210 years’ experience in producing high quality products. Mizkan Euro brands include Branston Pickle, Hayward’s Pickled Vegetables, Sarson’s Vinegar and Dufrais vinegar.

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Brands including alcohol-free Budweiser Prohibition Brew, Walkers Max Strong, Branston, Primula and Bodean’s have signed on as partners for National BBQ Week, a multi-brand experiential, sampling and marketing campaign which returns for the 22nd year from Monday May 28th.

The organisers say that National Barbecue Week is one of the UK’s top awareness weeks and has, since its launch in 1997, been a “catalyst for growth in the BBQ market” according to PR Week and also being “fundamental in changing consumer attitudes to BBQ” according to Mintel and The Grocer.

Launching on Spring Bank Holiday and running from 28th May until the 3rd of June, the awareness week will be incorporating a dynamic digital, PR and media focus set to reach over 25 million people. There will also be experiential sampling at the launch of London’s ‘Summer by the River’ festival from the 1st to the 3rd June, where a further 150,000 people will be exposed to the campaign.

Key sponsors for this year’s campaign are: Official Alcohol-Free Beer: Budweiser Prohibition Brew; Official Snack: Walkers Max Strong; Official Sauce: Branston; Official Cheese: Primula; and Official BBQ Restaurant: Bodean’s.

Competitions will be run through media and through social media channels including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook including the return of the BBQ Baptas. Consumers will be encouraged to send in videos of their fun barbecue or grilling technique and results, with the aim of winning a BBQ Bapta Award, a cash prize and a BarbiBox, full of product from the sponsors.

Along with the UK’s leading BBQ Website full of hints, tips, recipes and guides to ‘Being a Better BBQ’er’, there is also a Barbi Blog, with messages from the sponsors and chief GrillMaster, Brian George, founder of National BBQ Week.

George, who runs agency Grocery Gurus, says: “National BBQ Week is one of the UK’s biggest awareness weeks and has helped change consumer BBQ attitudes and usage from just 9 million in 1997 to over 130 million last year with the overall BBQ food and drink market being worth around £1.3 billion, up from just £150 million back in 1997.”

Grocery Gurus will also be organizing other multi-brand campaigns including WorldBeerathoN in October (to coincide with Octoberfest), Get Wine Wise in November, Mixorama (for at-home cocktails) in December, and National Wine Week, from 26th November to 2nd December.

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Heinz Yellow Mustard is marking its partnership as the new Official Mustard sponsor of the NFL in the UK with an integrated campaign which includes a competition to win a range of prizes including a trip to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.

Heinz’s partnership with NFL UK is brought to life through the Ultimate Playbook, a series of creative assets designed for social, print and outdoor channels, supported by in-store execution in Tesco featuring POS, and shippers.

The NFL has played 17 regular season games in London in the past decade and is set to play four fixtures for the first time this season, including two at Wembley and Twickenham Stadiums. Television coverage is carried by the BBC, Sky Sports, iPlayer and GamePass, attracting audiences of around 23 million.

Fans are being challenged to upload their “ultimate play” to the Ultimate Playbook to be in with the chance of winning the main prize. The competition runs throughout the NFL’s London games season.

The promotion has been put together for Heinz UK by creative social agency Media Bounty.

Joel Hughes, senior brand manager, Heinz Yellow Mustard, said: “The partnership between our mustard and the NFL in the UK is extremely exciting as it places Heinz Yellow Mustard as the go-to condiment at the NFL games, therefore driving further awareness of the brand and its fantastic taste credentials.”

Media Bounty managing director Jake Dubbins says: “To add colour and flavour, we’ve created a series of visual assets which explore the different rules and regulations of NFL. These draw on the game’s glossary to explain terms such as fumble and touchdown, aligning Heinz Yellow Mustard as the perfect accompaniment for game day staples like hot dogs and burgers.”

The promotion runs until November 6^th 2017, with four prize draw periods ending September 4^th, September 25^th, October 16^th and November 6^th.

In each of the first two periods, 20 fans will win pairs of tickets to various NFL UK games at either Wembley or Twickenham stadiums. In the third draw period, 25 winners will each receive an NFL merchandise bundle worth £200.

In the final draw period, one winner will receive a trip for themselves and a guest to visit Minneapolis and attend Super Bowl LII on February 4^th 2018. The prize includes return economy flights from a London airport to Minneapolis, transfers to and from the hotel, three nights in a 4* hotel in Minneapolis sharing a twin or double room, daily breakfast, two tickets to Super Bowl LII and £300 spending money.

There is need to buy the product to enter. To take part, fans have to go to nfl.heinz.co.uk and submit their tip or tips to create the ultimate game day meal, in no more than 500 characters. One tip can be entered per draw period.

Upon submitting a tip, entrants will be prompted to share the promotion. Entrants can share the suggested caption, or a caption of their choosing including “heinz.co.uk/NFL” on Twitter for an additional entry to the active prize draw.

Winners will be selected at random from all valid entries via an independently verified, randomised computer process within one working day of each draw’s closing date.

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Baxters Food Group has launched a new digitally-led campaign, #GetTopping, for its new Deli Toppers range of street food inspired pickles.

The campaign was developed by lead agency The Big Kick, and uses 20 foodie influencers (bloggers/vloggers) to drive advocacy of the new product online. The Big Kick came up with a content strategy and online creative hub that houses the campaign activity.

The “#GetTopping” campaign sees each influencer posting up to four recipes and ‘hacks’ and sharing via their social media channels and on the Baxters hub (delitoppers.com). The hub also offers the chance to win 1 of 100 Deli Toppers jars being given away daily, as well as encouraging consumers to post a picture with #GetTopping for a chance to win other prizes.

Christine Clarke, Head of Marketing for Baxters Food Group, comments: “Street food and casual dining is booming in the UK – Deli Toppers takes this trend and helps consumers recreate the flavours they love from their favourite dining experience, in their own home.  These bold and lively ingredients will add a modern kick to the fixture and, importantly, help to bring younger shoppers to the category.  It’s a store cupboard essential for people who love to get creative in the kitchen. Quite simply, they can’t be topped!”

Barbara Holgate, Managing Partner for The Big Kick, adds: “It’s an exciting time for brands using this space to reach their audience. Consumers are continually seeking out recommendations and advice from bloggers and vloggers who they actively follow online, so for brands to be talked about and recommended in this way offers an authenticity and legitimacy other channels can’t offer.”

Inspired by the street food revolution with its colourful flavour and taste combinations, Deli Toppers are a versatile range of toppings, created for foodies looking to add a flavoursome finish to dishes at home such as hot dogs, pulled pork, salads or wraps. There are four deliciously bold varieties to choose from – Red Slaw, Spicy Slaw, Red Onion and Jalapeños.

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Branston is making back to school lunches special by helping parents decorate their kids’ sandwich bags with witty cartoon illustrations.

Branston’s “Bags of Fun” project, created by agency by mcgarrybowen, centres on a gallery of fun designs (one for every day in September) hosted on a new Branston website, which goes live September 2^nd 2016 at https://bringoutthebranston.co.uk/bagsoffun/

Parents can go to the site, pick an image to draw and either place a clear sandwich bag over the screen or tablet, or print a hard copy version and trace on the bag with a permanent marker.

The idea was inspired by Bryan Dunn, an American art director/designer, who drew cool cartoon images on his son’s lunch bags every day for two years.

Branston’s “Bags of Fun” gives parents everywhere the tools to put some fun into their kids’ packed school lunches and beat those back-to-school blues. The project launched on Branston’s website and across the brand’s social media channels, including Facebook and Instagram, on Friday, September 2nd.

Jane Briers, Creative Director at mcgarrybowen, said: “We felt this was a project that would get to the heart of parents everywhere, enabling them to make a simple, playful yet meaningful connection with their kids, even when they are back at school. It also demonstrates that when you put a little effort into making something, you make it that extra bit special.”

Lorna Kimberley, Head of Marketing at Mizkan Europe Ltd., which owns Branston, commented: “Branston will always make a sandwich that extra bit special but now parents have the tool to make it even more so! September signals the end of the holidays and this can be a tough time for both parents and kids. This activity by mcgarrybowen finds a way the brand could continue the summertime fun as kids head back to school.”

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Walkers and Heinz have linked up for the latest on-pack promotion, “Go Barmy for a Sarnie”, from the UK’s leading savoury snack brand.

Walkers has released six new limited edition sandwich-inspired crisp flavours, including ingredients from Heinz’s range of sauces.

The new flavour variants include: Toasted Cheese and Worcester Sauce; Bacon and Ketchup; Cheese, Cucumber and Salad Cream; Roast Chicken and Mayonnaise; Ham and Mustard; and Sausage and Brown Sauce.

The launch is being supported by the on-pack promotion, which invites consumers to enter for the chance to win £10,000 every week, as well as ‘sarnie’ themed prizes and free crisps.

Promotional packs will be available in store from the second week in August, in 40g singles and key multi-pack formats. The packs contain a unique code that shoppers can enter online to find out if they are a winner.

The “Go Barmy for a Sarnie” campaign is set to run for 11 weeks and will be supported by television advertising as well as PR, digital and social media activity.

Thomas Barkholt, Marketing Director at PepsiCo, says: “The campaign is based on strong insights around the importance of sandwiches and snacks to British consumers. Crisps are a regular feature at lunchtime for many people, so we came up with a concept that would incorporate them both; giving Brits the chance to try the great taste of their favourite sandwiches in crisp format. “Heinz products are a great fit with popular sandwich flavours, so we are delighted to be working with Heinz on this promotion.”

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Branston Pickle, the UK’s best-selling pickle brand, and Pilgrims Choice, the UK’s number two cheddar brand, are running a joint promotion to celebrate the classic flavour combination of cheese and pickle.

The new promotional tie up will focus on driving frequency of purchase and usage via an on-pack promotion, starting in July and running until the end of September, which gives consumers the chance to win a year’s supply of cheese or pickle.

Branston Pickle and Pilgrims Choice will also be creating a series of recipes highlighting new and exciting ways to combine the two food staples. These recipes will be hosted on a bespoke website launched for the campaign, www.cheeseandpickle.co.uk. The simple, everyday recipes, such as macaroni cheese, a ploughman’s sandwich and a bean burger, will also be supported through a joint PR and social media programme.

In addition to this Branston Pickle is partnering with popular street food trader Grill My Cheese to create the formula for the perfect toastie incorporating the complementary pairing of cheese and pickle. This partnership will highlight top toastie tips to consumers and will be supported by video and recipe content.

Lorna Kimberley, Head of Marketing, Mizkan Euro, says: ‘Our main objective with this partnership is to drive frequency of purchase of both brands, by highlighting how cheese and pickle are the perfect partners. As our products share the same usage occasion, the mighty sandwich, as well as having similar brand values, working together is a natural fit. Partnering with Grill My Cheese will provide an excellent platform from which to engage consumers in a fun, credible and compelling way. ’

The Branston brand is now owned by Mizkan Euro, the European subsidiary of Mizkan, a privately-owned, Japanese business started in 1804, which is the number one Sushi seasoning supplier in the world. Mizkan Euro owns Branston Pickle, Hayward’s Pickled Vegetables and Sarson’s Vinegar.

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Branston, the UK’s favourite pickle brand, will be sampling at the Battle Proms and Folk by the Oak this summer to raise awareness of its chutney range and its use in the traditional British picnic. The sampling series, using the Branston Pickle van, will run across the country in July and August.

The sampling activity consists of five Battle Proms concerts, the UK’s premier picnic concert series, and an appearance at Folk by the Oak, a one day festival at Hatfield House in London. The picnic-focussed events are the perfect pairing for a brand that is synonymous with sandwiches and the picnic occasion.

According to consumer research by Branston, 24% of the UK currently include Branston Pickle in their picnics. The summer sampling activity aims to also drive association for Branston Chutney with the meal occasion.

The brand will amplify the activity through targeted social media and by offering VIP tickets to the music events through social media competitions. Attendees will also have the opportunity to sign up to receive digital coupons to get money off their next purchase of Branston, extending the longevity of the campaign.

The Branston Chutney range launched for Christmas in 2014 and is the fastest growing chutney in the category, with 84.7% growth year-on-year.

Jonathan Jones, Branston Assistant Brand Manager said: “We want to extend the chutney eating occasion from a Christmas cheeseboard into the summer months by demonstrating how well they work for picnics. The picnic concerts have a discerning picnicker attending and we can’t wait to show them how they can make their hampers special with Branston.”

Branston Pickle will be sampling across the country from 9^th July to 13^TH August at the following locations:

• Battle Proms, Burghley House, Lincolnshire: 9^th July;
• Battle Proms, Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire: 16^th July;
• Battle Proms, Hatfield House, Hertfordshire: 23^rd July’
• Folk by the Oak, Hatfield House, Hertfordshire: 24^th July;
• Battle Proms, Highclere Castle, Berkshire: 6^th August;
• Battle Proms, Ragley Hall, Warwickshire: 13^th

The Branston brand is now owned by Mizkan Euro, the European subsidiary of Mizkan, a privately-owned, Japanese business started in 1804, which is the number one Sushi seasoning supplier in the world. Mizkan Euro owns Branston Pickle, Hayward’s Pickled Vegetables and Sarson’s Vinegar.

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Bovril and Colman’s are partnering with the upcoming Dad’s Army film, with new limited edition Bovril packaging and an on-pack promotion offering fans the chance to win a holiday, a Dad’s Army mug or a shovel-shaped spoon.

The limited edition Bovril jars highlight the brand’s heritage as an iconic and trusted stock paste and hot savoury drink brand, which has kept Great Britain warm since 1886 and was used as part of military rations for soldiers during World War II.

Bovril’s three Dad’s Army-themed jars, which launched January 1st, promote the launch of the new film. They feature nostalgic motivational war messages such as Dig In For Victory, Beef Up For The Home Front and Dad’s Army Wants You Beefy.

Colman’s and Bovril – which are owned by Unilever – are supporting the partnership through the joint competition, which is being hosted on the Colman’s website (www.colmans.co.uk/dadsarmy). Prizes include a holiday in Yorkshire, a trip for two to Bletchley Park, 250 mugs and 1,000 shovel spoons.

Jonathan Roberts, assistant brand manager for Bovril, says: “Bovril and Colman’s are steeped in heritage and our promotion of the Dad’s Army movie is a great opportunity to remind consumers of the role each brand played in supporting Britons during World War II. Bovril formed part of military war rations and the government refused to ration Colman’s so Brits could add flavour to war time meals.”

Roberts adds: “In addition to Bovril’s limited edition packaging, our joint competition is an exciting opportunity to generate buzz around both brands and promote the launch of the film in February.”

The Dad’s Army partnership follows Bovril’s return to TV advertising in December 2015 for the first time in 20 years, with a rerun of its classic Bovril Biker advert. Bovril also launched three limited edition Bovril jars in January 2015 with labels featuring early 20th century advertisements, helping remind consumers of the part Bovril has played in ‘Keeping Britain’s chin up since 1886’.

The jar designs included the famous ‘Alas my poor brother’ slogan from the turn of the 20th century, imagery from the 1930s that encourages consumers not to forget the Bovril, and also from the 1960s which reminds people that a mug of Bovril ‘Prevents that sinking feeling’.

Dad’s Army, the feature film based on the iconic British TV comedy series, will march into cinemas on February 5. Directed by BAFTA award-winning director Oliver Parker, the film brings together an award-winning British cast Dad’s Army’s all-star British cast including Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones, Tom Courtenay and Michael Gambon.

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