KP Snacks helps the licensed trade to rebuild profitable snacks sales

Britons were welcomed back to pubs and restaurants  in July when the Government gave the licensed trade the green light to reopen. Since then the way in which pubs operate has changed significantly, with strict new directives in place to ensure the safety of customers, staff and communities. The industry has quickly adjusted to this ‘new normal’, rising to the challenge to implement new restrictions whilst rebuilding sales. 

As the no.1 supplier of Bagged Snacks in pubs and bars^[1]​​​, KP Snacks is proud to support the On Trade Channel to recover and build momentum.  Snacks represent an excellent commercial opportunity for pubs, encouraging consumers to trade up and increase spend.

Matt Collins, Trading Director at KP Snacks, says: “We know that 52% of customers^[2]​​​ purchase snacks on impulse and we want to turn these impulse opportunities into incremental snack sales for pubs and bars. Crisps and Snacks can help pubs recover lost food sales occasions”.

New research shows that 45% of people will be visiting pubs less for food, whilst 51% will be spending less time on average per visit post lockdown^[3]​​​. While snacks won’t replace meal occasions, they do offer pubs and bars the opportunity to trade up drinks-only visits, with pre-packaged snacks delivering a quick and safe solution for customers.

A massive 86% of customers purchase bagged bar snacks, making it essential to stock a range of best sellers. However, 47% of customers currently say that they rarely purchase or never do^[4]​​​.  Ensuring a core range is available and, importantly, visible to consumers is key to capitalising on this opportunity

Pubs and bars can give themselves the best possible opportunity to maximise snacks sales by following a few simple tips:

• Credibility: Stock a range of best-seller snacks to meet all your customer needs
• Availability: Ensure your range is always available to purchase
• Visibility: Position your snacks with high visibility -  37% of customers purchase snacks because they noticed them while at the bar![5]​

Matt Collins adds: “Pre-packaged snacks will become ever more popular and important in the OOH environment, reassuring consumers from a hygiene perspective and giving them confidence to purchase.  Brands that consumers trust and recognise and that are highly visible are critical to driving impulse sales and encouraging customers to trade up. At KP Snacks we have one of the most versatile portfolios on the market, from our best-selling KP Nuts, perfect when paired with a beer, to flavour packed McCoy’s, the ideal accompaniment to a cold drink”.

Stocking the right range, with familiar brands that are matched to your customer base, is particularly important in driving snacks sales. Are your customers looking for a premium range? KP Snacks brands, Tyrrells and KP Nuts are the perfect partners for a cold drink. Tyrrells is an award winning hand cooked English crisp brand, while KP Nuts is the UK’s number one nut brand with 5 packs sold every minute in bars^[6]​​​.  For something more traditional, McCoy’s, the UK’s no. 1 ridge crisp brand^[7]​​​, perfectly fits the bill.  With a pack sold every three seconds^[8]​​​, Hula Hoops is ideal for a family audience, whilst popchips and POM-BEAR are brilliantly placed to capitalise on healthy snacking trends.

John Hoare, Owner of Cassidy’s in Tunbridge Wells recognises the importance of effective ranging: “I attract a wide range of customers from families to traditional sports fans. My snacking range isn’t something I have previously looked at in depth but KP Snacks worked with me to stock and sell a trusted, iconic range of snacks suitable for all of my guests. Snacks sales are up, the customers are happy and so am I”!

KP Snacks has invested in providing simple and relevant advice via its ‘Behind the Bar’ platform which offers category support and guidance to get snack sales moving for all types of outlets. This includes support and advice on what to stock, point of sale materials, and merchandising recommendations.  Pubs and bars who want help getting snacks sales moving can contact KP Snacks at gurone@xcfanpxf.pbz​.

In addition to providing merchandising and sales support, KP Snacks has partnered with the Licensed Trade Charity to help the licensed trade industry get back on its feet. A 5p donation from one million special edition Tyrrells packs will be going to charity.  The nationwide initiative, which commits to raising £50,000, will run until the end of November, while stocks last, across three of the most popular Tyrrells 40g singles format flavours: Lightly Sea Salted, Mature Cheddar & Chive and Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar.

Matt Collins concludes: “Tyrrells is a quintessentially British premium crisp brand that prides itself on producing the best quality premium hand cooked crisps on the market. With consumers choosing more premium snacks and trading up, we have the perfect brand to support the industry and we are proud to be able to support British Pubs on their journey to rebuilding and growing profitable sales”.

“At KP Snacks we stand firmly together with our trade partners and this includes helping Britain’s well-loved pub industry get back on its feet. Our partnership approach has truly never been more important, and we want to do our bit to support this community both commercially and emotionally”.

^[1]​​​ Kantar OOH Pubs & Bars Spend 52 w/e 23.02.20

^[2]​​​ CGA Pub snacking habits survey April 2020

^[3]​​​ Return of the Pub research by KAM Media in association with BII, May 2020

^[4]​​​ CGA Pub snacking habits survey April 2020 

^[5]​​​ ​CGA Pub Snacking habits survey April 2020

^[6]​​​ Kantar OOH Pubs & Bars Spend 52 w/e 29.12.19

^[7]​​​ Kantar OOH Total Market Spend 52 w/e 29.12.19

^[8]​​​ AC Nielsen, Bagged Snacks, Total Coverage, Value Sales, 52w/e 22.02.20