Butterkist has launched two new flavours of microwave popcorn, saying the expanded range taps into a trend for making fresh popcorn. Smokey Bacon Microwave popcorn and Sweet & Salted Microwave popcorn will be joined by Thai Sweet Chilli sharing and single serve offerings.
Demand for the Butterkist microwave range is increasing as sales grow by 13% year on year and to continue stimulating this trend two new flavours have been added to the range. Sweet & Salted will be available for the first time in theUKas a microwave variant and was developed based on its extreme popularity within the ready to eat market, which has seen a year on year increase of 186%. Smokey Bacon is already an established flavour in the broader snacks markets and will be the first savoury microwave offering under the Butterkist brand. Both variants hit the market in a 270g pack with an rrp of £1.99.
Reacting in line with the 26% growth experienced in the savoury category, Thai Sweet Chilli has been developed to add to the expanding Butterkist savoury range. Offering two versatile sizes, sharing (80g, rrp £1.49) and single serve (18g, rrp £0.59), the Thai Sweet Chilli flavour has been identified as a key emerging flavour within the snacking fixture.
Helena Blincow, Butterkist Brand Manager, said: “Research has shown the consumer has a real appetite and desire to find something different in the popcorn aisle. The category is extremely buoyant, with popcorn being seen as a delicious yet permissible treat. We’re confident the enticing new flavours will perform well in the market and become a staple offering within the Butterkist portfolio.”
