Mexican snacking was identified as a gap for Tayto so we Tayto Muchos was launched in 2019 to compete with key global competitors. To be successful, our product would have to be unique so we launched a quesadilla style corn and wheat-based tortilla snack in three flavours. The launch was supported with careful research, planning around listings and distribution, POS and in-store activities, a bespoke ATL campaign on TV and OOH and BTL activity with PR, digital and trade press. Tayto Muchos was the best-selling crisps & snacks NPD in 2019 and has proven itself to be the Muchos Mexican Snack!

In 2019, Kerry Foods set about shaking up the kids snacking category by undergoing a masterbrand refresh from Cheestrings to Strings & Things, and launching their first innovation under this new masterbrand – Cheeshapes. Each bag contains a collection of real cheese pieces in random shapes. Kids delight in discovering the fun characters and objects to spark their creativity and imagination, and parents are assured by the fact that kids can enjoy a delicious cheese snack full of dairy goodness. The performance of Cheesehapes since launch has been exceptional, and the team has developed a pipeline of further kids snacking innovations.

Lucozade Suntory, alongside One MS set about converting a threat to Ribena from sugar avoidance trends and a focus on ‘good for me’ products into an opportunity to renew relevance amongst an adult audience. Noticing the consumer need for increasing their water consumption, alongside the barriers of monotony and boredom associated with hitting their water target, LRSI created a ‘One Team’ approach including retailers and customers refining and optimising their marketing efforts. The performance since launch of Ribena Frusion has been pivotal in stabilising the fortunes of Ribena, extending its reach and relevance to new audiences and delivering incremental growth to the business.

Diageo experienced mixed success with cider launches in the past but spotted an opportunity to get it ‘just right’ in 2019. Looking to understand the competitor offerings and consumer needs, Rockshore spotted a gap and created a cider to perfectly match the wants of the market. With the assistance of BBDO Dublin, this new product variant launched to market and drove rapid trial, preference and adoption at a time when the category was declining. This demonstrates that the right product, with smart branding, can re-excite an entire category of 21 to 30 year-old cider drinkers, and help overcome category challenges.

Energia’s new Moixa Smart Battery with Solar PV is pushing the boundaries of Smart Tech in homes by enabling Solar, Smart Batteries and Electric Vehicle Charge Points to take part in Ireland's evolving electricity system. This product maximizes the value of renewable energy generated from sunlight, reduces carbon footprint, enabling customers to take advantage of low off-peak electricity prices. Energia is addressing challenges faced by the energy industry including decarbonisation of electricity supply and the intermittency of renewable power. It proves that with premium lifestyle-based technology products, in a niche market, that there is opportunity for success.