Sephra Popcorn to Launch Bagged Low Calorie Popcorn at UK Food & Drinks Expo

Sephra Popcorn, the UK’s most popular retail tubbed popcorn, has announced that it’s going to use the highly engaged platform provided by the UK Food & Drinks Expo, taking place at the NEC in Birmingham 13th-15th April, to debut a brand new addition to its portfolio.

Trusted in major retail and entertainment venues across the UK, including Asda & Morrisons, alongside independent cinemas, theatres, and sports stadium, Sephra Popcorn will be introducing both 100g and 70g bagged popcorn, with a choice of three of its best selling flavours, Sweet, Salted & Sweet & Salty. Fully HFSS compliant, these bagged options offer a healthier, lower calorie popcorn, which will allow Sephra to penetrate new markets and sectors.

Sephra Popcorn’s Stand number, T119, is part of the Farm Shop & Deli Show, one of the four shows which makes up the overall Expo.

An event specifically designed to drive growth in speciality retail, the Farm Shop & Deli Show displays the best quality local regional produce, plus the latest in equipment, labelling and packaging solutions, making it a must attend for all types of food manufacturers and producers.

In attending the Expo, Sephra Popcorn is joining over 1,200 innovative exhibitors from the worlds of grocery, specialist retail, wholesale, foodservice and hospitality.

Buyers at Farm Shop & Deli will have the opportunity to sample the new bagged popcorn and engage directly with Sephra representatives.

“Strong visitor numbers, together with its very engaged attendees, attract us to exhibit at the Food & Drinks Expo,” said Callum Bond, Sales & Business Development Manager for Sephra.

“The Farm Shop & Deli Show particularly offers us an audience in speciality food, within which sits our respected popcorn brand,” he continued.

“As such, we thought we would take the plunge this year in not just attending, but in introducing a new product line. What better opportunity can there be to gain important feedback on taking our successful popcorn into bags?” added Callum.

“Our quality foil lined tubs, in their distinctive striped packaging, are still very much available as part of our product lines.  They work brilliantly in certain settings, however having bagged popcorn, in addition to tubbed, will allow us to take on the established brands in the supermarket snack & crisp aisles, which is a very effective way of gaining a much greater market share than has been previously available to us.”

Callum went on to say that with the SRP (shelf ready packaging) for the bagged lines allowing for easier, lower cost transport, together with offering a slightly longer shelf life, the bagged popcorn would enable Sephra Popcorn to attack wholesale as a route to market.

“It opens up the huge numbers of small convenience stores that we can sometimes struggle to service directly,” he said. 

Commenting on the current choice of three flavours, he said: “We are replicating our existing tubbed offering with the three classic flavours, Sweet, Salted and Sweet & Salty to start with, as these are still our highest volume flavours. Hence, they are a great starting point to begin some new supply relationships, and grow brand awareness, after which we can look at expanding our range of flavours and pack sizes.”

“It’s a very similar approach that proved highly successful with our tubbed lines.”

Sephra Popcorn Bags will be targeting both retail supermarkets & convenience stores, as well as the leisure sector, including cinemas and holiday parks.

Callum finished by saying: “With HFSS (High Fat Sugar Salt) regulations in place in England already, and coming later this year in Scotland, we will be looking to develop more lines that are HFSS compliant.”

“Offering consumers healthier choices, without compromise on taste or flavour, is a major focus for snack manufacturers, and is a challenge we are embracing.”

Further details at www.sephra.com