Latest news with #Hellmann
Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Supermarket own-brand ketchup crowned better than Heinz in taste test – plus it's a third cheaper too
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEINZ Ketchup is a classic for BBQs, picnics and summer parties - and it's rare to find anything just as good. But consumer site Which? has conducted a new taste test comparing the classic brand with supermarket own brand ketchups - and it's found a bargain alternative. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Which? tested eight supermarket own-brand ketchups versus Heinz and Hellmann's Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup matched Heinz in the blind taste test, with both achieving an impressive score of 77%. At £1 for a 550g pack, it's a budget-friendly option. This works out at 18p per 100g. Meanwhile Heinz Tomato Ketchup comes with a higher price tag of £3 for a 460g pack (or 65p per 100g). By choosing Asda's version, you'll enjoy a ketchup rated just as delicious, but at less than a third of the cost. The majority of testers said the Asda ketchup had well-balanced tanginess, sweetness and strength of flavour. It also contains less salt and sugar than Heinz ketchup. However, testers praised Heinz for being one of the most visually appealing ketchups, while also scoring highly for its texture and flavour. As the priciest ketchup in the test, it's worth keeping an eye out for supermarket deals if you're a fan, making it a good idea to stock up when it's on offer. The panel of 72 testers also sampled seven other supermarket own-label ketchups, along with Hellmann's. Other supermarket versions that scored highly were Waitrose's Essential Tomato Ketchup and Aldi's Branwells Tomato Ketchup. My kid's obsessed with Heinz ketchup but can't tell difference with £1 version The Waitrose condiment scored 75% and testers said they loved its flavour and thickness. It's 95p for a 470g bottle, or 20p per 100g. Aldi's version is one of the cheapest options and scored a very reasonable 73%. A bottle will cost you 85p for 550g, which works out at 16p per 100g. The testers thought it had great texture and thickness, but not everyone liked the taste - only around half of people were satisfied with its sweetness and strength of flavour. The full list of scores HERE'S how each ketchup scored: Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup (£1 for a 550g pack) and Heinz Tomato Ketchup (£3 for a 460g pack) - 77% Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup (95p for a 470g bottle) - 75% Aldi Branwells Tomato Ketchup (85p for 550g) - 73% Co-op Tomato Ketchup – (£1.25 for 550g) - 72% Sainsbury's Tomato Ketchup (90p for 460g) – 71% Tesco Tomato Ketchup (£1 for 555g)) – 71% Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup (£2.15 for 473g) – 70% Lidl Batts Tomato Ketchup (89p for 560g) – 68% M&S Tomato Ketchup (£1 for 495g) – 61% Most of the other supermarket ketchups scored similarly - but the M&S one fell behind. Hellmann's ketchup came out as fairly average despite being one of the most expensive at £2.15 for a 473g bottle. Jessica Carson, Which? food and health editor, said: "The perfect tangy flavour boost on chips, burgers, bacon sandwiches and so much more, it isn't hard to see why tomato ketchup is one of the nation's favourite condiments. "The good news is that rather than forking out for the big brand version, you can get a tasty supermarket alternative for a third of the price."
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Influencer Marketing Gains Ground as Global Ad Budgets Tighten
(Bloomberg) -- Ashton Hall's morning routine involves dunking his head in iced Saratoga Spring Water. For the company that sells the bottled water — Hall's brand of choice for drinking, brushing his teeth and submerging himself — that's fantastic news. Shuttered NY College Has Alumni Fighting Over Its Future Trump's Military Parade Has Washington Bracing for Tanks and Weaponry NYC Renters Brace for Price Hikes After Broker-Fee Ban Do World's Fairs Still Matter? As Part of a $45 Billion Push, ICE Prepares for a Vast Expansion of Detention Space 'We're so thankful to this incredible fitness influencer called Ashton Hall,' Saratoga-owner Primo Brands Corp.'s Chief Executive Officer Robbert Rietbroek said on an earnings call after Hall's morning routine video went viral. 'He really helped put our brand on the map.' Primo Brands, which wasn't affiliated with Hall when he made his video, is among the increasing number of companies benefiting from influencer co-signs. Handbag-maker Coach, once synonymous with mall discounts, has become a Gen-Z status symbol and saw sales soar thanks to TikTok influencers expanding their collection of purses adorned with little cherry or pretzel charms. With economic turmoil squeezing ad budgets, content creators are seen as better value than other marketing areas. 'While it's true we are seeing brands begin to pull back in marketing expenditure as a whole, the creator economy is surging,' said Kenny Gold, head of social, content and influencer at Deloitte Digital. The global influencer marketing industry is projected to grow 36% between 2024 and 2025 to reach $33 billion, Statista data shows. 'This year will be the first year that advertising revenue on user generated content and platforms actually outpaces the ad revenue on professionally produced content,' said Kate Scott-Dawkins, WPP Media's global president of business intelligence. 'That's a big deal.' Unilever Plc's recently appointed CEO, Fernando Fernandez, said he will hire 20 times more influencers as part of a social-first marketing strategy because consumers are 'suspicious' of corporate branding. The owner of Dove soap and Hellmann's mayonnaise plans to dedicate as much as 50% of its ad budget to social media, up from 30% before. While fashion, beauty and accessories lead the way in employing influencer marketing, the strategy is gaining ground among consumer goods companies amid economic turbulence who are increasingly relying on influencers to position their products as premium, said Ruben Schreurs, CEO of media analytics firm Ebiquity Plc. With the expense of TV advertising, brands are starting to look at maximizing their reach more effectively, according to Alex Burgess, global president of The Goat Agency, which counts Unilever as one of its biggest clients. Globally, brands increased investment in influencer partnerships by 49% in 2024 and content creators topped social media marketing budgets, taking up a quarter of the total annual spending on average, according to Deloitte research. Influencer marketing spending is expected 'to continue to accelerate,' said Scott Morris, chief marketing officer of social media management company Sprout Social Inc. Within the last year, Publicis Groupe SA bought Influential, the largest influencer marketing company in the world by revenue, and BR Media Group, a leader in Latin America that works with 80% of the region's biggest influencers. Publicis' backing of players like Influential is a 'strong indicator' that influencer marketing is no longer a niche, said Oliver Lewis, CEO of The Fifth, an influencer marketing agency recently acquired by digital media company Brave Bison Plc. 'They have to be very acquisitive because if they don't acquire these capabilities across their network, they'll be left behind,' Ebiquity's Schreurs said. Companies often favor smaller, independent, topic-specific influencer agencies that can connect them to creators with a strong reach and a defined audience. Attracting Gen Z The appeal is the direct line to consumers. 'It works because it feels personal, relevant and real,' Sprout Social's Morris said. 'These are qualities that traditional advertising often lacks.' 'People trust people more than they trust brands,' said Rahul Titus, global head of influence at WPP-owned Ogilvy. 'Authenticity sells.' This resonates with Gen Z digital natives in particular, a cohort with $450 billion in global spending power. Micro-influencers – creators with 10,000 to 100,000 followers – 'exert great influence' on the 'the savvy and cynical' Gen Z, Jay Sinha, an associate professor of marketing at Temple University's Fox School of Business, wrote in a paper. As social commerce — where people buy and sell on social media platforms like TikTok Shop — becomes mainstream, brands want to create content with an 'easy onward journey to purchase,' said Jessica Tamsedge, EMEA CEO of Dentsu Group Inc.'s influence division. That flexibility, affordability — they're cheaper than celebrities — and direct impact, compared with the uncertain results of shooting a TV ad or setting up billboards, is appealing. 'Unlike more traditional channels, we're not weighed down by long lead times or heavy production guardrails,' said Nick Rogers, founder of influencer marketing agency The Cast, adding that campaign messaging can be adjusted, influencers recast and creative direction altered very quickly. That immediate feedback loop comes with a key risk: 'When it goes wrong, because it's social, it goes wrong very quickly,' Ogilvy's Titus said. German sportswear maker Adidas AG was forced to publicly cut ties with Kanye West in 2022, highlighting the risk of trusting a public figure with unlimited access to a phone. One way around that may be the emergence of AI-generated influencers, some of which have large followings on Instagram, TikTok or OnlyFans. Meta Platforms Inc. plans to fully automate ad creation with AI, including imagery, video, text and audience targeting, the Wall Street Journal reported. 'It's going to be very interesting to see how much value there is in being human versus an AI when it comes to engaging audiences,' Ebiquity's Schreurs said, adding that influencers' livelihood may be at risk from the shift. When it comes to concerns over brand safety, clients could look more favorably on an AI-generated influencer where everything can be controlled and there are no skeletons in the closet, WPP Media's Scott-Dawkins said. For now, the growth runway remains clear for influencer marketing. 'What used to be seen as a bolt-on is now right at the center,' The Fifth's Lewis said. American Mid: Hampton Inn's Good-Enough Formula for World Domination The Spying Scandal Rocking the World of HR Software New Grads Join Worst Entry-Level Job Market in Years As Companies Abandon Climate Pledges, Is There a Silver Lining? US Tariffs Threaten to Derail Vietnam's Historic Industrial Boom ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hellman's Wants to Help a Couple Get Hitched in Vegas
Hellman's Wants to Help a Couple Get Hitched in Vegas originally appeared on Parade Home & Garden. In news to absolutely no one, weddings are really expensive. This plain fact has forced crafty brides to DIY everything from wedding centerpieces to thrifting dinner plates. However, in an unlikely union, Hellmann's (yes, the mayo folks) want to provide one lucky couple with a free Vegas wedding. Interestingly, it's all in an effort to celebrate their new line of chicken tender dips. So, instead of saying "I Do," you can say "I Dip." And that's not even the wildest part of the whole winning couple will tie the knot ahead of National Chicken Tender Day on July 27 at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel. But in order to win, you have to enter for the chance by sharing your love story by June 20. If you're wondering exactly what this prize comes with, here's the deal: there's a ceremony officiated by Hellmann's mascot, Manny Mayo and a reception featuring chicken tender towers (of course) and plenty of Hellmann's Chicken Tender Dips. There will also be a professional photographer to capture these precious moments, and a $5,000 stipend to cover travel you do have to be 21 or older to win and must be engaged or a super serious relationship in order to win. Because, yes, you will be getting legally married on July 21 in Sin City. Honestly, the only thing that would make this even better is some sort of reception duet between Manny Mayo and an Elvis impersonator. Is that really too much to ask? Quickie Vegas weddings rose to popularity in the 1950s, thanks to Nevada's relaxed marriage laws—no waiting periods, no blood tests (back then it was a thing) and 24/7 wedding chapels. It became the go-to spot for impulsive nuptials, attracting everyone from young lovers to celebrities craving privacy and speed (though there was nothing private about Britney Spears' quickie wedding to Jason Alexander, am I right?). Las Vegas embraced the image, adding Elvis impersonators, drive-thru ceremonies and themed chapels to the mix. It's still a favorite for couples wanting a fun, fuss-free and slightly rebellious way to say "I do" without all the planning and pressure of a traditional Wants to Help a Couple Get Hitched in Vegas first appeared on Parade Home & Garden on Jun 4, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade Home & Garden on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Unilever axes 6,000 jobs as it eyes sale of ice cream business
Unilever slashed its full-time employee global headcount by 6,000 in the first quarter of this year as part of an €800million cost-cutting drive. The consumer giant's headcount reduction will see 7,500 job losses in total, from 'mainly office-based roles', according to Unilever. Unilever said on Thursday it expects to realise around €550million of the programme's savings by the end of this year and forecasts restructuring costs of around 1.4 per cent of its turnover in 2025. Before the restructure, Unilever employed around 6,000 employees in Britain and 128,000 globally. The group said it was pressing ahead with the separation and listing of its Ben & Jerry's and Magnum ice cream arm, to be called The Magnum Ice Cream Company, by the end of this year, while it will operate as a standalone business from 1 July. The business will have its primary listing in Amsterdam, with secondary listings in London and New York. On Trump's tariffs, Unilever said it expected the impact of new trade tariffs on its profitability 'to be limited and manageable'. It added: 'All this being said, we are conscious that the macroeconomic environment, currency stability and consumer sentiment remain uncertain and we will be agile in adjusting our plans as necessary.' Recently appointed chief executive Fernando Fernandez, said: 'Heightened global macroeconomic uncertainty is a fact; however the quality of our innovation programme, the strong investment behind our brands and our improving competitiveness give us confidence we will deliver on our full-year plans.' Unilever beat estimates for first-quarter underlying sales growth, helped by price increases and strong demand for its premium products. Consumer goods companies, already struggling to regain shopper loyalty after sharply hiking prices for years, have in recent months found themselves forced to navigate unpredictable consumer habits shaped by fears over the impact of Trump's tariffs. The update on Thursday marked Unilever's first since it surprised investors in February by ousting former boss Hein Schumacher and appointing Fernandez as his successor in March. The maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream reported a 3 per cent rise in underlying sales growth for the quarter ending 31 March, topping analysts' expectations of a 2.8 per cent increase, and reaffirmed its 2025 outlook. Under Schumacher, Unilever had laid out cost cuts last year, including separating the ice cream division through a demerger and cutting thousands of jobs to address years of underperformance. The company said in February that its ice cream business would be listed in Amsterdam and have secondary listings in London and New York. Unilever, whose other brands include Vaseline, Hellmann's mustard and Lifebuoy, said it was confident about its full-year plans despite the global macroeconomic uncertainty. Unilever shares rose 0.29 per cent or 14.00p to 4,830.00p on Thursday, having risen around 25 per cent in the last year. On Wednesday, Reckitt unveiled shrinking sales and warned that 'market conditions' could affect the sale of its Essential Home cleaning products arm as it reported a slight miss on quarterly sales expectations. Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said: 'Unilever has dodged the bullets which harmed Reckitt Benckiser following its update yesterday, with a rather more solid outlook which gives investors additional clarity. 'For many, Unilever will continue to be seen as a solid defensive play and a core constituent of most portfolios. 'While there are inevitably many similarities with its peer Reckitt Benckiser, there are also subtle differences which elevate Unilever to be the preferred play in this sector, with the market consensus of the shares as a cautious buy reflecting rather more visible growth and strategic prospects.'
Metro
21-04-2025
- Business
- Metro
Cult US sauce finally lands in the UK — but some say it smells like 'PVA glue'
Move over mayonnaise, because Hellmann's is launching a brand new sauce in supermarkets — and it's one UK fans have been waiting for. Hellmann's Creamy Ranch is available in Tesco, after first announcing the news nearly a week ago, with an Instagram post seductively dunking a chicken tender in a pot of dressing on Instagram. It captioned the post: 'Sauce history has just been MADE.' While ranch is a popular condiment in the USA, dubbed 'bigger than ketchup', it's not quite such a big deal on shores, meaning Brits returning home from their American holidays have no choice but to pine for the creamy sauce from a-far. It's perhaps no surprise then that this new offering from Hellman's , which is also being launched with a Spicy Ranch variety, has caused quite the stir online. 'Oh man! I hope this is close to American Ranch! Every version I have here tends to taste a lot different,' wrote Lucy Brookes on Facebook. A bewildered American took to Reddit to share their dismay that ranch sauce isn't a big staple on UK supermarket shelves. 'Does the UK hate ranch sauce?' they wrote. 'I can't seem to find ranch sauce anywhere in supermarkets?' The poster continued: 'I'm shocked it's not popular enough to warrant it being stocked in the shops. Am I not looking hard enough or is there really no demand for ranch sauce in this country?' But prayers have now been answered, with many shoppers keen to give the American staple a whirl. 'Okay I need to get this,' wrote Instagram user @ on Hellman's announcement post, while another wrote: 'Oh lord, yes please.' But not everyone was impressed. 'Don't get your hopes up,' wrote Charrlotte Badgerr Bakerr on Facebook, who had already tested the Hellmann's sauces. 'Tried it today and quite disappointed. Smells a bit like PVA glue with a hint of garlic.' The Creamy Ranch is made with buttermilk and garlic, described as having a 'cool and tangy' flavour, while the spicy version swaps out the garlic for chillies, and is all about the heat. You can pick yourself up a bottle for just £2.60 or £2 if you've got a Tesco Clubcard. More Trending This offering could be also be a big hit for those searching for heat as the trend for spicier sauces continues, which has forced brands like Hellmann's to diversify their offerings. This has already led to the launch of a spicy mayo and Chilli Charger mayo, and now its Spicy Ranch is the latest addition to the gang. These are by no means the brand's most divisive offerings though. Back in 2022, it introduced Gravy mayo – a rich taste of gravy with creamy mayo, in a bid to unite the chippy tea preferences (gravy up north, mayonnaise down south) of the nation. Anyhow, you'll need to run, not walk, to scoop up Hellmann's new sauces at Tesco before they fly off the shelves. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: Aldi is finally bringing back its 'sell-out' sweet treat to shelves for just £1.79 MORE: Full list of supermarket opening times on Easter Monday including Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons MORE: Full list of supermarket opening times over Easter including Tesco, Aldi and Morrisons
