“Full support” for convenience – KP Snacks’ Collins

KP Snacks has committed to “stand firmly” with the convenience channel as it continues to battle the impacts of Covid-19.

The snack brand’s Trading Director, Matt Collins, paid homage to the role wholesalers and retailers are playing throughout the crisis and pledged KP’s “full support” to help them with this.

This will be welcome news for the channel as they struggle to maintain stock levels and availability amid increased interest in independent retail.

“At KP Snacks, we stand firmly together with retailers and wholesalers and offer our full support during this time,” said Collins.

“We’re doing our best to respond by being flexible and adaptable in managing our production and supply chain to ensure our core products are available to stock, while continuing to prioritise the safety of our customers, colleagues, trade partners and following the government’s guidelines.

“We continue to work closely with retailers and wholesalers to refine our approach to meet their needs as the situation evolves.”

In the weeks following the announcement of lockdown measures in March, KP Snacks has registered a shift in demand with the crisp, nuts and snacks category, with in-home consumption driving growth.

Impulse and singles may declined in the face of coronavirus, yet sharing saw an increase of 16.2% in March, with price-marked packs key to this. Multipacks also saw a healthy increase in March and that trend is likely to carry on while restrictions stay in place.

“The convenience channel is thriving and has played an increasingly important role in top up missions,” Collins explained.

“However, shopper behaviour is rapidly changing with more and more shoppers relying on their local convenience store for essential supplies, as well as the most popular convenience segments of confectionery, snacks and drinks.

“As retailers and wholesalers are already well aware, effective stock management is challenging in this uncertain period, with grocery essentials in high demand. Initial figures show a surge in demand for crisps, snacks and nuts products, with snacks in the top 10 of all FMCG categories.”

convenience covid-19 KP Snacks Matt Collins retail wholesale