The Museum of Brands in Notting Hill, west London, will be launching its new display featuring
The Grocer’s ranking of the UK’s Top 100 Grocery Brands, on 18 June 2022. The Museum would
like to take this opportunity to celebrate all brands, so the first 100 visitors will be lucky enough
to get their hands on a goodie bag filled with products from popular UK brand owners.
The packs on display reflect trends in the British public’s shopping habits over the last year.
Since the UK emerged from the lockdowns and restrictions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the trend
for on-the-go buying has returned. Lucozade saw a massive (up 10.7%) increase in sales,
benefiting from revitalised impulse buying habits with their caffeinated Lucozade Alert range.
Wrigley’s saw a rise in sales (up 5.2%) since restrictions were lifted, putting success down to
under 25s getting back on the dating scene and needing a quick freshen up.
The demand for more climate-conscious packaging and the rise of vegan eating habits were also
reflected in the 2022 list. Brands such as Evian and Highland Spring have adapted to public
preference for less plastic by launching sparkling water in a can. Persil is trialling paper-based
detergent bottles, and Fairy has released an anti-waste upside-down washing up liquid pack.
Manufacturers that have been long associated with meat or dairy products have adapted to the
call for more vegan products. Peperami released Vegerami and Hellmann’s added Baconnaise to
their popular vegan mayo range.
Some brands have started to see the effects of a return to post-pandemic normality, such as
Kellogg’s which has seen a decline in sales over the last year ( down 2.8%). Canny brand owners
are looking ahead to new High Fat Sugar Salt (HFSS) rules, which may have already helped push
sales. Kellogg's launched their compliant Hazelnut Cocopops and Haribo is investing in ways to
reduce sugar across their product range.
Brits thankfully stopped stockpiling loo-roll, evening out sales for brands such as Andrex (down
12.3%). Other newfound lockdown habits continued, as the population seems to have a kept
their preference for posh ready meals from British brand Charlie Bingham’s (up 31.1%).
But the British do not like too much change, as Cadbury stayed in the number one spot for the
second year running, Coca-Cola stayed in second place, Nestlé in third and Walkers in fourth.
Adam Leyland - Editor-in-Chief, The Grocer says “The Museum of Brands captures Britain’s rich
history as a maker and developer of brilliant brands. In a time of huge upheaval, through Covid,
Brexit and now the cost-of-living crisis, this exhibition brings history right up to date,
showcasing the development of old, familiar brands and the rise of exciting new brands that
challenge the status quo through their innovation.”
Museum of Brands curator Amy Dobson says “The products and where they have placed on
Britain’s Top 100 brands this past year is evident of our changing habits as we begin to emerge
from the pandemic. The new packaging that we have collected reflects the trends and interests of
British consumers, such as an increase in fitness-related products like Heinz Proteinz Soup and
fish producer John West who have repositioned themselves as a health and nutrition brand.
Starbucks launched a ready-to-drink product aimed specifically at home workers, and sales in pet
food boomed due to an increase in new pet owners!”
John Noble – Director, British Brands Group says “This exhibition [of The Grocer’s Top 100
Brands of 2022] keeps the Museum’s collection and relevance right up to date and it is great to
see the Museum celebrating our favourite brands of today. I urge everyone to visit.”
The new display presents products in line with The Grocers' annual list, with data taken from
NielsenIQ’s retail measurement service. Findings are from 02 January 2021 to 01 January 2022.
