News

UK ban on 'junk food' advertising to take effect in April

New UK legislation that limits advertising - including in-store promotions and special offers - on products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) will enter into effect in April.

As part of this new legislation, 'junk food' brands will now face promotional restrictions at store entrances, end-of-aisle displays, and checkouts, as well as their online equivalents. There will also be a watershed on TV advertising after 9pm, and ‘buy-one-get-one’ or ‘3 for 2’ offers will be prohibited for HFSS products.

One of the major caveats to these new rules is the size of the store in which these HFSS products are sold. According to a release from the British government, “stores over 2,000 square feet - specialist retailers, such as chocolate shops, are exempt from the location restrictions.” This means that corner stores and chocolate shops will retain the right to promote them in-store. 

Removing supermarket promotions is likely to affect the sales of many HFSS brands. Data cited by the British government shows that in-store deals increase purchase of promoted products by almost 20%.

Thinking outside the box to get consumer attention

Nevertheless, these newly-imposed restrictions are not the only ways that brands can attract their intended audience.

Hannah Walley, head of media at Kantar UK wrote an opinion piece suggesting that FMCG brands 'think outside of the box' when developing long-term strategies that adhere to the new limitations. She pointed to the brand Red Bull as an example of a company using non-traditional marketing techniques that do not rely on in-store promotions to build brand awareness.

Similarly, building a brand today often takes more than just good prices and the promise of a satisfying experience. Consumers are progressively invested in the 'back story' of brands and how they supporting consumer values. Dutch ethical chocolate brand Tony’s Chocoloney, which sells its products in the UK, exemplifies this approach through its use of environmentally friendly packaging and messaging about the provenance of its ethically-sourced cocoa beans. This Dutch chocolate company is even supporting sugar tax legislation in the Netherlands, relying on candour to raise awareness about its role in sugar consumption but also about the brand itself.

Opposition to the new rules: 'This will stifle reformulation'

US cereal giant Kellogg’s has opposed the legislation. In a letter to the UK parliament, it said: "The restrictions to food and drink advertising contained within the Bill would impact on both adults and children without achieving the stated objectives and do not reflect changing consumption habits."

It added: "The restrictions as drafted, when applied practically, will have the unintended consequence to stifle reformulation of food and the ability of companies like Kellogg’s to innovate better non HFSS products under existing branding. The very nature of reformulation requires a brand to be promotable, including the promotion of the brand name."

The multinational said it had already reduced sugar in Coco Pops by 50% and withdrawn high-sugar Ricicles from sale. The company also said it would make its kids’ cereals non-HFSS by cutting sugar content by 10% and salt content by at least 20% by the end of 2022.

With consumers placing increasing emphasis on brand purpose, HFSS manufacturers have the opportunity to reflect this in their marketing to continue to attract consumer attention even as the UK government fights the increasing obesity crisis that affects 63% of the adults in England and costs the NHS £6 billion a year in obesity-related illnesses.