PICTURED: PAUL SINHA, MARK LAMBLE – BURTS POTATO CHIPS, HANNAH DEDMAN, DATATEAM
Plymouth-based snack brand, Burts Potato Chips, is celebrating after winning a hat-trick of awards at this year’s Vendies. A newcomer to the vending channel, the past couple of years have seen Burts investing heavily in the sector resulting in considerable growth of 127% 2013-2014, with this growth continuing at a rate of 7.5% 2014-2015 to date.
With the sector worth £1.6bn a year and growing, Burts fought off tough competition from a score of high quality of entries to scoop three top accolades at this highly regarded celebration of the vending industry. Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Groove Cut Crisps was crowned winner of the Best Snack/Confectionery Product, Guinness Rich Beef Chilli Chips the Best New Vending Product and, to top it off, newcomer Burts Lentil Waves Sour Cream and Chive was confirmed the Best Healthy & Well Being Product.
Simon Knight, Sales and Marketing Director at Burts Potato Chips commented: “To say that we’re delighted to have won these awards would be an understatement. We have been working incredibly hard over the past couple of years to grow this channel, offering improved distribution points so more operators can purchase our products and securing presence within vending machines across Business & Industry, Education, Health and Leisure locations. For the team’s hard work to be recognised by winning not one, not two, but three awards is fantastic.”
“To say that we’re delighted to have won these awards would be an understatement” Simon Knight – Sales and Marketing Director
A celebration of the vending industry, The Vendies, recognise outstanding products and people in the sector and is the highest accolade the industry can bestow. The awards ceremony was a huge success attracting almost 400 guests and key industry names to honour and reward the hard work and excellent service provided by outstanding individuals and companies in the sector.
Celebrating their 18th birthday this year, Burts Potato Chips is a leading producer of snacks, hand cooking in small batches to ensure a fantastically crunchy thick cut chip and using only the finest and freshest natural seasonings. With its bold, brightly coloured packaging, the eye-catching Burts range stand out strongly in vending machines amongst competitors, offering the industry a real point of difference.
Best Snack/Confectionery Product: Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Groove Cut Crisps
As soon as they met, Burts Chips and Levis Roots knew they’d hit it off. With Burts’ snacking expertise and ability to source and create the tastiest flavourings around, combined with Levis’ unrivalled knowledge of Jamaican cuisine and his legendary Reggae Reggae sauce, they were on to a winner.
Combining the unique flavours of Jamaica, with the finest quality potatoes and artisan methods of cooking Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Groove cut crisps provides a crazy Caribbean crunch in every mouthful. This variant has proved the most popular amongst the Burts range, with the Levi variants accounting for 42% share of Burts vending sales, especially at Business & Industry sites where workers are looking for an exciting treat to liven up their working day.
Best New Vending Product: Guinness Rich Beef Chilli Potato Chips
The first to market with licensed brands including Guinness Burts Chips, the largest true innovative launch within the hand-cooked crisp sector of 2013 (1), consumer demand for more Guinness flavoured crisps resulted in Guinness Rich Chilli Beef in September 2013. Blending the smooth taste of Guinness with fresh jalapeño chillies and juicy, succulent beef flavours to enhance the layers of barley and hops, creates the taste of a hearty meal in a packet.
With both Guinness lines accounting for 21% of Burts sales within the vending channel, this sales success to-date clearly shows the popularity of the flavour amongst consumers proving most popular within vending machines located at Business & Industry sites for that indulgent moment in the work canteen.
Best Healthy & Well Being Product: Burts Chips Lentil Waves Sour Cream & Chive
Marking the first time that Burts Chips has branched into the better for you snacks sector, Lentil Waves are strong example of a healthier, alternative snack solution that provides consumers with the perfect combination between indulgence and health, without compromising on taste or texture. Flash-cooked in the Burts Devon kitchen, Lentil Waves Sour Cream & Chive capture the aromatic explosion of crushed chives with sour cream. Containing 40% less fat[2], a low glycaemic index and less than 99 calories per bag.
Meeting consumer demand for healthy snacks that taste as good as traditional crisps, Lentil Waves are a perfect match for Education, Leisure and Health sites with office staff looking for a healthy snack without over indulging.
Gaining value ahead of the current market growth, Burts has experienced a strong year of sales hitting £15.2m turnover by the close of 2014. Having invested £2.7m in expanding and improving its Devon factory to facilitate an ambitious growth plan, Burts has doubled production capacity and increased profitability through regular NPD launches and expansion into better for you snacks, all whilst maintaining the dedication to quality which Burts are renowned.
[1] IRI Grocery Outlets, Feb 1st 2014
[2] Contains 40% less fat than Burts Sea Salt Potato Chips
