awholelotofcrunch

Map of readers

What I like about this map of recent visitors to this 'ere blog is that most of these Twiglets freaks are pining from abroad. Seeking out a fix. Searching for the Twiglets mainline etc. I feel your pain. I live in France.

A Broad Abroad continues her reviews of "weird British snacks" and she's not impressed with this neck of the woods,

Twiglets. A close runner up for the NASTIEST THING I've ever eaten. They taste like marmite. And they really do look like twigs.

Bloody foreigners.

70s Party Animal, originally uploaded by markcpowell.

Not sure I'd want to delve deep into this tin for my snack fix, but a nice wee bit of history all the same.

Yep. That's the new message on the new bags of Twiglets about to be wheeled out of United Biscuits - whose online Twiglets presence remains utterly, utterly pitiful... As the regular reader will know the slogan has long bin 'A whole lot of CRUNCH in a WHOLEWHEAT MUNCH!' so, this is kinda big news, huh? Alors, the message changes, but the taste don't. Wholegrain or Wholewheat?? Lordy, you've gotta wonder how many marketing bucks went into that brainstorming session... Anyway, Talking Retail has more - much more - What the hell, I'll paste it in full. Just one question, What's an SKU? Normal people do read these things too, you know.

The new pack also sees a change in communication of the range’s principle ingredient, with the healthier snack now being positioned as a wholegrain product instead of whole-wheat. This message will be supported by the tagline: ‘A whole lot of CRUNCH in a WHOLEGRAIN MUNCH!’

The new Twiglets pack will also inform customers that each 25g bag contains 41% of their wholegrain GDA, further reinforcing the health message.

Twiglets will have a striking new pack design across all SKUs, designed to highlight to consumers the snack’s health credentials. The new livery will also increase impact on shelf, in turn delivering increased sales and profit opportunities for retailers.
The pack will highlight the following information in a red, tick box format:

• Less than 100 calories (per 25g serving)
• 79% Wholegrain
• No artificial colours
• No artificial flavours
• Baked not fried
• High in fibre

Nick Stuart, Commercial Manager, UBUK, commented: “UB remains committed to constantly improving their products and improving the nutritional communication to consumers. Twiglets is the latest brand to benefit from this.

“The Twiglets range already has a loyal following and those that are aware of the brand’s health credentials admit that this is a major reason for eating them.

“This new on-pack information has been designed to highlight that Twiglets are a healthier, tasty snack, and help increase the range’s sales, which have grown by 6% year on year.” link

I love that line "UB remains committed to constantly improving their products and improving the nutritional communication to consumers" Why? Your customers couldn't give a monkey's second hand toss about nutritional information. The recipe works, they taste great. That's it. Don't try and intellectualize this and preach to the carrot munchers. Just keep making Twiglets, be innovative (for once), talk to your customers, have fun online and encourage that conversation malarkey. And, if you don't know how to do that drop me a line. I don't come cheap, but I do know how the internet works. One other thing I know from running a Twiglets blog is that there are TONNES of folk out there who talk about your product. How about talking to them?

Stepford Mum has a question...

How can I love Twiglets, and not like Marmite? Someone explain this to me please. The fact that I’m willing to spend 2.5 for a little 45g snack bag speaks volumes. I just found a new supplier though where I can get 6 of those for 5 bucks….yeah for the internet!

Hmm... that IS a tricky one. I wonder if it's not a texture thing? You're not into goo, but you are into cool, crackly, twiglet crunches?

Planning a party for a house endangering battalion full of four year old sprogs? Relaxed Parents have the menu for you. Although I think I'd be a bit more generous than just the one bag of Twiglets...

Totals for 20 children, then, mostly 4 year olds:

• Marmite sandwiches (20 rounds - the grown-ups will hoover up the spares)
• 60 cocktail sausages, purchased frozen and baked in the oven
• 50 party sausage rolls, ditto
• twenty four of those little red cheeses where you peel the skin off
• One large bag of Twiglets
• Two large bags of Hula Hoops
• 24 fairy cakes (iced, homemade)
• One large chocolate sponge, (chocolate and Smarties topping, homemade)
• Grapes (red and white, seedless)
• Fruit juice (four cartons, apple and orange)
• three litre bottle of water

After the slick but quick "New" Spicy Twiglets advertisement we have a young chap, who I think is called Morrissey, chomping his way through a tub and teaching us about addiction. Yoof of today...

Quickfire advert for "New" Spicy Twiglets spotted at videocurry.com Give' em some stick etc.

According to blogger Mr. Medway, the Twiglets tubs - which i haven't seen for donkeys - are a pale imitation of the bag version. Is there a conspiracy afoot, or should I say, atwig?

The Twiglets bought in bags are crisp and knobbly, have random profiles and a slightly glossy veneer of strong tasting marmite... Twiglets packed in the tubs are stunted, dry, tasteless imposters of uniform length. This variety is probably mass produced in Western China and is an insult to the memory of Peak Frean & Co. the original creators. link

"At this time of year, my tongue turns to the tantalising temptation of tangy twiglets; yet having searched the supermarket there are none-to-be found. So honing the internet I do a search and find the line has been discontinued. What nonsense!" link

Nonsense indeed. But not nonsense that is about to change anytime this century or the next.

The nastiest thing I've ever eaten

A Broad Abroad continues her reviews of "weird British snacks" and she's not impressed with this neck of the woods,

Twiglets. A close runner up for the NASTIEST THING I've ever eaten. They taste like marmite. And they really do look like twigs.

Bloody foreigners.

Rusty Twiglets

70s Party Animal, originally uploaded by markcpowell.

Not sure I'd want to delve deep into this tin for my snack fix, but a nice wee bit of history all the same.

A whole lot of CRUNCH in a WHOLEGRAIN MUNCH!

Yep. That's the new message on the new bags of Twiglets about to be wheeled out of United Biscuits - whose online Twiglets presence remains utterly, utterly pitiful... As the regular reader will know the slogan has long bin 'A whole lot of CRUNCH in a WHOLEWHEAT MUNCH!' so, this is kinda big news, huh? Alors, the message changes, but the taste don't. Wholegrain or Wholewheat?? Lordy, you've gotta wonder how many marketing bucks went into that brainstorming session... Anyway, Talking Retail has more - much more - What the hell, I'll paste it in full. Just one question, What's an SKU? Normal people do read these things too, you know.

The new pack also sees a change in communication of the range’s principle ingredient, with the healthier snack now being positioned as a wholegrain product instead of whole-wheat. This message will be supported by the tagline: ‘A whole lot of CRUNCH in a WHOLEGRAIN MUNCH!’

The new Twiglets pack will also inform customers that each 25g bag contains 41% of their wholegrain GDA, further reinforcing the health message.

Twiglets will have a striking new pack design across all SKUs, designed to highlight to consumers the snack’s health credentials. The new livery will also increase impact on shelf, in turn delivering increased sales and profit opportunities for retailers.
The pack will highlight the following information in a red, tick box format:

• Less than 100 calories (per 25g serving)
• 79% Wholegrain
• No artificial colours
• No artificial flavours
• Baked not fried
• High in fibre

Nick Stuart, Commercial Manager, UBUK, commented: “UB remains committed to constantly improving their products and improving the nutritional communication to consumers. Twiglets is the latest brand to benefit from this.

“The Twiglets range already has a loyal following and those that are aware of the brand’s health credentials admit that this is a major reason for eating them.

“This new on-pack information has been designed to highlight that Twiglets are a healthier, tasty snack, and help increase the range’s sales, which have grown by 6% year on year.” link

I love that line "UB remains committed to constantly improving their products and improving the nutritional communication to consumers" Why? Your customers couldn't give a monkey's second hand toss about nutritional information. The recipe works, they taste great. That's it. Don't try and intellectualize this and preach to the carrot munchers. Just keep making Twiglets, be innovative (for once), talk to your customers, have fun online and encourage that conversation malarkey. And, if you don't know how to do that drop me a line. I don't come cheap, but I do know how the internet works. One other thing I know from running a Twiglets blog is that there are TONNES of folk out there who talk about your product. How about talking to them?

Why don't I like Marmite?

Stepford Mum has a question...

How can I love Twiglets, and not like Marmite? Someone explain this to me please. The fact that I’m willing to spend 2.5 for a little 45g snack bag speaks volumes. I just found a new supplier though where I can get 6 of those for 5 bucks….yeah for the internet!

Hmm... that IS a tricky one. I wonder if it's not a texture thing? You're not into goo, but you are into cool, crackly, twiglet crunches?

Party Twiglets

Planning a party for a house endangering battalion full of four year old sprogs? Relaxed Parents have the menu for you. Although I think I'd be a bit more generous than just the one bag of Twiglets...

Totals for 20 children, then, mostly 4 year olds:

• Marmite sandwiches (20 rounds - the grown-ups will hoover up the spares)
• 60 cocktail sausages, purchased frozen and baked in the oven
• 50 party sausage rolls, ditto
• twenty four of those little red cheeses where you peel the skin off
• One large bag of Twiglets
• Two large bags of Hula Hoops
• 24 fairy cakes (iced, homemade)
• One large chocolate sponge, (chocolate and Smarties topping, homemade)
• Grapes (red and white, seedless)
• Fruit juice (four cartons, apple and orange)
• three litre bottle of water

Home made advertising

After the slick but quick "New" Spicy Twiglets advertisement we have a young chap, who I think is called Morrissey, chomping his way through a tub and teaching us about addiction. Yoof of today...

"New" Spicy Twiglets

Quickfire advert for "New" Spicy Twiglets spotted at videocurry.com Give' em some stick etc.

The tub conspiracy theory

According to blogger Mr. Medway, the Twiglets tubs - which i haven't seen for donkeys - are a pale imitation of the bag version. Is there a conspiracy afoot, or should I say, atwig?

The Twiglets bought in bags are crisp and knobbly, have random profiles and a slightly glossy veneer of strong tasting marmite... Twiglets packed in the tubs are stunted, dry, tasteless imposters of uniform length. This variety is probably mass produced in Western China and is an insult to the memory of Peak Frean & Co. the original creators. link

Tangy memories

"At this time of year, my tongue turns to the tantalising temptation of tangy twiglets; yet having searched the supermarket there are none-to-be found. So honing the internet I do a search and find the line has been discontinued. What nonsense!" link

Nonsense indeed. But not nonsense that is about to change anytime this century or the next.