Sainsbury's unveils three new chocolate bars to rival M&S and Tony's Chocolonely. Published October 12, 2026 12:30pm Updated October 12, 2026 12:31pm These days, chocolate bars are increasingly packed to the rafters with flavour. It's no longer just caramel, but sweeties and popping candy, too. M&S is no stranger to this concept, having coined sweet treats including The Big Daddy, which, retailing for £7.50, is 300g worth of decadence: peanut butter, caramel, and roasted peanut pieces. Then, there's the unforgettable Cadbury's Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations, which comes with creamy milk chocolate, fruit-flavoured jellies, and popping candy, all guaranteed to make your tongue fizz. And, of course, who could forget Tony's Chocolonely? Popcorn Crunch, the Milk Chocolate Gooey Caramel Sea Salt Crunch, the Creamy Milk Chocolate Ganache, and the Milk Rice Crispy Caramel? Say no more. Now, Sainsbury's has taken its hand to the funky chocolate market. The Milk Chocolate Twists come in colourful packaging, and three flavours: * Candied Orange, Crispy Butter Biscuit and Popping Candy * Shortcake, Brownie Pieces, Crunchy Caramel and Salted Butter Caramel * Crunchy Caramel, Rice Krispies, Jellies and Roasted Corn The 140g bars retail for £2.75 a pop, and the product listing for the Brownie and Caramel edition on the Sainsbury's website says 'this bar isn't here to blend in.' It's also been described as 'unapologetically indulgent,' and finding the 'sweet spot of classic comforts'. The bars mark a new venture for Sainsbury's as at the moment, the supermarket has only released simpler own-brand bars, including toffee biscuit, chewy caramel, and nutty nougat. The innovations have already made their way to the NewFoodsUK Facebook page - and shoppers are pretty excited. Paula Bowen said they were 'similar to the ones in M&S,' while Nicole Pomfrett gave a convincing 'hell yeah.' Over on Instagram, @mary.monk.art said it 'sounds like Dairy Milk Marvellous Creations but better,' while @lauraj_greenhome described the bars as 'interesting.' Meanwhile, @deano_bs said he was 'def gonna try the dark choccy one,' while @demthesheriff simply wrote, 'yummy.' Elsewhere in the chocolate world, one 'unbelievable' chocolate bar from the 1980s has recently made a comeback. Do you remember Moro? Shoppers have spotted a chocolate bar with the very same name on shop shelves across the UK once more. Bargain retailer B&M is currently selling Cadbury Moro Gold bars for 80p each. And while these have been imported from Australia, they're reminding shoppers of a long-lost Irish sweet treat. Speaking of retro treats, After Eight chocolate has recently introduced a new flavour after 64 years - with absolutely no mint in the mix. After Eight now comes in an orange flavour, and it's permanent. The 200g pack retails for £4 at both Morrisons and Tesco, and if you've got a Clubcard for the latter, it'll be a cheeky £2.50. They're the same thin, chocolatey squares we know and love, but with a zesty orange fondant inside, rather than a minty kick. And if Christmas is already on your lips, there's one festive item shoppers are keen to get their hands on now to avoid missing out. The Big Mix at Marks & Spencer went viral last year, after people claimed the chocolate tin was 'better than Quality Street' - and it looks set to be just as popular in 2026. The Big Mix from M&S costs £7 for a 650g carton or £12 for a 1.2kg tin and features a mix of 10 different sweets in colourful wrappers, suitable for vegetarians. Deals of the day.

Logosalon - curated logo design platform. Contrast serves up a fresh slice of Italy for Sainsbury's. October 9, 2026 In the competitive world of supermarket aisles, standing out requires more than just a recognizable logo. It requires a visual language that speaks to quality, heritage, and modern taste. Sainsbury's recently unveiled a striking redesign of its Italian food range, developed by the creative agency Contrast, to bring a vibrant and contemporary energy to their private-label offerings. By moving away from generic food photography and predictable color palettes, the new design direction focuses on the soul of Italian dining. The result is a cohesive look across stonebaked pizzas, fresh pastas, and sauces that feels both premium and approachable. Geometric inspiration and café culture. The foundation of this brand refresh lies in the rich visual history of Italy's social hubs. Contrast drew deep inspiration from the intricate geometric patterns found in traditional Italian café tiles and the bold, nostalgic graphics of vintage trattorias. These elements create a sense of place that transcends the typical grocery store experience. These patterns are not just decorative; they serve as a structural element that organizes the packaging information. By utilizing shapes that mirror the architectural beauty of Mediterranean bistros, the design establishes a rhythm that guides the consumer's eye across the shelf. Bold typography and playful colors. One of the most immediate changes in the redesign is the use of oversized, confident typography. Rather than hiding behind small fonts, the product names take center stage, reflecting a sense of pride in the ingredients. This bold approach ensures that even from a distance, the product is easily identifiable and legible. The color palette also breaks away from the standard red-white-and-green clichés. Instead, the range features a spectrum of vibrant, sun-drenched hues that evoke the warmth of an Italian summer. These colors differentiate the various flavors and pasta types while maintaining a unified brand family. A modern take on tradition. The challenge with redesigning an Italian range is balancing authenticity with modern consumer expectations. Contrast achieved this by stripping back unnecessary clutter and focusing on high-contrast visuals. The clean lines and sharp graphics give the products a "designer" feel that rivals independent specialty brands. This strategic shift moves the Sainsbury's Italian range from being a budget-friendly alternative to a lifestyle choice. It positions the food as an experience worth celebrating at home, proving that private-label packaging can be just as inspiring as the world's most famous food brands. Conclusion. The collaboration between Contrast and Sainsbury's highlights the power of thoughtful graphic design in the retail sector. By blending vintage inspiration with contemporary execution, they have created a visual feast that honors Italian culture while serving the needs of the modern shopper. This fresh slice of Italy is a masterclass in how to revitalize a classic category with style and personality.

Sainsbury's ramps up tech with AI-driven 'SmartLists' October 7, 2026 7:45 am Sainsbury's is launching a new AI-powered way to shop in the supermarket giant's app, designed to help customers plan their shop, create a shopping list, find products more easily in store and manage their budget with Nectar Prices. "SmartLists" lets customers create shopping lists by typing or taking a photo of what they need. This new feature matches those lists to real Sainsbury's products, including Nectar Prices, so customers can see their options and get the best value for their budgets. Items can then be added straight to the trolley for online orders. A list can start from something as simple as "ingredients for spaghetti bolognese", or a photo of a list already written down, rather than adding every item one by one, making planning a shop quicker and easier. The built-in "product finder" helps customers discover products in store, making shopping smoother and easier for customers, while allowing staff to spend more time on valuable customer support. As part of the wider Sainsbury's app upgrade, Smartshop has been integrated into the newly unified Sainsbury's app featuring the distinctive 'S' logo with the aim of creating a simpler, smoother shopping journey. The retailer insists that bringing together online grocery orders, ChopChop, SmartLists, In-store SmartShop and enhanced Nectar experiences in one place means customers can access more of Sainsbury's services through a single app, without needing to switch. Sainsbury's director of product Ben Edge said: "Decision Marketing know its customers are busy and want shopping to feel simple, joyful and easy to fit around their lives. SmartLists is designed to take the effort out of creating and buying a shopping list, whether customers are typing, speaking or taking a picture of what they need. "Alongside this, by bringing more of our services together in one app, we're making it easier for customers to plan their shop, build their basket and find products in store, however and whenever they choose to shop with us."