A string of retailers have launched new baby initiatives and products this week, despite new figures suggesting that the recession baby boom is coming to an end. Pregnancies in the UK fell 2.7 per cent in 2012.
Tesco have launched their first ever multi-channel baby food festival which offers parents tips and advice on how to look after their child. The UK‘s biggest retailer says it is now selling pampers nappies for just 8p each as it targets families amid discounter pressure. It also revealed that 35 per cent of parents are now using the internet for baby tips rather than from a health visitor or GP, a stat it described as “surprising.” Marisa Lawlor, category director at Tesco said: “Our aim is to help all our customers through this exciting and sometimes challenging stage of their baby‘s development, both during our Baby Feeding Festival and beyond.”
Organic food brand Rhug Organic Farm have joined forces with organic food firm Plum UK to create two new baby food products – in Aberdeen angus beef and organic lamb and bean & beef ragout and minted pea and lamb roast flavours. A supplier to 20 Michelin-starred restaurants, Rhug will sell the fancy food from Sainsbury‘s, Waitrose and Tesco stores across the UK. “Our customers can be assured that they are purchasing the finest possible organic food for their baby,” said Bentley Hall, Plum UK managing director.
And Manchester company Galt Toys launched its first ever five-piece baby gift set (£29.99) which encourages babies to “learn through play” through colour matching activity, rolling repetition and hand-eye coordination with a twin rattle, humpty dumpty and trumpet. “This gift set will help little ones to learn new colours, shapes, sounds and actions to encourage early development of motor skills,” said John McDonnell, MD of Galt Toys.
Meanwhile, the £933m childrenswear market is set to grow 7 per cent between 2012 and 2017, according to Euromonitor.
