Stocking bestsellers is vital for any category, and as part of Retail Newsagent’s soup and canned grocery feature we analysed the past three years of RN’s What to Stock list of the 25 bestselling canned goods across 2,200 independent convenience stores.

What’s clear is the strength that major brands continue to show year on year, driving category growth as well as innovation.

2012

In 2012, Heinz unsurprisingly dominated the baked beans market with pricemarked variants of the classic 415g tin, which outperformed standard packs. However it was interesting to note that only half the shops surveyed were stocking this favourite. Also, while there were just two own brands in the top 25, one pricemarked variant claimed ninth place over all.

Rank Description AVP 2011 AVP 2012 Price +/- versus 2011 Weekly Sales Per Shop Stocking % Distribution
1 Heinz Baked Beans 415g PM 65p – 75p 70p 70p / £3.95 50%
2 Heinz Classic Cream Of Tomato Soup 400g PM 89p 89p 89p / £1.57 66%
3 Princes Corned Beef 340g £2.41 £2.62 21p £1.28 54%
4 Carnation Evaporated Milk 410g PM 79p 79p 79p / 98p 62%
5 Heinz Baked Beans 415g 85p 87p 2p £1.91 30%
2013

Heinz baked beans 415g 4-pack shot straight to top position courtesy of its eye-catching £2 pricemark. Trends toward home-cooking helped Napolina Chopped Tomatoes and Heinz’s Vegetable and Oxtail soups improve their chart positions. Own label continued to show growth with four new lines entering the top 25 list.

Rank Product Average selling price 2013 Average weekly sales per shop stocking % YOY Distribution Change
1 Heinz Baked Beans 415g 4-pack PM £2.00 £2.00 £3.64 NEW
2 Heinz Baked Beans 415g PM 75p 75p £2.09 -7%
3 Heinz Classic Cream Of Tomato Soup 400g PM 95p 95p £2.10 3%
4 Heinz Spaghetti Hoops 400g 4-pack PM £2.00 £2.00 £1.25 NEW
5 Ambrosia Custard 400g PM £1.05 £1.05 £1.34 0%
2014

Heinz continues to be a star performer with 4 improving rankings and Big Soup Chicken & Vegetable noted as one to watch. All five pricemarked own label cans showed strong growth and climbed the charts. Princes corned beef stands unrivalled in this segment, having made the top ten over the last 3 years.

2013 rank Rank Description Average price 2014 Average weekly sales per shop stocking Distribution %
2 1 Heinz Baked Beans 415g PM 75p 75p £3.24 82%
3 2 Heinz Classic Cream Of Tomato Soup 400g PM 95p 95p £2.34 79%
5 3 Ambrosia Custard 400g PM £1.05 £1.05 £1.51 73%
1 4 Heinz Baked Beans 415g 4-pack PM £2.00 £2.00 £2.15 48%

Order your copy of What To Stock today to start boosting your profits