Mars is expanding its hot chocolate portfolio with festive dual sachets, which comes after the successful introduction of the format earlier this year.

The dual sachets aim to bring coffee shop trends to consumers in an accessible at-home format.

The business has launched a Maltesers Hot Chocolate Festive dual sachet which is paired with mini marshmallows and gingerbread sprinkles.

Additionally, there is a Galaxy Millionaire Crumble Hot Chocolate dual sachet, which is hot chocolate paired with chocolate drops and biscuit pieces.

The company is also launching new festive designs for the Galaxy Instant 370g jar and 25g sachets as the upcoming Christmas season approaches.

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Kerry Cavanaugh, general manager at Mars Drink & Treats, said: “Shoppers are increasingly looking for affordable moments of indulgence, and our dual sachets really deliver on that.

“They bring a café‑style experience into the home without compromising on quality, taste or convenience, and offer a premium single‑serve treat for around a third of the price of an out‑of‑home drink.

“The festive editions bring even more excitement to the fixture and help retailers capture seasonal demand with formats that already resonate strongly.”

This launch comes after a strong year for the total food beverages category, which has increased by 4.9 per cent and is worth £231.4m according to research from Kantar.

According to the business, the MD&T hot chocolate range currently accounts for 23 per cent of the hot chocolate market, with Galaxy-branded products making up 77.6 per cent of sales.