-       Over a third feel more patriotic after Royal Wedding

-       History and tradition are what Brits are most proud of

-       Sense of humour defines the modern Briton

-       Drunken behaviour tops the list of most embarrassing British traits

The Best of British research, carried out by the only British variety of soft eating liquorice, Henry Goode’s, shows that the recent wedding of Wills and Kate has had an overwhelmingly positive effect on the mood of the nation, with 56 per cent saying that they were either very or quite proud to be British, and half the nation admitting they felt a surge in pride during the wedding itself. Only a measly eight per cent said they felt less patriotic.

The survey was carried out to discover when, how much and what makes us feel proud to be British, as part of Henry Goode’s ongoing campaign for a return of traditional Great British values. This is the second year that the survey has been conducted by the brand, in a bid to measure the mood of the nation.

In a huge turnaround from 2009, when 34 per cent of respondents* said they couldn’t remember the last occasion they felt proud to be British, that number has now fallen to less than one in five.

When asked what we have to be proud of as a nation, our history and traditions topped the list, followed by countryside and landscape, health service and armed forces. Unsurprisingly, the weather, economy and banking system fared less well, coming out at the bottom of the pile.

The defining characteristic of the modern Great Briton was felt to be our sense of humour, with over 43 per cent picking this ahead of anything else.  When asked what the British were best at, comedy and music came out on top. And the occasions when we feel the most patriotic stirrings were dominated by big sporting events such as the Olympics and World Cups, with Remembrance Day sandwiched in between.

But it wasn’t all good news. Over 60 per cent of people surveyed felt that Brits are now less well mannered than in the past, closely followed by being less neighbourly and kind. When it came to what made our toes curl about being British, it was bad news for wayward behaviour and reality TV stars. Nearly 70 per cent said drunken behaviour abroad was the most embarrassing thing about Great Britain, followed closely by unruly football fans, Katie Price, bad language and reality TV show The Only Way is Essex.

Sarah Brown, senior brand manager for Henry Goode, said: “It’s fantastic to see that more people are feeling proud of Britain and all things British. We spend too much time focusing on the negatives, which is why Henry Goode is campaigning to remind people to instead celebrate the great things about our country.”

Since its launch in 2009, Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice has grown to become the category leading brand with sales of £3.1m* as consumers opt for the only British variety of the traditional treat. The new format will extend the current range to provide its legion of fans with the ideal on- the-go snack in a handy stick.

Made using all natural ingredients, Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice Bar is Halal Approved and contains less than two per cent fat – ideal for health conscious consumers with a sweet tooth.

Sarah Brown, brand manager for Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice, said: “The new pocket sized Soft Eating Liquorice Bar increases the consumption occasions catered to by the Henry Goode’s brand, giving consumers a convenient way to enjoy the nation’s favourite soft eating liquorice while on the move.

“The soft eating liquorice category is growing 7% per cent year-on-year, which we have seen mirrored by the fast-paced success of Henry Goode’s since its launch in 2009. This has been fuelled by the surge in popularity for the soft eating variety as both liquorice lovers and haters are converted by the distinctly milder taste and soft texture. The demand for healthier snacks has also contributed as consumers opt for a bag in place of unhealthier snacks such as chocolate.

“Declared a top trend for 2011 by influential consumer titles such as Olive magazine, we are expecting the popularity of liquorice to continue. The launch of the new bar will enable us to capitalise on this continued growth and maintain our position at the top spot in the soft eating liquorice category.”

The launch will be supported by a consumer PR campaign centered around the brand’s quintessentially British gentleman mascot, Henry Goode, as he continues to encourage the nation to ‘Bite British’ when it comes to liquorice.

With an RRP of 59p, Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice Bar joins the Grocer Award Winning original bags of traditional black and strawberry-flavoured red liquorice, which are currently listed in all major Grocers. The bar will replicate the brown paper packaging look that the brand has become recognised for. Prior to launch, listings have been secured with Palmer and Harvey and Fosters Traditional Foods for the new bars.

For more information click here

*Source: IRI p/e 19^th March 2011

Completing the 220 yard, one furlong race at Huntingdon Racecourse on Sunday 3rd October, Henry Goode successfully tackled six hurdles after a vigorous training regime to get in first-class shape for the record breaking event.

Henry Goode Takes a Moment to Prepare For the Best Race

But while he was recently named victorious in the liquo-race, becoming the fastest growing brand in the soft eating liquorice category*, the loveable mascot for Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice was unfortunately beaten to the finishing line by his fellow costumed characters and finished in 21st place out of the 41 mascots who ran, despite being 10-1 favourite.

Sarah Brown, brand manager at Tangerine, explains: “Henry Goode is a quintessentially British ‘softie’ who fronts the brand, with the character appearing on all packaging. We bring him to life through media campaigns and promotions, so The Mascot Grand National, being a typically British event, fits well with the brand’s values but most of all, allowed us to inject a little fun into the proceedings. Despite being beaten by a bumble bee and a bear, amongst other furry friends, it was a great day out and helped us to increase awareness of the brand with sampling activity.”

Only a year after urging retailers and consumers to ‘bite British’, the brand recently broke the £1.5million sales mark. The only British variety on the market, Henry Goode’s Soft-Eating Liquorice has successfully taken on the largely southern hemisphere competition and now established itself as the fastest growing, largest brand within the soft eating liquorice category.

Henry Goode’s Soft-Eating Liquorice is produced at the traditional home of liquorice, is made with all natural colours and flavours, is Halal Approved** and contains less than two per cent fat.

As the main sponsors of the event, Tangerine will be hosting a variety of activities on the day (Sunday 11th July), including a sweetie trail around the town’s landmarks giving local people the chance to win bags full of goodies, a market stall selling all of the company’s confectionery favourites including local delicacy Wilkinsons of Pontefract, and a Butterkist campervan selling popcorn.

The sweet company has also donated its locally produced liquorice to a jewellery workshop where visitors to the Festival can get creative and make their own sweetie accessories, while a plasticine workshop will invite people to design and model a liquorice girlfriend for Henry Goode, the character fronting Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice. The man himself will also be on hand to provide tips, while handing out samples to passers by.

Chris Marshall, managing director at Tangerine Confectionery, said: “We are proud to be the main sponsors of the Pontefract Liquorice Festival, which has become a key calendar date and attracts thousands of visitors every year. The company has a long heritage in Pontefract, particularly in terms of our liquorice products which originated there over a century ago, and the event provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate what the town is famous for.”

Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture Cllr David Dagger said: “The sweet taste of success has always been associated with this wonderful festival and I’m looking forward to enjoying this year’s event.

“It has to be visited to be truly appreciated as the festival combines food, history and pride. There is a myriad of events on the day and I’m pleased to see the main sponsors Tangerine Confectionary getting really involved in the day itself.”

Visitors can find more information about the festival, organised by Wakefield Council, at http://www.experiencewakefield.co.uk/ or by telephoning Wakefield Tourist Information Centre on 0845 601 8353 tic@wakefield.gov.uk .

Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice contains less than two per cent fat, and comes in a traditional black variety for liquorice lovers, and also a fruity, raspberry flavour which will have even those who thought they were liquorice loathers reaching for a bag.

With all natural colours and flavours you can have all the pleasure of a handful of sweets, without the obligatory ‘treat guilt’. It’s no wonder liquorice has gained so many trim celebrity fans, such as Hollywood stars Madonna and Anne Hathaway.

Henry’s liquorice is the only British variety of soft eating liquorice – the home of the long-standing confection, and differs to regular liquorice due to its extremely soft bite, milder premium taste and texture.

And if that wasn’t enough, liquorice is known for its array of health properties including:

- It is good for boosting brain function, fighting dental decay and improving the digestive system
- Liquorice is often referred to as the ‘Grandfather of Chinese herbs’ as it’s been used for many medical purposes for over 3,000 years 
- It is good for sore throats – modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient
- It was even supposed to have healed the wounds and quenched the thirst of Nero’s armies in the first century AD
- Liquorice is also known for keeping you regular!

Guilt-free snacking has never been so good!

Beating off stiff competition from the likes of Haribo, Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice won the Gold award in the Confectionery category at the national Food and Drink Awards, run by grocery trade publication The Grocer.

Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice is the only British variety of soft eating liquorice, and originates from Tangerine’s Pontefract site – the true home of liquorice. Soft eating liquorice differs to traditional liquorice due to its extremely soft bite and milder, premium taste and texture.

The products shortlisted for the awards, which also included Tangerine’s Barratt Sherbet Fountain, went through a rigorous selection process as they were rated by a panel of consumers and top industry experts on their overall market appeal, including the product, its taste and the packaging. 

Alison Lewis, marketing director at Tangerine Confectionery, who picked up the award in London last week, said: “We are delighted that Henry Goode has been recognised at this important industry award ceremony, which is a great achievement so soon after the launch of the brand. The success of Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice is going from strength to strength, due to its popularity with the trade and consumers alike.”

Since its launch in September last year, Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice, has gained major listings in Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores nationwide, won celebrity followers on his Twitter page including Alan Carr, and most recently launched a new raspberry-flavoured red variety to recruit further fans.

For further information on Henry Goode and Tangerine Confectionery, visit www.henrygoode.co.uk / www.tangerineuk.net

Both liquorice lovers and loathers can now enjoy Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice as the raspberry flavoured, red variety has a sweet, fruity taste to appeal to those on both sides of the fence. With less than two per cent fat, and all natural colours and flavours, it’s the perfect treat for New Year dieters fighting off the Christmas excess with guilt-free snacks.

Henry’s liquorice is the only British variety of soft eating liquorice – the home of the long-standing confection, and the black variety has already recruited a new generation of liquorice fans after it was launched earlier in the year. Soft liquorice differs to traditional liquorice due to its extremely soft bite, similar to that of soft fudge, and its milder, premium taste and texture.

And if that wasn’t enough, liquorice is known for its array of health benefits, including:

- It’s good for boosting brain function, fighting dental decay and improving the digestive system
- Liquorice is often referred to as the ‘Grandfather of Chinese herbs’ as it’s been used for many medical purposes for over 3,000 years 
- It can help banish sore throats – modern cough syrups often include liquorice extract as an ingredient
- It was even supposed to have healed the wounds and quenched the thirst of Nero’s armies in the first century AD
- Liquorice is also known for keeping you regular!

Ideal for sharing or indulging, the red variety of Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice comes in authentic 300g and 150g brown paper bags and is available from stores nationwide from January 2010, priced £1.99 and 99p.  Guilt-free snacking has never been so good!

The population is calling for the Great to be put back in to Great Britain, as over a third of Brits admit they cannot remember the last time they felt proud to be British (34 per cent), in a survey into perceptions of modern Britain.

What’s more, over three quarters of people believe we have lost our noble, traditional British traits over recent times, including good manners (76 per cent), followed by our neighbourliness and community spirit (57 per cent).

The research, by Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice, the only British variety of soft liquorice, found that nearly half of us think our drunken reputation best defines the typical Brit in 2009 (47 per cent), followed by loud mouthed (43 per cent) and lazy (38 per cent). However, the legendary British sense of humour meant that one positive attribute made it in to the top five national traits (29 per cent).

Given the negative perceptions of Britain today, it is perhaps not surprising that over a third of Brits admit they cannot remember the last time they felt proud to be British (34 per cent). However, a quarter of people, both young and old (25 per cent), said their patriotic pride is stirred on Remembrance Day. Sporting victories also get Brits excited as more than one in 10 celebrated their nationality following the Beijing Olympics (12 per cent) and our 2009 win at The Ashes (11 per cent).

When it comes to the celebrity that most represents the face of Britain today, The Queen is still on top of the pile as the epitome of Britishness. However highlighting how the nation has changed over recent times, joint second place is occupied by eccentric gentleman and all-round funny man Stephen Fry and Katie Price aka Jordan, with many believing that her antics have come to represent all the attributes of the typical Brit today.

Helen Sears, marketing manager for Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice, said: “There are many strong, traditional British qualities that the majority of people feel have been lost over the last few years, and the perception is that these have been replaced by negative characteristics. This signals the need for Britain to bring back the traditional traits that once made the country Great, and allow us to be proud to be British again.”

As a result, Henry Goode is launching his campaign manifesto for a better Britain, which he will be sending to the leaders of all the political parties. For further information, visit www.henrygoode.co.uk or follow Henry at www.twitter.com/henrygoode

ENDS

Notes to editors
• *Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice surveyed over 2,000 respondents from across the UK, aged 16-55+

• The celebrity that most represents the face of modern Great Britain:

1. The Queen
2. Stephen Fry (joint second)
3. Katie Price (joint second)
4. Richard Branson
5. Joanna Lumley
6. Prince Harry
7. David Beckham
8. Jonathan Ross
9. Lily Allen
10. Chris Hoy
11. Jamie Oliver
12. Cheryl Cole
13. Trevor MacDonald
14. Kelly Holmes
15. Ellen McArthur
16. David Cameron
17. Dizzee Rascal
18. Gordon Brown
19. Shami Chakrabati

Media enquiries
For further information contact Gemma Walters g.walters@brahm.com on 0113 22 00 518 or Nina Hands n.hands@brahm.com on 0113 22 00 532

My hope is that by doing so, I can help put the Great back into Great Britain. Together we’ll make our green and pleasant land a better place. A place where strangers say hello as they pass. Where neighbours have time to stop and chat over the fence. And where a bag of fine confectionery is there to share with friends old and new!

Whether in the office, at home, in the pub or even in the street, the responsibility lies with us all to get in touch with our inner Britishness and spread the word that this quality should be embraced rather than hidden.

I urge my fellow Britons to put their hands on their hearts, clasping a bag of my British soft eating liquorice, and pledge allegiance to their Great side!

Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice is the only British variety of soft eating liquorice – the home of the long-standing confection. Soft eating liquorice differs to traditional liquorice due to its extremely soft bite and milder, premium taste and texture enhancing its appeal to a new generation of liquorice eaters.

Made from all natural ingredients, Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice is Halal Approved and contains less than 2 per cent fat – ideal for health conscious consumers with a sweet tooth. Henry Goode, a quintessentially British ‘softie’ fronts the brand, with the character appearing on all packaging and brought to life through the planned media campaigns and sampling promotions.

Helen Sears, group marketing manager at Tangerine Confectionery, said: “Liquorice is a nostalgic treat that reminds many of its fans of their childhood, however our soft eating liquorice gives this old favourite a new twist which will appeal to consumers who might not have considered trying the confection before.

“What’s more, until now the soft eating liquorice available has originated from New Zealand, Australia and the USA so we are proud to be launching the first British variety which we hope the trade will get behind. Great Britain is after all the home of liquorice.”

Henry Goode’s Soft Eating Liquorice comes in authentic 300g brown paper bags to create shelf stand out and reflect its premium positioning. A 150g impulse bag will be available from August.

For information visit www.henrygoode.co.uk

ENDS

For further information contact Gemma Walters g.walters@brahm.com on 0113 22 00 518 or Nina Hands n.hands@brahm.com on 0113 22 00 532