Spreading a little smile with consumers lockdown faux pas…Horlicks launches its 'Time for a Horlicks' Campaign

By Zeus PR

07 May 2021

The UK’s favourite malted drink brand Horlicks has unveiled ‘Time for a Horlicks’ – its latest campaign which reflects on the more unique mishaps and home calamities which we have all experienced over the past year, as we grapple with the stresses of Covid and adjusted to our ‘new normal’ home and work life.

The iconic hot beverage brand headquartered in Lancashire independently commissioned a nationwide survey* to find out what common mishaps have happened throughout the pandemic, to let consumers know that they are not alone. The survey findings have formed the basis for a PR press and digital campaign, which launches on Monday 26 April.

Horlicks found that high up on the embarrassing moments work related list is accidental overly affectionate, work communications. Their poll found 30% of people admitted to signing off on a work call with ‘I love you’ and another 38% were guilty of signing off a work email with a kiss.

Also working from home whilst teaching has had its challenges for consumers – Horlicks shared that over a third of parents questioned admitted forgetting to hit the mute button before telling their children off, leaving colleagues to see how little patience they actually have.

Additionally, the Horlicks survey found that havoc is being caused across homes as parents rush to answer the snack and meal demands of children. Of those who have had home cooking disasters, 46% of respondents burnt the food they were cooking, 4 in 10 reported dropping dishes whilst cooking and an amazing 40% of us reported using the completely wrong ingredients for a recipe, like using salt instead of sugar in their brownie recipe.

Spending so much more time at home also means we finally get to know our neighbours a little better – pleasant hellos and chit chat on our daily walks, clapping together for the carers or even a distant ‘cheers’ on VE day. The Horlicks research found that over a third of respondents (35%) have accidentally left their curtains open and been caught with little to no clothing on, a third (33%) realised that the window has been ajar during a heated argument and nearly a third (32%) were overheard by their neighbours whilst gossiping about them, not ideal for neighbourly relations.

Although some of these incidents can be comical from the outside, Horlicks’ study found that it can take the person involved a long time to recover from embarrassing episodes. 22% said on average it takes 4-6 days to recover from the incident, and a similar number (21%) said it takes them 1-3 days. However, worryingly 13% of people said they ‘never recover’ from an embarrassing moment.

Michelle Younger, Head of Marketing for Aimia Foods, parent company to Horlicks comments: “The last year has brought with it many, many challenges to us all. It has also delivered a few humorous, often awkward moments, giving us a chance to have a little laugh as we look back and reflect on how our everyday life adapted to the necessary changes so we can eventually emerge from the pandemic stronger. Our Time for a Horlicks campaign promotes being kind to you and others, taking a little time out to unwind, and reflect rather than allow stressful everyday moments to build up, particularly as a large number of people are being shown to be holding onto the more embarrassing moments, weeks later.”

The Time for Horlicks campaign will also include a large scale sampling activation with over 200,000 Horlicks samples distributed via home-mover boxes and sport and consumer events, to support brand awareness and trial across 2021.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Zeus PR

Latest news

1

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards Pleasure Beach Resort’s David Hill, head of rides, and Stuart Cumming, marketing manager with the awards

Pleasure Beach Resort takes home four prizes at UK Theme Park Awards

18 Sep 2025

2

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth Brookhouse Aerospace machining facility

Brookhouse Aerospace invests more than £500k in additional machinery to support growth

18 Sep 2025

3

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey Mo Isap from the Lancashire Business Board with the plan

Growth Plan maps out £20bn-plus investment journey

18 Sep 2025

4

Post Office future secured as council explores new options Abington Street Post Office

Post Office future secured as council explores new options

17 Sep 2025

5

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent Jerrod Hartley

Airframe Designs supports new defence strategy with pledge to nurture talent

17 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day
MTD drop in session.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day

Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment (MTD for ITSA) drop-in day, Blackburn, BB1 5QB

10:00 - 16:00

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25
Metris 25.09.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Metrics That Matter – Sept 25

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 11:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October

Soul Bowl, Morecambe, LA4 4BU

08:00 - 10:00

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world
Oct PTC.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin