News

It’s that time of year again — final preparations are well under way for our annual trip to the Exclusively Housewares show at the Business Design Centre in Islington.

The show takes place on Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th June, and we’re very much looking forward to catching up with retail buyers, partners and press over the two days.

This year’s stand will showcase our biggest licensed line-up yet, including brand new ranges tied to Toy Story 5, Wicked, and our recently signed Hello Kitty & Friends collection, alongside the latest from our flagship Polar Gear, as well as Ototo.

We’ll also be sharing a first look at our Back to School 2026 line-up, fresh additions to our hydration range, and updated picnicware in time for the British summer.

Exclusively remains one of the most important dates in our calendar — it’s where we get to talk through the ranges face-to-face, share what’s on the horizon, and listen to what our retail customers need for the seasons ahead.

If you’d like to book a slot to come and see the team, drop us a line at salesadmin@dnc-uk.com. We look forward to seeing you there.

Believe it or not, Back to School 2026 is already firmly on the launchpad here at DNC — and we think this year’s licensed line-up is one of our strongest yet!

Headlining the range will be Polar Gear Toy Story 5, landing in retail just as families return from the summer holidays still talking about the film.

Joining it are refreshed collections for Stitch, Frozen, Peppa Pig & Paw Patrol, our brand-new Hello Kitty & Friends range, and not forgetting our fantastic Polar Gear design favourites.

Each collection is built around our core lunch-to-go essentials — insulated lunch bags, snack pots, reusable food containers and drinks bottles — engineered for the realities of school life: spill-proof lids, easy-clean liners, and durable, family-friendly designs that earn their keep through the whole school year.

Sustainability remains front and centre. Every product is designed to be reused day after day, replacing single-use plastic and disposable food wrap, and our packaging programme continues to focus on reducing plastic use and improving recyclability.

We’ll be presenting the full Back to School 2026 line-up at Exclusively Housewares on 9th and 10th June. To request a preview, sample pack, or to book a meeting on the stand, get in touch with the team at salesadmin@dnc-uk.com

What a year it’s been for Wicked.

Following the original film’s runaway box office success when it came to theatres at the end of 2024, Wicked: For Good arrived in cinemas last November.

And immediately broke the record for the biggest opening weekend ever for a Broadway musical adaptation — taking $223 million globally on debut and going on to pass $500 million worldwide.

Here in the UK, Wicked: For Good opened to the biggest weekend of any film in 2025, and the soundtrack has barely been off the radio since.

The cultural moment has translated brilliantly into product — our Polar Gear Wicked-licensed lunch and hydration range has been one of our stand-out performers across major UK retailers, with strong repeat orders right through Christmas, gifting season and into spring.

With awards-season buzz still around the film and the soundtrack still finding new fans, demand has stayed remarkably consistent. We’re now planning a refreshed range for autumn/winter to keep the momentum going, with new designs and product extensions in development.

If you’re a buyer interested in the Polar Gear Wicked range — or want to discuss our wider licensed portfolio — get in touch with the team at salesadmin@dnc-uk.com

At DNC, sustainability isn’t a campaign — it’s the entire reason most of our products exist.

Every Polar Gear bottle, lunch bag, snack pot and food container is designed to be reused day after day, replacing the single-use bottles, disposable cups and food wraps that would otherwise end up in landfill.

With over 5 million Polar Gear products sold each year and around 1 in 10 UK households already using the brand, the cumulative impact really adds up.

A single reusable Polar Gear bottle in regular use can replace hundreds of disposable plastic bottles over its lifetime — and our lunch boxes, food containers and Novo Clic-Tite storage replace clingfilm, foil and sandwich bags meal after meal.

For 2026 we’re continuing to push on the next layer of detail: reducing plastic in packaging, increasing recycled content where it’s safe and practical to do so, and improving on-pack recycling information so shoppers can do the right thing easily at home.

Our aim has always been to help families make healthier, more sustainable choices in their everyday lives — drinking more water, eating well, and cutting down on single-use waste.

We’re proud of how far the category has come, and there’s plenty more to do. We welcome conversations with retail partners about how we can help build a stronger sustainable lunch and hydration offer. Get in touch at salesadmin@dnc-uk.com