As the Easter holiday season rushes rapidly towards us, we take a look at some of the latest new product developments by food and drink manufacturers capitalising on the nation’s obsession with sweet treats this month.
In this photo gallery, we take a look at the Japanese Kit Kat trends heading over to the west, vegan chocolate bars and even a Marmite flavoured Easter egg coming to retailer Asda.
Also featured are some of the other stand out food and drink products coming from manufacturers’ development kitchens this month.
To find out about all these products and more, click the next slide in the photo gallery of food and drink new product developments.
Meanwhile, poultry producer Kelly Turkeys is to expand its range by entering the growing charcuterie market.
As the Easter holiday season rushes rapidly towards us, we take a look at some of the latest new product developments by food and drink manufacturers capitalising on the nation’s obsession with sweet treats this month.
In this photo gallery, we take a look at the Japanese Kit Kat trends heading over to the west, vegan chocolate bars and even a Marmite flavoured Easter egg coming to retailer Asda.
Also featured are some of the other stand out food and drink products coming from manufacturers’ development kitchens this month.
To find out about all these products and more, click the next slide in the photo gallery of food and drink new product developments.
Meanwhile, poultry producer Kelly Turkeys is to expand its range by entering the growing charcuterie market.
Following the success of the Ruby Chocolate KitKat, Nestlé has launched the Matcha Green Tea variant of the four-finger chocolate snack across Europe.
For the first time outside Japan, consumers will be able to get their hands on the novel snack – just one of 350+ flavours of KitKat that have been made available in the country over the years.
Nestlé combines the traditional green tea powder with white chocolate to give the snack its distinct look.
“Nestlé in Japan has taken KitKat to the next level in the last two decades, with innovative flavour combinations and inspiring special editions. We are excited to bring one of the most iconic Japanese KitKats back home to Europe this year,” said Alexander von Maillot, global head of confectionery at Nestlé.
Vegan chocolate manufacturer Moo Free has launched six new free-from chocolate bars to expand its recently launched Marvellously Moreish range.
The six new flavours – Sea Salt & Caramel, Dark 85, Original, Cinder Toffee, Sea Salt & Lime and Dark 65 – will retail for £2.19 and are available in 80g packs.
The Dark 85 and Dark 65 variants are the first forays into the dark chocolate market by the manufacturer.
“This is one of the greatest innovations in Moo Free’s history”, said co-founder Mike Jessop. “These are the premium chocolate bars consumers have been waiting for. Six new bars with bold, exciting flavours made with premium inclusions and ethically-sourced ingredients.”
Marmite has once again sparked division between consumers with the launch of a milk chocolate Easter egg flavoured with its signature savoury spread.
Described by Marmite as the “one and only Yeaster egg” and with a promise to be “full on flavour”, the chocolate treat weighs in at 150g and is available from retailer Asda in-store and online.
The launch has split opinion among social media users, with some welcoming the inclusion of Marmite in the classic chocolate treat, and others repulsed by the very idea of it.
“Love it or hate it, you have to try it,” Marmite insisted.
Unilever has partnered with confectionery manufacturer Ferrero to bring Kinder Bueno Ice Cream to the UK.
The two new ice cream ranges include three Kinder Ice Cream products – Kinder Ice Cream Stick, Kinder Ice Cream Sandwich and Kinder Joy Ice Cream – that are set to drive value into the kids’ ice cream segment, in addition to a Kinder Bueno Ice Cream Cone for the adult market.
Noel Clarke, vice president for refreshment at Unilever UK, said: “Kids’ ice cream has been a missed opportunity up until now, with little in the way of ground-breaking innovation – even though the segment is growing ahead of the total category. Well, we’re about to change that by bringing kids not one, but three Kinder Ice Creams to fall in love with.”
A new food box service, promising to deliver food and drink from the EU that might become hard to acquire post-Brexit, has been launched by Italian delicatessen Diforti.
The Brexit Box aims to address the threat of the UK exit from the EU disrupting imports and contains iconic Italian foodstuffs, including Carnaroli Rice, Sicilian Pesto and Red Sweet Peppers stuffed with cheese.
Diforti director Carlo Diforti said: “We don’t want any of our customers missing out on the very best Italian ingredients, no matter what we wake up to on 29 March. That’s why we’ve put together the Brexit Box, full of items that may be harder to come by once Brexit comes around.”
Free-from food-to-go brand Pollen + Grace has launched its range of ready meals into Tesco and Co-op stores across the country.
The range comprises 17 ready meals and snacks made from 100% natural ingredients, including breakfast pots, lunch boxes, hot pots and snack bars.
The hand-prepared meals are designed as a ‘complete meal’, containing a balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats, and are free-from gluten, wheat and dairy, with 90% of the products being vegan.
Pollen + Grace has also overhauled its packaging to be more eco-friendly and is aiming to launch compostable packaging for its ambient range in the third quarter of 2019.
Co-founders Kristina Komlosiova and Stephanie Johnson said: “We’ve come a long way from when we first started up and the market wasn’t suited to those with food intolerances or anyone who simply wanted to be healthier without compromising on taste and quality.
“Now, as awareness and desire for these types of products has grown so voraciously, we feel well-positioned to successfully capture it.”
Southover Food Company is set to expand into the premium retail market with the launch of its Sussex Cured cooked meats range.
Set to debut at this year’s International Food Event on 17–20 March, the range is made using “quality local ingredients, ‘tried and tested’ family recipes and ... traditionally butchered”.
The new range comprises New-York Style Pastrami, Honeyroast Farmhouse Ham, Farmhouse Plain Ham, Cooked Topside of Beef and Cooked Back Bacon.
Southover managing director Steve Pearce said: “In 2019 we will be celebrating our 30th anniversary in style and, naturally, we are excited to showcase Southover Sussex Cured to a whole new market at IFE 2019. It is rewarding that, after so long in the business, we are still challenging the team, producing new products and pushing ourselves to do better.”
Shaken Udder has launched two new milkshakes in Morrisons stores, as it signs a deal to supply the retailer with its full range.
The Ooh La Latte is aimed at coffee-lovers and is made from real Arabica coffee beans and British semi-skimmed milk. Its second launch is a 750ml version of the brand's popular Strawberries & Clotted Cream milkshake.
“We are very excited to launch into Morrisons,” said Andy Howie, co-founder of Shaken Udder. “Morrisons will be the first multiple retailer to stock our full range of bottled milkshakes and it's fantastic to support them with NPD.”