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September food and drink NPD round-up
Barbie birthday bash
Last month saw Krispy Kreme celebrate the 65th birthday of fashion doll Barbie with an exclusive range of doughnuts inspired by the plastic fashionista’s iconic look and style.
Four new flavours have been releases by the doughnut maker to commemorate the event – Barbie Pink Doughnut, Barbie Berries ‘n Kreme Doughnut, Barbie Sweet 65 Doughnut and Malibu Dream Party Doughnut.
Dave Skena, global chief brand officer for Krispy Kreme, said: “We’re excited to celebrate the Barbie brand’s 65th birthday with a collaboration that’s full of fun and flavour. We’re bringing Barbie’s iconic fashions to life through delicious doughnuts that are sure to thrill Barbie and Krispy Kreme fans alike.”
Consumers were also able to snap up a free pair of Barbie inspired glasses when they bought a Barbie 65th Anniversary Dozen for the reduced price of £19.59 to celebrate the birthyear of the brand – 1959.
Meredith Norrie, vice president of global licensing and consumer products at Mattel, added: “Barbie and Krispy Kreme are two brands that immediately spark joy and elicit sweet memories. As we continue to celebrate Barbie's 65th anniversary this year, Krispy Kreme is the perfect partner to join us, inviting fans across generations to enjoy the perfect blend of flavour and style, with nods to Barbie sprinkled into every bite.”
Find out about Krispy Kreme’s Barbie doughnuts and more here.
Warburtons double whammy
Belgian Waffles and Sesame Thin Bagels have joined Warburtons’ portfolio of baked goods.
The waffles were launched off the back an upward trend in the popularity of high street waffle and dessert shops, with Nielsen data revealing that 50m units were sold in the last 12 months.
Available in both a four pack and as a single serve portion at Tesco, the new range includes ‘Choc Chip’ and ‘Pearl Sugar’ flavours.
Meanwhile, the sesame bagels were launched as a result of the popularity of the thin bagels range, which has grown 26% over the past two years. A source of protein, the bagels come in a pack of six, are pre-sliced and can be enjoyed as they are or toasted.
Commenting on the launches, chair Jonathan Warburton said: “Consumers are always looking for new ways to switch up their mealtimes so providing consumers with new, exciting products is really important to us.
“Waffles have become incredibly popular and these are particularly delicious, as a treat breakfast or snack, if I do say so myself! The extension of the Thin Bagel range with Sesame Thin Bagels is a no brainer – a hugely popular product already, this classic variation is a very welcome addition.”
Learn more about the recent launch of Warburtons’ Belgian Waffles and Sesame Thin Bagels here.
Iceland in 800 product innovation push
Retailer Iceland Foods announced the launch of more than 800 new products as part of an innovation push last month.
Available in Iceland and The Food Warehouse stores – as well as online – products on offer included exclusive frozen meal offerings from Jamie Oliver and the relaunch of the Piccolino range.
As part of relaunch 14 new Piccolino lines are being rolled out alongside the existing two-course £10 meal deal for two.
Iceland is also unveiling a Blue Dragon range relaunch and five new product innovations, while it has expanded its TGI Friday’s offering after the range saw a 25% year-on-year rise in sales.
The Slimming World range is expanding too, with new options including Sweet Potato Curry Lunch bowls and Carrot and Coriander soup.
Iceland Foods chief commercial officer Paul Dhaliwal said: “We’re always listening to feedback from our shoppers and looking for ways to bring them new, innovative and delicious options from some of the biggest brands,
“We can’t wait for our customers to get their hands on the new range and sample some of the fantastic products and deals on offer.”
You can learn more about Iceland’s product launches, as well as other recent food and drink products that have secured supermarket listings, in this roundup.
Netflix and chill(i)
Snack maker Proper is asking us to Netflix and chill with its latest launch into its popcorn line.
The manufacturer has partnered with streaming giant Netflix to launch a new limited edition popcorn flavour, Netflix and Chilli Caramel.
High in fibre and less than 100kcal per serving, the new snack also meets HFSS standards and is vegan- and gluten-free.
Proper marked the launch with an on-pack promotion across all popcorn and lentil chip packs offering consumers the chance to win a home cinema bundle worth £5,000 and a 12-month Netflix subscription.
“Partnering with Netflix is a huge moment for PROPER,” said founder Cassandra Stavrou. “It directly speaks to our rapid growth over the past decade.
“For two brands that are synonymous with the night-in, it's a natural fit. We plan to go even bigger, with this campaign alone getting 10m packs into the hands of the nation.
“We strive to shake up the category, driving growth and keeping it fresh and flavour-packed. 'Netflix and Chilli Caramel' is the perfect addition to watching your favourite Netflix shows for a proper night. We can’t wait for fans to try it.”
Learn more about Proper and Netflix’s collaboration, as well as launches by Nutella and Glenfiddich, in this round-up of food and drink NPD.
Meanwhile, as the days get shorter and the nights darker, we explore some of the spooky trends that food and drink manufacturers will want to look out for in the run up to Halloween 2024.
