Latest food and drink launches: new trends and innovations

Trewithen Dairy’s regeneratively farmed milk

Trewithen Dairy has launched a new milk produced under regenerative farming practices – Regen Milk.

The new dairy offering made its debut in Tesco, securing a nationwide listing across 640 of its stores and comes in 1L (RRP £1.55) and 2L (RRP £2.40) semi-skimmed bottles.

Trewithen has been working closely with local farms to implement regenerative farming techniques since 2020, with the launch of Regen Milk marking a significant chapter in its journey which began with just two farms embracing regenerative methods.

Today, six farms have joined the movement, enabling Trewithen Dairy to produce enough volume to meet growing consumer demand for sustainable products.

The shift towards local produce has been gaining momentum over recent years, as consumers look to champion the nation’s food industry and reduce their food miles. The concept of regenerative farming has also been gaining popularity as companies endeavour to make positive environmental strides.

Despite not having a legal definition, the sector has seen increasing interest in regenerative agriculture, and an increasing number of brands have been shouting out about their use of such practices. To put this into context, this year’s Groundswell – the regenerative agriculture festival at Lannock Manor Farm – pulled in more than 6,500 attendees.  

Uptake is reflective of consumer demands, with the Soil Association stating more than half of consumers (53%) have expressed a preference for locally sourced products from regenerative farms.

This signifies a sharp contrast with research conducted by AHDB and YouGov in May 2021, which found that only 14% of British consumers were aware of regenerative agriculture. It’s worth noting AHDB’s prediction upon publication of this data, that awareness would grow as environmental concerns increased.

In recognition of the additional benefits regenerative farming brings to the environment and local communities, Trewithen Dairy is offering a financial incentive to participating farmers, with those producing Regen milk paid 5p more per litre compared to conventional milk.

The Regen Milk farmers rotate the free-grazing dairy cows every five days to fresh pasture, cultivate diverse plant species, and avoid artificial fertilizers by using natural methods such as clover planting. These practices are designed to enhance the soil and help reduce carbon emissions.

“Regen Milk is just the beginning of a larger shift towards more sustainable dairy farming in the UK. We’re excited to bring this product to consumers and invite them to join us on this journey of positive change,”​ said Francis Clarke, chief procurement officer at Trewithen Dairy.

Original Beans’ dark chocolate and gingerbread batons

Sticking on the topic of regenerative produce, Original Beans, the regenerative chocolate company, has launched dark chocolate batons in the UK.

Its new Simply Dark Chocolate Batons 62% blend the flavours of chocolate with gingerbread – the latter poised to be one of the hottest trends this Christmas among Brits.

The product is designed for the patisserie and baked goods markets, offering chefs with what the brand is calling ‘the perfect baton for pain au chocolat’.

Simply Dark Chocolate Batons 62% are made from unique Arriba beans that grow in the Pacific cloud forest surrounding the Mache Chindul Nature Reserve in Ecuador's Esmeraldas region.

Since 2010, Original Beans has been helping to save and restore forests alongside the origins of cacao beans, the habitats of wildlife, and a sink for 1,000bn tons of carbon worldwide through its One4One programme.

For every bag of cacao sold, trees are planted in the cacao forest region. To date the programme has grown more than 4.9m trees. 

Nathan Coytes, the company’s UK sales manager said: "We are excited to introduce our Simply Dark 62% Chocolate Batons to the baking and patisserie category in the UK. The flavour, melt and quality is what bakers have come to expect and enjoy from a craft chocolate baton - while using chocolate from Original Beans you will be contributing to the social and environmental regenerative missions we exist for.”​

The new batons come in 2kg boxes (250 batons per box) and are available directly from Original Beans.

Green Pantry pet food NPD

Following an expansion of its product range, Norfolk pet food brand Green Pantry has recorded a 20% rise in sales for the third year running.

Established in 2008, the last 12 months has seen several new launches for Green Pantry. This includes the introduction of a new 100% natural, handmade, air-dried dog treat range in three flavours: Duck and Venison with Sweet Potato, Pork with Sage and Sweet Potato, and White Fish with Parsley and Potato.

The recipe formulation is slowly air-dried, which ensures the highest retention of both natural flavour and natural nutrition.

It also includes a new SKU for the puppy category – Salmon with Sweet Potato and Vegetables.

The product expansion follows the success of one of its bestselling ranges, the White Fish and Kale diet, which has a dry food with only a 6% fat content, making it suitable for dogs with pancreatitis and other weight-related issues.

Its recent raft of NPD has also coincided with a brand refresh, which includes a new packaging design and website.

The newly launched website is also accompanied by a strategic social media campaign, with the brand offering top tips to customers and collaborative research endeavours with TrustPilot to understand what customers recognise as ‘excellent’ customer service.

The rebrand is rooted in Green Pantry’s existing heritage and is centred around the core messages of producing ‘trusted and naturally nutritious food’.

Simon Booth, co-founder at Green Pantry, said: "The past three years have been fantastic for the brand. Our sales have grown by 60%, we have worked hard to expand our range, and we are one of only a handful of pet food brands with a 4.9 out of 5-star rating on Trustpilot. Our mission will remain laser-focused, and I know the new rebrand will help us to gear up for our next stage of growth as the demand for high-quality British-made products shows no sign of slowing down.​

“However, we are not resting on our laurels. 2025 will see more exciting innovations alongside a raft of engaging customer-focused activities and competitions.”​

BFree’s gluten-free wraps

BFree has unveiled a new soft white wrap, adding to its range of gluten-free alternatives that include its popular flatbreads.

The new wraps have secured listings in Tesco and Asda stores nationwide following a positive blind consumer taste panel. In the trial of 100 gluten free consumers in August, 81% stated BFree’s white wrap felt soft in the mouth compared to a competitor brand score of 24%.

“The results of the taste test are testament to the development of our soft white wraps,” ​added Alex Murphy, CEO of BFree. “Our world-class technology and fantastic blend of starches, fibres, and natural ingredients, such as apples, peas, carrots, sweet potato and chickpeas, deliver an amazingly flexible and delicious gluten free wrap, that strikes a perfect balance between ensuring maximum softness while also being sturdy enough to hold any filling without breaking apart.”​

Currently, BFree operates the largest dedicated gluten free flatbread facility in the world, located in Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland. According to Circana Data (52wks ending July 13th 2024), the brand accounted for 55% of total gluten free flatbread sales in the UK, including pittas, wraps and naan breads.

The product has been developed for a variety of meal occasions including lunch and dinner, and is said to be high in fibre and protein.

Proper and Netflix’s pillow-sized popcorn

Proper Snacks and Netflix have teamed up to create a snacking-first – a pillow-sized pack of Sweet and Salty popcorn, the snack brand’s top performing flavour.

This is the second time Proper has collaborated with the streaming service, which boasts more than 214m paid memberships across an excess of 190 countries. In September, the popcorn brand launched a limited-edition popcorn flavour Netflix and Chilli Caramel.

It also comes after several other inventive brand activations from Proper, including a fleet of Proper-Barbie buses in London and a jewellery collab with KFC. 

With popcorn being the traditional movie snack and Netflixs keen to get folks staying on the sofa rather than the cinema, the giant bag is encouraging nights in with friends and family. At 280g per pack, the bag has also been designed with sharing in mind.

The pillow pack is said to be high in fibre, made with natural flavouring and under 130kcal per serving. As with the original Sweet and Salty flavour, this pack is also HFSS-compliant, vegan and gluten-free.

The pack is available exclusively in Tesco and priced at £3.50.

“Netflix is the no. 1 streaming platform in the world and has transformed the way we spend time at home. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to creating connection and re-imagining everyday moments. Our game-changing Proper x Netflix pillow pack is a true celebration of the night-in,”​ added Cassandra Stavrou, founder of Proper Snacks.

If you're keen to read more about food and drink trends, you can also dive into our 2024 Christmas trends article here.​​