A vegan start to the year
Several food manufacturers launched new vegan products to mark ‘Veganuary’ 2024.
Meat-free manufacturer VFC Foods has launched four new Chick*n products to mark the start of ‘Veganuary’.
The ‘One Bag’ range includes two frozen ready meal products, Chick*n fried rice and Chick*n curry, while VFC has also unveiled its chilled Chick*n mince and Chick*n sausages. All the products are gluten free, high in protein and plant-based.
The launch comes after a significant year for VFC which saw the brand acquire Meatless Farm and Clive’s Purely Plants, two fellow plant-based manufacturers. Based in North Yorkshire, the brand was founded in 2020 by Matthew Glover and Adam Lyons.
Reflecting on the announcement, VFC head of marketing Alison Reilly said: "Delivering on taste, health and convenience is fundamental to converting more people into meat-free alternatives. Our new VFC One Bag range, chilled Chick*n sausages and mince bring all these benefits to the table, appealing to a broader target consumer base across new meal occasions.”
The fried rice is available now in Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores, while the curry is only available at Morrisons.
Japanese spin on a classic sauce
Sauce Shop is offering a Japan-inspired spin on a condiment staple with the launch of its Miso Teriyaki BBQ sauce.
This new product is a blend of sweet, savoury and umami notes, combining the umami richness of miso with the smoky depth of traditional barbecue. Designed to elevate everyday meals, this sauce can be paired with a range of dishes – from grilled meats and vegetables to stir-fries and burgers.
Sauce Shop described the flavour of the condiment as having sweet tomato, sesame and red miso tasting notes. The sauce is available in 320g recyclable squeezy bottles in Sainsbury’s stores nationwide and online.
“We’re excited to introduce our new Miso Teriyaki BBQ sauce exclusively to Sainsbury’s customers, who we know are often on the lookout for new and exciting flavours,” said Sauce Shop co-founder Pam Digva. “We know this combination of flavours works really well and will be perfect for anyone looking to incorporate Asian fusion flavours into their cooking with minimal effort.”
Love Corn unveils new multipacks
Snacking brand Love Corn has announced the launch of new multipacks that feature its signature sea salt flavoured crunchy corn bites in mini pack sizes.
Love Corn bites are made with whole corn kernels that are right off the cob and just three simple ingredients.
Each mini pack holds less than 90 calories and is high in fibre, low in sugar, vegan and free of gluten.
Multipack boxes contain five 20g snack packs and are now available at Sainsbury’s and Ocado with an RRP of £3.25.
Commenting on the launch, Love Corn co-founder Jamie McCloskey said: “Over the years we have had positive feedback that Love Corn is a great solution for the family who want to give their kids a delicious, healthier alternative to Crisps and an allergen free solution over nuts.”
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/04/05/food-and-drink-npd-round-up/
PepsiCo goes electric blue
This new SKU will be available for 12 months across convenience, wholesale and grocery channels in a 500ml bottle format at a RRP of £1.99.
As the number one soft drinks category, worth £5.9bn, according to Nielsen IQ data, cola presents a significant opportunity for retailers to maximise sales. However, with taste said to be among the biggest driver of choice for consumers choosing their cola drink, shoppers are continuously on the lookout for striking new flavours, in particular Gen Z.
Pepsi Electric is set to help retailers cater to this demand and builds on the brand’s existing flavour portfolio that includes Pepsi MAX® Cherry, Lime and Mango.
Commenting, Ben Parker, Britvic retail commercial director in Great Britain, said: “Pepsi Electric embodies shopper preferences for fresh, special edition flavours while incorporating the unmissable vibrant blue cola liquid, which will grab shopper attention at shelf and capture the next generation.
“Tying in with Pepsi’s Thirsty for More campaign, the pack design echoes the electric blue and black of the recent logo rebrand, alongside the signature Pepsi pulse – bringing the brand to life, ensuring consumer recognition and encouraging shoppers to make the most of this limited-edition flavour. Pepsi Electric is set to help retailers increase basket spend and tap into the flavoured cola segment, a market which is growing three times faster than unflavoured cola.”
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/06/07/June-2024-food-and-drink-npd/
Monster hands and mummy dogs
Halloween 2024 saw Meat processor DB Foods partnered with discount retailer Aldi to launch its first spooky novelty collaboration.
This comprised pairs of minced beef (‘Monster Hands’) burgers, wrapped in bacon and matched with a BBQ cheese sauce pellet, alongside sausage-filled, puff pastry (‘Mummy Dogs’) with caramelised onion.
“We will be creating and delivering volumes of 26,000 Mummy Dogs and 17,000 pairs of Monster Hands for stores up and down the country,” said DB Foods’ commercial director Graeme Clapp.
“We could not be prouder in announcing our innovative collaboration with such a customer-focused and quality-conscious brand as Aldi. It is also a testament to our dedicated team that has always put the consumer at the heart of our thinking and business strategy.”
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/10/25/Halloween-food-and-drink-NPD-2024/
Premier Foods rolls out plant-based Ambrosia custard
Ambrosia launched a new plant based custard as Premier Foods sought to unlock wider appeal across the category.
Available for more than 50 years, Ambrosia custard has become a well-known brand within the dessert market.
According to Premier Foods, Ambrosia Plant Based Custard delivers that same “delicious creamy texture and recognisable flavour” that is synonymous with the brand, offering people with dairy intolerances or following a plant-based diet the opportunity to enjoy custard as it should be.
To help make the product a success in stores, shelf edge signage were used to attract shoppers to the new product. Ambrosia Plant Based Custard is also non-HFSS, so retailers can stock it anywhere in store for maximum visibility.
“We know that people’s diets are changing and it is our job to offer alternatives to suit all tastes and requirements,” said Daniel Jalalpour, marketing director for desserts at Premier Foods.
“Expanding our Ambrosia range with this new plant based custard will enable households to still enjoy the nation’s favourite ambient custard whether they are looking to cut down on dairy or follow a plant based diet.
“Three years in the making, the custard has been specially formulated to ensure our recipe doesn’t compromise on the taste or textures consumers know and love from Ambrosia already. We hope to broaden the appeal of this well-loved dessert to new shoppers and help future proof the category with a product that hits the mark.”
The Sidemen reveal their ‘Best’ cereal
BEST Breakfasts has expanded its range, with a new limited-edition ice cream flavoured cereal.
The Sidemen-owned Ice Cream Crunch launched exclusively into Iceland Stores, consisting strawberry, chocolate and vanilla flavoured crispy cereal squares in a 375g box.
BEST was launched earlier this year and is a HFSS-compliant cereal made by Mornflake, with the new flavour joining Choco Crunch and Caramel Gold. The UK cereal brand has seen quick success, selling 500k boxes in its first three months.
BEST cereal is made with a combination of wheat and oat crispy puffs, with added vitamins and minerals such as B12, D, E and iron. Per 30g serving, it contains 0.5g/1% fat, of which 0.2g/1% are saturates; 5.2g/6% of sugars; and 0.13g/2% salt.
The Sidemen’s manager, Jordan Schwarzenberger said the brand had been “overwhelmed” with compliments and requests for additional flavours.
BEST is a part of the Sidemen’s brand collection, alongside XIX Vodka, launched in 2023, and SIDES restaurant group, launched in 2021. The group gained fame via Youtube, with the group’s channel now boasting 21.5m subscribers.
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/08/01/august-2024-food-and-drink-launches/
Tango Cherry ditches the sugar for relaunch
Tango Cherry returns to stores shelves, five years after it was discontinued.
Owner Britvic has reformulated the drink to be free-from sugar joining its other sugar-free Tango flavours: Apple, Orange and Mango. The new cherry flavour will join the core range of Tango flavours.
Britvic retail commercial director in Great Britain Ben Parker said there had been many requests for the flavour’s return from consumers on social media.
“There really was no better time to bring it back and excite the category with yet another bold, popular flavour,” he added. “We know how important it is to keep innovating to keep shoppers interested and excited by the category and we are confident this one is going to be a hit in-store.
“We’ve ensured Tango Cherry is now also sugar free, with no compromise on its iconic flavour, enabling us to support retailers in offering shoppers soft drinks that lead with taste, just without the sugar. What’s more, the new flavour is available in a range of formats, to cater to take-home occasions as well as on-the-go moments, to ensure retailers can maximise their soft drinks sale potential with Tango.”
Tango Cherry will be available to the grocery, convenience and wholesale channels from October. The NPD will be available in a 330ml can, 500ml plain bottle, 500ml PMP bottle, 2L bottle and multipacks of 8, 18 and 24 cans.
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/09/13/sweet-treats-lead-latest-food-npd-round-up/
Alcoholic RTD brand gets new blackcurrant flavour
Vodka-based ready to drink (RTD) brand Four Loko extended its range with the launch of Dark Berry Burst.
Delivering a mix of blackcurrant flavours, Dark Berry Burst comes in 440ml cans (8.4% ABV) with an RRP of £3.49.
“RTDs are enjoying a major period of reinvigoration and the forecast for RTDs is extremely exciting, with particular emphasis on at-home occasions and the linked opportunity to drive sales,” commented Clark Mcllroy, managing director of Four Loko distributor Red Star Brands.
“Four Loko enjoys a well-earned reputation for being the go-to drink for those seeking unconventional fun and full-on flavour. Taste is perhaps the top consideration when it comes to RTD preferences so staying ahead of the curve is critical.
Dark Berry Burst joins the existing Four Loko line up of eight flavours (all 8.4% ABV), and like the rest of the range, is caffeine-free.
Four Loko is a US brand which launched into the UK in 2021 and has since become one of the fastest growing RTD brands in the UK, adding £7m value growth to the convenience sector (L52wks to 24 December 2023). It has also has eight of the top 13 fastest-selling SKUs in GB convenience (by value).
“The continuing squeeze on household incomes increasingly means that staying in remains the new going out, but the consumer thirst for innovation signals a clear demand for flavourful imagination,” concluded Mcllroy.
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/05/02/2024-food-npd-launches-and-trends/
Synergy Flavours launches new gin and tequila flavours
Synergy Flavours is releasing a new set of gin and tequila flavours which are suitable for both alcoholic and low- and no-alcohol products.
The gin range features six new gin flavourings, a complete negroni cocktail flavouring, and a crème de mure flavouring for gin bramble cocktails; while the tequila range offers two tequila flavourings to help manufacturers develop authentic tequila cocktails, plus a complete margarita flavouring.
Both flavour ranges are the result of Synergy’s extensive analysis into spirit flavour profiles, with the goal of allowing manufacturers to deliver authentic gin and tequila flavours across a wide variety of beverages. Synergy’s new flavours can be used by themselves or in conjunction with other flavours and extracts.
The firm also launched a whisky flavour range in December 2023, comprising five whisky flavours and an old-fashioned cocktail flavour.
Commenting on the launches, Synergy senior European business development manager Vicky Berry said: “Both spirits have very complex flavours which vary depending on how they’re developed, and this is an example where we’ve used analytical techniques to understand and emulate, so manufacturers have more choice when selecting gin or tequila profiles.
“Not only can these flavours help manufacturers appeal to consumers looking for authentic spirit flavours in RTD alcohol products, but they also allow them to target the growing market for low- and no-alcohol.”
‘World first’ for Brazil nut snacks
‘Totally Nuts!’ has partnered with wholesaler CLF Distribution to brings its range of flavoured Brazilian nuts to the UK.
The Truly Nuts Brazil nut range offers twelve varieties – including hot chilli, chocolate covered, smoked flavour. It describes the product as the ‘world’s first’ flavoured Brazil nut.
Gareth Lloyd, chief executive and co-founder of Truly Nuts said: “We are thrilled to join forces with CLF Distribution, a company that shares our values, commitment to sustainability, and drive for healthier snacking options. This partnership allows us to tap into CLF’s established distribution channels and extend the availability of our products to more retailers.”
Truly Nuts is now available in the UK and US, with plans to launch into Singapore, South Korea, Australia, and the rest of Europe this year.
Mark Sharp, ecommerce marketing manager at CLF, added: “We are thrilled to partner with the wild new brand Truly Nuts. Truly Nuts shares our commitment to ethics, sustainability, and offering consumers fresh, high-quality, healthy foods.
“Their range of flavoured Brazil, almond and mixed nuts meets shifting consumer demands towards more health-conscious products and offers our retail partners a product which provides a point of difference.”
Read more: https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2024/02/26/the-latest-food-and-drink-product-launches/
Lyle’s enters new category
Lyle’s Golden Syrup has made its debut into the ambient snacking category, with its own brand of flapjacks.
Since the introduction of Lyle’s Golden Syrup in 1883, it has been a key component in homemade flapjack recipes for consumers. Today, this is the number one baked format for the brand – and now, Lyle’s has created its own ready-to-eat flapjacks for consumers to enjoy.
The launch has been accompanied with a six-figure marketing campaign, comprising e-commerce advertising, in-store sampling and paid social.
“For a century and a half, Lyle’s has added fun and flavour to the kitchen cupboards of households across the UK. Now, we’re making it easier for consumers to enjoy Lyle’s on the go, with a major launch for the brand into the ambient snack category,” said Nick James, marketing director for Lyle’s Golden Syrup.
“Lyle’s Golden Syrup Original Flapjacks is a grand step forward in the Lyle’s journey, encouraging consumers to discover Lyle’s as an affordable, everyday treat, with the same delicious taste that makes you feel Absolutely Golden.”
The flapjacks are available in Sainsbury’s and Ocado in multipacks.
