News
The latest summer F&B 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.
Despicable Me sweeties
British sweet manufacturer Swizzels has launched Minion-themed Squashies to mark the launch of the latest film in the Despicable Me series as part of a collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences.
Initially launched in 2022, the Minions Banana & Blueberry Squashies have steadily grown in popularity. This success has prompted Swizzels to evolve the packaging in time for the latest film’s release, now featuring three different Minion character designs.
Available in 120g bags, the Minions-themed Squashies are offered in price-marked packs 110g and come in 12 cases per SRP.
The Swizzel’s Minions range includes Minions Banana & Blueberry Squashies; Minions Tropical Chew Bars in two flavours, Peach & Passionfruit, and Mango & Pineapple; the vegan Minions Tropical Fizz Individual Chew Bar; and Minions Sherbet Dips which come in three flavours, Fizzy Orange, Sour Apple, and Tangy Berry.
Mars launches new ready to eat SKUs
Mars Food and Nutrition UK has expanded Ben’s Original into the ready-to-eat market, in response for a growing demand for convenience.
The ‘heat and eat’ trend is growing by 7% annually, with the UK market size anticipated to reach £1bn by 2028.
Ben’s Original Favourites and Lunch Bowls are the first products to be rolled out, with the business’s Dolmio brand set to follow with new ready meal offerings later.
Ben‘s Original Lunch Bowls are created to be a healthy range of tasty grain and vegetable bowls that can be eaten hot or cold.
Containing no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, the range contains eight different grains and products that are high in fibre and a source of protein.
Ben’s Original Favourites are a range of ready to eat, rice-based dishes featuring a variety of plants, and also contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
“We know people want to enjoy healthy, tasty meals, but often don’t have the time to prepare them from scratch. This insight has driven our ready meal innovation strategy which is all about giving consumers a range of tasty and nutritious meals that can be made in minutes,” commented Nick Reade, general manager of Mars Food and Nutrition Europe.
“Ben’s Original Favourites and Lunch Bowls will join an existing line-up of exciting products that have hit shelves in recent years, including Ben’s Original Plant Powered and Dolmio Pronto pasta products.”
The new products have been launched exclusively in Tesco, with further supermarket rollouts to follow suit.
To coincide with the launch and reflecting rising demand for ready meals, with an estimated 35% of consumers consuming them once a week by 2030, Tesco is undertaking one of the biggest changes in the grocery category in the last 10 years. The retailer is creating an entirely new ’easy meal’ fixture in-store – bringing new and existing products into one location, highlighting the opportunities and growing demand for quick, convenient, healthy and tasty meal solutions.
David Coulshed, Tesco grocery category director added: “We’re making the biggest change in the grocery category in the last 10 years in response to changing consumer eating habits, ensuring we provide an intuitive shopping experience for our shoppers. We’re seeing consumers want more on the go, convenient meal solutions as well as exploring more diverse global cuisines. A key part of this space redesign is the creation of our easy meals’ destination, and Mars has been a leading partner as we have developed our thinking in this area.”
The ready meal roll-out leads a several other innovations from Mars Food and Nutrition this year, including Ben’s Original Ready to Heat rice Family Packs, catering to larger households; Ben’s Original Ready to Heat Sticky Rice, tapping into the growing trend for Japanese and Korean meals; and Dolmio Intensify pasta sauce range extension, for consumers looking to add spice to their pasta meals.
Charitable rapeseed oil
A Thixendale-based Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil has launched a limited-edition oil to help raise funds for its charity of the year, HOPING (Helping Other People In Need Group) York Street Kitchen.
The kitchen prepares and distributes meals for people living in poverty, and through this new launch, the rapeseed business hopes to raise more than £5,000 for the charity.
A total of 35p from the sale of each £4 bottle of Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil's Lemon & Caper Dressing will benefit the charity, which is staffed entirely by volunteers. It provides around 300 two-course meals each Sunday to 70 to 100+ diners and also delivers food parcels to struggling families mid-week.
Commenting, Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil's Jason Thompson, who developed the new product, said: "Our Lemon & Caper Dressing is packed with zesty flavour and has a subtle sweetness. It's perfect for pairing with grilled fish, roasted vegetables and of course drizzling over salads. It's a delicious and versatile dressing that is raising vital funds for a deserving cause – a real win-win."
"Our volunteers are delighted to serve Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil's Lemon and Caper dressing at our street kitchen this summer. Its zesty flavour is a treat for our diners, and we are thrilled and thankful that YRO is generously donating 35p per bottle sold to help us address food poverty," added Jayne Venables, HOPING Trustee.
Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil's Lemon & Caper Dressing is one of a range of seven flavoured dressings made from cold-pressed extra-virgin rapeseed oil that is pressed, blended, bottled and labelled on the family farm in Thixendale.
The limited-edition oil is available to buy through selected independent retailers and via the Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil website.
Chocolate flavoured coffee pods
Devon-based business Little’s has created a new chocolate coffee pod variety pack, which is available on its website, as well as Ocado and Amazon.
The variety pack contains five pods in each chocolate flavour, including Mexican Chocolate and Rich Mocha, made with 100% Arabica coffee and packaged in recyclable aluminium.
According to Little’s 50% of millennials and Gen-Zs regularly buy flavoured coffee out of the home. Whilst coffee shops are leading the way on flavour innovation, the brand believes it has not yet filtered through to grocery – and it intends to plug the gap of this untapped segment.
Little’s flavour-infused coffee is vegan friendly, 4kcals per cup, contain no added sugar, and Nespresso compatible.
The Little’s journey started over 30 years ago when husband and wife team, Henry and Leila Little, first dreamed up the idea of making flavoured coffee – inspired by the coffee roasters they encountered on their travels around California.
Today, Little’s is run by their son Will Little and his wife Caro, with a 30-strong team. Its products are stocked in more than 1,600 retail outlets across the UK and exported to 25 countries.
The business claims it is also the only brand now making its own pods in the UK, with its managing director Will Little keen to champion British manufacturing and create local jobs.
US Cheez-Its hit UK stores
American snack brand Cheez-It has made its UK debut this summer, targeting the 22.8m cheese-flavoured crisps buyers across the country.
Baked with 100% real cheese and a combination of wheat, corn and potatoes, the UK has seen two flavours hit stores – Cheese & Chilli, and Double Cheese.
The SKUs are available in a variety of sizes, including small individual packs (65g PMP and 40g) and larger sharing bags.
The launch will be supported with a £18m media campaign, which will begin this September, and include a TV advert bespoke for UK audiences, radio, out of home, sampling, PR, and social.
Kellanova, which owns the Cheez-It brand, is also supporting retailers with dedicated POS, including freestanding display units, to help create theatre instore and engage shoppers.
Chris Silcock, Kellanova UK and Ireland Managing Director, said: "When we became Kellanova back in October last year, we said we wanted to become a snacking powerhouse, and bringing our hero US Cheez-It brand to the UK is demonstrative of this ambition.
“Great taste is the number one category driver, and we believe by launching a largescale NPD that delivers on taste, we can provide more choice to shoppers, help increase their repertoire, and drive overall category growth. That’s why we believe Cheez-It offers retailers of all shapes and sizes a compelling, differentiated product which will be backed by a heavy weight marketing plan. While this is a new product and brand here in the UK, the trade this side of the ‘pond’ can have confidence in Cheez-It – after all, it’s a billion-dollar brand in America!”
The launch of Cheez-It will add to the stable of snack brands sold by Kellanova in the UK including Pringles, Rice Krispies Squares, and Pop Tarts.
Monster Munch and Wotsits go non-HFSS
Popular crisps brand Walkers has three new multipack ranges which are HFSS compliant within its Monster Munch and Wotsits crisps ranges.
Made with chickpea to offer a source of fibre and with 25% less salt than the average extruded product, the new SKUs are under 100 calories per packet.
The launch forms part of a multi-brand platform named ‘Yummy With’ and come in three flavours: Wotsits Cheese Toastie, Wotsits Crispy Bacon, and Monster Munch BBQ Sauce.
Nearly half of UK households (49.7%) have bought Walkers Snacks in the past year and both its Wotsits and Monster Munch brands have shown impressive growth, with a 7% increase in value and a 7.3% rise in volume compared to last year.
“We know that consumers are on the hunt for smarter snacking options, but that they aren’t willing to compromise on taste, with taste remaining the top reason shoppers choose crisps and snacks,” said Phoebe Chapman, senior brand manager for Walkers Snacks.
“Over several years, we’ve meticulously crafted the range to perfect the formulation, aligning with the beloved light and airy texture that consumers adore. Our ‘Yummy With’ range is perfect for retailers looking to tap into this opportunity, to boost their offering and maximise sales.
“What’s more, through being non-HFSS, the range can be displayed on gondola ends, as well as front of store, unlocking additional opportunities for retailers to merchandise and offer shoppers an increased variety of flavours.”
Snackable, mini shortbread bites
Walker’s Shortbread has launched Wee Shorties – a new on-the-go shortbread snacking range.
Wee Shorties takes Walker’s all-butter shortbread icons and shrinks them down to mini size. Available in two flavours, Wee Shorties Mini Shortbread Fingers and Wee Shorties Chocolate Chip, both can be purchased in 15 bag multi packs, exclusively in WHSmith Travel within Global Travel Retail (GTR).
This comes as the GTR channel saw significant growth over the past year, with Walker’s Shortbread keen to appeal to time-poor shoppers looking for a tasty and transportable snack.
To support the launch of Wee Shorties, Walker’s Shortbread is running an integrated campaign with consumer, influencer and social media activations.
The launch also follows the recent announcement of Walker’s brand refresh and packaging redesign, which aims to celebrate the brand’s Scottish roots while supporting its ambitions for future growth.
Nicky Walker, managing director at Walker’s Shortbread, said: “With so many great ways to enjoy shortbread, we’ve made it our mission at Walker’s to show the world just how exciting and versatile shortbread can be. They say the best things come in small packages…and with Wee Shorties that really is the case.
“Available in a convenient, snackable format, Wee Shorties fits in with commuters and travellers busy lives, while delivering the same great taste and quality that Walker’s iconic shortbread is known for. The individual serving sizes also reflect the growing demand for more mindful snacking without compromising on taste or quality, which means consumers can still experience the Joy of Shortbread in moderation. It really is shortbread at its finest!”
Keep your eyes peeled for our second new product development round-up coming tomorrow.
In other news, Melt&Marble has secured a sizeable grant and equity investment - find out more here.
