From premium mixers in flavours like violet blossom tonic and barrel smoked cola, to high protein snack bars powered by plant proteins, to vegan lower sugar brownie bites, here are some of the product launches that caught our eye this week.
From premium mixers in flavours like violet blossom tonic and barrel smoked cola, to high protein snack bars powered by plant proteins, to vegan lower sugar brownie bites, here are some of the product launches that caught our eye this week.
The Artisan Drinks Company is launching a line of premium craft mixers in partnership with spirits distributor Love Drinks.
The range includes flavours like violet blossom tonic, barrel smoked cola, and classic London tonic. The company said the recipes are made using the “finest natural ingredients”.
Artisan Drinks Co co-founder Steve Cooper said the launch aims to address a lack of innovation in the category. “The spirits market has a wonderful array of craft brands, traditional to modern, reserved through to colourful. Yet, despite strong growth, there is little innovation in the mixer category.”
Also in the UK, Nibble is launching a line of lower sugar, high protein brownie bites.
The range consists of three flavours: Choc Orange, Mint Choc and Choc Walnut. The products are all gluten-free and vegan.
The company said the product was developed to appeal to those who want a healthy, low sugar, high protein snack that has the taste of a “naughty treat”.
Each of the all-natural bites contains 1g of sugar and uses a dried plum puree as a sweetener. This means that the brownies contain 18% plant protein, the company noted
Snack bar manufacturer has KIND is launching a new protein range in the UK.
The group is entering the sports nutrition market with the introduction of three protein bars: Crunchy Peanut Butter, Double Dark Chocolate and Toasted Caramel Nut.
Retailing at £1.69 each, the bars feature nut-based whole food ingredients, are high in fibre, lower in sugar and gluten-free. KIND said the bards also contain “heart healthy fats”.
KIND marketing manager John McManus said that the company’s “unique proposition” will tap into the “huge opportunity” in the UK protein category.
“As we’re seeing the functional health trend continue to grow, we’ve noticed a gap in the market for on-the-go, convenient products, that really deliver on taste, contain whole food, natural ingredients and have a functional benefit. With our flavour-first focus, we believe we are bringing something very exciting into the category and look forward to our nationwide roll-out this autumn.”
The three strong range will launch into over 400 Sainsbury’s stores from 16th September and roll out across key independents, BP stations and travel sites nationwide from this month. By the end of 2018 the Protein range will be in over 2,000 stores, KIND said.
Dutch meat-free innovator The Vegetarian Butcher has launched what it describes as a “world first” meat-free smoked sausage that delivers the same taste as a traditional smoked sausage.
The Vegetarian Butcher is rolling out its own version of the traditional Dutch rookworst.
The Vegetarian Butcher founder and director, Jaap Korteweg, said that the company – together with sausage makers and flavour specialists – worked on the product for seven years.
This is the company’s longest product development lifecycle and shows the importance of “developing a great smoked sausage from all aspects”, Korteweg said.
The product will be available in Dutch supermarkets from October.
The Vegetarian Butcher products are now available at more than 4000 outlets in 15 countries worldwide, but "for the time being" the smoked sausage will only be available in the Netherlands.
Korteweg said more innovation is on the way: "We are keen to bring more vegan news in the near future."
Nestlé is introducing a new flavour of KitKat Chunky in the UK and Ireland: KitKat Chunky Salted Caramel Fudge.
The bar combines KitKat wafer with a salted caramel fudge flavoured topping, covered in milk chocolate.
The packaging has been inspired by a “retro sweet shop design", Nestlé noted.
Natasha Lawless, brand manager for KitKat, said: “KitKat fans love exciting new combinations and flavours from their favourite brand, and with the ongoing popularity of salted caramel, we thought it was only right to bring this salty-sweet combination to KitKat Chunky.”
KitKat Chunky Salted Caramel Fudge bar will be available in all major retailers from next Monday (20 August).
