The latest products hitting the shelves in Europe reflect the concerns of an increasingly adventurous consumer base. Recent introductions range from celebrity-backed protein bars made from worms to better-for-you confectionery balls that are made without added sugar.
The latest products hitting the shelves in Europe reflect the concerns of an increasingly adventurous consumer base. Recent introductions range from celebrity-backed protein bars made from worms to better-for-you confectionery balls that are made without added sugar.
UK-based Corte Diletto has launched Nouri, a new brand of "healthy, all natural confectionery balls". They are vegan, sugar- and gluten free and, according to managing director Kalina Halatcheva, taste "really indulgent" with "no dates or fruits taste".
The company has developed three flavours, made of three "completely different bases": chocolate & hazelnuts, coconut & chia, and matcha green tea. The group has also recently introduced a gift box of 16 balls, including sesame, cardamom and turmeric flavoured balls.
"Our slogan 'nourish your body, indulge your soul' pretty much sums up our company ethos which surrounds the belief that we should all be able to eat delicious and indulgent foods whilst simultaneously giving our body all the nourishment it needs. Nouri brings you health and indulgence combined," Halatcheva commented.
The company is working to expand its international reach and will be exhibiting at the SIAL tradeshow in Paris this month.
High-end pastries and chocolate maker Hugo & Victor's head chef Hugues Pouget has created an advent calendar that the company describes as the "perfect interpretation" of "refinement and greediness".
The Advent Calendar contains chocolates, candies, pralines and coated nuts.
At €35 per calendar it will be available from next month at the Hugo & Victor boutique. It will available by courier in Paris
Tobar has partnered with Bear Grylls to launch a "cutting edge" range of insect powder based health bars.
The two high-protein insect powder bars are apricot, cranberry and chia flavour and dark chocolate and fig flavour whilst the energy insect powder bars are orange and dark chocolate and apple, caramel and cinnamon. The bars will be available across Europe.
Announcing the move, Grylls' licensing agency Beanstalk said the new bar, due to launch late this year, will leverage the celebrity adventurer and TV personality's "tremendous brand loyalty".
Grylls is former British Special Forces survival specialist, an Everest mountaineer, TV host and a best-selling author.
Rupert Tate, CEO of Bear Grylls Ventures, commented: “We are excited to bring these protein bars to market, with Tobar. The brand’s vision to 'inspire, equip and empower' will transfer perfectly into the health bars.”
Tobar also stressed the sustainability of insects as a source of protein.
“Farming insects uses significantly less land and water, produces fewer greenhouse gasses and is a highly nutritious alternative to traditional protein production. We are hugely excited to work with Bear Grylls on this project to promote the benefits of buffalo worm powder and the health bar range to fans," Gary Bartlett, specialist product developer at Tobar, said.
The mince and burger products are fresh, not frozen. They use a range of natural ingredients to create an experience that the company claims "delivers on taste and texture".
Morten Toft Bech, Founder of The Meatless Farm Co, explained: “We have spent the past two years developing a product that is delicious and unique in its category. We are entering the market at a time when demand is growing and meat free alternatives are becoming increasingly mainstream. We champion texture and taste, offering an everyday solution for the UK’s 22 million flexitarians wanting to still enjoy family favourite dishes but just eat a little less meat, alongside catering for vegetarians and vegans who are looking for tasty alternatives.”
The 400g fresh mince has an RRP of £3 and two pack 227g fresh burger patties have an RRP of £2.50. They will be available exclusively in Sainsbury’s from mid-October.
Sustainable US chocolate company Guittard Chocolate are launching a new 500g 45% milk bar into the UK.
"This on-trend dark milk bridges the gap between traditional milk chocolate and dark chocolate and has a flavour profile that combines crème fraîche dairy notes and caramel-apple top notes with a distinct chocolate base," the company said.
Guittard source milk that comes solely from Californian grass-fed cows, the company added.
Guittard are the oldest continuously family-owned chocolate company in the US. The group launched into the UK last year and is now used by chocolatier Paul A Young, Crosstown Doughnuts, Adam Handling and Lily Vanilli amongst others.
Following the success of No1 Rosemary Water, No1 Botanicals is launching a range of nine new and unique single extract herbal drinks. It is the first range of single extract botanical drinks authenticated by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flavours include: basil, fennel, thyme, lemon verbena, meadowsweet, olive leaf, sage, mint and juniper.
As with No1 Rosemary Water, the new botanical extract drinks contain no added sugar, no preservatives, no sweeteners, no additives, no artificial colours or flavours.
“People are looking for more from their soft-drinks today - they are seeking out more sophisticated flavours while being more mindful of what they’re putting in their bodies than ever before," founder of No1 Botanicals, David Spencer-Percival, said.
"It has been an amazing journey to bring No1 Botanicals to market. We are thrilled to be launching first in Harvey Nichols, Harrods and Selfridges and to be collaborating with Kew has been a real honour."
The German soft drink manufacturer, Sinalco, the ingredient manufacturer, Taiyo, and the sweetening experts, Sweethouse, have embarked on a strategic partnership to jointly develop new and innovative beverage concepts for international markets.
Now, their first product is ready for launch.
Sunfiber Orange is a functional soft drink that’s sugar free and enriched with dietary fibres from the guar bean. It is both high fibre and low calorie, the companies revealed.
