This week's round up of some of the most interesting products rolling out across Europe gets festive with the 'biggest' pig in a blanket available in the UK this Christmas. We also hear from crowd-sourced innovation platform C'est Qui Le Patron, while Nestle launches more ruby chocolate products.
This week's round up of some of the most interesting products rolling out across Europe gets festive with the 'biggest' pig in a blanket available in the UK this Christmas. We also hear from crowd-sourced innovation platform C'est Qui Le Patron, while sausage maker Heck launches vegan options.
Nestlé is launching a limited edition SKU of Baci Perugina made with ruby chocolate exclusively at Sainsbury’s stores in the UK.
The pink Baci Perugina Limited Edition is made with chocolate derived from ruby cocoa beans, which offer an “intense berry-fruitiness” without the addition of any flavourings or colours.
The ruby chocolate is combined with the Baci Perugina hazelnut and cocoa filling. The company said the limited edition will be available for just three weeks.
“We’re excited to be extending the already popular Baci Perugina range here in the UK, and even more excited that we’re able to offer Baci fans a taste of the delicious and innovative ruby chocolate,” Gillian Nesbitt, Baci Brand Manager at Nestlé UK, said.
Vicky Martin, Chocolate Buyer at Sainsbury’s, added: “We know our customers are huge fans of unique and distinctive products, and Ruby chocolate is the latest trend to hit the UK. These Baci would make perfect gifts for family and friends, or would work well as a stocking filler.”
The new Ruby Baci Perugina is available from 31st October to 20th November in 260 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide, currently on sale for £1.50.
Ruby chocolate was introduced in 2017 by Swiss chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut, who spent over a decade developing this innovative flavour. Nestlé was the first to launch this fourth type of chocolate - after dark, milk and white - to consumers.
C’est Qui Le Patron – a platform that allows French consumers to design their own products – has partnered with French chocolatier CÉMOI to develop two new chocolate bars.
C’est Qui Le Patron said that the products were developed after nearly 8,000 consumers participated in a vote to determine the product characteristics most important to them. Two products were designed via the engagement: a CHOCOLAT NOIR DÉGUSTATION, containing 70% cocoa and a CHOCOLAT PÂTISSIER, with 52% cocoa content.
The new chocolates aim to “support the fight against deforestation” and ensure cocoa producers are fairly treated, C’est Qui Le Patron said. Cocoa will be sourced from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana, C’est Qui Le Patron members decided.
The fermentation, drying and production of a cocoa paste will be carried out in the country of origin. The cocoa past will then be manufactured into chocolate in France.
From this cocoa paste, essential for the production of a quality chocolate, the manufacture of chocolate will then be made in France.
The dark and patisser chocolate tablets will be available for a price of €1.08 and €1.71 respectively.
Young’s Seafood is growing its new ‘Simply’ line with the launch of Simply Bake; a “chef-inspired, hand-wrapped, deliciously healthy fish dish” ready to cook straight from the freezer.
Created to attract a younger ‘foodie’ audience to the frozen category, the Simply Bake range comes en papilotte and is ready to go straight in the oven.
Two varieties are being launched in Sainsbury’s: cod fillet with sundried tomatoes & garlic butter, served with Mediterranean vegetables, and basa fillet with miso dressing, served with peppers, pak choi, soy beans and spring onions.
Yvonne Adam, Marketing Director of Young’s Seafood, said: “We are continuing to use our new ‘Simply’ platform to revolutionise the freezer aisles with innovative, convenient products of the highest quality. Simply Bake taps into the health mega trend, as more consumers ask for meals that are high in protein, low in calories and taste delicious.”
The new range is available now for MRSP £3.50.
The launch of Simply Bake follows the introduction of Simply Steam to the fish ready meals category.
Online food retailer MuscleFood.com has launched the “biggest, heaviest and meatiest” pig in blanket available in the UK as part of its 2018 Christmas range.
At 35cm in length, the pig in blanket is made from 1.2kgs of gluten-free sausage meat and is wrapped in streaky bacon. It weighs 1.5kg and serves around 10 people. It is priced at £17.95.
Other NPD in the Christmas line-up includes ‘exploding’ cheese and bacon bombs, prosecco flavoured salmon and chocolate pasta parcels.
MuscleFood has also launched an exclusive Easy Cook Three Course Recipe Box, which includes “everything needed” to cook and host a “delicious, stress-free Christmas” at home.
Serving 4-6 people, the box includes Rustic Vegetable Soup starters, classic Christmas dinner and “fool proof” White Chocolate and Lemon Mousse dessert. The main consists of a butter-basted roast turkey or free-range topside beef joint, pigs in blankets, Hassel back roast potatoes, brussels sprouts, root veggies and spiced red cabbage.
MuscleFood’s founder Darren Beale commented: “We’ve spent the entire year working with specially selected suppliers to make sure this Christmas range is our best yet. Knowing our farmers is important to ensure we secure the very best for our customers – I can even tell you the name of our turkey farmer’s pets!
“We know that Christmas is such a busy time of year so rather than battling through crowds at your local supermarket, you’ll be able to choose from our hand-picked, award-winning, luxury range and have it delivered straight to your door.
“One of the items we’re particularly proud of is our Giant Pig in Blanket which is new and exclusive for 2018.
“This bad boy has been developed by our in-house Michelin Star trained Development Chef using a fantastic blend of fresh sausage meat, herbs and streaky, salty bacon, and is every meat eater’s dream.”
Reichold Feinkost is growing its Obela brand with the launch of two new fresh humus SKUs.
The company is introducing humus with Kalamata Olives and Hot Jalapeños.
The Hot Jalapeños variety contains finely sliced chili peppers, while Kalamata Olives offer a “balanced Mediterranean flavour”, the company said.
With an RRP of €1.99 for 157 grams, the new humus products will be available throughout Germany in cash and carry, convenience, discount, hypermarket and supermarket channels.