This week's round-up of the hottest products hitting the shelves in Europe features a new bite-size protein snack based on a traditional Swedish recipe, a hot gin cocktail and the UK's first CBD infused sports drink.
©GettyImages/Julia_Sudnitskaya
Mars has launched a vegan version of the Galaxy bar in the UK. The vegan alternative Galaxy is available in three varieties: smooth orange, caramel and sea salt, and caramelised hazelnut.
The vegan Galaxy will be available at Tesco stores from Monday 18 November and online soon after via Ocado and Amazon. The 100g bars have a RRP of £3.00.
Mars said the bars have been made by replacing the milk with rice syrup and hazelnut paste. Kerry Cavanaugh, Marketing Director at Mars Wrigley UK said: “We're so excited to be bringing these delicious treats to Galaxy's range using a vegan recipe that doesn't compromise on the brand's signature smooth and creamy characteristics. Wherever you look you can’t avoid the vegan buzz in the UK - even though vegan treats are currently only worth £10m in a £4bn chocolate market, we think that by introducing Galaxy, one of the UK's best-known brands, there is huge opportunity for the category to grow.”
Abigail Stevens, Trademark Marketing Manager at The Vegan Society added: “We are delighted that Galaxy, such a well-known brand is entering the vegan market and offering more choice – and even more excited that there are three delicious flavours to choose from."
Endo will launch what it calls the UK's first CBD infused sports drink at the International Drinks Exhibition at the London Excel 19/20 November 2019.
With 10mg of CBD per 500ml bottle, Endo Sport can be taken as a pre- or post-workout drink, the company said. When taken before a workout, it delivers a boost of energy and increased focus to help get the customer through their gruelling session. After a workout, the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD get to work to help reduce post-exercise muscle soreness and speed up recovery.
The drink, which comes in two flavours -- Orange and Berry & Tropical – is designed to be used by both athletes and non-athletes during workouts. Pardeep Sooch, the founder of Endo Sport said: “There has been a huge increase in the last year or so of the role that CBD can play in the sporting world. With a lot of well-known athletes from the worlds of rugby, MMA and the NFL coming out to support CBD, interest from amateur athletes and fitness enthusiasts has understandably been piqued.
“English Rugby players James Haskell and George Kruis have both recently launched CBD sports supplements, so it looks like the industry is only going to keep getting bigger. Endo Sport fits naturally alongside these other brands, giving users a great-tasting sports drinking with the added benefit of CBD.”
Griddle Pancake is launching in Sainsbury’s stores in the UK on November 20. Griddle Pancake makes American style pancakes made from only natural ingredients, 100% wholegrain, and with 50% less sugar.
The Original Wholegrain and Lemon and Poppy Seed Pancakes will be heading into 100 Sainsbury’s stores throughout the country. It’s RRP is £2.80 and for a pack of six pancakes. A new Double-Choc Chip pancake as a well as a new vegan SKU are set to join line up throughout other retailers in early 2020.
Griddle was founded by friends Ella Harland and Sophie McGregor who met through a flat-share in London. They said: “Eating nutritious yet tasty food was a priority for both, however with hectic lifestyles and jobs it was often difficult to find the time to prepare good food! Pancakes were a firm favourite due to their versatility, but sadly only an option on the weekend when we had the time (and energy) to make them. We’d have loved to be able to buy them as part of a weekly shop, but all the pancakes on offer in the supermarkets simply weren’t up to scratch. Full of sugar, artificial colours, flavours and preservatives and simply lacking in any nutritional benefit. So that’s what Griddle’s here to change.
“We’re on a mission to become the number one pancake brand. Because delicious pancakes shouldn’t have to come at the sacrifice of health and convenience.”
French beverage company Oenotropic Innovation has announced its 100% natural and vegan friendly sparkling pineapple called LaNana.
“Consumers, ever more demanding in terms of taste and health, want to enjoy refreshing drinks, sweet but not too much, and have a large preference for natural sugars from fruit,” the company said, citing an XCT World Innovation survey which indicates that 80% of French people are turning to natural drinks, with simpler compositions, in which the taste is preserved.
“The taste of LaNana is unique, indefinable and a source of debate: sometimes acidulous, sometimes sweet, sometimes fruity ... A clever reflection of the power of pineapple.”
London-based premium cocktail maker Tipplesworth has added a new seasonal product to its portfolio, the Festive Punch. The new variant will be rolled out across 203 Waitrose stores nationwide as well as online. Pitched as the perfect punch for party season, each bottle offers a group serve for five, just add gin, water and serve warm (RRP. £6.99, 500ml / 5 serves).
Founder Frankie Snobel said: “We’re so excited to be launching our new Christmassy cocktail, just in time for the party season. Hot gin cocktails are tipped as the drinks trend of the season, and our new
Festive Punch means consumers can easily make a great tasting quality cocktail, from the comfort of their own home. We’re absolutely delighted to have the ongoing support of Waitrose as we continue to build our product portfolio.”
British brand Plant Pops has released Popped Lotus Seeds as it aims to meet consumer demand for healthier snacking alternatives.
The plant-based range is created using ancient grains and seeds and is available in three flavours: Himalayan salt, smoked chilli and peanut butter.
“Having grown up in India, where my family would snack on popped lotus seeds at home, I wanted to make these delicious, traditional snacks accessible to as many people as possible,” said Anushi Desai, co-founder of Plant Pops.
“Plant Pops’ mission is to get people snacking differently and our range of Popped Lotus Seeds provides individuals with the opportunity to enjoy different ingredients from across the globe and experience new snacking sensations.”
Popped Lotus Seeds are available in the UK with a RRP of £1.20 per 20g pack.
UK company Nibble, which makes bite-size protein snacks and brownie bites, has launched gingerbread with chopped almonds protein bites to its healthy snacking range.
According to Nibble, the new range blends the traditional flavours of the festive season into gently spiced, protein-packed bites with less than 1 gram of sugar per piece, making them the ultimate guilt-free festive treat.
“Based on a traditional Swedish recipe, these delicious, delicately spiced bites are topped with chopped almonds and made using a blend of ground ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and contain 30% less sugar than most standard all-natural protein bars and balls on the market,” it said.
Protein Bites Gingerbread with chopped almonds protein bites have a RRP of £1.49/unit and are available from Amazon and independent retailers.
