This week's new product tracker from FoodNavigator sees Danone's innovation incubator launch a new brand of 'unapologetically indulgent' desserts while the UK's Robert's Bakery rolls out the country's first cricket bread and health food brand Aduna introduces what it claims will be a new superfood, fonio.
Pic: GettyImages-Alex Raths
This week's new product tracker from FoodNavigator sees Danone's innovation incubator launch a new brand of 'unapologetically indulgent' desserts while the UK's Robert's Bakery rolls out the country's first cricket bread and health food brand Aduna introduces what it claims will be a new superfood, fonio.
Pic: GettyImages-Alex Raths
In partnership with Sainsbury's Future Brands, Danone's Innovation Incubator is launching Pati & Coco, a new brand delivering a 'multi-layered, multi-textured' chocolate dessert.
According to the company, the chocolate dessert 'engages and stimulates all the senses'. It consists of a top layer of fine tempered dark chocolate, with patisserie folds of ganache and sheets of chocolate underneath. The base is a biscuit layer.
Julia Lowbridge, Marketing Manager of Danone’s Innovation Incubator, commented: “True to the spirit of the Danone Incubator it has been developed to meet new needs not currently addressed by our other brands, with a targeted launch plan. It’s an unapologetically indulgent treat to be enjoyed from time to time for when you deserve a moment to yourself!”
Pati & Coco is launching in the UK with a PR, social and digital marketing campaign. It will also be supported by in-store and sampling.
Health food brand Aduna is launching a 'new superfood' to the UK: fonio.
The ancient grain will roll out in WholeFoods and Planet Organic in January, with further launches expected in 2020 through health channels.
A member of the millet family, fonio has been grown in Africa for around 5,000 years. It has a nutty flavour and couscous-like texture. With a cook time of three minutes, it can be used as an alternative to quinoa, rice or couscous in salads, soups, stir-fries or as a side dish.
Fonio is organic, vegan, naturally gluten-free, low GI, rich in iron and amino acids, and a source of zinc, vitamin B1 & B3 and phosphorus.
Roberts Bakery is the first major bakery brand in the UK to launch insect bread.
The batch of limited-edition Crunchy Cricket Loaves has been whipped up in The Exploratory - Roberts’ concept kitchen.
The bread is made using cricket flour, which is supplied by UK insect food brand Eat Grub and sourced from the 'world’s only' cricket farm with Grade A BRC food safety certification. Each loaf contains around 336 crickets, which are dried, ground, mixed with wheat flour and grains and then baked.
Roberts’ Crunchy Cricket Loaf contains more protein than standard bread and is also a much more environmentally-friendly and sustainable source of it, the company claimed. Insect protein is also high in good fatty acids, calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin C.
They are also said to be good for the gut, to the high levels of chitinous fibre found in their exoskeleton. This helps to increase levels of a metabolic enzyme associated with gut health, according to Roberts.
“As well as having very strong sustainability and environmental credentials, insects are also seriously tasty and shouldn’t be overlooked as a great recipe ingredient. Our Cricket Loaf provides consumers with a good source of protein and an easy way to familiarise themselves with insect-based food,” said Alison Ordonez, Head of Innovation at the bakery firm.
“As the UK’s next generation bakery we work tirelessly to stay at the forefront of food revolution. We’re also passionate about boosting growth in the bread category with relevant, sustainable and interesting bakes. The first-in-the-UK Roberts Cricket Loaf is yet another example of this."
Neil Whippey, Co-Founder at Eat Grub, added: “We’ve been importing and selling insects as a food source since 2013, and we’re always excited to work with likeminded manufacturers who are keen to realise their insect-innovations. It’s been great to support Roberts in what appears to a UK bakery brand first. What a great way to introduce the joys and benefits of eating insects.”
Roberts’ first batch of Crunchy Cricket Loaf is limited to 100 loaves.
Roberts’ loaves are stocked in Asda and Morrisons stores nationally. They’re also listed in all major multiple grocers across the UK and online at Ocado, as well Londis and Budgens convenience stores.
Juste Presse, the French cold pressed juice brand, is launching a new 'superfood' juice that combines pomegranate and orange.
The pomegranate juice is pressed with the skin and seeds, meaning it contains beneficial tannins. However, according to the company, this has one disadvantage - a bitter taste.
To counterbalance the somewhat "pungent" taste of pomegranate juice, Juste Presse uses orange to provide balance with its sweet taste.
The new variety contains vitamins - like vitamin C - as well as antioxidants - ellagitannins and anthocyanins - and minerals. It is 'ideal' for the immune system, according to the company.
The cold pressed juice is made using High Pressure Refrigeration (HPF), a process the group claims preserves naturally occurring vitamins and antioxidants. It is free from additives, preservatives and artificial flavours.
Social media recipe series Twisted is launching Santa's Little Dunker, a limited edition Christmas pizza available via Twisted Slice, its delivery only pizza restaurant available on Uber Eats.
The pizza has a BBQ base and mozzarella cheese, topped with pigs in blanket, pork stuffing balls with sage and onion, and chargrilled Brussel sprouts. Finished off with a drizzle of cranberry sauce and a Yorkshire pudding in the middle, it comes with a pot of turkey gravy to be poured into the Yorkshire pudding.
Also available for the Christmas period are crunchy Turkey Tenders that also come with a pot of turkey gravy.
The launch of Twisted Slice follows the success of Twisted London, the first ever delivery-only restaurant born from social media, which now offers its burgers in more than 37 locations across the UK.
London 'wellness destination' Glow Bar has launched its first ever vegan protein supplement, Moon Shakes.
Glow Bar says its Moon Shakes differ from other protein shakes on the market due to their unique protein source, a combination of pea and sacha inchi, a rarely used seed sourced from Peru. The company also highlighted the addition of four adaptogenic herbs - Cordyceps (inflammation fighting), Mucuna Pruriens (mood boosting), Lion's Mane (brain powering) and Ashwagandha (anxiety and nerve soothing).
Glow Bars Moon Shakes also contain a prebiotic fiber to sooth your gut and aid digestion.
Commenting on the launch, Sasha Sabapthay founder of Glow Bar said: "I wanted to create a protein which is grain free and therefore easier on the gut and suitable for paleo/keto diets. Our protein source is pea and sacha inchi seed - a first for the UK. When I first started taking adaptogens nine years ago I was adding them to my protein shakes post workout, and so this product is a bit of a full circle experience for me."
The protein range comes in three flavours: Naked (unflavored), Ritual (cacao ginger) and Golden (turmeric coconut).
Glow Bar’s Moon Shakes are available to purchase at www.glowbarldn.com or at their wellness hub on 70 Mortimer Street, London for an RRP of £40 .
Entremont has launched a line of ready-to-serve appetisers designed to accompany aperitifs.
The company noted one in three French people take an aperitif 'at least once a week'. Entremont wants its new appetiser range to sit 'at the heart of this moment for pleasure and sharing'.
The frozen line of 'mini cheese toasts' is made using cheese sourced in France. The launch follows the success of its Baguet'Party or its Couleurs Coulant appetisers with raclette, Entremont said.
The new mini toasts come in two varieties: three cheese and Emmental, ham & tomato.
After a 'brief dalliance' with a new name, spread brand I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! is set to hit British shelves this month.
The relaunch will include revamped versions of its two popular classic Original and Light variants, as well as a brand-new addition to the line-up with I can’t Believe it’s even Butterier! Gold.
The relaunch also includes new packaging, which draws on the brand’s familiar colour scheme and font, enabling instant brand recognition amongst consumers.
David Salkeld, General Manager at Upfield, stated: “I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter is back and butter-ier than ever! The brand is a jewel in our crown, and we believe it’s time to return it to its glory days. Through the range relaunch, we have modernised the iconic brand which is designed to bring fun and personality back to the category.
“Since the formation of Upfield, we have focused on strengthening all aspects of our spread’s portfolio. We recognise the need to offer consumers a quality product at a great value price point, and I Can’t Believe it’s not Butter does just that, as well as being highly versatile. We expect the relaunch to be a huge hit with consumers who will instantly recognise the brand as it starts to flow back into fridges across the UK.”
