FoodNavigator's weekly round-up of new product launches from around Europe highlights health and wellness and indulgence as key - and not always contradictory - innovation drivers.
Innovation pipelines continue to deliver vegan and vegetarian products abound, reflecting consumer concern over personal and planetary health as well as animal welfare. Mummy Meagz's new launch, a vegan chocolate creme egg, aims to marry demand from those who 'avoid dairy for health' with a desire for indulgent sweet treats. Elsewhere, Pulmoll's hemp candy also merges growing interest in hemp as a functional wellness product with ongoing demand for confectionery.
Here are this week's most interesting product launches from around Europe.
©GettyImages/A-Namenko
FoodNavigator's weekly round-up of new product launches from around Europe highlights health and wellness and indulgence as key - and not always contradictory - innovation drivers.
Innovation pipelines continue to deliver vegan and vegetarian products abound, reflecting consumer concern over personal and planetary health as well as animal welfare. Mummy Meagz's new launch, a vegan chocolate creme egg, aims to marry demand from those who 'avoid dairy for health' with a desire for indulgent sweet treats. Elsewhere, Pulmoll's hemp candy also merges growing interest in hemp as a functional wellness product with ongoing demand for confectionery.
Here are this week's most interesting product launches from around Europe.
©GettyImages/A-Namenko
German confectioner Pulmoll is rolling out new hemp pastilles throughout Germany.
The product will be available through supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience channels, gas stations and drugstores, the company said. The launch will be supported by a marketing campaign consisting of traditional advertising, online advertising and PR.
Announcing the launch, Pulmoll stressed the product is 'fully legal'.
The 'unmistakable' hemp taste is achieved through the use of natural hemp aroma with the addition of menthol. The product is sugar-free, sweetened using steviol glycosides from the stevia plant. It is suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Seed, nut and dried fruit specialist Seeberger is launching a new aperitif mix inspired by the Mediterranean.
The French snack group is launching a 'healthy and natural blend' made of nuts and dried green olives.
The new SKU contains lightly salted almonds, cashews and dried green olives. It is available in supermarkets throughout France for an RRP of €4.05 for 125g.
Vegan chocolate brand Mummy Meagz is launching a vegan chocolate crème egg in the UK.
The Chuckie Egg will launch into Holland & Barrett stores nationwide from 22 January. It consists of a 'rich chocolate shell', a 'sweet creamy' filling and 'gooey yolk’.
Each egg is handmade and then wrapped in striking blue foil.
Founder Meagan Boyle started making small batches of eggs to sell in her vegan coffee shop before partnering with Holland & Barrett to secure a national reach.
“In a world full of inequalities, I believe that nobody’s sweet tooth should have to suffer due to dietary and lifestyle choices, or food allergies. That’s why I made the Chuckie Egg. Its gooey centre will delight lovers of crème eggs, including those who choose vegan products for the environment and animals, and those who avoid dairy for health. The eggs have grown a huge following simply from being sold in my shop, and I know they’ll become the next big vegan craze for Easter," she said.
The Chuckie Egg is completely vegan and contains no genetically modified ingredients (GMOs) or palm oil. Each has a recommended retail price of 99 pence.
Mount Mayon, the world’s premium Pili Nut brand already popular in the US and Asia, has secured its first UK national listing.
The healthy nut snack went into 19 Boots stores within the UK’s leading pharmacy-led health and beauty retailer’s ‘Wellness’ portfolio, from the end of December. Boots will be stocking three variants (Himalayan Pink Salt; Ecuadorian Cacao; and Kyoto Matcha) from the Mount Mayon range, supplied in a snack sachet format, to capitalise on the buoyant healthy snacking market, the company said.
The new Boots listing marks the brand’s first entry into a major multiple retailer, although Mount Mayon is already stocked by 14 other high-profile retailers across the UK including Planet Organic, Selfridges and Partridges.
Pili Nuts are grown in the Philippines and are 100% natural, gluten-free, cholesterol free and trans fats free. Mount Mayon’s nuts represent the lowest net carbs of any nut and are highest in magnesium and rich in Omega 9 oils, according to the company.
Pili Nuts also offer a high source of protein, fibre and, due to their naturally occurring high levels of vitamin E, are a 'powerful antioxidant' that is associated with skin health and appearance.
Mount Mayon nuts are grown without harmful chemicals and are certified as free of pesticide residue. The brand also utilities a proprietary 'SloDry' method of processing that maintains healthy oils and proteins.
Mount Mayon Pili Nuts are certified non-GM, halal, kosher and vegan.
Pip & Nut is launching its newest variant - Blueberry Trail Mix Almond Butter - in the UK this month.
The latest addition to Pip & Nut’s successful limited edition series will roll out in Sainsbury’s and Morrisons stores as well as Boots, Whole Foods, Holland and Barrett and Ocado.com.
Made using smooth almond butter, sunflower and pumpkin seed butters, with real blueberries, coconut and almond nibs this new limited edition is a blend of 'trail mix ingredients'.
It is vegan friendly, high in fibre and a source of protein and healthy fats. It is also palm oil free.
Pip Murray, founder, commented: “As always, our Limited Editions aim to invigorate the category with new and exciting flavour combinations and we know our customers are always excited to try the latest launch. By bringing two trends, trail mix and blueberries, together, we believe we’ve created something really special and another first to market for the UK.”
Ludwig Chocolate is extending its Schogetten chocolate brand in Germany with the addition of a Skyr variant from February.
Announcing the launch, Ludwig described the innovation as offering 'the variety of the year' for 2020. "The combination of a delicious milk chocolate with a fine Skyr taste is not only a real treat for Schogetten lovers, but also for fans of the [trending] Icelandic product," the company said.
The launch will be supported by television and internet advertising to drive awareness as well as point of sale placement, including shelf stoppers and secondary placement displays.
The chocolate will be available throughout Germany in supermarket, convenience and hypermarket channels.
Complete nutrition brand Huel is launching its new Huel Black Edition.
The new powder formula joins Huel’s existing core powder range. Specially created following feedback from nutrition-savvy customers, Huel Black Edition contains half the level of carbohydrate, 40g of 100% plant-based protein and zero artificial sweeteners, while still delivering a nutritionally complete meal.
A spokesperson said the new SKU was named to reflect a high-end positioning as 'Huel’s most premium product launch to date'.
Each serving of Huel Black Edition contains all 26 essential vitamins and minerals, along with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, fibre, omega-3 and -6 fats you need on a daily basis, it said.
Huel Black Edition is made using sustainable ingredients including pea protein, flaxseed, brown rice protein, sunflower and coconut for the 'perfect amino acid profile' and a 'good balance of essential fats'. The formula includes pro- and prebiotics while kombucha and green tea extract have been introduced for additional natural nutrients.
Huel Black Edition is available in two flavours: vanilla and chocolate. It is vegan, gluten-free and naturally flavoured and sweetened, containing less than 5g sugar per serving.
Huel Black Edition Powder is available exclusively at huel.com.
