With spring approaching, ice cream innovations feature heavily in this week's new product round-up. Perhaps surprisingly, we hear about iconic ice-cream brand Ben & Jerry's latest ice-cream free innovation. Froneri rolls out a new plant-based ice cream that it says 'helps save' wildcats. While discount retailer Aldi launches premium Wagyu beef burgers at a bargain price. Click through for some of the most interesting product launches from around Europe.
Pic: ©GettyImages-eternalcreative
With spring approaching, ice cream innovations feature heavily in this week's new product round-up. Perhaps surprisingly, we hear about iconic ice-cream brand Ben & Jerry's latest ice-cream free innovation. Froneri rolls out a new plant-based ice cream that it says 'helps save' wildcats. While discount retailer Aldi launches premium Wagyu beef burgers at a bargain price. Click through for some of the most interesting product launches from around Europe.
Pic: ©GettyImages-eternalcreative
Plant-based coffee brand Minor Figures - the first UK company to launch an RTD cold brew coffee - is launching its first non-coffee RTD beverage: a new chai latte.
The nitro infused spiced black tea, slow brewed at Minor Figures' East London microbrewery, is combined with the company's signature oat m*lk. The result is a 'silky spiced chai latte, capturing the purity, intensity and depth of the ingredients within', according to the company.
Nitro chai latte has a recommended retail price of £1.95 per 200ml can and will be available from minorfigures.com, Whole Foods Market and Ocado, with more independent, café and national stockists to follow.
Co-founder Stuart Forsyth commented: “Minor Figures’ focus is on quality, innovation and sustainability. As baristas we know that chai can be poor in quality and taste and packed with sugar. Our nitro chai latte is refined, sugar free and brewed to our own special recipe, so quality control is in safe hands. The result is an innovative and high quality drink to enjoy on the go.”
International ice cream maker Froneri is launching a new plant-based ice cream brand 'with a social conscious': RØAR.
The 'indulgent' plant-based ice cream brand 'helps save endangered wild cats' through a long-term partnership with Panthera, supporting the TIGERS FOREVER fund.
RØAR combines 'high quality' plant-based ingredients, is free from palm oil and all cocoa is UTZ Certified.
"We created this brand for the super-premium ice cream lover. We are plant based because it tastes good, and it also does good. We want more people to unleash their taste buds and indulge their wild side with this truly delicious ice cream," the company said.
Three flavours are launching in the UK and Finland: hazelnut chocolate cookie, coconut mango passion fruit oat cookie, and hemp seed chocolate brownie.
German dairy group DMK is launching a variety of new ice cream options in partnership with popular brands Baileys, Milram and Ahoj-Brause.
The new brand partnerships follow a successful collaboration with biscuit brand Bahlsen last year.
DMK is rolling out a Bailey's strawberries & cream variety in the 500 ml cup segment, alongside a “Mini Selection Pleasure” mix box and three varieties of Baileys stick ice cream.
Under the Milram brand, DMK is bringing the popular buttermilk ice cream varieties of strawberry and lemon into the waffle cone segment.
In collaboration with confectioner Katjes Fassin, DMK is bringing 'cult brand' Ahoj-Brause to the freezer aisle. The new ice cream product, the Waldmeister, will deliver the flavour of the iconic fizzy drink, with raspberry ice cream, a lemon sauce topping and original Ahoj-Brause 'pearls'.
"We want to build on our positive momentum in the ice cream sector from the previous year. In 2020, DMK Group will therefore continue to focus on consistently developing and expanding a profitable brand business – one which already accounts for 15 percent of its total sales. The aim is to also optimise processes and significantly increase distribution,” explained Marcus-Dominic Hauck, COO of DMK Ice Cream.
Unilever's ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s - well-known for its cookie dough ice cream - is launching just the dough, with the roll out of new Fairtrade chocolate chip cookie dough chunks.
The 'snackable' dough chunks are the same recipe as that used in the the original cookie dough ice cream.
The dough chunks come in 170g bags, each with six servings, and can be found in the freezer aisle. They are safe to eat raw because the recipe contains pasteurized eggs and heat-treated flour.
“Ice cream fans have been calling out and asking us to ‘free the chunks’ for a while now, so we’re delighted to be able to give them what they want,” said Ben & Jerry's 'flavour guru' Helder Silva. “During a test in the US, bags flew off the shelves. Now, dough fans in Europe can get a chunk of the action.”
Tesco has launched the UK’s first ever plant-based condiment range in response to what it described as 'rocketing demand for vegan sauces'.
With sales of plant-based food rising by 37% in the last year, according to IRI data, Tesco said there is growing demand for sauces to complement 'the biggest culinary trend of the last decade'.
The new sauces are part of the Wicked Kitchen range which is exclusive to Tesco. They include:
- Wicked Dreamy Beetroot Dressing - Thai inspired with coconut and lime
- Wicked Mazin’ Mango Sauce - Sweet & fruity with turmeric root, squeeze of lime and a chilli kick
- Wicked Hella’ Horseradish and Mustard Sauce - Punchy mustard with a hint of turmeric
- Wicked Sriracha Sauce - With fiery birds eye chillies, garlic and a touch of sweetness
- Wicked Sticky Teriyaki Sauce - Savoury, sticky & sweet soy ginger BBQ sauce
- Wicked Asian Style BBQ Sauce – with an Oriental ginger and five spice kick
Nestlé is introducing a two-finger biscuit in some 'exciting new flavours' to its premium KitKat Senses range.
Joining the existing KitKat Senses boxed chocolates and single formats, the new biscuits come in three flavours: salted caramel, millionaire’s shortbread and choc chip cookie dough.
Each features milk chocolate, two layers of wafer and a creamy filling that includes either salted caramel flakes (salted caramel), crunchy caramel pieces (millionaire’s shortbread) or choc chip cookie pieces (choc chip cookie dough).
Amy Bennett-Inge, Assistant Brand Manager for KitKat said: “Our KitKat Senses range is all about those special me-time moments when you want a little bit of luxury. Whether it’s to make your morning cup of coffee extra special, for a pick-me-up throughout the day, or to unwind in the evening, we think our new KitKat Senses biscuits provide the perfect indulgent break.”
KitKat Senses biscuits are being made at Nestlé’s factory in York, in the UK. The company already produces a range of two and four finger KitKats and KitKat Chunky bars at the site and Nestlé has invested £800,000 in new machinery in order to produce the new biscuits.
Richard Martin, Nestlé Confectionery Technical Manager said: “The capability to produce our new KitKat Senses biscuits has been developed by our York-based innovations team in record time. The £800,000 investment we have made in our York factory has further strengthened our KitKat operations within the UK, and provides us with additional capabilities for the future.”
Snack maker Joe & Seph’s has launched a vegan range with 'all the indulgent, caramel goodness' of its core collection.
Three new vegan additions will be joining Joe & Seph’s existing range in both sharing pouch and snack pack form:
- Vegan salted caramel, recreates Joe & Seph’s signature flavour using a vegan caramel;
- Vegan toffee apple & cinnamon is a vegan take on one of Joe & Seph’s most popular flavours;
- Vegan Coconut & Cacao is an all-new flavour, especially created for the vegan audience, with an 'exotic coconut crunch' and 'a delightfully creamy, chocolatey finish'.
Joe & Seph’s popcorn is air-popped and then 'hand-coated in all-natural ingredients'.
Founder Joseph Sopher commented: “We’ve wanted to create a vegan range that truly echoed our cult-status series of indulgent popcorn flavours since we began. Never wanting to compromise on taste or ingredients, we’ve finally nailed our new vegan caramel, we can’t wait to bring our popcorn to even more households, and bring Joe & Seph’s back to those who’ve recently chosen to go plant-based.”
The company's new vegan products are registered with the Vegan Society, contain 'all natural' ingredients and are gluten-free.
Kerry Foods is extending its Naked Glory range with the launch of new meat-free Tenderstrips.
The Tenderstrips will be available in three flavours: roast, tikka and smoky BBQ.
Kerry Foods said the line is an alternative that 'matches' the 'meaty taste and succulent texture' of chicken.
The move follows Kerry's launch of meat-free quarter pounders, mince and sausages last year. The line will roll out across the grocery and foodservice channels from February.
Alison Lees, marketing manager, Naked Glory, said: “The demand for tasty and exciting meat-free food is greater than ever before. It’s a compelling space for retailers to play in and a category that we expect to see continue enticing meat-eaters, vegetarians and vegans alike over the coming months and beyond. With more and more of the nation’s carnivores moderating their meat consumption, we want to make sure we’re giving shoppers plenty of meat-free options to sink their teeth into.
"That’s where our new mouth-watering meat-free Tenderstrips come in. Deliciously marinated and flame grilled, just like their chicken counterparts, our Tenderstrips are packed with bold and punchy flavours that will make mealtimes something to really look forward to. High quality, great taste and unbeatable texture – they’re the perfect addition to our line-up of pork and beef alternatives. For us, it’s all about bringing greater choice to the meat-free category, so that shoppers can enjoy even more delicious meat-free meals.”
Supermarket Aldi is launching 100% British Wagyu beef burgers throughout the UK.
The burgers will go on sale for £2.99 for a pack of two.
Aldi’s Wagyu beef supplier and chairman of the British Wagyu Society, Jim Bloom, commented: “I’m very excited about the launch of British Wagyu burgers into Aldi. The cows are reared on our farm in Yorkshire and thanks to its high marbling score, it is comparable to Kobe Wagyu.
“British Wagyu is set to be the next big thing in the meat industry and it’s very exciting that customers will be able to try our high-calibre Wagyu beef at such an affordable price.”
Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, added: "Here at Aldi, we champion British quality, which is why we’re delighted to be welcoming British Wagyu into our stores. We want customers to be able to enjoy the very best, high quality foods, at our everyday amazing prices and will be working closely with our supplier to ensure more British Wagyu lines hit stores throughout the year.”
