As the coronavirus crisis continues to play havoc with planned product releases, FoodNavigator brings you an update on the noteworthy innovation that continues to hit the shelves across Europe. This week, we hear of Danish chef Claus Meyer's decision to move his restaurant chain into meal boxes.
Pic: GettyImages-ViDiStudio
As the coronavirus crisis continues to play havoc with planned product releases, FoodNavigator brings you an update on the noteworthy innovation that continues to hit the shelves across Europe. This week, we hear of Danish chef Claus Meyer's decision to move his restaurant chain into meal boxes.
Pic: GettyImages-ViDiStudio
Plant-based cheese alternative maker Violife Foods said that it is taking 'proactive measures' to safeguard supply in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak as it unveiled a new product: EPIC mature cheddar flavour.
The UK company said this investment in product development reflects ongoing demand for vegan alternatives as well as its 'full confidence' in continuing NPD and its supply chain.
The primary product, an EPIC mature cheddar block, was rolled out in January and this will be joined by a grated product.
Thanos Korokas, head of R&D for Violife Foods, commented: “As the leading vegan alternative to cheese, which owns 88% of the branded dairy-free alternative to cheese market, we have a responsibility to give our customers new ingredient inspirations for use when preparing vegan meals.
“With many of us having to stay at home over the coming weeks, Violife’s vegan and flexitarian communities will still be able to create delicious vegan dishes that all the family can enjoy as we ensure that the Violife range, including the new EPIC Mature Cheddar Flavour Block, continues to be supplied to retailers.”
Outlining its response to coronavirus, Violife said it has taken measures at its factory 'to keep its workers safe'. These include: staggered shifts patterns to reduce contact, provision of protective clothing and disinfectant solutions to ensure high levels of hygiene and the strict health screening of all workers.
Within its supply chain logistics, the brand has ensured the flow of raw materials continues from its suppliers by evaluating the flow of stock and placing advance orders, especially on key ingredients and packaging.
This contingency planning has allowed the brand to continue to drive forward its innovation line, as planned, the company explained.
Well-known Danish chef Claus Meyer has started selling meal boxes to Danish homes around Copenhagen, Aarhus, Odense and Aalborg.
Announcing the move, Meyer said that his restaurant, Meyers Køkken, would produce ready made dishes to use stocks on hand - and therefore avoid food waste - in the wake of social distancing measures that have been introduced in the country. Across Europe, lockdown measures designed to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus - COVID-19 - have seen restaurant sales decimated.
Meyer, a chief proponent of the new Nordic food movement, said the range would include items that appealed to kids, vegetarians and 'classics' all made from fresh seasonal produce.
While initially introduced as a stop-gap measure to help weather the COVID-19 crisis, Meyers Køkken suggested that if the line proves popular it could become a permanent feature.
Created from local, British ingredients, the Fatherson Easter Cake Range includes:
- 9 Mini Easter Cupcake Platter
- 12 Easter Cupcake Platter
- 6 Easter Butterfly Cakes
- Simnel Cakes
- 2 Easter Seasonal Cupcakes.
Announcing the launch, the company said that given the COVID-19 crisis it will donate a proportion of the Easter cake range to food banks based in Alcester and NHS staff in the region.
The line will be stocked throughout the UK at retailers including Spar, Co-Op, Budgens and Nissa.
The line gives a 'homemade' experience and is available 'where possible' in 100% recycled and recyclable plastic only.
German dairy Berchtesgadener Land is launching a new variety of low-fat yogurt drink, peach-passion fruit.
The company said the new SKU replaces the multifruit variety and from May, it will join existing flavours, including strawberry, raspberry-lemon and blackcurrant.
The main ingredient of the fruity yogurt drink is a low-fat drinking yoghurt that is refined with buttermilk. The drink is mildly acidified with lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus Acidophilus and Bifidus. The soluble fiber oligofructose also makes the drink gut-friendly, the dairy noted.
The product is packed in the sustainable cardboard bottle, which consists of 60% renewable raw materials.
In a note to its customers, Berchtesgadener Land's management said it will maintain supplies of butter, milk and yogurt in the face of the coronavirus crisis.
St Pierre is extending its successful ‘on-the-go’ range with the launch of the new individually-wrapped millionaires waffle.
The St Pierre millionaires waffle is topped with caramel and is coated in Belgian chocolate.
The Millionaires Waffle is available in selected WHSmith travel stores and is due to launch in a leading UK supermarket later this year, the company revealed.
St Pierre said that the food-to-go sector continues to move at a rapid pace, and is predicted to reach £23.4 billion in 2024, a 26% increase on 2019, which is double the 13% growth of the wider UK food and retail grocery market over the same period, according to IGD figures.
St Pierre’s ‘on-the-go’ range is outperforming this with year-on-year sales growth of 150%.
Jeremy Gilboy, Founder, St Pierre Groupe commented: “The new Millionaires Waffle adds a new dimension to the already popular St Pierre ‘On-the-Go’ range, which we have seen grow significantly since its launch in 2018. As a trailblazing brand, our creative team have developed a product that not only tastes delicious but taps into a number of consumer trends, whilst offering simple indulgence on-the-go.”
