In this week’s new product development round-up, FoodNavigator looks at single-use plastic-free Smarties, a rebrand for James Cadbury’s Love Cocoa chocolate start-up, activated nut m*lks, and Yeo Valley’s 100% recycled yogurt pot.
Pic: GettyImages/ra2studio
In this week’s new product development round-up, FoodNavigator looks at single-use plastic-free Smarties, a rebrand for James Cadbury’s Love Cocoa chocolate start-up, activated nut m*lks, and Yeo Valley’s 100% recycled yogurt pot.
Pic: GettyImages/ra2studio
Australian plant-based brand Nutty Bruce says it is the first plant-based activated nut m*lk player to be available nationwide across the UK, through a new partnership with M&S.
The brand is launching two one-litre SKUs: Activated Almond M*lk and Activated Almond & Oat M*lk.
Both contain a ‘high content’ of activated organic almonds. The Activated Almond M*lk variety, for example, contains 5% almonds.
To activate almonds, Nutty Bruce soaks them for 12 hours in fresh filtered water to kick-start the germination process. The activated almonds are then carefully dried and blended with filtered water and simple, organic ingredients.
“It is claimed that activated nuts are closer to being alive, allowing for the nutrients within the nut to be digested more easily,” noted Nutty Bruce.
The range, which retails for £2.25 per litre, is free from thickeners, gums, preservatives, colours, stabilisers, nut pastes or added oils.
“We are really excited to have secured the Nutty Bruce brand for our customers, we have a great range of Made Without and dairy alternative products available, and these new lines will perfectly complement that selection by offering our first organic nut milk and also by containing gut friendly qualities due to the unique production process,” said April Preston, Director of Product Development at M&S.
Two varieties of Pep & Lekker’s Seed Snacks will be trialled at 70 Sainsbury’s outlets across the UK, from this month.
The two SKUs – Fennel & Chia and Rosemary & Hemp – will feature in the supermarket retailer’s Taste of the Future aisle, for an RRP of £2 per 30g pack.
According to Pep & Lekker, the SKUs are packed with fibre and protein, and free from added sugar, gluten, and refined grains.
“The life of a fledging food supporting the war on obesity is certainly full of ups and downs, however the willingness of the fantastic Future Brands team to give Seed Snacks a break as part of their promotion of healthy eating is beyond our wildest dreams,” said Pep & Lekker co-founder Susan Gafsen.
UK dairy major Yeo Valley and Dutch packaging firm Faerch have teamed up to develop a new 100% recycled yogurt pot. The companies claim to be the first to bring the PET dairy sleeved pot range to market.
In light of the proposed taxation on plastics with less than 30% recycled content, the new packaging range will be exempt from taxation – due to come into force in early 2022.
The latest product range is available in three pot sizes with lids, together with a ‘retail-ready’ packaging tray. The rPET pot is 100% recycled and recyclable and comes enrobed in a 100% recyclable cartonboard sleeve. These two separate easily, noted the companies, into their respective recycling streams.
“We see recycled PET as the material of choice in rigid food packaging, as it allows true circularity in direct food contact applications. It is increasingly promoted by legislators across Europe,” noted Mark Tollman, Group Strategic Sales Director at Faerch.
“This product innovation launch is part of the wider product development programme to bring true circularity to the market for Dairies.”
Swiss food giant Nestlé has selected Smarties to become the first global children’s confectionery brand to cut out all single use plastic packaging. Instead, the brand’s Smarties Music Creator will be packaged in a recyclable carton box.
Smarties Music Creator is part of Nestlé’s International Travel Retail (ITR) division. It is a colourful flute made from plastic that can be used multiple times. The product is supported by online, digital content, as well as an in-pack learn-to-play guide and music sheet.
The product first launched in 2019, and Nestlé has been working to remove its single-use plastic packaging for seven months.
Nestlé’s ITR general manager, Steward Dryburgh, suggested the coronavirus pandemic would delay its launch.
“Clearly these are unprecedented times and the COVID-19 crisis will impact the immediate roll-out for the new Smarties Music Creator. In the long-term, however, the demand for recyclable and eco-friendly solutions will only increase and with Smarties we will be ready with these solutions.”
Coca-Cola HBC is rolling out a new range of Costa Coffee products for home consumption.
The line includes whole beans, roast coffee, ground coffee, coffee pods, RTD coffee, and self-serve coffee on-the-go via Costa Express machines.
The new range markets the first to launch in multiple European markets since the beverage giant purchased Costa Coffee in 2019.
The products will be first marketed in Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Switzerland, Romania, Croatia, Ireland and Northern Ireland, before rolling out in other countries.
Pic: GettyImages/Halfpoint
The great-great-great Grandson of John Cadbury, James, has announced a rebranding of its ethical chocolate start-up Love Cocoa. The new, square packaging features minimalist designs with gold colouring.
According to the business, the rebranding and premium packaging aims to champion the brand’s eco and gifting credentials. The new redesign also incorporates Love Cocoa’s ‘One Bar = One Tree’ campaign.
In partnership with charity Trees for the Future, the initiative aims to plant 500,000 trees in northern Cameroon.
“We believe the redesign showcases the exceptional quality and taste credentials of Love Cocoa,” said founder James Cadbury, adding that ‘the time was right for a refresh’.
“We’re looking forward to introducing the transformed Love Cocoa brand to existing shoppers as well as draw in a legion of new fans. We are also proud to be partnering with Trees for the Future and are committed to planting 500,000 trees in 2020, helping local communities in West Africa badly affected by deforestation.”
