What's the latest in new product development across Europe? This month we see Moving Mountain's 'bleeding' plant-based burger hit retail for the first time, Fazer is marketing a new plant-based chocolate as well as a mint-flavoured variety with no added sugar, and Lactalis Nestlé is promoting a line of high-protein products for regular gym-goers.
Pic: GettyImages/Sergey_Nivens
What's the latest in new product development across Europe? This month we see Moving Mountain's 'bleeding' plant-based burger hit retail for the first time, Fazer is marketing a new plant-based chocolate as well as a mint-flavoured variety with no added sugar, and Lactalis Nestlé is promoting a line of high-protein products for regular gym-goers.
Pic: GettyImages/Sergey_Nivens
Meat analogue brand Moving Mountains is pushing its burger into retail for the first time, via a listing through Ocado’s cook-at-home range.
The Bleeding Burger (RRP £4.50) has, until now, been solely available in the restaurant sector. The plant-based burger is designed to look ‘just like a regular patty’, and when it is cooked in the pan or on the barbecue, ‘it sizzles, smells and browns just like the real thing’. The inclusion of beetroot juice means the patty even ‘bleeds through the middle’.
The Ocado partnership also includes the UK company’s plant-based meatballs, mince, and sausage burger products.
The plant-based meatballs are made from rice, oyster mushrooms, coconut oil, pea protein and beetroot. The meatballs can be baked straight from frozen in 20 minutes, or pan-fried in 10 minutes. And the sausage burger is made from a combination of oyster mushrooms, pea and wheat protein.
“This exciting partnership with Ocado allows Moving Mountains to support UK consumers’ plant-based journeys every day, offering more flexitarian choice than ever and delivered directly to their doors,” said Moving Mountains founder Simeon van der Molen.
Supermarket retailer Aldi is launching a line of vegan bruschetta’s as a 'Specialbuy' (99p for a 15pg pack).
The products use vegan dough as its base and are sold in two flavours. The Garlic & Parsley variety is seasoned with fresh Spanish garlic and dusted with dried parsley.
The Tomato & Oregano SKU is topped with pureed Spanish tomatoes and sprinkled with dried oregano.
The bruschettas can be eaten straight out of the bag or re-heated with toppings for ‘warm garlic bread and pizza-style canapés’.
The new Nestlé Lindahls PRO range is a new range of high protein products launching in the UK.
Designed for regular gym-goers, the line is available in two flavoured pots and two ready-to-drink bottles. The pots come in Strawberry & Lime Pie and Lemon Cheesecake flavours. They are fat free low in sugar, and contain 18g protein. They will be stocked in Morrisons and have an RRP of £0.95 each.
The pot products contain a 50:50 mix of whey protein and casein protein, which may help to maintain the ‘delicate balance’ between protein synthesis and the prevention of protein breakdown in the body.
The Nestlé Lindahls PRO drinks are available in Raspberry & Vanilla and Tropical. They contain 23g of protein in each serving, and will be sold in Asda from next month with an RRP of £1.25.
According to Lactalis Nestlé, the products bring together the nutritional benefits of protein shakes in a ready-to-go format.
“We are excited to be extending our range in the UK with new Lindahls Pro. We are committed to providing great tasting, high protein dairy for active people and are confident that this new innovative range, with its unique 50:50 mix of whey and casein, will be a hit with consumers.”
Fazer is bringing two limited edition plant-based chocolate to market this month.
According to Fazer Group’s head of research Jussi Loponen, the two small tablets, plant-based Fazer Oat Choco and Karl Fazer Crispy Mint, respond to growing demand for new additions to its chocolate range.
“Our talented chocolate technologists managed to develop delicious solutions to two challenges: a plant-based product and a chocolate with no added sugar.”
The Fazer Oat Choco is made with Finnish oats – a crop Fazer has made significant investments in of late.
“We are investing in expertise and technology related to oats,” said Loponen. “We have mills in Finland and Sweden. In addition to our beloved classics, we want to introduce new plant-based options in all our categories. We now have taken our first step towards oats in our confectionery business, and we can also make use of this new innovation in other products.”
The Karl Fazer Crispy Mint SKU is a milk chocolate with no added sugar. Instead, the chocolate is sweetened with xylitol.
“We are launching a test sale of our new chocolate that contains no added white sugar,” said Loponen. “The product was developed with the focus on flavour, and I think it will live up to chocolate fans’ expectations.”
Zinda Foods is launching their Chicken Makhni (butter chicken) AirWrap in Tesco stores this month.
According to the brand, since lockdown, consumers are ‘desperate’ for exciting new food and ‘shying away’ from traditional meal deal offers since lockdown. According to survey carried out by Zinda, 40% of respondents said they would look for more interesting options in meal deals.
“This shows that, while more people are currently making their lunches at home, as they return to their post COVID-19 lives, they will look for more interesting options that are ready to eat, quick to heat, and easier on the pocket.”
In keeping with these changing consumer demands, Zinda developed the new AirWrap with Michelin Star chef Alfred Prasad. The chicken is mixed with ‘rich, creamy, butter chicken sauce’ alongside ‘crunchy, shredded cabbage and carrots’ – all wrapped in the brand’s trademark AirWrap base.
The AirWrap is ‘the UK’s first’ natural artisan wrap base. It is high in fibre and protein, and low in carbohydrates.
“We felt encouraged to see the strong rate of sales in Tesco for our bolder, vibrant flavours,” noted founder and managing director of Zina Anishya Kumar.
“We are pleased that the range is hitting key riders such as taste and quality whilst also driving customer frequency and loyalty.
“We are now confident that the time seems right to introduce an equally exciting flavour and keep the momentum going.”
The product launched 13 July into 59 Tesco stores. It retails at £2.75 but is also part of the meal deal.
