Every week FoodNavigator brings you the latest new product developments from across Europe. In this week’s edition, we cover the ‘world’s first’ frozen cheesecake in a tub, Müller’s new line of split pot yoghurts, dark chocolate buttons infused with CBDa, and a plant-based take on the classic Spanish tortilla.
Pic: GettyImages/Shamanach
Every week FoodNavigator brings you the latest new product developments from across Europe. In this week’s edition, we cover the ‘world’s first’ frozen cheesecake in a tub, Müller’s new line of split pot yoghurts, dark chocolate buttons infused with CBDa, and a plant-based take on the classic Spanish tortilla.
Pic: GettyImages/Shamanach
No-bake custom cheesecake brand Pleesecakes is expanding its product line with the launch of Freezecakes: the ‘world’s first’ frozen cheesecake in a tub.
The cream cheese filling is mixed with ‘increases’ such as biscuit crumbs, ganache and caramel, fruit swirls and popcorn, before being frozen and packaged ready for UK-wide delivery.
The ‘Bonnie & Clyde’ variety contains butterscotch and caramel cheesecake mixed with double chocolate biscuit, crunchy butterscotch nibs, caramel pockets and topped with caramel chocolate.
The ‘Charlie’ SKU is made from frozen chocolate cheesecake mixed with double chocolate biscuit, chocolate popcorn, chocolate ganache pockets, chocolate shards, and topped with more chocolate.
And the third SKU in the line is ‘Lily-Rose’ – a frozen lemon and raspberry cheesecake mixed with shortbread biscuit, lemon curd and raspberry swirl, topped with white chocolate and freeze-dried raspberries.
“The ethos of Pleesecakes has always been to think outside the box, experimenting with flavours and designs,” said founder of Freezecakes, Joe Morruzi.
“The idea of Freezecakes originated in 2017, with a simple concept – how to make a caramel ‘choc-ice’ style dessert using cream cheese instead of ice cream. Since then, we have laboured over every aspect, ensuring the finished product was as creamy and as delicious as one of our Pleesecakes.
“Fast forward three years and Freezecakes is now ready to hit homes UK-wide to give you that instant cheesecake hit any time of day.”
Spanish ready-to-eat brand Carretilla is bringing a new SKU to its veggie range: Heura with Tomatoes and Peppers.
The recipe has been developed in collaboration with plant-based meat company Heura. The dish comprises a ‘high content’ of plant-based proteins made from soya, olive oil, salt, aromas, and spices, and is accompanied by a traditional tomato and pepper sauce.
It is ready to eat after just one minute of heating in the microwave. The dish boasts a Nutriscore rating of ‘A’.
"With our Heura recipe we want to innovate and go one step further within our Veggie Dishes, offering for the first time a plant based alternative to meat. An ideal option, not only for vegetarians or vegans, but also for those who want to reduce meat consumption and have a flexitarian diet,” said Susana Fernández, marketing director of Grupo IAN.
The UK’s first range of cannabis dark chocolate buttons have been brought to market by wellness brand Body and Mind Botanicals.
Three SKUs are available in the line: 71% Dark Chocolate, Mint Dark Chocolate, and Orange Dark Chocolate. Each packet of buttons is infused with 25mg of cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) to ‘deliver the inherent wellness benefits of legal cannabis’.
For Body and Mind Botanicals, the buttons are a ‘unique and thoughtful gift’ to send to friends and family, providing them with ‘all the inherent, supportive wellness of legal cannabis’. They also make the ‘perfect treat’ for individuals looking to ‘practice self-care over the coming months’.
Michael Fitzgerald, co-founder of Body and Mind Botanicals, said: “We are excited to be launching the UK’s first range of handcrafted vegan Cannabis Dark Chocolate Buttons that are infused with 25mg of CBDa to deliver the inherent wellness benefits of legal cannabis.
“Consumers are increasingly looking to practice self-care at the moment and through this development, we will be tapping into growing demand for high quality dark chocolate products that simultaneously deliver wellbeing benefits.”
The buttons have an RRP of £3.99 and are available for purchase via the brand’s ecommerce website.
A new energy drink has launched D2C in Europe: Ninja Melk.
The product sees milk blended with carbonated water and organic flavouring to give a ‘creamy’ and ‘lightly sparkling’ offering that Ninja Melk says is unique in the canned energy drinks market.
The brand was co-founded by YouTube star Ryan Higa, best known for his comedic ‘ninja’ videos. Over 80% of Ninja Melk’s customers are males aged between 18 and 34 – a cohort the company says responded to the concept of a ‘novel, fun-branded drink in a can’ that can be ordered online and delivered to the door.
“The brand aims to attract these health-conscious and athletic consumers with its reduced sugar and natural ingredients, while caffeine and B vitamins bring a boost of dairy energy,” noted the business.
Ninja Melk ships to most European countries and is exploring additional retail partnerships. This month, the business is adding a new low-sugar, low-calorie product to the range: Ninja Melk Light, with a new Orange Creamiscle flavour.
A new split pot range under Müller’s Müllerlight Crunch brand has launched in the UK and Ireland.
The two new SKUs have an RRP of £3 each. Müllerlight Crunch Toffee Cheesecake Inspired (toffee flavoured yoghurt with biscuit crumble) is available in Morrisons and will be stocked in Asda from 13 July, alongside Mülerlight Crunch Flamingo (strawberry yoghurt with pink biscuit balls).
According to the dairy giant, split pot yoghurts are the fastest growing yoghurt format. Müller’s versions contain low-fat yoghurt with a side of ‘crunchy inclusions’. Each pot contains 98kcal.
Strategy and marketing director at Müller Yogurt & Desserts, Michael Inpong, said the new line responds to its consumers needs. “As a consumer centric business, we know that our shoppers are constantly seeking new flavours and formats which not only excite them and add taste to life, but suit their various needs.”
Squeaky Bean is bringing a ready-to-eat Potato and Onion Tortilla to consumers in the UK.
According to the vegan food brand, the product will ‘fill a gap in the vegan market with a ‘high quality’ and ‘easy to prepare’ plant-based replacement to the classic egg-based dish.
The tortillas are made with potato and onion on a chickpea base. Each 250g tortilla can be eaten straight from the pack or heated in just two minutes in the microwave, or in a frying pan.
“We know some consumers struggle to find ready-to-eat and easy-to-create vegan food options, which can often mean those new to eating a plant-based diet, or who want to reduce their intake of animal products, perceive it as challenging,” said Squeaky Bean co-creator Sarah Augustine.
“We also see a huge gap for egg replacement products, an area for which many of our consumers are craving tasty solutions. Squeaky Bean is meeting those needs with our new Potato and Onion Tortilla – in addition to our existing range of vegan food – which is super quick to prepare and packed with flavour.”
Each Squeaky bean Potato and Onion Tortilla has an RRP of £2 and is available in 90 Sainsbury’s stores across the country.
The makers of Digestives and Hobnobs is rebranding its Crispy Slices to Go Ahead! Fruit Slices, together with a ‘new and improved’ taste.
Pladis said the slices are made of the same crispy biscuit and fruit filling, but the new slices are ‘even tastier’ – with a ‘mouth-watering new jam’ and real sultana pieces.
“We’ve really made the range’s fruity flavour the star of the show in each product, which will help solidify its position in the healthier snacking aisle,” said marketing controller at Pladis UK & Ireland Christopher Owen.
“We know consumers respond particularly well to snacks with fruit in the product name, and with the product’s fruity aroma and sultana filling, it certainly delivers on the brand-new name.”
Go Ahead! Fruit Slices are available in three flavours: Apple & Sultana, Raspberry, and Forest Fruit.
Multipacks of 5 or 6 have an RRP of £1 in Tesco and Sainsbury’s.