In this week's NPD trend tracker we hear about kefir launch in UK cheese ailes, and 'futuristic liquid meals' made from leftover cuts of meat in Germany.
Pic: GettyImages/Metamorworks
UK kefir brand Biotiful Dairy, has secured a listing as part of Sainsbury’s new 'cheese aisle hotspot'.
The first innovation of its kind to launch in the UK in April of this year, the range includes three all-natural savoury flavour favourites; Original, Herb & Garlic and Red Pepper & Cumin (RRP: £1.50 / 150g).
Positioned as a healthier and tastier alternative for cottage or cream cheese, Biotiful Kefir Cheese is a cultured soft cheese made with British milk and authentic Kefir cultures which contain billions of gut-friendly bacteria. The creamy product, which is bursting with flavour, is high in protein and calcium, whilst being low in calories (only 30 calories per serving), and is low fat.
Natasha Bowes, Biotiful founder said: “We are delighted to be part of this feature, and to work with Sainsbury’s to help recruit more shoppers into the cheese category. We firmly believe this will capture the attention of a new wave of Kefir shoppers – encouraging them to upgrade their dairy choices to something more natural, healthier and tastier.”
Nestlé has launched Munchies in white chocolate, available exclusively in Asda stores in the UK from 13 August.
Available in 94g sharing bags, the limited edition Munchies variety features a soft caramel and biscuit centre, covered in white chocolate. The SKU joins the existing range, which comprises original Munchies, Munchies Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Munchies Cookie Dough.
Munchies Brand Manager Cat Mews said: “Munchies has been a popular brand for over 60 years, but we know that consumers love an on-trend twist to a classic too.
“Fans couldn’t wait to try Munchies Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Munchies Cookie Dough when they launched last year, and we are sure that white chocolate Munchies will prove just as popular an addition to the range.”
German father and son butchers Peter and Philipp Klassen have launched their ‘Pete and Phil’s range of meat juices in several hundred shops in Germany, with a 330ml bottle costing €4.86.
The “futuristic liquid meals” are made from leftover cuts of meat. The low-calorie, high protein juices are sterilised and will keep for a year without being refrigerated.
They are being marketed at athletes, the elderly and armed forces and rescue organisations working in disaster zones.
Young’s Seafood has launched a Hot Smoked Sea Bass product in Waitrose stores under the Hooked brand, the first hot smoked product of its kind in the UK retail market.
This product was developed as Young’s has seen sea bass increase in popularity amongst chilled shoppers with its light, fresh taste appealing to a wide audience. However, fans of sea bass have been limited to just raw formats of the fish, while many other species come in ready to eat options. Young’s saw an opportunity to create a product for the chilled category which broke down traditional barriers to entry in smoked fish.
The sea bass is smoked using oak wood to give it a 'light, nutty flavour', while retaining the light taste of sea bass which chilled fish consumers love.
Caroline Stanway, Buyer at Waitrose said: “Sea bass is one of the favourite fish species for our shoppers so we are really pleased to have introduced this hot smoked alternative into our stores, giving our customers a new option for summer eating.”
Philip White, Commercial Manager at Young’s said: “We really wanted to open up the chilled market to a broader range of shoppers, some of whom may have rejected smoked fish products previously, driven by uncertainty of how to prepare them or the strong flavours associated with the ‘oily fish’ species which are traditionally smoked, such as salmon, mackerel and trout. This hot smoked alternative needs no further cooking, has a lighter smoked flavour and little to no smell.
“Investment into NPD at Young’s is a key priority for us as we continue to drive the market across chilled and frozen, and this latest launch is another great demonstration of our industry-leading innovation.”
Belgium-based plant-based diary company Alpro has introduced an oat-based yoghurt in Tesco stores in the UK (350g, MRSP £1.99).
The product, called Alpro Absolutely Oat, claims it has the highest the highest oat and fibre content on the market, at 15.5% and [1] 15.5% oat content per 350g; 2.7g fibre content per 100g
“Oat drinks are now a firm favourite amongst consumers, with oat on track to become the number one ingredient in plant-based drinks by the end of 2020,” said David Jiscoot, Marketing Director for Alpro UK & Ireland. “Naturally, this means that there’s a huge opportunity to mirror this success in the yogurt aisle.”
He added: “As well as being rich in fibre, Alpro Absolutely Oat is made from 100% European oats, so we are confident it will appeal to people looking for new ways to enjoy healthy, sustainable oat-based products in their diets,” continues Jiscoot. “It’s the ideal choice for a delicious, nutritious breakfast – or to enjoy as a snack in the afternoon.”
