This week's new launches have a distinctly plant-based theme, including new Fishless Fingers from Birds Eye, the ‘world’s first’ vegan supermarket Scotch Egg and Nestlé’s new vegan KitKat.
This week's new launches have a distinctly plant-based theme, including new Fishless Fingers from Birds Eye, the ‘world’s first’ vegan supermarket Scotch Egg and Nestlé’s new vegan KitKat.
Image: Getty/rawpixel
Nestlé’s new vegan KitKat has arrived in Sainsbury’s stores in the UK. The bar, made with a rice-based alternative to milk, was developed by chocolatiers and food scientists in Nestlé’s Research and Development centre in York.
Louise Barrett, Head of the Nestlé Confectionery Product Technology Centre said: “Our challenge when we set out to create a vegan-friendly KitKat was to recreate this iconic product using plant-based alternatives. To achieve this, we worked very hard to get the right balance between the milk alternative and the cocoa. The result is a vegan chocolate that we’re very proud of, and that we hope will be enjoyed by KitKat fans everywhere.”
Image supplied by Nestlé
Snacking brand Forest Feast has announced its Dark Chocolate Dipped Fruit range is launching into Waitrose supermarkets in the UK at an RRP of £3.50.
The Irish brand says the range, which includes 60% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Sour Cherries, 60% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Mango and 60% Cocoa Dark Chocolate Mountain Figs, taps into consumer demand for more mindful options in confectionery that still give a taste of indulgence - perfect for sharing or as a treat on nights in.
The range is 100% vegan and gluten-Free, using ‘real chunks of sustainably sourced fruit’. The products are handcrafted and packaged in Ireland using ‘only the finest quality ingredients’, offering a trade-up option.
Bronagh Clarke, Marketing Director at Forest Feast said: “We have seen chocolate dipped fruit gain huge traction in the US and so it’s only a matter of time before it lands here in the UK in a big way - home-made options are already popping up all over Instagram and Pinterest.
“The trajectory of healthier snacking options has been on the rise for a while, which has seen huge innovation in the category.”
Image supplied by Forest Feast
The ‘world’s first’ vegan supermarket Scotch Egg has launched into Tesco.
Created by plant-based brand Squeaky Bean, the Scotch Egg alternative is made with breadcrumbs, wheat and pea protein, and Crackd’s No-Egg Egg.
“You might have thought plant-based food lovers have it all now that vegan versions exist of many meat and fish products, from chargrilled chicken-style pieces to fishless fingers. Yet alternatives to products containing egg are harder to find,” said Squeaky Bean co-creator Sarah Augustine.
We want to give vegans, vegetarians and flexitarians an alternative option for every meal or snack. The creation of our deliciously moreish vegan Scotch Eggs are part of Squeaky Bean’s mission to revolutionise plant-based eating. We’re delighted to partner with Crackd to match this epic filling with our meat alternative to create a game changing snacks.”
At the same time, Squeaky Bean is also unveiling three new products: A Tomato, Red Pepper & Veta Tart, a Creamy Coronation Tart, and Chargrilled Memphis Style BBQ Mini Fillets. All new products, including a pack of six vegan Scotch Eggs, have an RRP of £3.
Image supplied by Squeaky Bean
A new line of Summer Bars is hitting UK shelves. The range includes Mint Chocolate Chip 35% White Chocolate, Sour Cherry & Strawberry 70% Dark Chocolate, and Rose Pistachio 35% White Chocolate.
Created by the great-great-great grandson of Mr Cadbury, James Cadbury, the products are made in Britain from single origin chocolate and sold in 100% recyclable, plastic free packaging.
“Chocolate is one of the key products that has brought British consumers joy throughout the pandemic. The fact that Love Cocoa has grown 150% over the past 12 months is testament to that,” said the Love Cocoa founder.
“Consumers have needed something joyful and indulgent to lean on. The new Summer Bars are designed to tap into this continuing desire for joyful chocolate whilst aligning the brand with iconic British Summertime flavours.”
Image supplied by Love Cocoa
Birds Eye is branching out into fishless alternatives for the first time, expanding its Green Cuisine range with the launch of Fishless Fingers.
The NPD is the first Green Cuisine product to use rice protein, and has many nutritional benefits such as being full of Omega-3 and a source of protein, according to Birds Eye.
Debuting in Sainsbury’s in late June, the launch follows the success of previous Green Cuisine products that have recreated classic Birds Eye products, such as Chicken-free pieces, which now contributes to 38% of sales.
Jess Ali, Senior Marketing Manager at Birds Eye said: “Shoppers are increasingly looking for plant-based alternatives of their favourite foods, and with our established brand heritage and dominance in the fish finger category, we’re in the perfect position to create a plant-based alternative to our iconic fish finger. Consumers are more likely to buy and trial products from brands they already love and trust. Our Fishless Fingers are an important addition to our plant-based offering, and we’re hopeful that they will be as popular with family members as our beloved fish-based products.
“With the growing number of flexitarian shoppers, we are in the perfect position to appeal to those who wish to choose alternative formats for their mealtimes. The combination of our heritage in frozen food and our reputation for producing family mealtime favourites has helped to make our existing vegan products successful and popular. With this addition, our Green Cuisine range will continue to play off recognisable meat-based formats, showing shoppers that plant-based meals can be just as tasty and convenient.”
Image supplied by Birds Eye
UK snack firm Popcorn Kitchen has launched new variants including Lemon Drizzle, Choc Orange & Choc Mint and Raspberry White Choc.
According to co-owner, Louise Webb: “We have been wanting to extend our reach into bold versus overtly finicky flavours which exude British provenance for some while, on the non-negotiable proviso that our new, head-turning flavours meant no relaxing of 1st principles; namely no synthetic shortcuts, a truly satisfying crunch and all-engulfing flavours. Fortunately, our unflinching commitment to superior, full-bodied mushroom popcorn (versus fragile butterfly corn) ensures the perfect flavour rendering surface, less bottom-of-the-bag popcorn shrapnel and a truly crunchy (never soft and soggy) texture.”
Image supplied by Popcorn Kitchen
Borough Broth Company, which makes slow-cooked, organic bone broth, has launched what it claims is the first heat-at-home organic Tonkotsu ramen broth available in the UK. The Tonkotsu (which means ‘pork bones’ in Japanese) has been created to allow customers to make their own “super-quick restaurant-quality ramens at home”, the company said.
Borough Broth Company founder, Ros Heathcote, said: "Since the beginning of Borough Broth, customers have asked us to create a ramen broth base using the highest quality organic ingredients. After spending three years developing the perfect recipe, we're very excited that our customers now get to make their own delicious ramens at home."
The company added the Tonkotsu ramen has the highest collagen count in its range, typically containing a 17g of collagen per pouch, naturally extracted from the organic pork bones.
Customers can purchase the broth from Ocado. Prices start at £5.45.
Image supplied by Borough Broth Company
XITE claims it is the first range of nootropic energy drink in the UK. Nootropics are supplements that can be taken to improve mental performance and are most often used to boost memory, focus, creativity, intelligence and motivation. Unlike traditional energy drinks, XITE uses natural green bean caffeine to energise and power up without the dreaded crash and contains three active nootropics including Tyrosine, Carnitin and Vitamin B that help support mental performance.
The range has two variants: Raspberry & Watermelon and Peach & Passion Fruit, both of which are zero sugar, naturally flavoured, vegan and diabetic friendly and full of ginseng - a winning combination to create a healthy energy drink for everyone.
XITE is available in multipacks online at and in-store at Holland & Barret (full stockists below) with an RRP of £1.49.
Oliver Bennett, Co-Founder of XITE and FIA World Rallycross driver, said: “Our focus is your mind and its potential. We have created a delicious drink that is designed just for that, using powerful nootropics, vitamins and natural caffeine to amplify your energy. We realise that doesn’t however help with the daily stressors we all encounter however which is why we donate 1p for every can sold to mental health charities whose job is just that.
“Gone are the days of cigarettes, synthetics and sugar; the new generation have left their market and are bringing a new wave of health. The trends were more obvious in our social circles: from ditching the pub for the gym, and favouring sugar free mixers on a night out.”
Image supplied by XITE
