NPD Trend Tracker: From ‘responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts to cheddar popcorn

NPD-Trend-Tracker-From-responsibly-indulgent-doughnuts-to-cheddar-popcorn.jpg
GettyImages/kerlis (Getty Images)

While new summer beverages were undoubtedly trending in this week’s new product development roundup, we also look at a new range of ‘responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts from the former CEO of graze, and new ‘cheddary’ popcorn made with 30% cheddar cheese.

While new summer beverages were undoubtedly trending in this week’s new product development roundup, we also look at a new range of ‘responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts from the former CEO of graze, and new ‘cheddary’ popcorn made with 30% cheddar cheese. 

GettyImages/kerlis

NPD Trend Tracker: From ‘responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts to cheddar popcorn
NPD Trend Tracker: From ‘responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts to cheddar popcorn (kertlis/Getty Images)

While new summer beverages were undoubtedly trending in this week’s new product development roundup, we also look at a new range of ‘responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts from the former CEO of graze, and new ‘cheddary’ popcorn made with 30% cheddar cheese. 

GettyImages/kerlis

Cold Brew Coffee Bags
Cold Brew Coffee Bags

British coffee start-up Presto has rolled out what it says is the UK’s first Cold Brew Coffee Bags.

The bags have been designed for ‘optimum cold brewing’, containing 25% more ground coffee per bag to help speed up the brew time.

The bags carry sustainably-sourced single origin Arabica beans from Mogiana in Brazil, with notes of chocolate and malt, and a sweet cinnamon and biscuit finish. The company uses 100% recyclable packaging.

“Cold Brew has made its way into the mainstream, with more and more British consumers buying into this particular segment of the coffee category, wanting to enjoy a cold caffeine fix,” said Presto founder James Hagerty.

“We experimented with a variety of combinations to work out what would deliver the perfect cold brew and I’m excited to be able to bring these new Cold Brew Coffee Bags to the masses in time for these warmer months, representing another exciting progression for the brand.”

Thirty bags of Presto’s Cold Brew Coffee Bags has an RRP of £9.99.

Image source: Presto

‘Responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts
‘Responsibly indulgent’ doughnuts

Former CEO of snacks company graze, Anthony Fletcher, has launched a new bakery goods brand: Urban Legend.

The doughnuts are marketed as being ‘responsibly indulgent’. This means that they are -57% lower in sugar, -52% lower in saturated fat, -44% lower in fat, and -36% lower in calories than other doughnuts on the market.

The range is also free from artificial preservatives, sweeteners, colours and flavourings. Rather, the colours are made from flowers, plants, and vegetable extracts including safflower and beetroot.

“We need radical solutions to the UK’s obesity crisis. Consumers are finding it too hard to move away from treats, so instead of hoping the nation will no longer overindulge, we saw an opportunity to partner with the science community to re-think the way this type of food is made and demonstrate that manufacturers can formulate for more ‘responsible indulgence’,” said Fletcher.

Urban Legend doughnuts are available to buy from its new store in Brighton, UK.

Image source: Urban Legend

RTD coffee
RTD coffee

Diaoni Organic’s RTD coffee drinks are rolling out across WHSmith Travel Stores.

The range is made up of three SKUs: Caffe Latte Coffee Drink, Skinny Latte Coffee Drink, and Double Shot Coffee Drink.

“We are very excited to be partnering with WHSmith and launching our range of organic coffee drinks into their travel stores,” said head of UK sales and marketing Daniel Jones. “With an ever-growing demand from consumers for healthier, sustainable drinks options, we are delighted at being given the opportunity to enhance their drinks category at a time where the industry begins to recover, and we can start to celebrate travelling again!”

Matthew Raby, buyer at WHSmith said the company  is ‘thrilled’ to be working with Daioni Organic. “RTD coffee remains a key growth category for us and will continue to be a big part of our strategy in 2021. We felt there was a gap in our drinks fixture for a challenger brand with a healthy, organic and sustainable option and we are pleased that the Daioni Organic range fitted the criteria.”

The SKUs are launching into 130 WHSmith Travel Stores, and is also available in WHSmith, Whole Foods Market, Amazon, Co-op Food and Holland & Barrett.

Image source: Diaoni Organic

Low alcohol mead
Low alcohol mead

Drink brand Bemuse is giving Britain’s oldest alcohol drink a makeover in the form of its new low alcohol and low alcohol mead offerings.

The line is available in four flavours: raspberry; tarragon, basil and hops; ginger and cardamom; and hops.

Bemuse describes mead as having a ‘pleasant, natural colour, similar to sparkling wine but…with only 0.5% alcohol and 40 calories per can’.

“Mead is made by fermenting honey and has been produced for thousands of years, with evidence pointing to mead being produced up to 9,000 years ago,” said co-founder Anna Chalov.

“The Romans loved it, the Medieval Britons used is as sparkling table wine and Tutankhamun’s tomb was even reputedly stocked with it. Now Bemuse offers an exciting and innovative twist for a new generation: a curiously modern craft mead.”

The Bemuse range is made with just honey, water and yeast, infused with natural ingredients. It is created via a natural fermentation process, and available in 330ml fully recycled cans.

Image source: Bemuse

‘Cheddary’ popcorn
‘Cheddary’ popcorn

Popcorn Kitchen has added a new, savoury flavour to its range, in the form of Cheddar Cheese flavoured popcorn.

Launching 21 August, the SKU is made with 30% cheddar cheese. It joins other savoury flavours in the Popcorn Kitchen line, including Sweet & Chilli, Simply Salted, and Sweet & Salt.

In the sweet range, the brand has Raspberry White Choc, Choc Mint, Lemon Drizzle, and Choc Orange.

“It was imperative to both Andy and I that Popcorn Kitchen’s ongoing pledge to pure, unadulterated popcorn happiness had to encompass our island’s finest foodie traditions, and nothing in truth shouts ‘irrefutably British’ more than a top-notch cheddar!,” said sales director Louise Webb.

“As a savoury snack loving nation, cheese-themed nibbles have been a cornerstone for British snacking afficionados, albeit on many occasions the actual presence of real cheese (let alone a prime cheddar) has been a recurring dilemma.”

Marketing director Andy Valentine believes popcorn has ‘universal appeal’. “Whilst younger taste buds invariably lean towards our sweet portfolio, many of our long-standing brand diehards have told us about their craving for Popcorn Kitchen to unveil a flagship savoury flavour that resonates with their ‘slow food’ preferences, brining a little extra theatre to cheeseboards, canape trays or even as a light bite with a nice glass of something chilled.” 

Image source: Popcorn Kitchen

Sparkling pressé
Sparkling pressé

Heartsease Farm’s sparkling pressé beverages are now available in cans – as well as the original bottle format – for both on and off trade.

The beverage, made with Radnorshire sparkling water, are available in three SKUs: Wild Elderflower Pressé, Traditional Lemonade, Fiery Ginger Beer, and Raspberry Lemonade.

“Our Heartsease Farm range of drinks reflect the heritage of the farm and our passion for great flavours. We use only the best available ingredients from the countryside, blended with our own spring water, to traditional British recipes,” said Managing Director William Watkins.

“We launched the brand to tap into the growing audience for non-alcoholic premium drinks that taste just as good and look just as appealing as an alcoholic beverage. We wanted to create something delicious and different and Heartsease Farm truly reflects this.”

Stockists include Ocado, Amazon, and Radnor’s own online shop. The cans have an RRP of £1.50.

Image source: Heartsease Farm