NPD Trend Tracker: From frozen chicken kebabs to oat drinks

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Image: Getty/eoneran (Getty Images)

This week's gallery takes in Princes Group's new foray into the frozen market, while Glebe Farm, fresh from its Oatly spat, unveils new oat drinks.

This week's gallery takes in Princes Group's new foray into the frozen market, while Glebe Farm, fresh from its Oatly spat, unveils new oat drinks. 

GettyImages NPD eoneran
GettyImages NPD eoneran (Eoneren/Getty Images)

This week's gallery takes in Princes Group's new foray into the frozen market, while Glebe Farm, fresh from its Oatly spat, unveils new oat drinks. 

Image: GettyImages/eoneran

Whole Earth introduces Golden Rainforest Edition
Whole Earth introduces Golden Rainforest Edition

Whole Earth, the peanut butter brand owned by Ecotone UK, is pledging to donate 25% of the profits from its new Golden Rainforest Edition, with the aim to plant up to an estimated 50,000 trees in 2022. The special edition peanut butter is made with specially roasted nuts, giving it a naturally golden colour and deep flavour, the company said. The recipe won two stars at the Great Taste Awards 2021.

The new Golden Rainforest edition is available initially in Tesco from 25 January, (RRP: £3.30, 340g). Bryan Martins, Whole Earth marketing and category director at Ecotone UK, said: “As a natural brand with a long-standing commitment to the environment, we wanted to support a project that is well aligned with what we stand for as a business. We are guided by our mission to protect and grow biodiversity, and by increasing our support for the SOS we can help to protect the diverse Sumatran ecosystem. Consumer purchases are increasingly driven by environmental concerns. By purchasing the Golden Rainforest edition, consumers are getting a delicious, award-winning peanut butter, while doing good for the planet. The attractive label gives it strong shelf stand out and we’re confident it will secure good rate of sale – the more we sell, the more money goes to SOS.” 

Image supplied by Whole Earth

Glebe Farm brings out new oat drinks
Glebe Farm brings out new oat drinks

Glebe Farm is launching a new range of oat drinks showcasing a fresh new look for retailers, baristas and consumers alike. Glebe Farm’s oat drinks are produced on site at Glebe Farm in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and will be available to purchase directly through the Glebe Farm website, on Amazon, and will launch into Morrisons stores nationwide on 24th January. Both Glebe Farm PureOaty Barista and Glebe Farm PureOaty Creamy & Enriched will retail with an RRP from £1.80.

“We couldn't be more excited to bring our British barista grade oat drinks to our customers,” said Rebecca Rayner, Co-Founder of Glebe Farm. “Plant-based milk is more popular than ever, driven by changing consumer tastes, and considerations around health and sustainability. A lot of people are increasingly looking to eat British foods and our oat milks tick all the boxes - especially with their best-in-class carbon footprint.”

She added oats are a natural superfood, rich in vitamins, minerals and soluble fibre. They’re also naturally gluten free – ‘but only when they’re completely pure’. Glebe Farm said it ensures ‘every step of the way’ that its oats are 100% clean and wholesome, with every tonne of oat grains checked repeatedly to ensure there are no wheat, barley or other gluten-containing grains present.

Image supplied by Glebe Farm

D’Amazonia launches ‘Sleep Tea’
D’Amazonia launches ‘Sleep Tea’

Tea brand D’Amazonia has unveiled a new ‘Sleep Tea’ to support good health via improved sleep. The brand said the tea is ‘packed with non-caffeinated ingredients that help calm the senses and reduce stress and anxiety, courtesy of ingredients with a trusted track record in tackling insomnia and restlessness: lavender, chamomile, rose petals, lemon balm oat flowering tops.’

D’Amazonia co-founder Marcella Tupinamba said: “In Western Europe the focus for functional foods and drinks is pre-dominantly around increased vitality and energy, allowing consumers to eek the most out of every day.  In South America there’s a far greater emphasis on quality down-time as an all-important reset that enables us to make the most of the next day. The simple thinking behind Sleep Tea is a British made tea using only ‘real’ ingredients in biodegradable tea bags that supports a new chapter regarding what constitutes good health.” The tea costs £15 for a 50g pouch of 20 tea bags). Each teabag can be used twice.  

Image supplied by D’Amazonia

H!P chocolate launches new salted honeycomb bar
H!P chocolate launches new salted honeycomb bar

Oat milk chocolate brand H!P (Happiness in Plants), has launched a new variant… a H!P Salted Honeycomb Bar. Described as a ‘deliciously creamy, dairy free alternative to traditional milk chocolate’, the sweet and salty bar will be available initially online RSP £3/70g. 

The vegan-friendly bar blends sustainably-sourced single origin Colombian cocoa with creamy oat milk and chunks of honeycomb, before adding British sea salt.

The bar claims it has around 30% less sugar than your average high street dairy milk chocolate bar and over 40% more cocoa too.  

The new bar also features in a letterbox-friendly tasting kit, available online along with the brand’s other four variants, RSP £14.90.

H!P is the brainchild of James Cadbury, the founder of ethical, luxury chocolate brand Love Cocoa and the great-great-great grandson of the original John Cadbury. “H!P has captured the flexitarian zeitgeist with both its hip flavours and branding,” he said. “Over 1million H!P bars have been sold since we launched back in March 2021, testament to the ever-growing popularity of oat milk, which is far more sustainable to produce, compared to traditional dairy milk chocolate. The team and I are excited to be bringing out a new variant, which will hopefully appeal to H!P devotees and bring in a raft of new fans too.”

H!P is also available in Creamy & Smooth, Salty Pretzels, Cookies No Cream and Salted Caramel variants, which are available in Ocado, Booth’s and via Getir.

Image supplied by H!P

New plant-based brand OZO launches in UK
New plant-based brand OZO launches in UK

OZO has launched a new range of pea protein-based plant-based products in the UK, with an exclusive three-month partnership with Waitrose. The range, comprising Italian meatballs, seasoned mince, and burgers, is available in most Waitrose stores across the UK.

Darcey Macken, CEO of Planterra Foods, said: “We’re very excited to launch in the UK, as we continue to expand the plant-based category by offering family favourites that can easily be introduced into meal routines. Over the past two years there has been a substantial shift in the ways that consumers view not only their health, but their impact on the environment. OZO has been developed to meet these growing consumer needs.

“The OZO brand has something for everyone – whether customers are vegan, vegetarian, or just want to cut down on their meat intake. We know that 85% of plant-based consumers eat meat, however most plant-based products are aimed at vegetarians and vegans. Our products offer a good source of protein, alongside clean ingredients, exceptional taste and nutrition and provide satisfying alternative protein options perfect for any occasion.”

Image supplied by OZO

Princes Group expands into frozen sector with chicken kebab range
Princes Group expands into frozen sector with chicken kebab range

Princes Group has launched the new Princes Street Food sub-brand, with a portfolio of marinated chicken kebabs, the first of its kind for Princes and a new product format for the frozen market. The range includes three flavours that are now available in Morrisons with an RRP of £3.75.

Princes said consumer interest in authentic food from global cultures is increasing. It added that while the frozen poultry market is mainly dominated by breaded or battered coated products, it aims it aims to stand-out with a new marinated kebab format offering variety and convenience to consumers through high-quality, premium food.

The chicken breast kebabs are prepared in 18 minutes come in three variations: Indian Tandoori Chargrilled, BBQ Chargrilled and Malaysian Style Satay Chargrilled.

Alan Eriksen, Marketing Director for Princes, said: “A first of its kind for Princes in the frozen food market, we have developed a street food range which is guaranteed to stand out and become a go to for customers seeking more exciting and unseen flavours and product formats. Expanding on our Innov8 initiative to drive long-term growth through innovation, Princes aims to offer a real point of difference for consumers to use these delicious flavour combinations to create a high-quality dinner option to be enjoyed and shared amongst family and friends.”

The range boasts the key claims:

  • 100% Chicken Breast
  • HFSS Compliant
  • High in Protein
  • Fully Recyclable Packaging
  • Ready in 18 Minutes

The products are available in Morrisons with an RRP of £3.75.

Image supplied by Princes Group

Carluccio’s restaurant inspired dishes for Sainsbury’s
Carluccio’s restaurant inspired dishes for Sainsbury’s

Carluccio’s restaurant inspired dishes will be available exclusively in 300 Sainsbury’s stores nationwide from 26th January as the Italian multi-channel, multi-format brand founded by the late Antonio Carluccio launches a bespoke range of fresh ready meals including chilled pizzas, pastas and sauces.  

The 16-strong fresh produce range uses authentic Italian recipes and ingredients, re-creating the brand’s dishes in a fresh and modern way. Six ready meal options including Beef and Chianti Lasagne for two, Roasted Mushroom Tagliatelle for one, plus an array of 12-inch pizzas from Margherita to Prosciutto Crudo & Mozzarella. In collaboration with Italian pasta brand Bertangi, the range also includes three fresh pasta variations: Ravioli, Mezzelune and Girasoli, and two stir-in sauce options.  

Bringing a new ready meal packaging format to the market; the card tray in the new Carluccio’s range can easily be separated from the film liner for 100% recyclability, whilst the film weight delivers over 80% plastic reduction (compared to a normal cPET tray). Carluccio’s, alongside other brands within Boparan Restaurant Group, has been using green energy from renewable sources since 2019 and was recently certified as carbon neutral by Carbon Neutral Britain after offsetting all of their direct emissions.  

 Phil Neale, Marketing and Communications Director at Boparan Restaurant Group said:  “From listening to customers, we know people would like to access our brands more regularly as part of their eating-at-home occasions, and this brand new fresh range from Carluccio’s allows us to bring them high quality dishes inspired by our restaurants into their own home kitchens.” 

India Moore, Meal Solutions Buyer at Sainsbury’s said: “We’re thrilled to be launching this range of Carluccio’s products as part of our Future Brands programme at Sainsbury’s. We know our customers are looking for inspirational, fresh and convenient meals to brighten up their mealtimes; this brand partnership is the perfect way to deliver that point of difference and we’re excited for them arrive in stores.”  

Image supplied by Carluccio’s

A unique way to say ‘I love you’
A unique way to say ‘I love you’

This Valentine’s Day, Toblerone has partnered with London-based poet Shaquille-Aaron Keith, with a series of poems that can be customised for your special someone, alongside a bar of the distinctively triangle shaped chocolate, in a flavour of your choice.

Customers can head to the Toblerone website and follow a series of easy steps to create a bespoke poem for your Valentine, celebrating what makes them special. There are five flavours to choose from, including Milk, White, Dark, Crunchy Almond, and Fruit & Nut.

The company explained: “Completely customisable and available for £17 including delivery, your generosity will be brought to life on a loved-themed Toblerone sleeve, complete with your unexpecting beloved or bestie’s name on the outer box and a QR code, linking through to an animated poem you have created.”

 Image supplied by Toblerone

Organic red wine in single serve cans
Organic red wine in single serve cans

Moderation just got that little bit easier, claims Kiss of Wine which has partnered with Valencian wine maker Rodolfo Valiente to launch two new organic red wines that can be enjoyed one glass at a time. 

Presented in eco-friendly, single serve cans, ‘Punchy’ Tempranillo (RRP £5.95) and ‘Picante’ Garnacha Tintorera (RRP £5.95) are ‘perfect for those evenings when you want to enjoy a great wine with dinner, but don’t want to open an entire bottle’. The convenient packaging also makes them a great accompaniment to wintery walks, spring picnics and summer BBQs, the company said.

Since launching in 2020, the female-founded Kiss of Wine said it has been challenging people’s misconceptions around canned wine and partnering with some of Europe’s best artisan producers to create great wines made from happy vines. All of its wines are vegan and sustainable, with cans resulting in 2.5x fewer carbon emissions than the equivalent wine in bottles, the company claimed.

Image supplied by Kiss of Wine