This week's new product gallery features a whole-cut plant-based alternative to chicken breasts from Meatless Farm, a D2C digital launch from Loch Duart and carbon friendly packaging from Fudge Kitchen. Scroll through the gallery to see our round-up of innovation out this week.
Pic: GettyImages Svetlana Khoroshilova
This week's new product gallery features a whole-cut plant-based alternative to chicken breasts from Meatless Farm, a D2C digital launch from Loch Duart and carbon friendly packaging from Fudge Kitchen. Scroll through the gallery to see our round-up of innovation out this week.
Pic: GettyImages Svetlana Khoroshilova
Artisan confectioner Fudge Kitchen has undergone a significant re-brand that will see the company adopt more sustainable packaging that, it says, significantly reduces its carbon footprint.
The re-brand covers their entire product range, shop fronts and website. Managing Director, Sian Holt, commented: “The branding change initially came about as we wanted to align the personality of our 6 high street shops with the premium gifting positioning of our wholesale and ecommerce sides. As part of this review, we felt it was the perfect time to explore more sustainable packaging options, whilst maintaining the artisanal luxury that Fudge Kitchen is known for.”
The packaging update has seen them moving to UK printed packaging, 'dramatically reducing' their carbon footprint. On the outer box of each product, Fudge Kitchen have switched to plant-based inks and water-based glues, and all packaging is FSC certified and fully recyclable. As part of the rebrand the Kent based confectioner has also recently switched to a new and more ethical chocolate supplier, Luker Chocolate. Alongside this, they are also beginning to phase out internationally grown cane sugar in favour of beet sugar grown in Norfolk.
Fudge Kitchen's Richard Parson, elaborated: “It’s become increasingly important for us to consider the environmental impact across everything we do. Yes, we want to create a luxury gifting product, but we want to do it with a conscience. Our new branding is probably the most daring we’ve been in terms of design, but we wanted it to stand out on shelf and really speak to the brands traditional artisan heritage.”
Scottish salmon farm Loch Duart says it will bring 'restaurant quality' salmon to UK homes through the launch of its online shop.
The online shop will offer people the chance to get either 8 or 12 portions of salmon delivered 'within days' of ordering.
Chris Orr, Sales Director of Loch Duart salmon, said: “Bringing Loch Duart to people’s homes has been something we have been planning for some time so it’s fantastic to finally launch our new online shop and bring the salmon we love direct to customers. Traditionally Loch Duart salmon has been reserved for the world’s finest restaurants, but over the last few years we’ve seen a growth not just in the desire to cook at home, but a demand for restaurant quality produce to work with.
“We’re delighted that home cooks can now easily buy generous Loch Duart fillet portions through our new online shop. I’d urge all discerning foodies and home cooks to savour the unique flavour of Loch Duart and to find out more about why we’re so proud of the way we raise our fish. Our slow grown salmon are given space to swim and fed a bespoke diet high in marine content which keeps them fit and healthy and high in Omega-3.”
Loch Duart salmon are fed a specialist diet high in marine content, leading to an 'exceptional tasting' fresh fish, rich in Omega-3, according to the company.
Spanish food brand Brindisa is launching two new Gazpacho recipes in the UK: ‘Tomato and Almond’ and ‘Tomato and Beetroot’.
The company said the new recipes offer a 'fresh spin' on the traditional Gazpacho in time for spring and summer 2022.
Brindisa’s Gazpacho range is made with a base of sun-ripened Spanish tomatoes and high quality extra virgin olive oil, sherry and red wine vinegar. Brindisa said it developed the new additions in response to the growing demand for more plant-based healthy meal solutions.
Monika Linton, Founder of Brindisa, commented: “Gazpacho is Spain’s iconic chilled soup. Although synonymous with tomato, it is an ancient recipe, pre-dating Columbus and the arrival of the tomato in Spain: originally it was made with olive oil, vinegar, salt and bread. Today our recipes appeal to our modern tastes for healthy, plant-based, versatile food, and I am thrilled to bring these new Gazpacho products to market.”
The Gazpacho launch will also mark the unveiling of Brindisa’s new packaging and design identity.
“Our new identity refreshes Brindisa’s traditional look, which has served us well for over 10 years. But as we look forward to the future with confidence and enthusiasm, we wanted to convey a more joyful brand, one that builds on our Spanish heritage and represents our market positioning as the True Taste of Spain," explained Cristina Pasantes, Director of Sales and Marketing.
Brindisa’s new range of Gazpacho products will launch in mid-April 2022, available instore and online at Brindisa.com. Brindisa’s rebrand will go live on its e-commerce website from the 31 March 2022.
Munich-based foodtech start-up, yfood, is expanding in the UK as it witnesses 'spectacular' growth in Europe.
The company offers a 'complete food' and has achieved a run rate of €100 million in four and a half years. The start-up plans to expand their workforce from 150 people in Munich to a network of 250 employees this year.
yfood has an e-commerce presence in 30 European countries supplying over 500,000 customers. Although Germany remains their core market, yfood said it has received a 'positive reception' in other European countries - particularly in the UK, retailing in Holland & Barrett - as well as the Netherlands, and France.
yfood produces what it describes as 'smart food', a concept that aims to raise awareness for balanced nutrition that is 'appropriate to all life situations'.
"Utilising future-facing scientific innovation, yfood is decisively driving the advancement of Smart Food with the expansion of scientific methods and incorporates the use of new technologies. Their specialised category further upholds sustainability at its core, not only in the packaging used for the bottles but also in their brand messaging by promoting a healthier, satiable solution. Thus, setting yfood in a promising position for continued financial and consumer growth this year."
UK meat-alternative brand Meatless Farm has secured listings in Morrisons and Sainsbury’s for its Chicken Breast NPD after record sales in Tesco and Asda for the product which launched in January 2022.
In the first four weeks of launch, average weekly sales for the Chicken Breast exceeded all other Meatless Farm NPD launches in the previous year by 330%, the company revealed.
Unlike other plant-based chicken products on the market that are sold in pieces, crumbed or made from soya, the Meatless Farm Chicken Breast is a fillet that can be served whole, sliced or shredded to provide a plant-based protein solution for everyday eating occasions. Made from peas, each chicken breast fillet contains 17g of protein and has an RRP of £3.50 for two breasts.
Michael Hunter, Managing Director of Meatless Farm UK and Ireland said: “The launch of our plant-based chicken breast into all of the ‘big four’ supermarkets in just over three months is a great achievement for the business. It highlights the increasing consumer demand for variety and innovation in the plant-based sector as more people seek to make every day eating occasions.
“We believe that through extensive recipe testing and constant innovation, we are able to deliver a product that is as tasty as its meat counterpart and this has been confirmed by such fantastic sales.”
Hippeas Chickpea Puff Snacks is reformulating and relaunching its puff range to be non-HFSS compliant in the UK. All future NPD will be non-HFSS under the incoming UK HFSS regulations, the company said.
The salt and the sugar in the non-HFSS puffs range has been reduced by a third of the previous recipe. The reformulated line is available in Take it Cheesy, Salt & Vinegar Vibes, In Herbs We Trust, Sweet & Smokin’ and Sriracha Chilli varieties.
The non-HFSS product will roll out this summer ahead of the October legislation start date and be available in 22g, 78g bags and multipacks at Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Asda, Coop, Ocado, Booths, Holland and Barrett, Whole Foods, Planet Organic, Getir, Gorillas, Jiffy, Amazon and UK.HIPPEAS.com.
“We, at Hippeas, have always strived to offer consumers better-for-you snacks that taste delicious, so we’re really pleased to be able to take this one step further by reformulating and relaunching our puffed crisp line to be non-HFSS compliant,” said CEO Paul Nardone. “All of Hippeas chickpea snacks are made from the humble but mighty chickpea which is high in protein and fibre. Our snacks are vegan and free from artificial flavours, colours and ingredients, so now with the reformulation to meet non-HFSS regulations, we feel even better about what we are offering to our HIPPEAS fans and families.”
Hippeas Chickpea Puffs have an average of 3.5 grams of plant-protein and 92 kcals per 22g serving.
Aptamil is rolling out of its award-winning follow-on-milk in Pre-Measured Tabs at major retailers ahead of an extensive summer marketing campaign, going live at the end of May.
It follows the exclusive launch of the Tabs format in Boots a year ago, with the Follow-on Milk version being nominated by consumers as the winning innovation in the follow on milk category of the 2022 Product of the Year awards.
Aptamil Follow-on Milk Tabs were created to meet three key consumer needs: convenience, accuracy and portability. With each tab equivalent to one standard scoop of formula, the pre-measured tabs are dissolved in water, offering a mess-free alternative to powder products.
The only product of its kind across Europe, the launch of this format in the UK is thanks to an exclusive manufacturing partnership with the Japanese food company, Meiji. Meiji has experienced a high level of success with Tabs since their launch in 2007.
Available in Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, Tesco and Amazon, with Waitrose to launch in April and Asda in July, Aptamil Pre-Measured Follow On Milk Tabs come in boxes of 24 sachets, each containing five tabs.
From the end of May, a £3.2m consumer marketing campaign will include TV, social media, display and search activity, with additional PR activations throughout the summer.
Sarah Cumming, UK Consumer Marketing Director for Danone Specialised Nutrition, commented: “We’re continuously listening to parents and caregivers to deliver new innovative products and formats that meet real needs. Our compact, pre-measured Aptamil Follow-on Milk Tabs were inspired by parents looking for even more convenient preparation options while juggling the challenging demands of family and working life at home. They’re all about providing a mess-free option for parents and carers, in comparison to our powders, making feeding little ones that bit easier while on the go and under time pressure. No scoops, no mess. No measuring, less fuss.
“We’re extremely proud of Aptamil Follow-on Milk Tabs’ success to date, not least the Product of the Year recognition, which is voted for by consumers. We look forward to seeing demand continue to grow as Aptamil Follow-on Milk Tabs become more widely available in retail partner stores and the marketing campaign hits shop aisles and screens.”
