We’ve observed a shake-up in alt dairy this month, with Oatly going ‘mini’ with its Barista offering. At the same time, the oat major is expanding its Barista product into supermarket chillers for the first time. Minor Figures is also making its foray into the supermarket chiller, with two new fortified oat drinks. In the freezer section, Soupologie is launching ‘Souper Cubes’, and Crosstown is coming straight to your door with a limited-edition doughnut and wine box in celebration of Pride Month. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/chuckcollier
We’ve observed a shake-up in alt dairy this month, with Oatly going ‘mini’ with its Barista offering. At the same time, the oat major is expanding its Barista product into supermarket chillers for the first time. Minor Figures is also making its foray into the supermarket chiller, with two new fortified oat drinks. In the freezer section, Soupologie is launching ‘Souper Cubes’, and Crosstown is coming straight to your door with a limited-edition doughnut and wine box in celebration of Pride Month. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/chuckcollier
A new range of artisanal Italian gelato products is hitting shelves in the UK.
Crosta & Mollica is expanding its dessert range with three gelato flavours: Amarena Cherry & Mascarpone, Gianduia Hazelnut & Cocoa Cream, and Limoncello Sicilian Lemon
The gelato products are made with fresh Italian milk and a lower fat content compared to Northern European ice cream. Crosta & Mollica uses the traditional gelateria slow-whipping process to achieve the ‘light, smooth texture’ that authentic artisan Italian Gelato is known for.
“The gelato is then finished with a delicate ‘swirl’, reminiscent of the sculpted waves of gelato spotted in gelateria glass freezers across Italy,” noted the brand.
Crosta & Mollica’s gelato range will be available in Waitrose stores across the UK from 20 June in 450ml packs (RRP £5.75).
Image credit: Artisanal gelato
James Cadbury, the great-great-great grandson of the original Mr John Cadbury, is launching a new vegan chocolate flavour under his HiP Chocolate brand.
Berry Crunch White Chocolate Bar marks HiP’s first foray into the white chocolate market. Developed in response to consumer demand for a white chocolate variant, the product contains single origin Colombian cocoa with oat milk, biscuit pieces, and dried raspberries and blueberries.
The product contains 30% less sugar than the average high street dairy white chocolate bar and more cocoa too – at 41% cocoa content.
“White chocolate sales in the UK hit £179m in 2020 (Kantar Worldpanel) and continue to perform strongly,” said Cadbury.
“Innovation in this segment is key to driving sales and we believe this new HiP creation ticks all the boxes. The brand’s success is testament to the ever-growing popularity of oat milk, which has firmly achieved mainstream status and is more sustainable to produce versus traditional dairy chocolate.”
Berry Crunch White Chocolate Bar will be available initially via HiP Chocolate’s website, with an RRP of £3 per 70g block.
Image credit: HiP
Today, oat milk major Oatly is launching its Barista product in two new formats: 500ml and chilled.
The Barista Edition 500ml (nicknamed Mini Barista) and Chilled Barista will see the product available in supermarket chillers for the first time. The company believes this will ‘increase discoverability’ and encourage more people to make the swap to a plant-based diet.
The Mini Barista is the ‘ideal solution’ for consumers wanting to trail the product for the first time, noted Oatly. The 1L Chilled Barista also represents an effort to ‘win over dairy drinkers’.
“Expanding the Barista Edition range into new formats was a no-brainer. By diversifying our position in-store, we’re making it easier and more convenient for shoppers to pick up the #1 selling dairy alternative drink and make the switch to plant-based today.”
Mini Barista is available from Tesco stores from 20 June, followed by Co-op and Ocado in September. Chilled Barista is launching into Sainsbury’s on 6 June, before being available in Tesco and via Ocado on 20 June.
Image credit: Oatly
At the same time as Oatly expands its Barista product into supermarket chillers, so does oat milk challenger brand Minor Figures with the launch to two new fortified oat drinks.
Everyday Oat and Everyday Oat Light have a thicker mouthfeel and are being positioned as creamy, dairy-free milk alternatives that taste great on cereal, in smoothies, and in tea and coffee.
Both are fortified with calcium, iodine and vitamins B2, B12, and D.
“We pride ourselves in making great, innovative plant-based products for oat milk lovers, baristas, and a better planet,” said Stuart Fosyth, co-founder and CEO of Minor Figures.
“The launch of our new Everyday Oat range means we’re not only entering a new space in the supermarket, but we have been able to fortify the product with vitamins and minerals that are commonly lower as part of a vegan diet.”
Everyday Oat and Everyday Oat Light have an RRP of £1.99 per 1L carton and will be available in independent retailers nationwide. Everyday Oat is already available in Waitrose and is launching into Holland & Barrett this month.
Image credit: Minor Figures
UK soup brand Soupologie has secured its first national supermarket listing for its ‘first-to-market’ Souper Cubes Range.
The product offers consumers six 150g frozen cubes of fresh soup, making up three full services. The range is currently made up of two flavours: Carrot & Turmeric and Pea & Leak.
Souplogie’s new frozen soup line is flash frozen from fresh, which it says locks in all the nutrients and makes them a fresher alternative to ambient soups.
They can be cooked from frozen in the microwave or on the hob in five minutes, with no need to add anything or blend.
Pre portioned for convenience, consumers just heat up what they need and can store the remainder for up to a year. This aims to ensure zero food waste, in packaging that is plastic-free and fully compostable.
“At Soupologie, we’re always looking to innovate ethe world of healthy nutritious food and we’re extremely proud of our frozen Souper Cubes range, which does just that. Freezing allows us to offer our consumers a convenient way of storing our soups in a long life format, one that has absolutely no compromise on taste, nutrition and freshness, whilst also helping the consumer to reduce food waste and therefore also maximise affordability,” said Anastasia Argent, head of NPD at Soupologie.
“Food waste has been a real focus for us at Soupologie, with frozen offering a fantastic solution here, and we’ve also worked hard to ensure the packaging of our Souper Cubes range is plastic-free and fully compostable, so the range is a real ‘eco-first’ for the UK soup category.”
Soupologie’s Souper Cubes are launching into the frozen aisle of 186 Tesco stores in month at an RRP of £3.50.
Image credit: Soupologie
Madame F wines has teamed up with sourdough doughnuts maker Crosstown and LGBTQ+ charity Queer Britain to celebrate Pride Month.
The curated limited edition doughnut and wine box includes Madame F Rosé and six Crosstown doughnuts. For every box sold, Crosstown will donate £5 to Queer Britain.
The limited edition box will be available for delivery across England, Wales, and lowland Scotland via Crosstown’s website.
Madame F Rosé is currently rolling out across Sainsbury’s stores nationwide, as well as via Sainsbury’s online.
Image credit: Crosstown
