This week’s look at new food launches takes in some functional sodas with benefits, while Sainsbury's aims to reduce food waste with £2 'Taste Me, Don't Waste Me' fruit and veg boxes.
GettyImages/Yagi Studio
This week’s look at new food launches takes in some functional sodas with benefits, while Sainsbury's aims to reduce food waste with £2 'Taste Me, Don't Waste Me' fruit and veg boxes.
Image: Getty/Yagi Studio
BOSH! and Grubby have come together in an exciting new partnership to develop a range of recipes that customers can order straight to their door from the Grubby website. It’s the first time that millions of BOSH! fans will be able to get their hands on the recipes from their iconic books in one handy, ready-to-prepare box of ingredients.
The initial range of over 30 dishes all have flavour and simplicity at the forefront, using the highest quality sustainably sourced ingredients.
They’ve covered an eclectic range of cuisines from BOSH! classics, like their ‘Dan Dan Smoked Tofu Noodles’ and ‘Rogan BOSH!’, to twists on fan favourites like their ‘Cowboy Chilli Trash Browns’ and ‘Orzo Ragu Risotto’.
Martin, Founder and CEO of Grubby, commented: “This is a big moment for us. We’ve been fans of Henry and Ian’s work for some time, and when we first got talking, it was clear our values and missions to make plant-based cooking more accessible to the world were joined at the hip. There was an obvious partnership to be had, and it’s been a lot of fun working with the guys to make it happen. We’re so excited to get these recipes out into the wild!”
BOSH! will feature at least two recipes every week on the Grubby menu this year, and the two companies plan to expand the range as demand dictates throughout 2023 and beyond.
Henry, Co-Founder at BOSH! added: “Our mission to put more plants on plates perfectly aligns with Grubby’s ambition to inspire people to cook more plants. We’re really impressed with some of the little touches Grubby have incorporated into their product, particularly the impact tracker. The Tracker analyses every recipe against the non-plant-based equivalent, allowing customers to see the unique carbon savings and the positive impact of every box they buy.”
Image from Grubby
The trio of 250ml cans each contain 5g of prebiotic fibre as well as the added benefits of Calcium and Vitamin C. Pitched as the perfect ‘new age soda’ without compromise on taste, they contain 30 calories a can, are low in sugar and come in three classic soda flavours; Zesty Orange, Fruit Punch and Lush Lemonade.
After acknowledging the ‘fibre gap’, the drinks were designed primarily to support digestive health with the addition of plant based prebiotic fibre, proven to increase microbial diversity in the gut.
The brand is the brainchild of Fix8 Kombucha founder Freya Twigden, following her extensive experience in soft drinks and the rapidly growing gut health category.
She said: “The idea is simple, we’ve taken flavours that consumers know and love, and created a better version - one that not only tastes familiar, but also boasts considerable gut-health benefits. There are no empty calories, no artificial sweeteners, just classic soda flavours with all natural ingredients, plus the added benefit of 5g of fibre to support digestive health. The aim is to create an accessible range that gives us the opportunity to bring classic soda drinkers into the functional category as well as appeal to lapsed soda drinkers, looking for a healthier option, but where drinks like CBD, adaptogens or kombucha might be too much of a stretch for taste or price. There is no ginseng or hibiscus here! We believe by combining two trends, gut health and functional beverages, FIBE offers retailers a clear opportunity to add incremental sales and is set to further disrupt the category.”
Made in the UK the FIBE range is HFSS compliant, ambient and benefits from an 18-month shelf life.
Image from FIBE
Swedish coffee brand Löfbergs has launched a new flavour Fika Dark Roast Ground Coffee in the UK, which will be available in Tesco from 15 February.
The NPD follows a successful 2022 for the Swedish coffee brand, which saw Löfbergs achieve a 246% increase in UK sales, according to Neilson data. And now the much-loved coffee brand will be bringing its Fika coffee to 442 Tesco stores, extending its Scandi offering to British consumers.
Named after the multi-generational Swedish tradition of Fika – which is about taking time out of your day to reconnect over a coffee and catch up – the new product taps into the trend for UK consumers looking to embrace this Scandi practice.
The new addition to the Löfbergs range is made up of 100% Arabica coffee beans from South and Central America and East Africa. This creates a soft flavour palate which is emphasised by the cocoa notes. Löfbergs prides itself on doing things differently and this is also reflected in its unique packaging, which is not only eye-catching, but its format means consumers can get more value for their money. The 450g brick-style packs can make between 55-75 cups of coffee, nearly 20 more than traditional packs on shelves.
Wilson Clarke, MD for Löfbergs UK, commented on the launch of Fika: “Setting time aside for a Fika moment is a staple part of Swedish culture and it’s easy to introduce into your daily routine. We hope that with the introduction of the Fika blend, people will take time to reconnect and talk over a great cup of coffee.
“We’re excited to build on the success we’ve seen so far in the UK and hopefully introduce more people to Sweden’s most popular coffee. The Fika coffee more than lives up to the high expectations of the Löfbergs brand. We have spent over a hundred years perfecting the taste, so you can guarantee a great coffee when you reach for the cafetiere.”
Image from Löfbergs
Just Desserts Yorkshire are set to launch two afternoon tea classics ahead of Mother’s Day. The new product development is aimed at those who are “looking to celebrate Mother’s Day with a nod to the tradition of afternoon tea”.
The Classic Sultana Scone and Mother’s Day Vanilla Cupcake will be available throughout retail and hospitality outlets. Kate Williams, General Manager of Just Desserts Yorkshire said: “We are excited to be adding Classic Sultana Scones into our portfolio of desserts as a permanent offering, we knew there was only one product that could fit the bill for those looking for an afternoon tea classic.”
Image from Just Desserts Yorkshire
The Caramelised Biscuit Nut flavour is a combination of peanuts, almonds and cashews with a hint of caramel and note of spiced biscuit. The bar is high in fibre, gluten free, has 81% nuts and no artificial flavours. It aims to compliment KIND’s other HFSS compliant bars; Maple Pecan Almond and Fruit & Nut, which launched in 2022.
The new flavour will be available in a singles format across 203 WHSmith Travel Stores from 23 Feb, followed by Amazon, Nisa, Spar and Boots in March. Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons & Waitrose are confirmed to follow later this year (RRP: £1.30).
Audrey Arbeeny, UK Marketing Director said: “When it comes to snacking, KIND believes you shouldn’t have to choose between delicious and nutritious. Our new Caramelised Biscuit Nut bar brings both of these things together, great flavour and high-quality ingredients. We are proud to launch our third HFSS compliant bar that does not compromise on taste or nutrition. We can’t wait to hear what our consumers think.”
Image from KIND
UK cinema advertising contractor Pearl & Dean and dessert brand Gü have launched a unique new campaign – ‘Indulgent Cinema with Gü’ – that sees the brand promoting its luxurious sweet treats in 30 independent cinemas across the UK.
Marking the first time Gü has worked with cinemas, the brand said it wanted to create an association with indulgence among a premium audience.
As well as the independent cinema activity, Gü will also become the headline sponsor for outdoor cinema company Pop Up Screens’ events across the summer.
Catherine Ferguson, Head of Agency Strategy at Pearl & Dean said: “We’re incredibly excited to be launching a campaign that not only delights film lovers but also finds new commercial ways to support independent cinemas. This curated and collective approach allows brands to create unique local experiences on a national scale.’’
Kate Utting, UK Marketing Controller at Gü, said: “This is the first time we’ve invested in cinema as a brand and we’re delighted with the approach Pearl & Dean and Goodstuff have taken with the planning. This is an exciting opportunity for us to connect and engage with our audiences through new, unexplored channels and we’re really excited to bring an elevated snacking occasion to the big screen.’’
Image from Gü
Sainsbury’s is introducing £2 fruit and vegetable boxes, available for customers to purchase from this week onwards. The boxes will be available in over 200 selected supermarkets across the country, following a successful trial this January.
The ‘Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me’ boxes will include a variety of surplus fresh fruit and vegetables that could have otherwise gone to waste. The boxes will be sold for a lower price to help ensure customers have access to affordable nutritious food, as the cost of living continues to rise.
Customers can find the boxes in Sainsbury’s fresh produce aisles and all products included are carefully selected to ensure they are still fresh. The initiative is part of the retailer’s commitment to halve food waste across its value chain by 2030. Last year, Sainsbury’s also began removing ‘best before’ dates from over 100 product lines, including pears, onions, tomatoes and citrus fruits, with over 130 lines to follow, to help customers reduce food waste at home.
Richard Crampton, Director of Fresh Food, at Sainsbury’s said, “At Sainsbury’s we’re committed to helping our customers access tasty, nutritious food that’s better for them and the planet too. It’s great to see that shoppers have been enjoying the ‘Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me’ boxes, which is why we’re really pleased to roll out the trial to over 200 supermarkets, helping even more people across the country. We believe that everyone deserves to eat well at an affordable price, and we hope this additional support will ensure that good quality food doesn’t go to waste.”
Image from Sainsbury’s
Energy One has launched a lite variant with 50 calories per 250ml can (RRP £1.35) to meet demand for energy drinks with reduced sugar formats.
The brand was founded by Marion Barnaby and Peter Knoflach, key industry figures in motorsport for more than two decades. It seeks to tackle fatigue, improve focus and enhance alertness. The drink contains B vitamins (B3, B5, B6 and B12) and a blend of spring water and syrup.
Barnaby said: “The speed with which Energy One has secured global traction in established energy drinks markets as diverse as Austria, Hong Kong and Germany is nothing short of miraculous, with another 8-9 markets closen to sign-off. Here in the UK Energy One has secured its first partner, Valli, a forward-thinking forecourt operator who sees the significant opportunity associated with being an ‘early adopter’ of a young category disruptor promoting cleaner taste and a stylish Lite variant.”
For every can of drink sold, Energy One makes a donation to The Racing Heroes Charity.
Image from Energy One
