NPD Trend Tracker: From frozen cheesecake to keto-friendly hot cross buns

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This week’s look at new food launches features an important listing for Europe’s first matcha green tea-powered canned energy drink, while Spain’s Cauliflow is also strengthening its retail presence.

This week’s look at new food launches features an important listing for Europe’s first matcha green tea-powered canned energy drink, while Spain’s Cauliflow is also strengthening its retail presence.

Image: Getty/pepifoto

GettyImages-1302945862
GettyImages-1302945862 (pepifoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto)

This week’s look at new food launches features an important listing for Europe’s first matcha green tea-powered canned energy drink, while Spain’s Cauliflow is also strengthening its retail presence.

 

Image: Getty/ pepifoto

Clipper Teas launches organic gift box selection
Clipper Teas launches organic gift box selection

Clipper Teas is launching a new Organic Gift Box Selection. Available across the health food trade, the box is comprised of 45 specially selected envelopes featuring Clipper Teas signature designs. Each teabag is made from plant-based, biodegradable, unbleached, and non-GM materials.

The Organic Gift Box Selection retails at £11.99 RRP and is available via the Clipper Teas website and on Amazon.

The Organic Gift Box features Clipper’s Mood Infusions range which was extended and revamped in 2021 to meet growing consumer demand for functional ingredients that support better health.

The selection pack includes:

10 x Organic Lemon and Ginger Tea Bags

5 x Berry Burst Tea Bags

5 x After Dinner mints Tea Bags

5 x Cleanse with Benefits Tea Bags

5 x Restoring roots Tea Bags

10 x Snore & Peace Tea Bags

5 x Green Tea & Lemon Tea Bags

Showcasing Clipper’s extensive range of delicious tasting and ethically-produced teas, the Selection Box is designed for sharing and gifting – while inviting consumers to ‘find your mood…revive, relax, and enjoy’ as part of the brand’s Make It Better campaign.

Clipper said it has experienced strong sales performance since expanding its Mood Infusions range which now includes ‘Cleanse with Benefits’, an infusion of fresh citrus with sweet anise-inspired fennels, and Restoring Roots, a spicy ginger and warm turmeric blend.

Image from Clipper

A new ‘subcrisption’ offering
A new ‘subcrisption’ offering

UK healthier crisp brand Simply Roasted has launched a new subscription service aiming to give ‘time-strapped, crisp-loving customers the ease of having their favourite flavours shipped directly to their door - either every 30 days, or every 60 days’.

Simply Roasted said its crisps are made using a simple, whole slice of potato - offering all the taste, crunch and satisfaction of a traditional crisp but with 50 percent less fat and 25 percent less salt than regular fried crisps - all under 99 calories (per serving). Every crisp, made from 100% premium UK potatoes uses no artificial flavours and is always roasted, never fried. 

Subscriptions are available from £20.40 for a box of 24 delicious, guilt-free snacks in singular or mixed flavours, including:

  • Sea Salt: perfectly seasoned to let the potato do the talking
  • Mature Cheddar & Red Onion: a rich full bodied cheese balances red onion’s bite
  • Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar: clean and crisp with a sharp tangy finish
  • Black Truffle: rich deep umami indulgence

Image from Simply Roasted

Keto-friendly hot cross buns
Keto-friendly hot cross buns

UK low carb brand SRSLY has introduced Not Cross Buns, described as “light, happy buns geared specifically at the Low Carb community, making them ideally suited for anyone seeking to manage their weight, diabetics or followers of keto learnings”. The buns contain no milk or soya and contain 4.7g carbs per bun. According to SRSLY founder, Andy Welch, “Our business was born specifically to help low carb enthusiasts stay true to their new healthier living agenda, because seeking to remove the needless sugar, lazy carbs and unnecessary filler ingredients from one’s diet should never mean denying yourself your daily bready joy.”

Image from Seriouslylowcarb.com

The world’s first frozen cheesecake (in a tub)
The world’s first frozen cheesecake (in a tub)

The world’s first frozen cheesecake (in a tub) is set to enter the UK retail market for the first time, securing two major nationwide listings with Co-op and Waitrose.

The frozen dessert, from cheesecake brand Pleese (previously known as Pleesecakes), will be available across the UK, rolling out in 675 Co-op stores from 20th March, followed by over 200 Waitrose shops from 17th April.

Co-op will initially launch with two flavours, Lemon & Raspberry and Butterscotch & Caramel, while Waitrose will list the full range including Double Chocolate (RRP £5, 350g).

Freezecakes’ new and improved artisan cheesecake recipe is made with at least 35% cream cheese and is free from palm oil. The creamy filling is mixed with ingredients such as crunchy biscuit pieces, with pockets of flavoured sauces and toppings including flaked chocolate.

Joe Moruzzi, Founder of Pleese, said: “We’re so proud to finally see Freezecakes on the shelves in two of the UK’s leading supermarkets. This unique product brings the humble cheesecake into the 21st century by disrupting the dessert category. We help everyone share spectacular experiences and are confident that Freexecakes will be loved in homes across the country – serving up an instant cheesecake hit any time of day.”

Gareth Brain, Frozen Buyer at Co-op, said: “Innovation, quality and value are key drivers for our members and customers in the frozen aisles at Co-op and we’re thrilled to be one of the first retailers to add the new Freezecakes to our range. The response to the product on social media has been incredible and we’re confident that they will land with impact in our convenience stores.”

Joe Sharkey, Frozen Desserts Buyer at Waitrose, said: "Freezecakes is a brilliant, disruptive idea. Our customers love cheesecake, and frozen desserts are growing in popularity, so we're really excited to stock the full range of Pleese Freezecakes."

Three new organic ready meals
Three new organic ready meals

Just Spices has launched three new organic ready meals. The three SKUs; Chili con Carne, Chickpea Curry and Vegetable Stew all'Italiana will be available online at justspices.co.uk from 14th February in trial bundles of four with one or more flavours for £23.99.

Just Spices was born in Düsseldorf in 2014 and entered the UK market in early 2022. It said the new launch aimed to respond to consumer demand for a range of wholesome, delicious and convenient ready meals. “The business (worth over €60M) is a household name in their native Germany and now set to replicate this success here in the UK,” it said. “The ready to eat category has seen significant growth in recent years and Just Spices are ready to shake it up even further with a range of organic meals that deliver on taste, nutrition and ease, in equal measures.”

Image from Just Spices

Krispy Kreme Easter Doughnuts
Krispy Kreme Easter Doughnuts

Krispy Kreme has brought out the limited-edition Easter doughnut range that will be available in Krispy Kreme shops, supermarket cabinets, Welcome Break, Road Chef, Just Eat, Uber Eats and Deliveroo.

The new limited-edition Easter range from Krispy Kreme includes:

  • Hip Hop Hooray (from £2.45)  - An earrisistibly light and fluffy doughnut with strawberry flavour icing, topped with easter-themed sprinkles. 
  • Burrowing Bunny (from £2.95) - Filled with Brownie batter, topped with cookie crumble, flower, and bunny decoration.
  • Bun-dle of joy (from £2.95) - White chocolate flavour Kreme filled, dipped in white icing and finished with a cheeky face.
  • Eggs-travaganza (feature pack exclusive) - Topped with a swirl of chocolate frosting and chocolate eggs to finish.

Image from Krispy Kreme

Two new popcorn flavours
Two new popcorn flavours

Healthy snacking brand PROPER Snacks has unveiled two new popcorn flavours - Sweet Cinnamon and Classic Sweet. Launching nationwide in the UK from early March, the company said Sweet Cinnamon boasts 37% less sugar than the market leader. Now HFSS-compliant, Sweet has 24% less sugar than the market leader. Both SKUs are under 126kcal per serve, and as with the rest of the PROPER Snacks range, are high in fibre, vegan, gluten-free, seasoned with natural flavours and no palm oil.

Founder, Cassandra Stavrou said: “Sweet has always been the hallmark of the category. The fact that we’ve been able to develop our best-ever recipe for it, whilst also making it compliant, is something the team should be really proud of. Sweet Cinnamon is so delicious. It only lasts a few seconds in our office and we can’t wait for it to hit the shelves.”

Image from PROPER Snacks

The London Essence Co expands crafted soda range
The London Essence Co expands crafted soda range (Peter)

Premium mixer brand the London Essence Co. has launched its White Peach & Jasmine and Pink Grapefruit Crafted Sodas into 6x150ml multipack can formats, RRP £3.75, alongside its crafted soda range in 500ml bottles, RRP £2.

The company said the launch supports its ambition to build a premium mixer brand for a much broader range of elevated mixed and solus drinks. It also comes well timed to support the emerging growth areas in premium spirits and where consumers are seeking out new cocktail trends and no / low alternatives.

The new formats will be rolled out across a number of UK major retailers from March 2023.

UK Head of Marketing at The London Essence Co., Melanie Ginsberg, said: “We’re thrilled to be expanding our much-loved Crafted Soda range which will soon be available widely across a number of retailers. This expansion of our grocery presence will allow our range to be readily available to even more consumers showcasing the brand’s successful growth within the premium mixer category and allowing consumers to enjoy a premium drinks experience from the comfort of their own home.”

Image from the London Essence Co

Quorn rolls out Vegetarian Chicken & Leek Family Pie
Quorn rolls out Vegetarian Chicken & Leek Family Pie

Quorn is rolling out a Vegetarian Chicken & Leek Family Pie, which it calls a first for the frozen meat-free category.

Available from 26 March in Sainsbury’s, the Quorn Vegetarian Chicken & Leek Family Pie (RRP £4, 680g) serves four portions and has been developed as an affordable family mealtime solution, at just £1 per portion.

“There’s an increased demand for meat free family focused options, and this was a gap in the market when it came to frozen meat free pies that feed the whole family. There are no other products like this in the frozen aisle, giving retailers the perfect opportunity to drive incremental sales amongst meat reducers,” said Gill Riley, Marketing Director at Quorn Foods UK.

Image from Quorn