What new food and beverage products are hitting shelves? With functional foods on-trend, we look at a ‘living soda’ containing both prebiotics and probiotics in the UK. Elsewhere in the health and wellness space, we see coffee infused with Lions Mane mushrooms. Plant-based cheese and vodka-infused pasta sauces are also on our radar. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/Filograph
What new food and beverage products are hitting shelves? With functional foods on-trend, we look at a ‘living soda’ containing both prebiotics and probiotics in the UK. Elsewhere in the health and wellness space, we see coffee infused with Lions Mane mushrooms. Plant-based cheese and vodka-infused pasta sauces are also on our radar. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/filograph
In the UK, a new soda is coming to market containing both probiotics and prebiotics. FHIRST aims to create a new high-growth category of ‘living sodas’.
Founder Steven Van Middelem observed a gap in the market for functional, ‘healthy’ sodas free from sugars and artificial sugars. His solution is a ‘science-backed’ health drink that combines the benefits of probiotics and prebiotics into one drink with a ‘popular soda taste profile’ and ‘maximum kerb appeal’.
The probiotic strain in FHIRST is one of the ‘most studied’ in the world. Each serving offers two billion live cultures microencapsulated for stability and allowing controlled release in the gut
FHIRST also contains 5g of prebiotic dietary plant fibre as well as zinc. The range – available in Cherry Vanilla, Passion Fruit, and Ginger Mandarin – is free from sugar, artificial ingredients and sweeteners.
“The global pandemic encouraged us all to think again about our immunity. 70% of our immune system lies in our gut, and gut health has been linked to the health of many other organs, including the heart and the brain,” said Van Middelem. “This has created huge demand for pro- and prebiotic products.”
According to the founder, there is nothing like FHIRST on the market. The start-up hopes to become global leaders in the space.
“We wanted to create a drink that can support immunity, brain health and overall gut health without compromising on taste, and without the sugars or artificial sweeteners, and that’s exactly what we’ve been able to do.”
Image source: FHIRST
James Cadbury’s brand Love Cocoa is extending its ‘eco-friendly’ egg collection with new marbled eggs and a partnership with English Heritage.
Two new statement eggs are being launched in time for Easter: Marbled Salted Caramel and Marbled Strawberries & Cream are available to purchase via Love Cocoa, John Lewis and Liberty.
At the same time, Love Cocoa is partnering with English Heritage to give Limited Edition Love Cocoa Milk Chocolate Bars to children who complete the Easter Adventure Quest across their 26 sites across the UK.
“In spite of the cost of living crisis, consumer appetite for premium chocolate continues. Our eggs were a huge hit last year, and we believe these luxury marbled options will satisfy consumer demand and drive incremental Easter sales,” said Cadbury.
“And our Easter range covers everything from a £4.50 Honeycomb Limited Edition Bar through to a Giant Luxury Egg retailing at £40. We hope that offering a range of different price points means that everyone can enjoy some Love Cocoa chocolate this Easter.”
Image source: Love Cocoa
In the UK, vegan cheese maker Julienne Bruno is listing its plant-based cheese alternatives via online retailer Ocado.
The Julienne Bruno brand was set up in 2020 by Axel Katalan. Its aim is not to ‘imitate or compare’, but rather offer a ‘different perspective’ on plant-based food, creating familiar but new products for people to enjoy due to the quality of them, ‘not because they’re vegan’.
The ‘Collection 01’ includes three dairy-free cheeses: Burrella, Crematta and Superstraccia.
For Katalan, the listing is a ‘dream come true’. “When we set out to build the Julienne Bruno brand, Ocado Retail was on the top of our aspirational list and thus we are so proud to announce this landmark partnership with them. We believe that plant-based food is the most exciting area in gastronomy and our listing on Ocado means that we are one step closer to making our products easily accessible to customers across the UK and as part of their weekly shop.”
Freya O’Mara, senior cheese buyer at Ocado, said the retailer was excited to launch the Julienne Bruno range. “As appetite for vegan alternatives increases, Julienne Bruno is a great addition to our wide range of products on Ocado, helping our customers get their hands on some delicious cheese alternatives as part of their regular food shop.”
Image source: Julienne Bruno
Alcohol-free beer brand Fungtn is branching out into coffee with the development of Lions Mane mushroom-infused coffee for the health conscious consumer.
The start-up is partnering with Balance Coffee to launch Lions Mane Mushroom Coffee for home brewing. The ground coffee gives a ‘warm depth of flavour’, with the mushroom helping to balance the caffeine hit.
Lions Mane has shown in studies to help improve memory and mental clarity, balance the caffeine impact on the body as an adaptogen and help increase focus, explained Fungtn.
The adaptogenic properties of functional mushrooms work ‘synergistically’ with the coffee and help to balance the body’s response to caffeine, which means ‘no crash’ and a milder response on the stomach. “The powerful properties in Lions Mane help to aid focus and complement the morning routine for maximum productivity.”
Image source: Fungtn
The Kraft Heinz Company is teaming up with Absolute Vodka to launch their own version of the ‘much-loved’ Pasta alla Vodka recipes in jar-form.
Heinz X Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta Sauce takes inspiration from a spicy vodka pasta which went viral in 2020, becoming one of the trendiest recipes on TikTok and Instagram at the time.
Heinz claims that in the sauce, it is the vodka that ‘unlocks’ the flavours and intensifies the aroma of the ‘rich and creamy tomato, basil and cheese sauce’. During the cooking process, most of the alcohol from the vodka is reduced, boosting the volatile flavour compounds already present in the tomatoes, noted Heinz.
The product is being launched through Heinz’s New Ventures division. “We are thrilled with the partnership between these two centenary brands, bringing the first tomato vodka pasta sauce to major UK supermarkets,” said Caio Fontenele, Heinz New Ventures Director.
“The iconic combination of Heinz’s high-quality tomato sauces and Absolut’s premium vodka is set to offer fans the ultimate pasta alla vodka experience. And the result is absolutely delicious!”
Image source: The Kraft Heinz Company
