Ready meals are dished out well in our latest NPD Trend Tracker as Beyond Meat launches frozen meals in the UK and Charlie Bigham’s introduces its first-ever range of side dishes. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
Image: Getty/Vera_Simon
Ready meals are dished out well in our latest NPD Trend Tracker as Beyond Meat launches frozen meals in the UK and Charlie Bigham’s introduces its first-ever range of side dishes. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
Image: Getty/Vera_Simon
Best of Poland, a new BRC accredited UK importer and distributor for Polish branded food and drink category leaders, has announced its exclusive distribution rights for Black Energy, which has been available in the UK for the last three years.
Black Energy and three further leading Polish drinks brands Ngine, Frugo and 4Move will be available to UK multiples via Best of Poland from Friday 19th May, with dozens of SKUs across the four brands.
Partnering with leading Polish distributor Foodcare, Best of Poland aims to deliver significant branded volume sales within retail, convenience, foodservice, wholesale, and discounters via a team of World Food experts.
Piotr Czuryński, Export Director of Foodcare said: “We see a huge opportunity for brand and category growth within the UK market. Best of Poland won exclusive distribution rights due to their vast experience with the retailers operating in the World Food Category – they are talented experts who know and are passionate about our products. We will be supporting them with extensive brand plans to drive joint sales and awareness.”
UK managing director James Sheppard said: “Our mission is clear; we aim to be the Centre of Excellence for Polish food and drink brands in the UK via a ‘one stop shop’ strategic supplier partnership. Essentially our brands can tap into a range of experts, contacts, and advice in one place.
“We are seeing a continued increase in shopper demand for authentic World Food ranges, which are enjoyed by Polish, British, Ukrainian, and Romanian communities across the UK. We continue to work with other ‘must stock’ and household brands and look forward to building our product range portfolio this year.
“Our activation plans include promotions, on-shelf activity, point of sale and direct to consumer engagement plans, as well as online and social media marketing with a new website, Facebook and Instagram channels, all linking back to the original Polish business.”
Image: Best of Poland
The new range of frozen Beyond Meals has rolled into Tesco. Offering a ‘satisfying plant-based spin on classic comfort foods’, the new Beyond Meals come in three different varieties: Spaghetti Bolognese; Keema Curry & Pilau Rice; and Chili with Coriander Rice.
"We're absolutely thrilled to be launching our incredibly tasty and affordable new range of Beyond Meals in the UK,” said Steve Dalby, Regional Sales Manager UK at Beyond Meat. “With three different flavours to choose from, including plant-based twists on classic comfort foods and global cuisines, there's something for everyone to enjoy and they’re perfect for those who are always on the go. Plus, our Beyond Meals are completely plant-based so you can eat what you love, no sacrifice required.”
All three Beyond Meals are available at Tesco (RRP £3.00).
Image: Beyond Meat
Fudge Kitchen confectionery is now available in over two thirds of John Lewis stores around the UK as well as online.
Fudge Kitchen launched with its Classic 9-piece Gourmet Fudge Selection, Traditional Favourites 15-piece Selection, Himalayan Salted Caramels and Clotted Cream and Sea Salted Caramel Fudge Sliders.
Fudge Kitchen makes each square of gourmet fudge at its production site in Kent. Flavours include Strawberries & Clotted Cream, Chocolate Fruit & Nut and Hazelnut Praline.
Head of Sales, Rupert Allinson: said: “We’re delighted to be stocked at John Lewis and thrilled that our products have landed so well with their customers. Our premium gifting range feels like the perfect fit with the luxury department store, and we look forward to working closely with them to make the partnership a success.”
Alongside its confectionery range and experiential fudge making experiences, Fudge Kitchen also make bespoke own label products for other luxury department stores and hotels in London, including Harrods, Harvey Nichols, and Selfridges.
Image: Fudge Kitchen
allplants has launched a Gut Health Booster Bundle, a selection of its best dishes designed to ‘pack in all the nutrients needed for optimal gut health, combining high-protein, vibrant, delicious plant-based ingredients, without skipping on flavou’.
The Gut Health Booster Bundle includes:
● Smoky Corn + Spanish Rice Bowl
● Harissa Cauliflower Grain Bowl
● Rainbow Nourish Bowl
● Miso + Tamari Tofu Bowl
● Aubergine + Split Pea Stew
● Smoky Soul Chilli
● Kale + Chickpea Daal
● Breakfast Berry Superfood Smoothie
● Mango + Greens Superfood Smoothie
Bethan Cummings, allplants nutritionist said: "The allplants Gut Health Booster Bundle contains a huge variety of plants; you’re truly eating the rainbow, which is essential for energising & supporting our gut microbiome.
The Rainbow Nourish Bowl contains 14 different types of plants alone, including Beetroot, Broccoli & Chickpeas which are packed with gut loving fibre, amazing for maintaining a healthy gut. Not to forget, this dish contains gut-thriving Miso Tempeh, which encourages the growth of friendly bacteria in our immune system.”
allplants’ dishes are 100% plant-based, chef-made and delivered to your door. The dishes are flash-frozen, ensuring nutrition and taste are locked in. The gut health bundle retails at £36.86 - a saving of 25% - and qualifies for free delivery online, available without subscription.
Image: allplants
European Costco members will now have access to US meal kits after the global expansion of Kevin's Natural Foods at Costco stores in the UK, Iceland, and Sweden. The brand launched two of its popular US flavors: Lemongrass Chicken and Korean BBQ Chicken, on May 15. KNF products have been in Costco stores across Canada and Mexico since March 2023.
The brand said its ‘all-natural, globally-inspired meal solutions’ have been a huge success in the US and has achieved remarkable growth over the past few years, selling over 50 million units sold since its launch in August 2019 and 40% year-over-year growth.
The company said this expansion demonstrates its “commitment to offering healthy and convenient meal solutions that cater to various dietary needs and tastes. With their strategic growth plans and all-natural meal solutions, Kevin's Natural Foods is well-positioned to become a leader in the global market.”
Image: Kevin's Natural Foods
SRSLY Low Carb has unveiled a low-calorie alternative sweet chilli sauce that it said combines ‘low carbs with a vibrant fruity slam dunk’.
Made with a blend of chillis, ginger, paprika and garlic, SRSLY’s sweet chilli sauce contains 14 kcals (per 100ml), 1.9g carbs and 0.3g sugar (per 100ml), which compares favourably to a typical Sweet Chilli sauce which contains 230kcals per 100ml, 55g carbs and 55g sugarsThe brand said: “Sweet chilli sauce or Nam Jim Kai as it’s better known in its mother country Thailand has been on an upward trajectory for some years now. Lockdown led to a significant splurge in sales, no doubt fuelled by the electric orange dip’s unrivalled versatility and the deep-rooted feelgood associated with world cuisine. The only problem is that every day sweet chilli sauce has a ‘dirty secret’ its awash with unwelcome refined sugars.”
150ml (£3.99)
Image: Seriouslylowcarb.com
Children’s food brand Organix has announced three new products to its portfolio, with Strawberry & Apple Puffcorn and Pic-Nix for little ones aged 12 months+, and Kids Crunchy Waves, for older children aged between 3-6. The brand-new launches will be available in stores from June 2023. As with all Organix foods, the new launches come with the Organix No Junk Promise, it said. All snacks are non-HFSS, under 100kcal and are made only with delicious organic ingredients with nothing artificial.
Mandy Bobrowski, Marketing Manager at Organix, said: “These new launches are fantastic additions to our already outstanding portfolio of baby, toddler and kids foods. Here at Organix, we know how important it is to keep little ones happy and satisfied, as well as making sure children have access to nutritious and healthy food options - which is why we’re sure these foods will ignite creative taste buds and spark a love of great food. Using only the best organic ingredients, parents can be assured that their children are enjoying snacks created with completely natural ingredients, with absolutely nothing unnecessary added, that will amuse not only hungry tummies, but also nurture developing minds and imaginations.”
Image: Organix
Flavoured still water brand Volvic has refreshed its Sugar Free range with the launch of its brand-new flavour – Kiwi & Lime.
The flavour combination, which was picked by consumers via a social media poll, combines the crisp and refreshing taste of kiwi with the zesty notes of tangy lime, the company said.
According to the company, The Sugar Free range has grown +46% vs 2YA in value sales and 62% of the volume of last summer’s popular flavour innovation, Peach & Raspberry, was incremental to the Flavoured Still Water category proving successful in recruiting new consumers.
The new flavour is available in stores and online at Sainsbury’s and ASDA.
Gemma Morgan, Category Marketing Director Beverages at Danone, said: "We’re thrilled to be launching this brand-new Kiwi & Lime flavour in the Volvic Touch of Fruit range following the strong market performance of last spring’s Peach & Raspberry launch. We continue to see consumers trying out new flavour combinations and it was particularly interesting to put the selection of this new flavour in the hands of our consumers with a social media vote. We’re excited to see more customers reach for our sugar free alternative and to stay hydrated while enjoying the delicious, flavoured water taste.”
Image from Volvic
UK iced tea brand Kaytea has brought out a new White Peach flavour which it said will ‘showcase green tea’s unheralded prowess as the perfect light yet refreshing setting for white peach to prosper’. It has also repackaged its
Sparkling Rosay offering: a 95% rose tea infusion that combines with pink guava and cherry, apple, radish and sweet potato concentrate to create an ‘effortlessly effervescent’ iced tea.
The White Peach & Sparkling Rosay will move to slimline cans to broaden Kaytea’s reach and extend its appeal among airlines, catering, vending & festival operators.
According to Kaytea founder, Kevin Tang: “Having underpinned our reputation as a perfect ‘soft drink that can pair with delicate foods (tie-ups with Sainsbury’s & M&S’s sushi counters), we’ve now backing our urban listings with a move from glass to aluminium which is better suited to more urban focused retailers like Zapp, WeWork and Deliveroo.”
He added: “I realised long ago that there’s a significant void in the soft drinks aisle that resides between bland sugary pop and overtly worthy functional brews. Our primary focus has always been our tea prowess, which is why we visited over 250 tea estates to unearth the best providers of quality teas (black, white & green). Yes, we could have easily added blends of lab made vitamins & minerals to claim some arbitrary health claims but that seemed counter-intuitive to our quest to be known for best-in-class, organic ingredients.”
Kaytea.co.uk
Both 330ml lines will retail £1.60-£1.80 a can
Image: Kaytea
Home-dining brand Charlie Bigham’s has launched its first-ever range of side dishes, available exclusively at Tesco.
The range includes Chunky Chips, Cauliflower Cheese, Potato Dauphinoise, Green Vegetable Medley, Tarka Dahl and Bombay Potatoes, with each dish having a £4.00 RRP for a two-person serving.
The new sides will accompany the existing range of mains and desserts which currently has more than 50 options inspired by UK classics and world flavours.
The launch will be supported by in-store POS, PR and social activity through summer.
In addition to the sides, Tesco is launching a £15 dining deal which includes any of the two-person mains, side dishes and dessert options. The deal includes some of the brand’s most loved dishes such as Chicken & Ham En Croute and Cottage Pie as well as Tarka Dhal and Bombay Potatoes which can be paired with the main curry options: Chicken Madras, Butter Chicken and Chicken Korma.
Patrick Cairns, Charlie Bigham’s CEO, said: “With the launch of these new side dishes, consumers are able to turn to the brand for a complete meal solution and a one stop alternative to takeaways, going out for dinner - and for those not having the inclination to cook from scratch on any given evening - without compromising on flavour or quality. \
“Our focus, as ever, has been on creating food that is completely delicious - prepared using ingredients and methods that you would use at home.”
Image: Charlie Bigham’s
