A pot of honey selling for £1,300? Yep, that’s right. The True honey Co is bringing what it claims is the ‘world’s rarest’ jar of honey to consumers in the UK. Another new offering for British consumers lies in bircher muesli and pasta products, both made with seaweed. And over in Europe, Swedish plant-based seafood start-up Hooked is expanding into Germany. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
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A pot of honey selling for £1,300? Yep, that’s right. The True honey Co is bringing what it claims is the ‘world’s rarest’ jar of honey to consumers in the UK. Another new offering for British consumers lies in bircher muesli and pasta products, both made with seaweed. And over in Europe, Swedish plant-based seafood start-up Hooked is expanding into Germany. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/essenin
Swedish plant-based seafood start-up Hooked is expanding beyond the Nordics into Germany via a listing with Rewe West. For Hooked, the move represents its move into the ‘biggest plant-based market in Europe’.
Being listed in Rewe West gives Hooked access to 250-500 stores across the country, marking a ‘pivotal’ moment for the company. Consumers in the Nordics, and now in Germany, can expect an ‘unparalleled’ selection that delivers on taste, quality, and affordability, we were told.
“At Hooked, we’re thrilled to finally bring our Swedish plant-based seafood range to Germany,” said Tom Johansson, co-founder & CEO at Hooked. “Our success in the Nordics has demonstrated a growing demand for innovative, sustainable alternatives, and we’re excited to introduce our iconic Swedish brand to German consumers.”
Image source: Hooked
UK start-up SRSLY Low Carb is adding a vegan Spaghetti Bolognese to its meal range. Compared to the conventional Italian classic, SRSLY Low Carb’s version contains just 17.9g of carbs instead of 50-60g.
How has the start-up achieved this? With konjac noodles – made from the root of the konjac yam plant. Konjac is both low calorie and gluten-free.
“Everyone accepts that today ready meals are a mainstay of today’s hectic life schedules,” explained, SRSLY founder, Andy Welch.
“We saw another well-timed opportunity for konjac-based noodles with their impressive low glycaemic index to come to the fore and displace wheat-based spaghetti that is awash with needless carbs and calories. We believe that great food comes in many guises, including a thoughtfully balanced ready meal, which if well executed can offer quick turnaround sustenance and a masterclass in mindful eating versus lazy calories and unwelcome meal guilt.”
Welch continued: “Nothing stands still in today’s constantly evolving food theatre,’ concludes Andy, ‘I mean swapping out spaghetti is hardly a big deal because even in traditional Italian cuisine it had no real relevance because tagliatelle was the authentic pasta of choice.”
A 370g serving of SRSLY Low Carb’s Spaghetti Bolognese product has an RRP of £5.99.
Image source: SRSLY Low Carb
Quenched has secured a new listing for its Lime + Soda beverage. The ‘award winning’ drink is now available in Midcounties Coop stores, as too is its flavours Blackcurrant + Soda and Orange + Soda.
Alongside this launch, Quenched is releasing its cans in a 330ml format, to join its existing 250ml size. The start-up said this will provide consumers with additional product as well as a more convenient way to enjoy ‘on the go’ – either as a mixer, as an adult soft drink, or at any social occasion.
“Over a number of recent years, and having managed bars during that time, I became conscious that there was a lack of adult soft drinks available in shops, bars, restaurants and on-the-go, especially an authentic lime and soda,” said Quenched co-founder Mike Bate.
“I wanted people to be able to experience such a favourite and satisfying soft drink wherever they are, and so Quenched was born. At Quenched we understand the need for healthier alternatives to the usual carbonated drinks and also understand that this cannot be at the expense of taste.
“Quenched delivers just that, a Great Taste Award winning soft drink that can be enjoyed anywhere anytime and at any social occasion.”
Quenched is free from additives, preservatives and artificial sweeteners and contains less than 69kcal per serve. One can has an RRP of £1.40 in Midcounties Coop stores.
Image source: Quenched
Two new food products containing seaweed are launching online via Holland & Barrett in the UK: Sea Shell Seaweed pasta and Sea Bircher Museli.
The products come from PhycoHealth, which works with aquaculture-based ingredients. The egg-free pasta is made from durum semolina and contains 10% seaweed content – offering a source of protein, iron and vitamin B12.
The bircher contains diverse plant fibres for gut health, including PhcoHealth’s SeaFibre. It is boosted with pea protein and contains iron, iodine and antioxidants from seaweed, as well as more than 20% recommended daily intake of B12.
“We are absolutely thrilled to be launching PhycoHealth's innovative food products with Holland & Barrett. This launch is particularly exciting now as it aligns with the growing urgency towards sustainable living,” said Dr Pia Winberg, PhycoHealth CEO.
“Our Seashell Pasta and Sea Bircher Muesli not only redefine taste and texture but also address nutritional deficiencies in plant-based diets and body care products. We are not just creating delicious food; we are offering a solution, a way to eat and live responsibly, without compromise.”
Image source: PhycoHealth
In the UK, Mug Shot is launching a flavoured pasta sachet in time for Christmas. The flavour has been inspired by the famed festive dish pigs in blankets: small sausages wrapped in bacon.
But although the pasta offering is designed to taste like pork, it is in fact suitable for vegetarians. One serve has 235 kcal and contains less than 1% fat.
“Whether enjoying as a quick lunch or healthy snack to fill a hunger gap, our customers enjoy the range of flavours we have available, and with 1 in 2 people choosing Pigs In Blankets as their favourite festive food, we knew it would be something our customers would love,” said Emma Boyle, senior brand manager.
Mug Shot’s Pigs in Blankets are available from B&M stores across the UK for 50p.
Image source: Mug Shot
A limited-edition jar of Manuka honey is selling for £1,300 in the UK.
Launched by The True Honey Co, the Rare Harvest offering is classified 2050 methylgoxal (MGO) – the ingredient within manuka honey associated with antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. This is a significant amount considering the company’s other offerings start from 300 MGO.
The rare honey pot comes with a unique manuka factor (UMF) grade of 34. The True Honey Co describes it has presenting with a ‘toffee-like sweetness’ paired with a ‘savoury and mocha-infused complexity’.
“As you know, Manuka is known for being the ultimate wellness elixir and the higher the MGO, the more powerful the Manuka benefits,” noted the company. “Rare Harvest 20250 MGO is packed with potent antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties making it a natural powerhouse for fighting infections, promoting healing, and reducing inflammation.”
Given its elevated price tag, it is unsurprising that Rare Harvest 2050 is selling in premium retailers including Harrods and Selfridges.
Image source: The True Honey Co
