NPD Trend Tracker: From Tate Modern beer to Lebanese delicacies

Milliways launches in France​

UK chewing gum brand Milliways is launching in France. The brand has debuted in the country with three new flavours – strawberry, cherry and spearmint – inspired by French favourites. This comes off the back of its recent launch in the US.

The brand, which is also plastic free, has distributed the product across France’s supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores and forecourts. All flavours are available in 10-piece and 30-piece formats.

“France, a global trendsetter in food, fashion, and lifestyle, is the perfect stage for Milliways.” said Milliways founder, Tom Raviv. “As we delved deeper into the market, we saw a clear lack of sustainable and innovative products available to consumers, sparking our excitement for this incredible opportunity. In every market we’ve entered, we've seen the same surprising truth: many consumers are unaware that big brand chewing gum contains plastic ingredients. Following our growth in the UK and recent launch in the US, we’re thrilled to bring our plastic free movement to France!”

Tate Modern beer ​

The brewery Signature Brew has collaborated with the UK art gallery Tate Modern for a new artistically designed pale beer.

The beer, Ready Made, has been released to celebrate the Tate Modern’s new ‘Mike Kelley: Ghost and Spirit’ exhibition, which showcases the work of American artist and musician Mike Kelly, known for his work with bands such as Sonic Youth. It is the brand’s second partnership with Tate Modern after its first, with Riot Grrrl, last year.

The beer is a hazy pale beer with a citrus flavour. Its label is designed by graphic designer Steve Beech, who was inspired by Kelly’s work.

“Following on from the success of Riot Grrrl last year when we worked with the TATE on their Women In Revolt exhibition, we didn't have to wait long until another perfect opportunity came along to work together. The inimitable work and unique style of Mike Kelley that gave so much to the musicians he worked with, has now inspired a new beer. Ready Made is our homage to Kelley’s work, and our long-time in-house designer Steve Beech has again delivered an incredible can design inspired by Kelley’s work,” said Sam McGregor, co-founder and growth director of Singature Brew.

The beer is on sale online from today until 31 March 2025, at a price of £18 for six 440ml cans.  

Délifrance releases ‘versatile vanilla semi-finished teardrop’ ​

French bakery manufacturer Délifrance has released its newest product: the ‘versatile vanilla semi-finished teardrop.’ This enigmatically named product is a teardrop-shaped viennoiserie made with puff pastry and filled with Madagascar vanilla cream.

Délifrance suggests that not only does this product work well as a treat by itself, but could play the role of a base for a range of other desserts.

The product can, Délifrance suggested, be used by coffee shops, restaurants, cafes and bakeries for their own dessert ideas.

“We’re thrilled to introduce the elegant Vanilla Semi-Finished Teardrop as part of our continued commitment to innovation. This elegant viennoiserie represents our dedication to pushing the boundaries of convenience, taste and texture. Consumers are always seeking new taste experiences throughout the day, and this product meets those needs while giving operators the flexibility to elevate their offerings,” said Stéphanie Brillouet, marketing director at Délifrance.

Kirsty’s unveils free-from food-to-go range ​

UK free-from ready meal brand Kirsty’s is expanding into the food-to-go market with a range of sandwiches and ready meals. In partnership with sandwich manufacturer Raynor Foods, Kirsty’s is unleashing a BLT, a salt and pepper chicken chilli wrap, a Mexican salad bowl, and a range of gluten-free toasties.

The range is available through Raynor Foods, for distribution across schools, universities, cafes, hospitals and more. Raynor Foods is also an expert in healthcare food production, allowing them to provide a special manufacturing facility to produce free-from food.

“Our mission with Kirsty’s has always been to support those navigating food allergies and intolerances by providing high quality, great tasting free-from food options. The food-to-go market was an area we had not entered previously due to the short shelf-life of the products, but we were determined to find a solution, which is why we are so thrilled to have joined forces with Raynor Foods, benefitting from their expertise in this field,” said Kirsty Henshaw, founder of Kirsty’s.  

“We’re really excited to have created this partnership with Kirsty’s, who have been leading the way in free-from products for over 10 years. It’s an area of food-to-go that we have wanted to develop for some time as demands from consumers have changed, and we think we’ve come up with some fantastic options to launch this range that provide exciting, tasty solutions for those seeking alternatives when they’re on the go," added Catherine van Dok, business development manager at Raynor Foods.

Rifai opens standalone store in UK​

Rifai, a Lebanese mixed nut, confectionary and coffee brand, is opening its first UK standalone shop in Knightsbridge, London. The brand, which already has 40 boutiques in Lebanon itself and two shops in Paris, now enters the UK.

The shop will offer nut mixes, dried fruits, chocolate, Middle Eastern sweets such as nougats and Turkish delights, and even fresh churn-your-own nut butters. It will also offer freshly roasted Lebanese coffee.

“We are thrilled to bring the rich flavours and proud traditions of Lebanon to London. Our first UK store will allow customers to experience the finest Middle Eastern treats, all while upholding the values of quality, authenticity, and sustainability that Rifai has stood for since our beginnings,” said Rifai CEO Tania Ezzedine.

“We already had a strong presence in London through our collaboration with Harrods since 2019. Now, with the opening of our standalone flagship store, we look forward to deepening our connection with British consumers and offering them a taste of Lebanese heritage right in the heart of Knightsbridge."

Kallø ventures into granola ​

UK food brand Kallø is venturing into the world of granolas with its new releases. The new range includes Kallø Organic Three Nut Granola, which combines hazelnuts, cashews and almonds, and Kallø Organic Superfruit Granola, which stars a blend of dried cranberries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Both products have a base of oat and wheat flakes.

According to the brand, both products are made without using pesticides, contain no preservatives or artificial colours or flavours, and have fully recyclable packaging. They also, the brand says, contain 6.1g fibre per serving.

“Between our snacks and stocks products, Kallø has been able to offer naturally different options for most meal occasions, but we’ve been missing a really strong breakfast choice that represents everything Kallø stands for. Cereals represent a big untapped opportunity with 95% of UK households buying cereal. But there are few options that give consumers a more sustainable choice. This is where Kallø can offer a true point of difference. Our granolas protect biodiversity through organic ingredients to deliver natural goodness from field to spoon!” said Caroline Mitchell, Kallø granolas brand controller at parent company Ecotone UK.

Both products are available now from Waitrose at an RRP of £3.99.