In this week's round-up of new product launches across Europe, FoodNavigator features a 'category changing' plant-based gelato brand and a new air-dried fruit crisp made using watermelon.
In this week's round-up of new product launches across Europe, FoodNavigator features a 'category changing' plant-based gelato brand and a new air-dried fruit crisp made using watermelon. ©GettyImages/Fascinadora
Air-dried fruit and vegetable snack maker Nim’s Fruit Crisps is launching a watermelon variety in red packaging in a tie-up with Save the Children.
The company will donate 5p from every pack of the new watermelon crisps, as well as 5p for every pack of apple crisps, sold over a four week period to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the charity.
The new watermelon SKU will be sold across ‘hundreds’ of Tesco stores and independent retailers, the company revealed.
Nimisha Raja, Founder of Nim’s Fruit Crisps, commented: “The reason we launched the business was to provide children with a great tasting alternative to mainstream crisps, so making young people healthier and able to enjoy the best possible life has always been a priority.
“We are continually looking to forge partnerships with organisations that have a similar ethos and we are delighted that Save the Children have agreed to put their name on our packs, recognising the fact we are giving children ‘one of their five a day’.”
She went on to add: “Every packet of apple and watermelon crisps sold over the next four weeks will see 5p donated and we are currently designing two further four-week promotions.”
Gemma Sherrington, Executive Director of Fundraising & Marketing at Save the Children UK, stated: “We are so excited about our new partnership with Nim’s as we know how important it is to give children a healthy start and the funds raised from the packets sold will enable us to carry out our vital work, reaching children across the globe.”
Nim’s fruit and vegetable crisps are fat, gluten and dairy free, as well as being vegan, kosher and halal certified.
The company’s line-up consists of ten different varieties, including pineapple and kiwi, apple and beetroot and parsnip. This year, Nim’s also released its first-ever edible teas.
Germany's Emoji Company has entered into a licensing agreement with The Hershey Company that will see the Emoji trademark appear on a limited edition chocolate bar this summer.
Hershey will roll out a new Hershey's Milk Chocolate Emoji Bar this summer.
The bar will feature 25 different images on each chocolate piece. Select images featured include the excited heart eyes face, thumbs up, kissing lips, wink, sunglasses and smile heart.
"We are delighted about this licensing agreement with The Hershey Company," said Marco Hüsges, CEO and founder of the Hamburg-based Emoji Company. "We are proud to add this chocolate agreement between Hershey and the emoji brand.”
Kettle Chips are launching a new limited edition SKU, Mediterranean olive & feta, in the UK.
The company said the flavour has a “rich and creamy” feta profile “sharpened” with “punchy” olive notes.
Launching initially into Asda in mid-June, Tesco will follow as stockists from the end of the month. The flavour will be available in a 135g sharing bag at a RRP of £1.99.
Kettle chef Phil Hovey commented: “For our 2019 summer limited edition I have taken inspiration from the Mediterranean. Greek feta provides an intense creamy richness that I have partnered with the big character of olives. A touch of citrus and a pinch of herbs really bring this combo to life.”
Senior brand manager, Kizzy Beckett added: “Through our delicious, 100% real food seasoning, we hope to give every consumer a taste of the sun this summer, despite our unreliable British weather.”
Kettle Foods is currently owned by Campbell Soup Company. However, it is understood the US food giant is looking to offload the snack maker in order to paydown debt.
Gigi is launching a “category-changing” line of plant-based Italian-style gelato.
The company said it spotted a gap in the market for a gelato that includes “vitality-boosting” nutrients. It is made with cold-pressed fruit and vegetables through a “cutting edge” production process that gives the gelato a “rich, creamy and satisfying” taste and mouthfeel.
The brand is being launching in packaging designed by Straight Forward design.
“Gigi is all about showing that healthy can be rewarding. We needed a brand and packaging design strategy to convey that message to shoppers, who are faced with an increasingly crowded ice-cream category. Straight Forward Design has created a solution that combines immediate taste and health cues with a strong brand presence,” Zeno Tosoni, Gigi CEO and co-founcer, commented.
Gigi is available at Albert Heijn, Lidl and Hoogvliet stores in the Netherlands, with a UK roll-out planned for later this year.
Finnish nutrition company Ambronite has developed a new range of meal replacement products, including a juice, shake and snack bar.
Announcing the launch, the company claimed it is the “only truly clean” plant-based meal replacement brand on the market. Ambronite, which was crowd-funded in 2014, does not use artificial or synthetic ingredients, or GMOs.
The new products go on sale this summer and provide versatile and convenient access to dozens of superfoods in under two minutes, the company said.
Co-founder Simo Suoheimo commented: “Our relationship with food has been dangerously distorted by corporations and many of us are living a life that is unsustainable, for the individual and the planet. Our vision is to provide access to clean, plant-based, sustainable nutrition options 24/7. Most of us succumb to the stresses of modern life and compromise our nutrition as a result. We’re a solution for professionals and health-conscious consumers who demand optimal nutrition in any circumstance”.
Ambronite believes its ‘clean’ ingredients list sets it apart from the competition.
“Misinformation continues to confuse consumers and today there are dozens of meal replacement brands claiming to be clean and healthy when in fact they are laced with cheap synthetic ingredients that fail to deliver on that promise, preservatives and downright harmful artificial ingredients linked to increased diabetes and cancer risk,” claimed Simo.
The new line consists of three SKUs: AmbroGreens – a “great tasting” juice containing superfoods like cranberry, spinach, spirulina, bilberry, and sea buckthorn; Ambronite Balanced Meal Shake – a real food that is “more affordable” and provides 20 grams of protein, fiber, and food-based vitamins and minerals; and AmbroBite - a chewable bar that’s truly clean and contains superfoods like oat protein, cranberries, and strawberries.
Pladis is combining sweet and salty flavours with the launch of Flipz Salted Caramel.
The product consists of a crispy pretzel and salted caramel coating. The company said the rollout will drive further growth for the Flipz brand in the UK. Pladis said it will appeal to “younger consumers and families” looking for a sharing snack.
“We were confident British snackers would welcome the ‘swavoury’ snacking trend when we launched American favourite, Flipz, here last year, and, looking at its sales to-date, they certainly have,” said Sarah Horowitz, director of new ventures at pladis UK&I.
“With sales of £12.3m RSV in its first year on shelves, and 2.1m households buying in, consumers have clearly taken to the brand – and now we’re bringing them another delicious flavour combination.
“Flipz Salted Caramel offers a moreish, sweet and savoury taste with a delicious, on-trend salted caramel twist. It is an absolute must-stock for retailers looking to unlock the £1.2bn opportunity that the snacking category presents – and we believe Flipz Salted Caramel will be the sweet treat that families and friends alike will be reaching for during days out, nights in and everything in-between.”
Flipz Salted Caramel will be available in 90g pouches for an RSP of £1.50. The range is available in grocery, convenience and impulse channels from June.
Young’s Seafood wants to tap into the “sharing and snacking trend” with the launch of Young’s Popcorn Scampi Bites.
Inspired by a ‘popcorn’ serving style to resonate with a younger family audience, the new format scampi and whitefish bites are wrapped in breadcrumbs and come in a larger 300g pack size.
Yvonne Adam, Marketing Director of Young’s Seafood, said: “We’re seeing growth in snacking and sharing formats across the category, particularly amongst a younger, family audience. Our Popcorn Scampi Bites introduces a new format that is perfect for flexible eating occasions – snacking, sharing and family together time."
Young’s Popcorn Scampi Bites 300g will be available in Asda from July for MRSP of £2.50.
