Roberts Bakery Crunchy Cricket Loaf
Roberts Bakery is the first major bakery brand in the UK to launch insect bread.
The batch of limited-edition Crunchy Cricket Loaves has been whipped up in The Exploratory - Roberts’ concept kitchen.
The bread is made using cricket flour, which is supplied by UK insect food brand Eat Grub and sourced from the 'world’s only' cricket farm with Grade A BRC food safety certification. Each loaf contains around 336 crickets, which are dried, ground, mixed with wheat flour and grains and then baked.
Roberts’ Crunchy Cricket Loaf contains more protein than standard bread and is also a much more environmentally-friendly and sustainable source of it, the company claimed. Insect protein is also high in good fatty acids, calcium, iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin C.
They are also said to be good for the gut, to the high levels of chitinous fibre found in their exoskeleton. This helps to increase levels of a metabolic enzyme associated with gut health, according to Roberts.
“As well as having very strong sustainability and environmental credentials, insects are also seriously tasty and shouldn’t be overlooked as a great recipe ingredient. Our Cricket Loaf provides consumers with a good source of protein and an easy way to familiarise themselves with insect-based food,” said Alison Ordonez, Head of Innovation at the bakery firm.
“As the UK’s next generation bakery we work tirelessly to stay at the forefront of food revolution. We’re also passionate about boosting growth in the bread category with relevant, sustainable and interesting bakes. The first-in-the-UK Roberts Cricket Loaf is yet another example of this."
Neil Whippey, Co-Founder at Eat Grub, added: “We’ve been importing and selling insects as a food source since 2013, and we’re always excited to work with likeminded manufacturers who are keen to realise their insect-innovations. It’s been great to support Roberts in what appears to a UK bakery brand first. What a great way to introduce the joys and benefits of eating insects.”
Roberts’ first batch of Crunchy Cricket Loaf is limited to 100 loaves.
Roberts’ loaves are stocked in Asda and Morrisons stores nationally. They’re also listed in all major multiple grocers across the UK and online at Ocado, as well Londis and Budgens convenience stores.
