Our latest NPD Trend Tracker looks at UK snack brand Made for Drink’s new Gentleman’s Relish potato crisps, while Germany’s Just Spices aims to ‘spice up’ UK supermarkets this summer. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
Image: GettyImages-Olena Koliesnik
Our latest NPD Trend Tracker looks at UK snack brand Made for Drink’s new Gentleman’s Relish potato crisps, while Germany’s Just Spices aims to ‘spice up’ UK supermarkets this summer. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages-Olena Koliesnik
Modern Italian food brand, Crosta & Mollica introduces its new Italian Apricot Crostata tartlets, launching exclusively into the Waitrose bakery aisles, available to purchase now, RRP £3.50, 4x40g.
Crosta & Mollica directly translates to ‘crust & crumb’, reflecting the brand’s origin in the bakery sector 13 years ago, and now adds to its range of traditional Italian baked favourites products with the launch of the Apricot Crostata. The tartlets are made in Italy, as with all Crosta & Mollica products, and are perfect to enjoy as a breakfast, snack or dessert option.
Using ‘pasta frolla’, a classic light and flakey Italian pastry, the buttery crust is smothered in a layer of apricot conserve, topped with the signature criss-crossed patterned pastry, and finally baked until golden.
The Crosta & Mollica baked range includes savoury products Pane Pugliese, Focaccia Panini and a selection of Piadinas, and the Apricot Crostata will join the brands Italian sweet baked products alongside the Mini Panettone and Chocolate & Hazelnut Cornetti. Crosta & Mollica has now expanded its supermarket range of premium Italian food beyond bakery into categories such as frozen desserts, frozen ready meals and pasta and pasta sauces.
Crosta & Mollica Apricot Crostata is available in Waitrose now, RRP £3.50 4x40g.
Image: Crosta & Mollica
Walkers is trialling new multipack packaging for its Snack A Jacks range. Packs on shelves in Tesco stores across the UK will now use 86% less plastic on their outer packaging when compared with the previous multipack design. In a first for Snack A Jacks, the new ‘bagless’ multipack is made from a tape-like strip which holds together five individual packets of Snack A Jacks.
The new packaging format is now available to buy exclusively at Tesco stores across the UK across three popular flavours: Salt & Vinegar, Sour Cream & Chive and BBQ.
The new outer tape as well as the individual packets qualify as officially recyclable under the UK On-Pack Recycling Label Scheme (OPRL) and can be recycled at flexible packaging collection points in supermarkets across the UK.
It marks Walkers’ third major sustainable packaging trial with Tesco in recent months, after the two companies trialled a new cardboard design on Walkers multipacks to replace its outer plastic packaging, and piloted paper-based outer packaging earlier this year for Walkers Baked multipacks.
The trial has been made possible by the company investing over £2 million in new equipment to enhance reduced plastic packaging capabilities at Walkers’ Skelmersdale site in Lancashire, where Snack A Jacks are made.
It forms part of PepsiCo Positive, Walkers parent company’s health and sustainability transformation plan, which includes an ambition of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
Across PepsiCo Europe, the company also plans to eliminate virgin fossil-based plastic in crisp and snack bags by 2030. This ambition will apply to UK brands including Snack A Jacks, Walkers, Doritos, Quavers, Wotsits, and Pipers, and will be delivered by using 100% recycled or renewable content.
Gareth Callan, Packaging Sustainability Lead, PepsiCo UK & Ireland said: “Our new bagless multipack design is an innovative example of the solutions we’re exploring to reduce virgin fossil plastic use across our portfolio. We’re looking forward to assessing this new format as part of our commitment to creating a world where packaging never becomes waste.”
Image: Walkers
Building on its exclusive, long-term flavour partnership with Swizzels Sweets, UK-based sports nutrition brand Applied Nutrition has launched the ‘Drumstick Original Raspberry’ flavour of its electrolyte and vitamin water Body FUEL.
Now available in seven flavours, including a signature Paddy Punch flavour variant endorsed by the popular UFC fighter Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett, Body FUEL has secured listings with several wholesalers and national retail since launch.
Applied Nutrition develops sports and active nutrition products from its manufacturing and distribution centre in Liverpool and sells globally in more than 65 countries.
It’s been a busy 12 months for the brand that’s seen it open its first international division in Dallas, Texas and seen several of its products gaining listings in national UK convenience and grocery retail. This has also resulted in recently being nominated as a finalist in The Grocer Gold Awards SME Brand of the Year category.
Body FUEL is one of several new products in the brand's healthy snacking and convenience range, including Protein Crunch, its HFSS-compliant protein bar, energy drinks and on-the-go functional foods.
Speaking on their exclusive partnership, National Account Controller Dan Warburton said: “As a new brand in this category, we knew the importance of amplifying our message to a broader audience. Working with a brand as iconic as Swizzels and being trusted to authentically represent their famous flavours has enabled us to do this.
“We knew the partnership would only work if the flavour was a genuine re-creation of Drumstick Lollies and Squashies, which have been a beloved treat among consumers for generations, so perfecting the taste that millions know so well was essential.
We worked closely with Swizzels to turn their one-of-a-kind flavour into a drink, and we're delighted with the result – extremely nostalgic! The feedback we've received so far has been incredibly positive and we can’t wait for more consumers to get their hands on Body FUEL™ Drumstick to see for themselves.”
Image: Applied Nutrition
UK snack brand Made for Drink has teamed up with Gentleman’s Relish maker Patum Peperium and English Heritage to produce a new crisp flavour.
Gentleman’s Relish is blend of butter, anchovies (60%), herbs and spices traditionally spread on toast. Made for Drink Dan Featherstone said the umami flavour made for a perfect potato crisp. He said: “We’ve long craved creating an unapologetic crisp that packs a real punch so jumped at the chance to work with such a noble flavour that to this day retains a devoted following within a number of the UK’s more discerning food aisles, delis and food halls. Made for Drink has an ongoing responsibility to unearth hidden foodie gems and take them to a wider, food appreciative audience.”
A Gentleman’s Relish spokesperson added: “We are extremely proud to be collaborating with the Made for Drink and English Heritage. It is an ideal partnership that celebrates our shared passion for flavour and product quality. Together, we believe we have created the perfect crisp, which is packed full of flavour… Prepare yourself for a snack adventure like no other, where flavour takes centre stage, and every bite is a sensory revelation.”
Gentleman’s Relish is available in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Booth’s, Ocado, and Independent Farm Shops and Delis nationwide. Available in 42.5g (£2.00 RRP) & 71g (£3.00 RRP). Available in 150g (£2.75) & 40g bags (£1.35).
Image: Made for Drink
The husband-and-wife team behind the brand said the name is new but Freja ‘will still use the same recipes and natural ingredients, all sustainably sourced and made in the Nordics – the inspiration for their Scandi attitude to life’.
Jessica Higgins said: “Having launched Freja during lockdown back in 2020, we’re incredibly proud of our journey so far. We wanted a 100% natural broth that was ambient, flavourful, nutritionally packed and responsibly sourced. We’ve delivered that with Take Stock. As we enter our next stage of growth, we’ve taken the opportunity to rebrand. We are proud of our Nordic roots, and we want a brand which reflects that and fully embraces our Scandinavian provenance. We’re still using the same delicious recipes and natural ingredients just with a new name and look.
"We also want to move away from any confusion between stock and broth. We make bone broths that are packed full of natural flavour and essential nutrients which you simply can’t get from a stock cube. Our current name doesn’t make that clear so it made sense to change it to Freja, which better reflects what we’re about. We have big plans to expand the brand internationally and as Freja we’re confident it will be a success.”
Image: Freja
Magnesium-enriched functional water, OHMG has signed an agreement with Waitrose to launch its new 4-pack format in stores across the country. As part of Waitrose’s functional drinks trial, OHMG will be stocked online and in selected stores from next week, across London and the South East & West, as well as locations in the North including York and Willerby. Consumers will be able to pick up OHMG’s newly launched variety 4-pack as well as it’s single Raspberry & Lemon Balm, and Blackcurrant & Vitamin C SKUs.
OHMG Magnesium is a canned sparkling water that contains nearly 20% of the recommended daily allowance of magnesium and provides a fun and alternative way to top up magnesium levels.
Matt Blake, Partner & Buyer, Soft Drinks at Waitrose said: “We're really excited to have OHMG onboard as part of our functional soft drinks trial - with their Magnesium Water fitting perfectly into this category, and we’re excited to see how the range takes off, along with others that have signed up, over the coming months.”
The zero-sugar, sweetener-free, zero-calorie beverage is made with sparkling spring water, naturally infused with 3 types of bioavailable magnesium and functional botanicals, that helps to reduce tiredness and fatigue and contribute to normal psychological function.
Stuart Walsh, Co-Founder of OHMG said: “Consumers are becoming much more health focused in their choices and are looking for products that give them something extra. We’re seeing strong demand for products that support immunity, stress, relaxation and sleep, all of which OHMG supports, so we’re really excited to be launching our 4-Pack format with Waitrose.”
Image: OHMG
Launched in 2012 by founders and friends - Florian Falk, Ole Strohsneider and Bela Seebah – Just Spices offer over 100 spice blends. Just Spices tasty varieties have only been available online in the UK… until now.
After being acquired by Kraft Heinz in 2022, the brand is set to shake up – or spice up – UK supermarkets this summer, with eight of its best-selling spice blends now available to buy from Waitrose stores nationwide.
With recent research finding that 60% of under 34 year olds like to experiment with new cooking trends and ingredients, Just Spices’ delicious seasonings, toppings and allrounder spices, offer tasty inspiration to the keen home cook.
The eight new SKUs at Waitrose include:
- Avocado Topping (60g);
- Salad Topping (35g);
- Chicken Seasoning (79g);
- Vegetable Allrounder (75g);
- Egg Topping (55g);
- Salmon Seasoning (50g);
- Pasta Allrounder (45g);
- Roast Potato Seasoning (72g).
Each of the blends are made from 100% natural ingredients, are vegan friendly and also sugar free. Speaking of the supermarket launch, Kraft Heinz New Ventures Head of Growth Platform, Maria Lorenzi said: “Innovation in the seasonings and spices category has been limited in recent years, not catering to some of the most recent cuisine and dish trends. By offering complete spice blends, inspired by real people from around the world, Just Spices takes away all the guesswork of cooking, allowing consumers to come up with new meal ideas and add flavour in no time, made from high quality natural ingredients.
“The category is ready to be disrupted, especially with some of the trendiest spice blends in the market and we can’t wait to see Just Spices on supermarket shelves, right where it belongs. Trust us when we say you won’t be hiding your spices in the cupboard anymore.”
Having already taken over the market becoming a household name in its native Germany, Just Spices has also seen phenomenal success internationally in Spain, Austria and Switzerland, with the brand now setting their sights on expanding in the UK and US.
This launch is part of Kraft Heinz’s larger transformation to bring insight-driven innovation to consumers faster than ever before and grow its taste elevation platform around the world.
The New Ventures team screen different cultures and trends in search of new flavours to bring to consumers. Other recent launches from the New Ventures Division include Heinz’s first ever pasta sauce range in the UK, which recently included a collaboration to launch Heinz X Absolut Tomato Vodka Pasta Sauce. Other initiatives include a set of Korean and Japanese meal kits with ingredients under the brand SOSU, and a collection of avocado hot sauces under the brand Kumana.
The new Just Spices SKUs are available now at Waitrose stores nationwide, with more listings to come in Sainsbury’s and on Ocado during summer 2023. RRP: £3.99 each.
Image: Just Spices
Vegan wine brand Madame F in collaboration with LGBTQ+ charity Queer Britain is launching its first Prosecco, initially rolling out to Sainsbury’s (11% ABV, £12 per bottle), in time for June’s Pride month and summer picnicking.
The Madame F Prosecco DOC Treviso Extra Dry is comprised of 90% Glera and 10% Chardonnay grapes, offering the perfect combination of a quality sparkling and an easy drinking wine; ideal as an aperitif and perfect with fresh cheese and fish dishes. The colour is pale straw yellow, the bouquet has an aromatic fragrance, reminiscent of freshly cut apples. The taste is slightly sweet and very well balanced.
Georgina Haughton, Head of Wine Buying at Sainsbury’s said: “Sainsbury’s is committed to being a truly inclusive retailer where all our colleagues can be themselves and our customers feel welcome to shop with us. The Madame F brand fully celebrates these values and ahead of Pride month in June, the light and fresh rosé has been an excellent addition to add to our wine range and the addition of Madame F’s summer-ready extra dry Prosecco is something we will raise a toast to.”
Image: Madame F
UK meat-free brand Quorn is bringing back its iconic trio of puppets to help retailers drive seasonal summer sales of its vegan Deli range.
The ‘So Tasty! Why Choose The Alternative?’ campaign will run from 19th June running across Radio, VOD, digital and social channels, reaching millions of consumers nationwide.
Gill Riley, Marketing Director at Quorn Foods UK, said: “Sandwiches remain a staple of British lunchtimes. The nation spends around £8bn on sandwiches each year, so there is a huge opportunity to encourage shoppers into making more sustainable choices around these occasions. “Quorn is on a mission to get more people eating delicious meat free food, for the health of the planet.
One of the best ways we can do that is by building connections with flexitarians who are making a conscious decision to reduce their meat intake, but don’t want to lose out on the taste and texture they know and love from deli meat. We know our Deli range is the perfect solution, making an easy and delicious swap for consumers and another step towards helping the planet.
“Our fun trio of puppets landed an engaging and memorable campaign that changed perceptions on taste and quality, which importantly helped drive sales for retailers. So we just had to bring them back again this year.”
Last year’s launch of the ‘So Tasty!’ campaign, n won accolades such as The Grocer’s Top Campaign for Deli in 2022 and brought new shoppers coming into the category, Quorn claimed. Quorn’s vegan Deli range includes Quorn Yorkshire Ham, Roast Beef, Finely Sliced Ham and Roast Chicken Style Slices (RRP £3), available in Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose.
“We know they’re a hit with shoppers and that’s largely down to taste and texture. We have tested these ham and beef products against their meat equivalent where they matched on a number of metrics, including flavour, so there really is no need to choose the alternative,” added Riley.
Image: Quorn
