In this week’s NPD trend tracker, we have a range of new plant-based products, a new look for a dairy-free drinks range, and a jam’s partnership with Children in Need.
Image Source: Eoneren/Getty Images
In this week’s NPD trend tracker, we have a range of new plant-based products, a new look for a dairy-free drinks range, and a jam’s partnership with Children in Need.
Image Source: Eoneren/Getty Images
Plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat launched its new Beyond Steak in the UK on Wednesday at the Casual Dining Innovation Challenge 2023, with the product due to be available to consumers and chefs in October.
The product, made with fava bean and wheat, contains 21g of protein and 170 calories per serving. It contains a mere 1g of saturated fat per serving as well, with no cholesterol.
Beyond Steak won GOLD at the Casual Dining Innovation Challenge, being praised by judges for sustainability, low saturated fat and high protein. This follows on from the product’s recognition in the US’s TIME magazine as one of 2022’s best inventions.
“We’re delighted to be introducing the delicious Beyond Steak to the UK,” said Steve Parsons, UK & I Foodservice Manager at Beyond Meat.
“Beyond Steak has already convinced the expert innovation jury at the Casual Dining Show 2023, receiving the Gold Award for creating a product which delivers the taste and texture of sliced steak in a way that is better for you and the planet.”
Image Source: Beyond Meat
The Mexican restaurant chain Trejo’s Tacos, run by actor Danny Trejo, will launch in the UK, with its first site opening up in Notting Hill’s Portobello Road in London later this year. The new restaurant will only be the first of a planned Europe-wide rollout.
The London location is spearheaded by restaurateur Jerome Armit and film producer and financier Sean O’Kelly. With 3,000 sq’ ft of space, the two-storey restaurant will be able to host 70 covers indoors, and 30 outside on its terrace.
Offering breakfast tacos in the morning and a second bar with a DJ for after dinner guests in the late evening, the restaurant will use fresh, clean and sustainably sourced ingredients and offer dishes catering to a range of diets, including gluten free, celiac friendly, vegan, paleo and pescetarian dishes.
“When we launched Trejo’s Tacos in LA, our aim was to serve a better version of Mexican food that won’t clog your arteries,” said Trejo himself.
“In Mexican cooking, recipes are handed down through generations, and that’s what inspired this whole concept: generations of my family’s recipes. We’ve taken out the stuff that isn’t healthy, without losing the great taste and flavour.
“When it comes to restaurants, everyone asks me: what’s my secret? Restaurants usually die within their first year. We’ve opened seven in four years. People come for the food, good service, and a feeling of community. People come back for the good food…and because they feel at home when they step back inside a Trejo’s Tacos. That’s all.
“I’m so ready to bring Trejo’s Tacos to London. I love the creativity that the city inspires, and I can’t think of a better place to launch internationally than with our friends in London. I’m excited that we found the perfect time and team to bring Trejo’s to its second home.”
Image Source: Trejo's Tacos
Kombucha brand Lo Bros will release two new flavours in the UK supermarket retailer Sainsbury’s on 4 October.
The first flavour, Raspberry & Blackcurrant, is already a strong success in the brand’s native Australia (being the country’s second biggest selling kombucha) and the brand predicts that it will replicate its success in the UK.
Meanwhile, the second flavour, Fruit Cash, a mix of mango, orange, apple, passionfruit, and raspberry, is a limited edition.
The drinks are made with a traditional fermentation process, turning sugars into millions of live cultures.
“Since we launched into the UK, we have loved seeing people switch from sugar laden drinks to our super healthy, super tasty kombucha,” said Lo Bros founder Didi Lo.
“We are so excited about these two new flavours which deliver both on taste and health credentials. We know these new flavours will be as big a hit as our existing range – can’t wait to hear what our existing and new customers make of them!”
The new flavours will be available in Sainsbury’s from 4 October with an RRP of £2
Image Source: Lo Bros
Health food brand Rude Health last week announced its range of dairy-free drinks will be rolling out from October with a new look.
The range, which includes coconut, almond, brown rice and oat, has been given a brighter, bolder look with the brand’s signature lips holding an even more prominent place on the packaging.
The packaging, which is 100% recyclable and made with 100% renewable materials, also includes illustrations due to customer demand, expressing clearly the personality of each ingredient in the range.
Created in partnership with design agency Irving, the chilled range is also moving to an Elopak format.
“We’re really excited to be rolling out our fresh new look,” said Rude Health’s head of marketing Sam Maguire.
“The pack is one of our most important touchpoints and something we’re best known for as a brand. Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, which is where this all began. We have listened to our current consumers as well as potential new shoppers, and are confident that the new design evolution will help people to better navigate the sub ranges, flavours and nutritional benefits.
“The aim was not to reinvent Rude Health, we wanted it to remain recognisable, keeping the essence of the original design whilst making sure we’re doing the best job of recruiting new shoppers. Irving, who designed the original drinks, have done an incredible job of bringing the lips to life and helping communicate our clear commitment to delicious, high quality ‘kitchen cupboard ingredients, drinks and food. We can’t wait to see it roll out next month”.
Image Source: Rude Health
Planted, the clean-label plant-based meat brand, will release its products in UK supermarket retailer Tesco’s from 3 October.
The plant-based meat brand’s existing products, Planted chicken lemon and herb and Planted kebab, will be available in 350 Tesco’s shops, as well as a brand new product, Planted duck hoisin. The product, Planted claims, is connected to 61% fewer CO2 emissions than its meat-based equivalent.
The product is built from a blend of sunflowers, peas and oats, fortified with B12 and contains carefully chosen clean ingredients.
The B-Corp certified company’s range includes dietary fibres and all essential amino acids, but is made with 0% additives.
“At Planted we’re bucking the trend of plant-based doomsters with a launch into a major retailer with a brand new packaging to boot,” said Rob Reames, VP of commercial in Europe.
“It’s a real moment for the business, particularly as we’ll also be launching our delicious hoisin duck which has been created due to high consumer demand.”
The products will be available at an RRP of £3.
Image Source: Planted
Reduced sugar jam brand Fearne & Rosie on Thursday released its Pudsey strawberry jam, as part of its partnership with BBC Children in Need, a charity initiative run by the UK’s public broadcaster the BBC. This also marks the first time Pudsey, the initiative’s mascot, has featured on FMCG goods in a retail setting.
Each jar is 70% fruit, with each one containing 31 strawberries, and has 40% less sugar than the average jar of strawberry jam. Furthermore, with each jar sold, 10p will go to support BBC Children in Need (there are also personalised editions that can be ordered from the Fearne & Rosie website, which cost £5 and of which £1 from each sale will go to BBC Children in Need).
“At a time when more and more families need help, partnering with BBC Children in Need is an opportunity to provide additional support for vulnerable children across the UK,” said Fearne & Rosie founder Rachel Kettlewell.
“Making a positive impact is at the heart of all that we do here at Fearne & Rosie, and I can’t wait to help make a difference.”
“We believe that every child should have the chance to thrive and that together we can change young lives,” added Claire Hoyle, Director of Income & Engagement, BBC Children in Need. “We’re thrilled to be working with Fearne & Rosie again, and are excited to see what we can achieve together.”
The jam will be available from Amazon, Ocado, Waitrose, select Morrisons stores, as well as via fearneandrosie.co.uk at an RRP of £3.20 per 320g jar.
Image Source: Fearne & Rosie
Seeing a gap in the medium pork pie market that it rushed to fill, pork pie brand Pork Farms is releasing a Hog Roast and Apple Medium Pork Pie.
The pie, which will be available for a limited time until the spring of next year, takes the traditional pork pie format and adds dried apple.
“As the UK’s No.1 pork pie brand, we’re always looking at how we can continue to innovate and offer consumers exciting new recipes that celebrate our heritage whilst appealing to modern tastes,” said Jason Manley, Board Director at Pork Farms.
“A lot of innovation in this part of the savoury pastry category is driven through mini and snack formats, so we spotted the perfect opportunity to offer a new flavoured medium pork pie inspired by the traditional British hog roast and apple.
“With events such as Bonfire Night, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve on the horizon, many shoppers will be looking to stock their baskets with food that they can share with friends and family. This new flavoured pork pie is the perfect go-to treat for these occasions, bringing together classic flavours in a larger, more shareable format.”
It will be available at an RRP of £2.50 from September 24th in Morrisons and from October in Asda, Tesco, and across convenience.
Image Source: Pork Farms
