What’s the latest in new product development? In chocolate, Ombar is rolling out a range specifically designed for impulse shopping, while WNWN Food Labs is launching cocoa-free takes on well-known classics. In plant-based, we see Juice Marbles secure a new listing for its marbled vegan steaks, while alt cheese brand Palace Culture prepares to reach more customers thanks to its acquisition by The Compleat Food Group. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/Henrik Sorensen
What’s the latest in new product development? In chocolate, Ombar is rolling out a range specifically designed for impulse shopping, while WNWN Food Labs is launching cocoa-free takes on well-known classics. In plant-based, we see Juice Marbles secure a new listing for its marbled vegan steaks, while alt cheese brand Palace Culture prepares to reach more customers thanks to its acquisition by The Compleat Food Group. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…
GettyImages/Henrik Sorensen
UK cocoa-free chocolate brand WNWN Food Labs is launching three new products direct-to-consumer, each one a different take on a well-known classic.
The difference is that WNWN (pronounced win-win), makes its chocolate without cocoa. Instead, the start-up’s ‘hero’ ingredients are barley and carob. Leaning on traditional fermentation techniques and ‘modern-day food science’, the company says carob can transform barley into a ‘mega chocolatey product’.
By avoiding using cocoa, which has been linked to deforestation, habitat destruction, and unfair labour practices, WNWN claims its products offer a sustainable alternative to mass-produced chocolate.
The three new products are Cadbury, Tony’s Chocolonely and Terry’s Chocolate Orange lookalikes. ‘Choc Nut’ includes hazelnut paste, ‘Choc Orange’ is made with orange and grapefruit, and ‘Vegan M.•k Choc’ is ‘not just a classic milk choc bar, but a classic vegan m•lk choc bar’.
“We’ve reimagined classic chocolate bars by giving them an ethical, sustainable, and cocoa-free twist,” said Ahrum Pak, WNWN CEO. “While they have a far smaller environmental impact, and they don’t rely on unfair labour practices like the originals they were inspired by, they are every bit as delicious. With these products we're showing the world how our cocoa-free chocolate can power the future of sustainable snacking.”
Each 48-gram bar has an RRP of £5, and a bundle of each bar for £15, beginning 1 November.
Image credit: WNWN Food Labs
PepsiCo-owned Walkers is rolling out new paper multipacks across its Walkers Baked range in the UK. Based on the average amount of Walkers Baked 6-pack multipacks produced in 2020-222, the company estimates the move will reduce its use of virgin plastic on outer packaging by 180 tonnes per year.
The paper outer back can be widely recycled in home recycling bins alongside other paper packaging, which is collected at kerbside.
The decision to roll out its paper multipacks comes after have received positive feedback from a trial at Tesco stores earlier this year. "We are constantly innovating new ways to remove virgin plastic in our packaging,” said Gareth Callan, Sustainable Packaging Lead at PepsiCo UK and Ireland. “It’s exciting to see our successful trial of this paper pack lead to a nationwide roll-out. At this scale, the new packaging will deliver a huge reduction in virgin plastic, while also helping to lower our carbon footprint.”
Image source: PepsiCo
Vegan chocolate brand Ombar is adding a new format to its portfolio: the Oat M’lk ‘countline’ bar. The range is specifically designed for impulse locations in stores.
The line is made up of two flavours – Hazelnut Brownie and Salted Caramel – and will launch into WHSmith travel sites from next month. Just like Ombar’s standard range, the vegan chocolate is made with British oats, making it ‘genuinely better for you and better for the planet’.
“We never stop creating, and are really excited to be launching our new ‘countline’ bar range,” said Ombar founder Richard Turner. “We’ve chosen to launch with the #1 best selling bar in our current range – Hazelnut Brownie, and the on-trend flavour favourite, Salted Caramel. We know that indulgence and hunger-fill are key purchase drivers at front of store for impulse offerings, which is why we’ve created this new impulse range made with multiple textures.
“The hope is that this new addition to our successful Oat M’lk range will help not only to drive trial amongst a new audience, but unlock new distribution opportunities in more mainstream impulse locations.”
The 42g Ombar ‘countline’ bar has an RRP of £1.75.
Image credit: Ombar
Plant-based cheese brand Palace Culture is expected to secure new retail listings in the UK following its acquisition by food manufacturer The Compleat Food Group. Palace Culture is currently stocked in independent shops and distributors including Whole Foods and Abel & Cole.
The alt cheese company was founded in 2018 by Mirko Parmigiani, who wanted to make plant-based cheeses for his dairy intolerant son. Since then, Palace Culture has won multiple Great Taste Awards, including for its Kimcheee and The Mouldy Goaty. Other dairy-free cheeses in the range include the Sacre Blue and Holy Smokes.
Now a member of The Compleat Food Group stable, Palace Culture joins other brands Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, unearthed, Wrights, and Vadasz. “Palace Culture was a natural choice to add to our portfolio of leading and distinctive brands that always bring something unique to the table, due to its high quality, exciting product offering and potential for growth,” said Yvonne Adam, Chief Marketing Officer at The Compleat Food Group.
“All of this supports our wider strategy and ambition to become the UK’s No. 1 chilled prepared food company.”
From Parmigiani’s perspective, he is looking forward to using The Compleat Food Group’s expertise to continue to innovate and introduce ‘even more people’ to the world of plant-based vegan cheeses.
Image credit: The Compleat Food Company
Plant-based whole cuts brand Juicy Marbles has secured a new listing in Whole Foods in the UK. The company’s marbled plant-based steaks will be sold in two-packs for £10.99 in every store from this month.
The offering has already enjoyed success at Waitrose, and also sells direct-to-consumer. But the company sees selling into Whole Foods ‘another big step toward making prime plant meats a retail normality’.
“When reviewing our plant-based protein category there was a gap for a premium plant-based cut,” said Daniel Gill, Senior Local Forager at Whole Foods UK. “When trying Juicy Marbles’ steaks at home for the first time, I prepared it similarly to how I would a regular steak and as a sceptic of meat alternatives I was astounded. It develops a rich golden brown crust which imparts a nice smokey, savoury, umami flavour. It will be a staple at future dinner parties as the vegan option.”
Image credit: Juicy Marbles
Functional mushroom brand Dirtea has secured a listing at Ocado. From this month, the company’s Mushroom Coffee Super Blend and three of its pure mushroom powders – Chaga, Reishi and Lion’s Mane – will be available via the online supermarket.
The range is extracted from the fruiting body of the mushroom to offer ‘transformative health and wellbeing benefits’ to consumers.
“Since launching in 2021, we’ve been on a mission to showcase the power of functional mushrooms to health-conscious consumers and working with an industry leader like Ocado will help to make our iconic range even more accessible,” said Dirtea co-founder Andrew Salter.
“As a brand we are passionate about empowering people to take control of their health and we look forward to enabling Ocado customers to discover the tangible benefits the Dirtea range offers, as well as giving our existing customer base another leading retailer to purchase from.”
From Ocado’s perspective, the online retailer said with the ‘continuing rise’ of the functional mushrooms trend, it ‘only felt right’ to get Dirtea on board. “We know it is a brand our customers have been asking for and are thrilled that both our customers and existing Dirtea customers can now shop the range on our site.”
Image credit: Dirtea
