This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and Quaker Oats all unveil packaging redesigns, and Beyond Meat expands to Romania.
Image Source: D-Keine/Getty Images
This week in our NPD Trend Tracker, we have new products from Baileys, which is releasing a nut mix for the Christmas period, and Brixton Brewery, which has teamed up with ManiLife to create a peanut stout. Furthermore, Freedom Brewery, Milliways and Quaker Oats all unveil packaging redesigns, and Beyond Meat expands to Romania.
Image Source: D-Keine/Getty Images
UK peanut butter brand ManiLife has teamed up with Brixton Brewery to create Nuts + Bolts, a deep roast peanut stout.
The drink, whose name refers to peanuts (nuts) and the ‘bolts’ of Brixton Brewery’s branding, was developed by Brixton brewer Martin Wollerstam, who also designed the can. The brand’s imagery focuses on the drink’s imagined twin production processes – peanuts becoming peanut butter and barley becoming beer – before fusing into the Nuts + Bolts drink. The drink, which is a limited edition, comes in at 5% ABV.
“There are already a few peanut brews on the market,” said Brixton Brewery co-founder Jez Galaun, “so we really wanted to create something unique and different with this limited-edition stout. The guys at ManiLife are real taste masters which really sets this one apart from the rest. We went through lots of trials with the recipe but have landed on a batch that we’re super proud of. It’s malty, smooth and has that distinctive peanut flavoured finish that we know people will recognise and love.”
“Quality and great taste have always been paramount for us,” added ManiLife Founder Stu Macdonald, “and the creation of this stout was no exception. We’re used to uniting people around the dinner table through a shared love of great food and flavour and can’t wait to do the same with this! ManiLife has been taking inspiration from traditionally craft categories since our inception so to work in beer, let alone with the absolute visionaries at Brixton Brewery, was a real honour!’
Nuts + Bolts is available from Brixton Brewery’s tap room, or from its online shop, in 330ml cans at an RRP of £2.75.
Image Source: Brixton Brewery
US plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat will now be available in Romania, thanks to a distribution deal with Romanian company Nordic Food, part of the Nordic Group.
From this month, products from Beyond Meat, which include Beyond Sausage, Beyond Burger, Beyond Meatballs and Beyond Mince, will be available in supermarkets, hypermarkets, cash and carry, discount stores, online retail, restaurants and burger trucks across Romania.
"We are honoured to announce that the Beyond Meat brand has joined our company's portfolio, defined by responsibility, innovation, and adaptability,” said Dan Nistor, CEO of Nordic Group.
“Another core value of our company is optimism, and thus we embark on this product range, which we will expand next year with the Beyond Chicken Style range, firmly believing that Beyond Meat will contribute to diversifying consumption behaviour in Romania. The plant-based products from this brand naturally complement our brand promise – 'Joy at Every Meal' – through their taste and culinary experience. Romanians should know that Beyond Meat products offer multiple benefits, both for health and the environment."
"We are delighted to expand our offerings into the European market and, through our partnership with Nordic Foods, bring Beyond Meat products to Romania,” said Ben van Looij, Sales Director Retail EMEA at Beyond Meat.
“Romania is one of the countries where the plant-based product category is in its early stages, but the demand for such products is growing. We are proud to offer these plant-based products to carnivores, flexitarians, vegetarians, and vegans in Romania, allowing an increasing number of consumers to choose better products for our planet."
Image Source: Beyond Meat
UK porridge manufacturer Quaker Oats has made the switch to paper packaging, which the company predicts will reduce its virgin plastic use by 200 tonnes per year.
The change marks the brand’s aim for convenience for its consumers. While Quaker Oats packaging had already been recyclable, such recycling necessitated separating the card from the paper. Now, the packaging is completely paper, meaning all consumers need to do is rinse one piece of packaging.
Since Quaker Oats represents 47% of the UK’s porridge oats market, it will make a significant impact on reducing virgin plastics in porridge packaging countrywide. The change comes after other PepsiCo brands, such as Walkers, made the switch to paper packaging for its Baked range.
"Quaker Oats was one of the first branded porridge pots on the market, so we’re proud to also be leading in packaging innovation and plastic reduction,” said Gareth Callan, Sustainable Packaging Lead at PepsiCo UK and Ireland.
“We know convenience is a key factor in driving recycling rates, which is another important reason for launching this new packaging, and we’re pleased to be making it as easy as possible for Quaker fans to recycle their pots, wherever they are.”
Image Source: Quaker Oats
Milliways, the plant-based plastic-free chewing gum brand, has announced a revamp in both its recipe and its packaging design.
The new recipe means that the gum’s flavours will last longer and be more intense. These flavours include Peppermint, Mighty Mint, Bubblemint and Watermelon flavours.
The new packaging, taking inspiration from one created especially for sandwich chain Pret A Manger, has also been informed by customer feedback, and is fully recyclable and biodegradable, reflecting a push towards sustainability.
The brand, which only contains seven plant-based ingredients, earlier this year received a £3mn injection of funding and is using it to push ahead with R&D.
“The gum category has been starved of innovation and sustainable practices for decades, and this comes at the expense of consumers who want something new and exciting – better ingredients, unique flavours, sustainable materials,” said Milliways’ Founder and CEO Tom Raviv.
“That’s why we started Milliways – it’s embedded in the DNA of our brand. We constantly speak to consumers to understand what they’re looking for and how we can improve, and we build this into our product development processes. Launching our improved recipe and new pack design is testament to our continuous efforts and pursuit towards perfection.”
Image Source: Milliways
Mmmmmmm creamy! Irish cream liqueur brand Baileys has released a chocolate nut mix for the Christmas period, featuring chocolate coated almonds combined with caramelized hazelnuts, more almonds, cashews and peanuts, with a hint of Baileys, alongside salted caramel popcorn. It all comes in a resealable and recyclable bag, which aims to reduce plastic in Baileys packaging.
Data shows that sales of Baileys products show an uptick in sales of 35% in the 12-week period before Christmas, and this product supports this demand.
“We are proud to launch the Baileys Chocolate Nut Mix ahead of the festive period,” said Alison Robson, Baileys Chocolate’s Marketing Manager.
“Baileys is synonymous with Christmas and is a popular adult treat at that time of year. We have seen indulgent nut mixes increase in popularity at Christmas and adding a touch of Baileys to the mix will attract new shoppers and give loyal fans an exciting new way to enjoy the indulgence of Baileys chocolate.”
The product will be available from Tesco at an RRP of £3.50.
Image Source: Baileys
After selling 4.4mn pints in 2023 so far, UK craft beer brewer Freedom Brewery has unveiled new designs for its range of beers, which includes helles, lager, pilsner, and New Zealand pale ale.
The new designs, whilst aiming to be vibrant and modern, retain the brand’s six-point ‘freedom star’, Freedom’s icon, which is says represents ‘quality, heritage and tradition.’
“We have been the experts and pioneers of British craft lager since 1995, so we wanted a bold new design to reflect our position in the market,” said Freedom Brewery’s Managing Director Matthew Wilson.
“It feels very exciting to be rolling out a new brand identity which will support our growth and reflect the high quality, natural and sustainable craft beer we produce – no compromise, no shortcuts, no gimmicks.”
Image Source: Freedom Brewery
