The real deal
Eat Real has broaden its appeal to flavour explorers with the addition of Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar to its hummus chip range.The leading UK free from brand – a pioneer in the plant-based snacking movement – is pushing to accelerate its growth with its bold flavours and better-for-you credentials. As such, its new variant is vegan and contains 30% less fat than regular potato chips. It is also free from gluten, artificial colours, flavours and ingredients. It joins other hero flavours in the range – like Tomato & Basil, Salted and Sour Cream & Chive – five of which are HFSS compliant, thanks to a reduction of their salt content by more than 50%.The launch coincides with Eat Real’s rebrand with new pack designs across its portfolio, which includes lentil chips, quinoa chips and veggie straws, among others.“Eat Real has become pioneers in better-for-you thanks to its unusual ingredients layered with bold, unexpected flavours inspired by the combinations you find in your own cooking,” said marketing director Helen Pomphrey.“We’ve found that Eat Real’s flavours are a key driver to consumer purchase, as more people opt for delicious, yet healthier alternatives.” Eat Real’s new packs are rolling out across the UK, in Sainsbury’s from September and other retailers including Tesco from October, in grab bags (45g) for an RRP of £1.20 and sharing bags (135g) for £2.00.Seasonal bestsellers
Pladis has unveiled its 2022 Christmas ranges from Jacob’s and Carr’s, which includes returning favourites and non-HFSS (high in fat, sugar and salt) treats.Jacob’s has refreshed its line-up of ever-popular Christmas Caddies (£2.79), with 50% HFSS-compliant. This year, Jacob’s Mini Cheddars Original and Treeselets are joined by two lighter options – Mini Cheddars Nibblies Cheddar & Smoked Paprika – which contain 30% less fat. Jacob’s Mini Twiglets is also returning with a non-HFSS recipe, which is both 60% lower in salt and high in fibre.Jacob’s Festive Selection (300g £3.25; 450g £4.40; 900g £7) dials up its longstanding baking heritage and expertise. Ready for topping, dipping, or sandwiching – the selection includes big sellers like the signature Cream Cracker.Jacob’s Heritage Tin (£6) taps into the trend towards togetherness with a seasonal sharing selection of crackers – including Jacob’s Cream Crackers and Jacob’s Digestives.Also returning is Carr’s Melts Warm Chilli (£1.69), crisp wheaten biscuits that embody Carr’s signature light, melting texture with a gentle heat.Carr’s Melts Selection Pack (£5) includes a trio of treats, namely Melts Original, Melts Cheese and Warm Chilli, great for the post-dinner cheeseboard.Carr’s Selection (200 £3; 400g £4.50) offers a variety of nine savoury biscuits and crackers.“As always, we’ve focused heavily on offering shoppers quality and choice with our 2022 savoury Christmas range,” said Cassie French, marketing director, Seasonal & Cake.“We’ve no doubt our portfolio of cracker selection boxes – whether family favourites from Jacob’s, or our extra special offerings from Carr’s – will be particularly popular this year. As Brits tuck into cheese boards and gather together with friends and family in larger groups, products which are perfectly placed for sharing will perform well.” The Jacob’s and Carr’s Christmas products are rolling out various UK grocery retailers – including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Amazon and Ocado – as well as discounters.Pizza perfect
Schwan’s Company has launched the Hearth & Fire pizza line: pre-fired frozen pizzas that delivers pizzeria-quality craftmanship.Hearth & Fire begins with a minimum 20 hour-fermented dough (a process that took three years to perfect) that is flame-fired at 1,000°F (537°C) to add crunch and char to the crust. Every pizza is then finished with a selection of artisan toppings and vacuum-packed to ensure the craft quality is preserved from freezer to oven to table.There are four variants in the line: The Margherita (mozz, basil, red sauce and a dash of olive oil); The Pepperoni (pepperoni, mozz, spicy red sauce and a parmesan herb sprinkle); The Bianca (mozz, Fontina, cheddar, goat cheese, asiago, a parmesan garlic cream sauce and oregano); and The Mushroom (gouda, portabella mushrooms, caramelised onions, roasted shiitake and cremini mushrooms, goat cheese, asiago and thyme).Available at Kroger stores and online in select US states for an RRP of $11.99-$12.99.Biscuit perfection
Mason Dixie Foods has recently revamped its e-comm platform so consumers will have easier access to its best-selling baked goods.Demand for its clean label Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich continues to grow, completely selling out of Whole Foods each week. As such, the brand has made the scratch-made sandwiches available online – with free shipping – so fans won’t miss out.The buttermilk sandwiches are made with real ingredients like nitrate-free sausage and 100% egg, and is available in two options: 8 single-serve sandwiches or 12 sandwiches that come in a 2-pack packaging.Mason Dixie is also offering 15% off the buttermilk sandwiches, which use only real ingredients like nitrate-free sausage and 100% real egg, with code BACKTOSCHOOL.Cereal snacker
General Mills has continued to expand its bestselling cereals into the snacking aisle.Trix Popcorn joins Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cocoa Puffs in General Mills’ line-up of indulgent popcorns, as a perfectly balanced sweet and salty snack.Featuring a Trix-flavoured fruity glaze, along with bits of the cereal itself, the popcorn offers a nostalgic crunchy bite ideal for any snacking occasion.Trix Popcorn is available at Sam’s Club for an RRP of $6.48 for a 20oz bag, while a 7oz pack will be available at Walmart stores for $3.69 from October.Scotland at its finest
Walker’s is exclusively unveiling its newly curated four-strong Premium Festive Travel Retail Range, decked out in seasonal World of Walker’s livery, at the TFWA World Exhibition and Conference (2-6 October in Cannes, France).The range consists of a 200g Christmas Spiced Shortbread Tube, a 200g Cranberry and Clementine Shortbread Tube, a 460g All Butter Festive Shortbread Assortment Gift Box and a Premium Six Mince Pies Gift Box.Reflecting the brands recent rebrand, the World of Walker’s sports playful illustrations of iconic global landmarks, along with a fresh take on the brand’s Scottish heritage. It has been reimagined for today’s traveller, and highlights its focus across sustainability and digitisation, including the first fully recyclable paper Sharing Bags and Gifting Tubes.“This year has seen several milestones for Walker’s across global travel retail as we continue to celebrate our heritage and expertise,” said MD Nicky Walker.“We remain committed to strengthening the opportunities across premium travel retail and bringing our shortbread to consumers and customers around the world. We are excited to be coming back to Cannes to showcase the ‘World of Walker’s’ and our products to both long established and new customers”. Visitors will be treated to an immersive experience for all the senses with freshly warmed samples, enabling them to taste Scotland at its finest first hand.Four times winner of the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement, Walker’s exports its distinctively packaged luxury shortbreads, biscuits, cakes and oatcakes to over 100 countries worldwide. In 2017, Walker’s Shortbread was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment from Her Majesty the Queen for the supply of shortbread to the Royal Household, following a similar granting by the Queen and Queen Mother in 2002 for oatcakes.All Walker’s products are free from artificial colours, flavourings and preservatives. They are certified Kosher (OUD) and are suitable for vegetarians.Spook-tacular
This Halloween, Post Consumer Brands is rolling out Limited edition Fruity Pebbles cereal.The cereal will sport the same fruity taste that brand loyalists love, but with a mixture of orange and purple flakes to join in on the fall festivities. The box also features Fred Flintstone and the cereal’s namesake character, Pebbles, dressed in costumes for the holiday.The Limited-Edition Fruity Pebbles cereal will be available at retailers across the US in 10oz packs, along with an 18.5oz pack for die-hard fans.Ready or not…
… limited time RXBar flavours are coming in hot.Chocolate Cinnamon Brownie will be joined by three seasonal favourites – Pumpkin Spice, Gingerbread and Pecan – available until the end of the year.Each is inspired by nostalgia – like the smell of warm pecan pie, cinnamon and spice – but made with wholesome ingredients for a better-for-you treat.The trio also boast the brand’s simple ingredient list – egg whites (punching in 12g of protein), dates (to bind), nuts (texture) and 0g added sugar.“These bars are anything but basic, and we hope each nostalgic flavour helps eliminate any added stress or drama the season might bring along,” said senior associate brand manager Carly Smith.These are accompanied by limited time Chocolate Cinnamon Brownie, packed with whole almonds, chocolate chunks and cinnamon, a nod to homemade brownies straight from the oven.The bars are available online and in selected retail stores across the US for an RRP of $2.79/bar, $9.99/4-pack and $25.99/12-pack. Additionally, new bite-sized RXBar Pumpkin Spice and Chocolate Sea Salt Minis will be available exclusively at Target beginning mid-August.Let’s twist again
Gourmand Pastries is hopping onto the vegan trend, getting into a twist and showcasing all-butter-tasting croissants that are actually made from a butter/marg blend at SIAL Paris 2022 (15-19 October).Vegan is one of the biggest trends of the last few years. That’s not new news, but what is, is that Gourmand Pastries – which specialises in frozen viennoiserie for the B2B sector – is joining the movement. Its vegan viennoiserie range comprises croissants, pains au chocolate, praliné croissants and maple pecan plaits. The range is made from 100% plant-based ingredients, including certified sustainable palm oil (RSPO).Getting into a twist, but doing it in style, the Pretzel Triangle by Gourmand Pastries uses a variety of pastries to create a treat somewhere between a croissant and a pretzel. A crisp start is followed by soft texture and slightly salty tones. This new-fangled vennoiserie is perfect on its own, or as a richly filled sandwich-carrier.Finally, the Belgian bakery manufacturer is showcasing Superblend, a clean label combo of butter and margarine, which flawlessly matches the buttery flavour of a real butter croissant. .
Mississippi distillery, Cathead Distillery, has revealed a new line of RTD sparkling vodka sodas, Cathead Sparkling Sunsetters.Inspired by ‘the magic of long summer evenings that fade into warm summer nights’, the Sunsetters variety pack features an assortment of four flavors at 5% ABV and with 97 calories per 12 oz serving: Raspberry, Mango, Ginger Pineapple, and Cucumber Mint.An extension of Cathead Distillery’s original line of canned sparkling vodka sodas—which launched in spring 2021—Cathead Sparkling Sunsetters adds to the existing available flavors of Cranberry, Limeade, Satsuma Mandarin, Strawberry Lemonade, and Grapefruit, all made with the brand’s flagship spirit, Cathead Vodka.Cathead Sparkling Sunsetters’ variety 8-packs are now available in select retailers across five states, including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.Horlicks fortified shakes
British brand Horlicks has launched its latest range, Horlicks Healthy: a range of four specifically formulated wellness boosting shakes.Created with a blend of carefully selected vitamins, minerals and functional ingredients, alongside 15-20g protein per serving, Horlicks Healthy is described as ideal for a wide range of venues from coffee shops and universities, through to gyms and hotel bedrooms. A drink is created by adding two heaped scoops to 300ml semi-skimmed milk.Horlicks Healthy Body ‘helps customers feel stronger with more vitality, with a blend of Vitamins D, Calcium and Zinc contributing to bone function for healthier, stronger bones. Vitamin D also contributes to normal muscle function. Vitamins B12, B6 and C contribute to energy-yielding metabolism help customers stay active and feel energetic making it ideal for sports and leisure venues.’Horlicks Healthy Gut is ‘specially formulated with Vitamins B12, B6, C and D to contribute to the normal function of the immune system. With added Prebiotics and Glutamine helping customers to get the most from their diet and support digestion, this blend is suited to healthcare settings, or for after meals.’Horlicks Healthy Mind ‘helps customers to think and feel at their best. Horlicks Healthy has Vitamins B12, B6 and C contributing to normal psychological function, and Zinc for normal cognitive function. With Matcha Green Tea and Bacopa Monneri (Medicinal Herbs) supporting your focus and memory, Healthy Mind will appeal to university students in particular.’Horlicks Healthy Sleep ‘is specially formulated to contain Vitamins B12, B6 and C known to reduce tiredness and fatigue. With Chamomile and Valerian supporting a calmer more, relaxing sleep, this blend is an ideal fit for spas, hotels, care homes and hospitals.’Coffee super concentrates
Pop & Bottle, a female-founded coffee company known for premium, organic, dairy-free oat and almond milk lattes, is expanding its offerings with a line of Super Concentrates.The three products – classic cold brew, vanilla cold brew and mocha cold brew – are available exclusively at Walmart stores and online.“Made with specialty grade, direct trade Arabica beans sourced from Central America, this deliciously smooth coffee concentrate requires just one tablespoon to make any favorite coffee beverage at home with ease—no French press, drip machine or espresso maker needed,” explains the LA-based brand, which was founded in 2015.“Pop & Bottle’s proprietary, sustainable extraction process yields 90% of the coffee extracted from each bean with minimal waste and significantly reduced oxidation, resulting in an ultra smooth, robust-flavored, 15x strength liquid coffee concentrate.”Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Goose Island has launched its 2022 Bourbon County Stout lineup: celebrating the 30th year of the first bourbon barrel-aged beer.The first Bourbon County Stout was created in 1992 between Goose Island brewmaster Gregory Hall and Jim Beam’s Booker Noe.“Today, Bourbon County Stout is not only a local favorite but globally known for setting the standard of barrel-aged stouts with continued innovation. This year, we commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the extraordinary Bourbon County Stout history with a lineup sure to excite new and diehard fans alike,” says the brewery.The seven variants this year are:
Fever-Tree has introduced Distillers Cola in Australia: a mixer made of Caribbean kola nuts, Tahitian Limes and a selection of distilled botanicals and spices. “For the past decade gin has had great tonic to mix with, but whisky and rum have been patiently waiting for a premium cola to complement rather than hide their unique flavor profiles,” says the brand.”Now, with Aussies enjoying whisky with a mixer at the same rate as gin, Fever-Tree is set to revolutionize Whisky and Cola just as they have done with Gin and Tonic.”Where leading cola brands use their strong flavor profiles to mask the flavor of spirits, Distillers Cola has been designed to complement and elevate the flavor of whiskies from the finest distilleries around the world.”Fever-Tree Distillers Cola will be available at the end of August in 4 x 200mL packs from Dan Murphy’s nationally for RRP $9.49.Black Tower Club Edition
German wine brand Black Tower has launched its new premium Club Edition range in the UK.The newly-crafted wines, which are 100% vegan, will be presented in a bespoke cut-glass bottle.Family-owned winery Reh Kendermann felt it was the right time to add a premium tier to their popular range. “Premiumization has been a key trend over the last two years: and although this might be impacted by the ‘Cost of Living’ crisis, history has shown the wine category is resilient in times of economic torment. More than ever, shoppers will be in need of mini luxuries and will want to cheer themselves and their loved ones up,” says the brand.The range comes in an off-dry, German Riesling, as well as a Provence style, pale Pinot Noir Rosé.This launch coincides with the transfer of all of the Black Tower business into North South Wines following Reh Kendermann becoming a shareholder in April 2020.The wines will initially launch into Wholesale Cash & Carry Impulse and Online channels and are available exclusively through North South Wines.Cold-pressed juiceBritvic’s plant-based drink brand Plenish has just launched the latest addition to its range of cold-pressed juices and cleanses, called Rise.“Packed with 100% organic fruit and vegetables, Rise combines the natural deliciousness of juicy pineapple and pear with spinach, cucumber and a zing of lime for a perfectly sweet and uplifting taste,” says Britvic.“An easy introduction to first time green juice drinkers, as well as a perfectly nutritious addition to the day – with naturally occurring vitamin C, A and folic acid to support the immune system and energy release. All the goodness you need, and nothing you don’t (no artificial ingredients, no flavorings, no added sugars – no need).”UK soft drink manufacturer Britvic acquired Plenish in 2021, strengthening its presence in the plant-based sector. .
What motivates consumers to pay more for clean labels? Caution and health / Pic: GettyImages-Iam AnupongClean label resonates in categories with health halo and risk perceptionMarket Research Future analysts point out that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a ‘massive impact’ on the worldwide market for clean label ingredients. The researchers suggest clean label conversion is underpinned by two consumer drivers: caution about any negative health impact of food ingredients and demand for healthy options.“The buying habits of the consumers have changed notably, with them being more cautious about the food products that they purchase. Healthy eating habits have become quite prevalent among consumers…. Consumers are increasingly focusing on clean labels for out-of-home and at-home purchases; therefore, enhancing the application scope of clean label ingredients in a variety of food products,” they wrote in a research report.Perceived benefits around wellness are the primary driver for clean label demand, Ingredion’s Haley believes. “Whilst today’s consumers may also be looking for new, targeted health benefits or products supporting particular elements of sustainability, their foundational expectation is that products are made with ingredients they recognise, accept and strongly associate with naturality and minimal processing. Clean label is their first priority,” he stressed.So, what categories can benefit most from clean label renovation?When it comes to willingness to pay more and switch to brands with clean label credentials, Ingredion found all categories benefit – but some more so than others. Segments that are already associated with a health-halo and products aimed at children stand to gain most from clean label claims, while fixtures viewed as less healthy or more indulgent resonated less, Ingredion found.“The categories where the largest percentage of consumers will pay 20-30% more for products include baby food, meat and meat alternatives, plant-based yogurts, and plant-based milks. A lower percentage of consumers would pay such a premium in carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks. We tend to see lower desire in categories that are considered more of an indulgence or not usually considered a vehicle for health,” Haley detailed.
What categories will consumers pay for clean labels in? / Pic: GettyImages-Tom WernerThe baby food category stands as an example of clean label expectations being enhanced by consumer caution. High demand for clean labels in baby food stems from parents’ desire to ensure their babies get the best nutritional start and, significantly, to protect them from ingredients that could be considered harmful.The Clean Label Project, a US advocacy group, is pushing for greater scrutiny of what goes into baby food and recently launched a certification scheme in response to the presence of contaminants like heavy metals that have been detected in the segment.“The First 1,000 Day standard shifts the narrative when it comes to ‘baby food’ safety. The standard is applicable to not just traditional baby foods but all foods and ingredients marketed towards pregnant women, infants, children, and lactating mothers,” explained Dr. Stephanie Canale, family medicine physician and member of the Clean Label Project Technical Advisory Committee.“There is an inextricable link between the health of the mother and her child. Infants and children have unique nutritional needs and unique vulnerabilities. Parents, brands, and governments alike should take every possible precaution to assure the health and safety of this most vulnerable population. The best way to decrease exposure to any given contaminant is to strive for variety in the foods given to babies and toddlers.”Plant-based products, meanwhile, are often perceived as healthier alternatives. But formulators in the space face a particular challenge around mimicking the organoleptic properties of animal-based products while meeting clean label expectations.
It can be difficult to produce a meaty mouthfeel while keeping labels clean / Pic: GettyImages-BarmaliniAccording to European organic ingredient supplier AGRANA Group this difficulty is clearly evident in vegan meat substitutes, where formulations that are free of additives – particularly artificial emulsifiers such as methyl cellulose – can be difficult to deliver while producing a meat-like juicy mouthfeel.At the AGRANA Research and Innovation Centre in Austria, the company is exploring potential solutions, creating vegan burger patties using ingredients like pre-gelatinized maize starch, potato fibres and vital wheat gluten, which – it claimed – ‘completely replace’ the need for methyl cellulose. “As a processor of plant-based, agricultural raw materials, we aim to show our customers how we can address the demand for vegan and vegetarian nutrition with new sustainable concepts,” reflected CEO Markus Mühleisen.Clean label and sugar reductionIf product categories that are already perceived as healthy benefit from clean label innovation, what about product attributes linked to health?Reduced or low sugar claims probably stand at the forefront of this, with research showing sugar content is a key influencer for the majority of grocery shoppers. However, sugar reduction has a nuanced relationship to clean label demand – sugar is, after all, a natural ingredient.A recent study sponsored by Cargill suggests that while consumers frequently check the amount of sugar a product contains before they purchase, they are less likely to scrutinise the specific sweetener used. Does this mean reduced-sugar products are exempt from the need to deliver clean labels? Not exactly, Cargill stressed.
Do shoppers want clean-label reformulation to cut sugar? / Pic: GettyImages-VladamirFLloydThe company’s 2021 survey of US shoppers also found evidence that sweetener claims influence purchases, too. Those that fared best in the Cargill study typically implied ‘natural’ or ‘no artificial’, including ‘naturally sweetened’ or ‘made with a natural sweetener’.Carla Saunders, senior marketing manager for Cargill’s high intensity sweetener lines, believes that clean label claims in reduced sugar products became more important for consumers in the wake of the pandemic.“The popularity of these types of claims – especially sugar-reduction – have been amplified by COVID-19, building on the ‘clean eating’ trends we’ve been tracking for several years,” she explained.“Products with these on-pack labels are often perceived as less processed and more healthful. That aligns with the demands of today’s more health-conscious consumers, who are seeking to manage their health and wellness goals through food and beverage choices.” .