Low sugar
pladis is making snack time healthier with the launch of McVitie’s Granola Oat Bakes.
The baked oat biscuits contain 35% less sugar than the average oat biscuit and comes in two variants: Dark Chocolate & Almond and Cranberry.
They are also high in fiber and suitable for vegans.
“We’ve developed a range that ticks both the taste and health boxes – allowing us to drive incremental sales among shoppers seeking a healthier afternoon snack, without compromising on taste,” said Emma Stowers, brand director for McVitie’s at pladis UK&I.
“Although we already know that ‘Balance’ is a key snacking driver among British shoppers, research has shown that 41% find it hard to decipher which snacks are ‘good for you’. That’s why we’ve made our on-pack health claims as easy as possible for consumers to interpret.”
McVitie’s was recently revealed as one of the top three most chosen brands in the UK in Kantar Worldpanel’s latest Brand Footprint report, while the launch of McVitie’s Granola Oat Bakes targets a clear consumer demand. Research has shown that ‘low sugar’ is the top feature consumers look for in a healthier snack.
The biscuits are available in 140g packs for an RRP of £1.89 across multiple retail outlets in the UK.
Little gems
Vegan and paleo chocolate brand Hu Products is inspiring consumers to bake again with the launch of Hu Gems.
The hexagon-shaped chocolate chunks are made from 70% house-ground organic cacao and are free of dairy, palm oils, emulsifiers, soy lecithin, gluten, refined sugar, cane sugar and sugar alcohols.
They are also certified gluten-free.
Rich cocoa flavor punctuated by subtle caramel notes make the Gems suitable for both snacking and baking.
Available from the company’s website in 9oz bags for a RRP of $7.99 or six pack for $45.
Grab-and-go
Consumers are on the go more than ever before, which means they want food items that match their active lifestyles. US Foods’ Summer Scoop 2019 line-up features a range of grab-and-go sweet baked goods that have ingredient profiles that comply with the US Foods Unpronounceable List initiative.
Chef’s Line Lemon Loaf Cake Slice is made with the juice of California lemons, without high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or preservatives. The cake comes pre-sliced and individually wrapped for grab-and-go convenience.
Chef’s Line Chocolate Banana Swirled Loaf Cake Slice is also pre-sliced and individually wrapped, made with ripened whole bananas, midnight cocoa and semi-sweet chocolate. It contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors, colors or preservatives.
Chef’s Line Buttermilk Biscuit is made with real butter and buttermilk and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. The biscuit can be served warm from the oven, and is an alternative sandwich holder.
Available from US Foods’ online ordering system, ChowNow.
Grab a handful
Real Handful has launched a resealable 140g sharing bag of its existing Trail Mix range and secured a listing with major UK supermarket chain, Tesco.
Tesco is stocking two new product lines – Strawberry Stomp 140g Sharing Bag (RRP: £2.50) and Blackcurrant Blast 140g Sharing Bag (RRP: £2.50) – in 282 outlets across the UK.
Both blends are made from premium dried fruit and nut ingredients – including naturally flavor packed raisins – to create mixes with bold flavors that still carry the clean ingredient deck expected from consumers.
The new lines will sit in the produce aisle as the first national dried fruit & nut brand available from this fixture.
“We’re thrilled to be launching into Tesco with our new sharing bag format and incredibly excited to be working with their produce team to introduce a branded fruit & nut Trail Mix offer,” said Joe Taylor, cofounder of Real Handful.
“It’s already extremely common to see Trail Mixes merchandised alongside produce in North America, which demonstrates further the opportunity to inspire healthier snacking choices from this store location.
“This is a really important step for us on our mission to make naturally nutritious snacking more tasty, fun and price accessible.”
Pockets of edible fun
Maid of Gingerbread has taken the fortune cookie to new heights.
The East London baker – known for creating bespoke 3D gingerbread sculptures – has launched a range of handcrafted fortune cookies filled with messages that make people smile.
Available in four collections – Thinking of You, Encouragement, Congratulations and You’re The Best, with messages like ‘You’re not alone’ and ‘Mate, you’re great’.
However, customers can pen their own slogans in bespoke branded fortune cookie collections created for corporate events and weddings.
Founder and head baker Emily Garland describes the cookies – made from egg white, golden caster sugar, flour, vanilla and butter – as “playful pockets of edible fun.
“It’s safe to say that the world is awfully depressing at the minute, and people relish little bits of positivity in their lives now more than ever. Opening a fortune cookie gives you the same lovely mini buzz that you get from opening a gift, with the added bonus of the message being something supportive and empowering in a time of need.”
The fortune cookies are available online for a RRP of £22 (box of eight) and £38 (box of 16).
Chicken chips
Natural and health food start-up Wilde has added three flavors to its range of Chicken Chips: Nashville Hot, Chicken + Waffles and Himalayan Pink Salt.
Wilde Chips are the world’s first chip that deliver 15g of protein per bag and 0-1g of sugar.
The products are made with a few simple, clean ingredients, starting with real chicken breast, which is combined with a touch of tapioca flour then sliced super thin and lightly fried.
The chips are paleo friendly, gluten free and grain free.
“I wanted to create flavors that had never been seen before in the snack aisles, and with long hot summer days coming up, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take snackers down South with Nashville Hot, and Chicken and Waffles,” said Jason Wright, founder of Wilde Chips.
The Nashville Hot flavor is available exclusively at Whole Foods Markets, while Chicken + Waffles and Himalayan Pink Salt are available nationwide at Whole Foods, Sprouts, ThriveMarket.com, Amazon, WildeBrands.com for a RRP of $4.99
Guilt-free
Maryland has launched a new guilt-free cookie bar that comes in at less than 100 calories.
Maryland Oaty Cookie Bars are high in fiber, baked with wholegrain oats, and studded with chocolate chips, for a touch of naughtiness.
The cookie forms part of Burton’s Biscuit Company’s sugar and calorie reduction drive to reduce both by 20% across its products, aligned with Public Health England’s 100-calorie snack initiative.
“Our brand new Oaty Cookie Bars are an exciting new take on our chocolate chip cookie with an added element of fun and convenience in an individually wrapped bar,” said Kate Needham, marketing & insights director at Burton’s Biscuits.
Maryland Oaty Cookie Bars are available at Tesco and ASDA stores in the UK for a RRP of £1.39
Delightful
Cornwall-based bakery Furniss has expanded its biscuit portfolio with the new Delights range.
The range comes in a variety of flavors – including Chocolate Chip Oat Crunchie, Blossom Honey Oat Crunchie (both of which are palm oil free), Sicilian Lemon Crisp and Dark Chocolate Chip Ginger, packed in skillet and drum format, which Furniss said is perfect as a gift.
The bold and contemporary packaging – designed to stand out on the shelf – was illustrated by the bakery’s inhouse graphic designer.
The company was founded by John Cooper Furniss in 1886 and has built a reputation for using only the best ingredients, sourced locally where possible.
The Delights range is available from UK outlets nationwide.
PB&J
British gluten-free baker Honeybuns has debuted its new Peanut Butter & Jelly Brownie Traybake, which features a gooey peanut brownie base drizzled with Morello cherry jam and smooth peanut butter, and topped with salty peanuts.
The brownie can be enjoyed as a cake but also as a pudding - simply warmed and accompanied by cream, custard or ice cream.
The family-owned baker bakes its brownies far slower than other modern bakeries, which is claims results in a ‘fudgy’ texture typical of a homemade brownie.
The brownie is gluten free and vegan friendly – all Honeybuns vegan cakes are registered with the Vegan Society.
“As the trusted go-to gluten free bakery, Honeybuns aim to balance the best of traditional baking methods with modern and innovative thinking. With sales of free from foods at an all-time high, Honeybuns growing range of plant-based individually wrapped cakes and traybakes is made to delight - indulgent treats that just happen to be ‘free from’,” said Emma Goss- Custard, Honeybuns founder and owner.
Honeybuns supply coffee shops, foodservice and wholesalers throughout the UK. Thaw and serve means minimal wastage.
The Peanut Butter & Jelly Traybake comes in 1kg traybake, supplied uncut, three per case; or pre-cut into 16. Available from July from Honeybuns, Bidfood and selected outlets across the UK.