Baker & Baker goes vegan
Baker & Baker has dipped its toe into the plant-based space. The specialist of European bakery products has launched its first range of vegan treats to meet the increased consumer demand without compromising on quality and taste.
The new goodies comprise a pink velvet ring doughnut, a dark chocolate muffin, a blueberry muffin and a 30% Belgian chocolate cookie puck.
“The range has been developed to meet the increase in flexitarian and vegan diets,” said Helen Sinclair, UK marketing manager at Baker & Baker.
“According to The Vegan Society, one in four Brits have reduced the amount of animal products they are consuming since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in developing the range, it was fundamental the products also delivered on taste.”
The entire range contains no artificial preservatives, flavourings or colourings, while the muffins are palm oil-free and the doughnut and cookie use only certified palm oil.
Offering convenience, the doughnut and muffins are simply thaw and serve, the cookies are baked from frozen and all have a shelf life of between two and five days, thus minimising waste.
Following a successful launch last year in France and Germany, the range is being rolled out in UK bakeries, food service operators and retailers.
Nestlé-backed Outshine targets the whole family
February is National Snack Food Month, providing another opportunity for producers to ramp up their messages to a snack-hungry populace.
Taking advantage of the timing, Outshine is launching Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie Pouches, its first shelf-stable, take-anywhere snack to help satisfy both kids and adults alike.
A recent snacking habits survey conducted by Outshine found 60% of parents prefer kids’ snacks over adult snacks, and 86% of parents are interested in snacks that appeal to the whole family.
Made with real fruit blended with non-fat yogurt, Outshine’s smoothies were made with the whole family in mind, in four fruit-forward options, namely Blueberry Pear, Peach Raspberry, Strawberry Coconut and Pear Vanilla.
They contain less than 10g of total sugar, zero added sugars, no artificial flavours or colours, absolutely no GMO ingredients and are also shelf-stable.
“We know convenience is critical for busy families – seven out of 10 parents are more likely to grab a shelf-stable snack over one they have to keep cold, make at home, cut or heat up. But finding nutritious, on-the-go options that appeal to the whole family can be challenging,” said Doug Munk, senior director of New Business Ventures at Nestlé.
“Outshine Fruit & Yogurt Smoothies are a modern solution, and we’re bringing everything that our fans love about our Fruit Bars to this new product, with delicious flavours that appeal to both kids and adults, in a convenient grab-and-go pouch with real fruit ingredients, zero grams of added sugars, and no artificial flavours or colours.”
Outshine Fruit & Yogurt Smoothie Pouches will be found in the applesauce section of major US retailers, including Food Lion, Kroger and Safeway, for a RRP of $4.49. The products are also available on Amazon.
Daily Crunch superfood snacks
Daily Crunch Snacks produces a range of crunchy, superfood-infused sprouted nut snacks that are non-GMO certified, Vegan Certified, keto, paleo and plant-based.
Made with fiery paprika and cayenne, its Nashville Hot Sprouted Almonds are sure to get tastebuds salivating, transporting fans to the hometown of country music where the spicy chicken sandwich reigns.
The US producer has given a similar flavour punch to its Golden Goodness Blend, crafted with an umami essence (deep, intense and savoury) and turmeric, the latter scientifically proven to have many health benefits.
Daily Crunch Snack packs are available at Whole Foods, Thrive Market and selected retailers across the US, along with Amazon.
Prevail jumps into flavour
As mentioned above, umami is the uniquely savoury, intense ‘meaty’ flavour that is now recognised as the fifth basic taste, after salty, sweet, sour and bitter.
Female founded Chicago-based Prevail Snacks – known for its focus on health, allergen-free and addictive flavour profiles – has this additional dimension to its already ‘meaty’ jerky.
The jerky is made from 100% grass-fed beef meaning it contains zero hormones; is free from the top 8 allergens, including gluten and soy; and is paleo and keto certified.
Other novel flavours in its portfolio include Lemongrass and Spicy (from Morita Chile Peppers from Mexico, which are bold, smoky, yet fruitier than your average pepper with a subtle chocolatey sweetness).
Prevail Jerky is available on Amazon and in retailers like Kroger and Wegmans across the US for an RRP of $6.99 per pack.
Keho banks on global cuisines
Keho is on a mission to (ob)literate obesity. Created by a former rowing champion (read calorie counter), the snacks are scientifically-based ketogenic snack bites.
The bites are purportedly the first ketogenic brand made from whole, plant-based foods, swapping sugar for spice and adding good fats. In fact, it took three years to make KEHO a reality.
The flavours are powered by global cuisines, and include Curry in a Hurry, Thai Me Over, Pizza to Go and Tex Mex Moment.
Available on Amazon for an RRP of $4.99 per bar. Also available in variety packs.
Olyra taps ancient Greek wisdom
More than 2,600 years ago, ancient Greeks developed a very sophisticated diet to sustain their energy for their well-known battles.
Olyra follows that same principle, using a mix of ancient grains and fruit to create a closely-held biscuit recipe.
The family-owned brand’s organic breakfast biscuits and sandwich breakfast biscuits comprise a blend of ancient Greek grains – including spelt, oat, barley and lupine – along with fruits and spices, and absolutely nothing artificial.
Its Variety Pack includes Organic, Delicious and Healthy Sandwich Biscuits, including 8 packs each of Dark Chocolate, Hazelnut Chocolate and Greek Yogurt Blueberry, each packed with 5g protein, 4g fibre and only 6g sugars.
Olyra’s new offering is Cinnamon Tahini and Fig Anise biscuits, available at Whole Foods, Kroger and Amazon for $5.50 per 4 pack.
No bull from No Cow
Whey protein is recommended to build lean muscle and improve strength, however, it can cause digestive issues because its animal-based. According to Healthline, a whopping 75% of the world’s population could be lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, which means whey is a no-no.
Taking this to heart, No Cow has made a pledge to make sure these consumers don’t lose out by providing plant-based fuel.
No Cow’s signature plant-based protein – a blend of pea and brown rice – comprises 20g-22g of protein per serving, which is on par with most whey proteins. The blend also packs a punch with nutrients, such as iron and amino acids to help aid in muscle recovery, weight loss and muscle growth.
The female founded producer also has sustainability at its forefront. According to its website, “there's no denying there are problems that need to be solved. But it's not just about carbon offset, recyclability, or the environmental impact of our products; rather a holistic approach that tackles all aspects of the problem. That's why we made it our duty to incorporate a vision of a more-sustainable future in everything we do. We know we're not perfect, but we're taking steps as humans and as an organisation.”
Its vegan protein bars are dairy free, certified gluten-free, non-GMO project verified and soy-free, designed for everyone from fitness enthusiasts to vegan snackers on-the-go. The bars contain 20g-22g of plant-based protein per bar, while its world-first 00% recyclable protein powder canister makes consumers feel good both about their bodies and the environment.
Available in a dizzying array of flavours online, from Amazon and from retailers like Kroger, Walgreens and Whole Foods across the US.
Carr’s Flour goes premium with Bake At Home mixes
UK heritage brand Carr’s Flour has enlisted baking icon and TV personality Juliet Sear to launch a range of artisan cake mixes.
Sear has been appointed to help promote the new on-trend cake mixes, which include Sumptuous Salted Caramel Cake, Decadent Chocolate Cake, Heavenly Victoria Sponge, Luscious Lemon Cake and Delicious Carrot Cake.
This is the biggest consumer partnership to date in Carr’s Flour’s nearly 200 year history, and is planned to span recipes and decorating tips, videos, social media, digital and print.
According to Carr’s, the new collection is produced in the UK, incorporates only natural flavours and is easy to bake. The packaging is designed to stand out on shelf with fun, quirky characters, colourful fonts and aspirational lifestyle photography.
It’s also specifically targeting home bakers, with recipe and decorating suggestions printed on pack. The boxes also feature QR codes that pull through to additional recipes on how to re-purpose the mixes.
The 425g cake mixes have an RRP of £2.50.
The new range has been designed to build on Carr’s positioning. With the baking mixes category growing faster than the total home baking category, Carr’s has identified a unique market opportunity at the premium end of the segment. For the 52 weeks ended 20 November 2020, baking mixes grew by £26m at a staggering 43.6% year on year, according to Kantar.
Abby’s Better celebrate National Chocolate Mint Day
Abby’s Better Nut Butter is launching a Mint Chocolate Chip Almond Butter to commemorate National Chocolate Mint Day (19 February).
Inspired by a favourite ice cream variant, the offering comprise almonds, chocolate chips, coconut oil, cocoa powder, pure mint extract and pink Himalayan salt – and no added sugars. The combo of rich cocoa and piquant mint make it a great addition to a smoothie or weekend bake. Exclusively available online for $12.99 a jar.
The clean label brand is also rolling out a Keto Cocoa Pecan Butter in 40 Costco Wholesale locations throughout the Northwest US. This marks the first time that Abby’s Better is being sold in a wholesale store.
Made from only natural ingredients and sweeteners, the nut butter is packed with healthy fats, including pecans and cocoa butter, along with cocoa powder, pink himalayan salt and stevia.
“Partnering with Costco to offer Abby’s Better in its Pacific Northwest stores is a dream come true,” said Abby Kircher, founder and CEO of Abby’s Better.
“It’s exciting to see how far the company has grown from me first selling jars at farmers markets across North Carolina seven years ago to being in stores along the East Coast to now being on shelves in a leading wholesale retailer.”