BBF Limited has revealed the hottest mince pie trends for 2022.
As the UK’s largest mince pie producer – baking around 50 million mince pies annually – BBF’s NPD team has been busy working with some of the biggest retailers to help bring a slice of festive cheer to homes nationwide.
“Mince pies are synonymous with Christmas and a staple for many families over the festive season,” said Jonathan Lill, CEO of BBF Limited.
“The warming, fragrant and sometimes boozy taste of a mince pie is often associated with comfort and contentment, so it’s no surprise that Brits have started buying mince pies earlier this year.
“As the cost of living crisis intensifies, consumer spending habits have ultimately changed and disposable income has reduced considerably. However, we do expect mince pies to remain popular over the coming months. As a nation, Brits will still be looking to indulge during the festive season, just on a more manageable budget.”
The biggest trends for Christmas 2022 are:
- Boozy bakes: This year, rum and sloe gin are proving to be a popular choice among Brits looking for a mince pie with that added extra
- Brown butter: Brits can expect to see a slightly darker mince pie on shelves as brown butter takes its place, adding a decedent, caramelised taste
- Sticky toffee: An indulgent modern twist on the classic mince pie
- Mini mince pies: A continuation from 2021, expect more selection packs and mini-me versions
“This year, we’ve seen growth in demand for alternative mince pies. From richer, more intense flavours to toppings which add an element of premiumisation, people are ultimately seeking more luxurious products,” added Lill.
“For those who prefer a more traditional mince pie, there will still be plenty of options on shelves nationwide. This year however, there will be a slight change to how the traditional mince pie looks as many of the nation’s retailers have reverted back to a fully closed lid, rather than the floating top.”
BBF Limited – owned by private equity firm Endless – produces more than 600 million products annually, across several different categories including celebration cakes, fruit pies and tarts, chocolate enrobed cakes, Christmas cakes and mince pies.
The East Anglian-based crisp producer is relaunching into retail with a new range of carbon neutral, hand-cooked, HFSS compliant, vegan and gluten-free crisps.
Using potatoes grown on its farm and fried on site for incredibly low food miles, the range comprises five flavours – Cheese & Onion, Fried Chicken, BBQ Beef, Sea Salt and Cheesy Chilli – in both sharing and single serve formats. The chicken and beef variants are in response to 10 Acre’s research that showed 80% of consumers who are already meat-reducing still love the taste of meat.
(Sharing Bag: 135g, RRP: £2.30. Single Serve: 35g, RRP: 90p). The range is free from all major allergens and contains 30% less fat when compared to traditional fried crisp brands.
Especially developed to meet the demands of the current retail environment, as a non-HFSS range, 10 Acre can be promoted in store without restrictions.
“We’re never ones to shy away from a challenge, so when the new HFSS legislation was announced, everyone thought it would be impossible to have a fried crisp that would not compromise on flavour, yet here we are,” said Robert Strathern, co-owner of Fairfield Farm Producer, maker of 10 Acre.
“The new 10 Acre branding gives a subtle nod to nature and sustainability, with hand-illustrated graphics across the range, marking our commitment to being carbon neutral and running the farm for the benefit of the future, not just for now.”
The packaging incorporates vibrant colours and a modern, uncomplicated look that puts the brand and its sustainability credentials front and centre. Alongside illustrations of wildlife from around the 10 Acre farm by artist Susan Burghart, the brand is putting its carbon neutral credentials firmly on show.
Available from selected retailers across the UK for an RRP of £2.30 (135g sharing bag) and £0.90 (35g single serve).
Charcuterie is often a celebration special, and an ideal option for larger crowds. The bigger the gathering, the bigger the board. But for more intimate occasions, you don't need to break out the giant party platter with holiday-themed packs of Kellogg’s Crackers.
The versatile crackers pair perfectly with a wide variety of meats, cheeses, jams and spreads, making them the key ingredient. From the melt-in-your-mouth texture of Club and deliciously dippable Town House, to the thin crispiness of Carr's and perfect pairing of Toasteds with a simple slice of cheddar or a hearty dip, Kellogg's Crackers will add distinction to any celebration.
“The holidays are all about spending special moments together, even if they're not always planned out in advance,” said Carrie Foose, director of Brand Marketing, Kellogg's Crackers.
“Our Town House, Club, Toasteds and Carr's crackers make it easier than ever to create impressive yet quick charcuterie boards, both big and small, to spread joy all holiday season long.”
Taking the spirit of the season a step further, Kellogg’s SpreadJoy site has a series of 10-minute charcuterie recipes, along with family-friendly, vegetarian and sensory boards, to spread joy at a moment’s notice.
Limited edition holiday-themed packages of Kellogg's Crackers are available at retailers nationwide.
The pioneer in powdered nut butters and plant-based foods since 2007 has launched a line of PB2 Pantry baking mixes, which, it claims, is unlike anything else on the market. thanks to PB2’s roasted peanut flour and innovative resealable packaging.
Easy to make and packed with plant-based protein, PB2 Pantry baking mixes are available in three kits – Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix, Chocolate Chip Brownie Mix and Apple Cinnamon Muffin Mix.
The baking mixes start with roasted peanut flour in place of wheat flour, delivering 14g of protein per serving for Apple Cinnamon Muffins and 4g of protein per serving for Chocolate Chip Cookies and Chocolate Chip Brownies
The mixes are also 100% gluten-free, vegan, kosher and contain no GMOs.
“We couldn’t be happier than to provide customers with guilt-free indulgences in PB2 Pantry baking mixes,” said Craig Entwistle, CEO of PB2 Foods.
“Using clean, better-for-you ingredients, and packaging them in resealable jars that allow you to bake up small or big batches, we’ve created something truly unique that we know you’ll love.”
Available online and on Amazon for an RRP of $11.99.
The New York-based mochi ice cream brand – which ships nationwide – has a range of classic + nostalgic flavours, along with ones you won’t find anywhere else.
Habanero Chocolate ($12 for 4-piece or $72 for 24-piece): Mochidoki’s new launch was inspired by the first known form of drinking chocolate, Aztec xocōlātl, and features the highest quality cacao with a deeper layer of spice thanks to hot habanero chilli.
Hosting Gift Set ($140): In addition to eight of Mochidoki’s best-selling flavours (Vanilla Chip, Strawberry, Cake Batter, Matcha, Black Sesame, Purple Sweet Potato, Mango, and Passion Fruit), each set contains natural wood plates, cotton tea towels and bamboo serving tongs to craft the perfect dessert spread for 4 guests/
Mochidoki’s Collections ($96 each): Curated vignettes of like-minded flavours that explore Americana, Cafe, Asian-Inspired, and Vegan options, as the brand’s Signature Box Set/
Mochidoki uses only natural ingredients and chef-driven flavours – such as Cake Batter, Salted Caramel, Espresso, Vanilla Chip – as well as more adventurous offerings like Red Bean, Matcha, Purple Sweet Potato, and Vegan Lychee.
All flavours are available online as 4-piece boxes for $12 each or 24-piece boxes for $72 each.
This line of gourmet popcorn takes snacking to a whole new level, bringing pizzazz to the ready-to-eat popcorn category with nine festive flavours: Cocoa Crunch, Butter Toffee, Sweet & Salty Kettle, Drizzled Chocolate Caramel, and more.
Available for delivery nationwide, Harry & David POP! can be purchased in various mix and match offerings, with prices ranging from $29.99-$44.99, including:
- Savoury Assortment
- Sweet Assortment
- Sweet and Savoury Assortment
- Pick 4
- Pick 6
Harry & David is also available on affiliate platforms like Skimlinks and Impact Radius.
BetterBrand – known for creating a healthy alternative to carb-heavy bagels – just dropped its highly anticipated vegan Chocolate Chip Bagel.
The first of its kind on the market, the bagel is chef-crafted bagel breaks barriers to be the new guilt-free obsession. Unlike traditional bagels, this better-for-you bagel is 100% plant based, non-GMO and contains only clean label ingredients, including chunks of vegan chocolate chips.
It provides an impressive 5g net carbs, 25g protein and no added sugar.
Available online in a 4-pack ($16), 8-pack ($30), 12-pack ($45) or 16-pack ($55), delivered straight to your doorstep.
Move over ketchup. Step aside salad dressing. Doritos is dipping to another level with Doritos Dips.
To help fans everywhere serve their own Big Dip Energy, Doritos has teamed up with actress Keke Palmer – someone who’s always packin’ big energy – to give away a limited number of exclusive kits.
To win a Big Dip Energy Kit decked with the new Doritos Dips and other Doritos-inspired swag, head over to Doritos Dips’ launch post on Instagram and suggest some pairing you think could use some Big Dip Energy. Use the hashtags #BigDipEnergy and #sweepstakes.
But wait, what actually is Big Dip Energy? According to the PepsiCo brand, it’s the cool confidence to swap the standard, go-to condiments for a first-of-its-kind dip that will make your snacks zing, along with treats like pizza, wings, slides and veggies.
Doritos flavours the dips with an extra serving of Big Dip Energy in two bold variants: Spicy Nacho (a twist on Doritos Cheddar Cheese and Cool Ranch Jalapeno (taking the iconic flavour to another level).
Doritos Dips are rolling out in retailers across the US for an RRP of $4.49.
