This is our regular look at what’s new in dairy around the world. Of course, it’s not a complete list: If there’s something your company is launching that you’d like to share, please send details and images to us here.
Kendamil launches ‘Ready to Feed’ baby milk
British baby milk brand Kendamil has launched a ‘Ready to Feed’ baby milk — the first and only in the UK with no palm oil or fish oil, following demand from parents.
The product, available on the Kendamil website, costs £23.95 for 24 bottles.
The product’s shelf-life is 12 months.
Kendamil’s ‘Ready to Feed’ formula comprises of natural cow’s milk mixed with essential acids. It is rich in algal oil — a pure marine algae substitute for fish oil that includes omega-3 fatty acids like DHA.
CEO and founder of Kendamil, Ross McMahon, said, “Parents associate Kendamil with quality and sustainability, so have long asked us to develop a ‘Ready to Feed’ offering. We’re proud to answer this need with a UK-first — a ‘Ready to Feed’ baby milk that’s uniquely free from fish oil and palm oil, unlike other leading formula brands. Because we won’t compromise our formulations or jeopardize the environment to cut costs.
“We support the nation’s mums and dads at every step of their parenting journey. As parents ourselves, we recognise that a child’s early years are precious so our ‘Ready to Feed’ milk gives you time back to spend nurturing the next generation.”
Cave Aged Cheddar debuts in Australia
Mayers Fine Food, in partnership with Somerdale International, exporter of British cheese, is launching a new ‘Westminster Cave Aged Cheddar’ developed specifically for the Australian market.
The strong farmhouse Cheddar is matured 200 feet underground in the Wookey Hole Caves in the Somerset Mendip Hills, a few miles away from the village of Cheddar itself. The naturally constant temperature and humidity of the caves offer ideal conditions for storing and maturing Cheddar. The porous nature of the traditionally cloth bound cheese enables it to take on a big and well-rounded flavor complemented by distinctive earthy and nutty notes from the surrounding atmosphere.
The Westminster range is sold in more than 250 independent delis across the country.
Available from this November, the new Westminster Cave Aged Cheddar will come in a 150g retail pre-pack format in cases of 10, with an RRP of A$6.00 per pack.
Blair Mayer of Mayers Fine Food said, “Our new Westminster Cave Aged Cheddar harnesses the very best of English cheese making tradition and will provide a real point of difference and interest on the cheese fixture.
“In doing so, it will complement and enhance our increasingly successful Westminster branded range that is specially selected to tantalize the taste buds and be perfect for those cheese lovers looking for the authentic English cheddar experience.”
Glenilen Farm yogurts debut in Tesco
Irish dairy producers Glenilen Farm has secured new listings for its gut-friendly live yogurts in Northern Ireland, including Tesco NI, which has listed 12 different product lines for the first time; Hendersons and Musgrave Retail Partners NI.
The growing Northern Ireland market now accounts for 10% of Glenilen Farms’ sales and the producer has plans to grow this further over the next three years.
Glenilen Farm produces a range of natural yogurts with ingredients to support gut health and immunity including the recently-launched three flavored-kefir yogurts with 14 strains of live cultures.
“We’re really excited about the success that we’re seeing in Northern Ireland and it clearly shows the demand there for the Glenilen Farm brand. With a portfolio of over 50 different products, we are in a great position to meet demand of healthy, gut supporting yoghurts. Our newly revamped packaging also highlights the health properties within the products more prominently,” said Alan Kingston, owner and co-founder.
New Northern Ireland stockists include Tesco NI, Hendersons, Musgrave Retail Partners NI and lots more independent stores. Fresh2U is Glenilen Farms partner in NI.
Glenilen Farm is a family-run farm set up by Alan and Valerie Kingston in Drimoleague, West Cork, Ireland, which produces kefir yogurt, cheesecakes and country butter as well as a range of other dairy products.
Urgent Company debuts animal-free cream cheese
Modern Kitchen, a new brand from The Urgent Company, has launched its first product, an animal-free cream cheese alternative in the US.
Modern Kitchen Cream Cheese, the second product from The Urgent Company, will be available in three flavors this fall and is lactose free, hormone free, and cholesterol free.
The launch of Modern Kitchen marks the first cream cheese made with Perfect Day animal-free milk protein.
The Urgent Company’s first brand, Brave Robot ice cream, debuted in 2020. Brave Robot is currently offered in more than 5,000 grocery stores in the US and 1m pints have so far been sold.
"We're so excited to see our second brand, Modern Kitchen, available to consumers. We're confident they'll love the taste and texture just as much as their favorite cream cheese (and they're probably about to have a new favorite!),'' said Paul Kollesoff, co-founder and general manager at The Urgent Company.
"By applying science and technology, we're able to make better versions of the same dairy products consumers love. And of course, it's more sustainable than other options on the market because that's just what we do!"
"I've dreamed of an animal-free cream cheese for years, and we've finally unlocked the flavor and texture that makes traditional cream cheese so darn good," said Perfect Day CEO and co-founder, Ryan Pandya.
"We're thrilled to bring Modern Kitchen to consumers who have been eagerly awaiting more products made with Perfect Day."
Modern Kitchen's animal-free cream cheese comes in three flavors: Strawberry, Spring Onion + Chive, and Harissa Pepper varieties are now available for presale at eatmodern.kitchen ($30/3 pack).
For Southern Californians, Modern Kitchen will also launch in select stores in the months ahead.
Daiya Foods' adds Mexican 4 Cheeze Style Blend Shreds to range
Available at grocery stores and natural food retailers across the US and Canada, Daiya Foods’ has launched Mexican 4 Cheeze Style Blend Shreds.
"Our latest creation, made with chickpeas and free from dairy, gluten and soy, is a crave-worthy option that will elevate fall or holiday recipes calling for ooey-gooey, perfectly melted cheese," said Dan Hua, VP of Marketing at the Canadian-based company.
"With more people looking to explore plant-based foods, incorporating this delicious blend on your seasonal menus is sure to delight everyone, including those with special diets."
Daiya's selection of plant-based foods can be found in more than 25,000 grocery stores in the US, including Kroger, Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Safeway and Publix, as well as Sprouts and most natural food retailers.
Daiya's products are also available internationally in Mexico, Spain, The Netherlands, South Korea, Hong Kong, and more.
Follow Your Heart debuts three plant-based cheese alternatives
US plant-based producer Follow Your Heart has added three cheese alternatives to its line-up.
Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free Bleu Cheese Crumbles is the first-to-market dairy-free blue cheese crumbles product to hit retail shelves. This follows the company's Dairy-Free Feta Crumbles, which debuted last year. The blue cheese alternative comes in 6 oz. tubs and is available at Whole Foods Market, Stater Bros., and at select Acme and Safeway stores in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Follow Your Heart's Dairy-Free Finely Shredded Cheddar and Dairy-Free Finely Shredded Mozzarella are available in 7 oz. packages nationwide at select retailers including Sprouts, Vons, Albertsons, Wegmans, and Walmart.
"We've rewritten the rule book with this trio of cheeses to close a wide gap in the dairy-free cheese category and further satisfy the increasing demand for plant-based alternatives," said Bob Goldberg, CEO and co-founder, Follow Your Heart.
"Our new Finely Shredded Cheeses are not only rich and creamy, they have an unbelievable melt. Plus, our new lusciously creamy Bleu Cheese Crumbles are a game changer and will have dairy cheese consumers switching without any sacrifice."
The launch of the new products comes when demand is the highest ever for plant-based options. According to an August 2021 Bloomberg Intelligence Report, sales of plant-based dairy and meat alternatives reached $29.4bn in 2020, and could increase fivefold to $162bn by 2030, comprising 7.7% of the global protein market.
National pizza chain, Mellow Mushroom, offers vegan options using Follow Your Heart's new dairy-free mozzarella, and Banza, the maker of chickpea-based pasta and pizza, featured the mozzarella on its new Plant-Based Cheese pizza as well. Additionally, Veggie Grill is highlighting the Dairy-Free Bleu Cheese Crumbles on its new steakhouse burgers in all locations.
"Follow Your Heart's new dairy-free mozzarella hits all of the ingredient quality standards we take pride in at Mellow Mushroom," said Anne Mejia, vice president, brand development, Mellow Mushroom.
"The taste and compatibility with our Mellow Mushroom crust and red sauce really hits the mark and our customers are already commenting that it is delicious on our stone-baked pies."
All three new products are vegan and are free of dairy, soy, casein, gluten, lactose and preservatives and are made with non-GMO ingredients. The new line up joins the other Follow Your Heart Dairy-Free cheese alternatives such as the Feta Crumbles, Parmesan, and a variety of slices.
Mince pie gelato for Christmas
Hackney Gelato, makers of Italian gelato and sorbetto in the UK have launched a limited-edition Mince Pie Gelato in parts of the UK.
The product is made with chunks of homemade shortcrust pastry, raisins, spices and Pedro Ximenez sherry.
Having grown up in Italy, Hackney Gelato co-founder Enrico Pavoncelli had never tried a mince pie before.
“We don’t eat mince pies in Italy, we’re more about the panettone. Mincemeat? In pastry? It didn’t sound right to me. But Sam convinced me it could work, and after some experimentation in the kitchen, I think I might love our gelato even more than panettone. Please don’t tell my family though, they’d never speak to me again,” Pavoncelli said.
Hackney Gelato Mince Pie 500ml has an RRP £5.49 and is available at: Ocado.com, 20 Waitrose stores across London, and the Gorillas app.
Biochem adds new whey isolate protein flavors for the holidays
Biochem has launched its newest nutrient-rich, sugar-free, Whey Isolate Protein flavor in the US - Pumpkin Spice - and is bringing Chocolate Peppermint back for an encore season.
Pumpkin Spice Whey Isolate protein powder is free of artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners.
The 100% Whey Isolate Chocolate Peppermint flavor is also returning for a second holiday season. The gluten-free, keto-friendly protein powder is less than 100-calories.
"Fall is the perfect time to try new recipes or shake up menu monotony in your post- workout routine," said Dr Audrey Ross, senior national educator at Biochem.
"It's important to make conscious choices, but also be able to enjoy life's events and celebrations whole-heartedly. The limited edition flavors make it easy for consumers to incorporate holiday traditions while staying on track with any health and fitness goals.”
Premia expands curd snack range in Estonia
Premia, Estonia’s oldest and largest ice cream producer, and part of the Food Union Group, is launching a range of new curd snacks under the Väike Tom brand.
The new curd snacks contain no preservatives, artificial colorants, vegetable fats or palm oil, and come packaged in packaging made of 50% of certified bio-based material.
“Väike Tom (Little Tom in English) has a desire for adventure and a fresh cheerfulness that characterizes the essence of these unique snacks. This little boy, who has been entertaining consumers for more than 20 years, is now helping to spearhead this completely new product category for the Väike Tom brand. The curd snacks are made from natural components, with a minimum number of ingredients and a pleasant, delicate texture,” Premia CEO Aivar Aus said.
The cocoa-glazed Väike Tom curd snacks are available in four different flavors: curd with ice cream flavor, curd with banana flavor, vanilla-flavoured curd with pieces of chocolate, and chocolate curd with chocolate chips. They are coated with a cocoa glaze using cocoa, butter and sugar.
“This is one among many of Food Union Group’s strategic steps to capitalize on the potential of the Estonian dairy market. In Estonia, as in Latvia, the culture of consuming high-quality and fresh dairy products is widespread, and curd snacks are an established category. We have cemented leadership in the curd snack category with Kārums in Latvia; but now, the new Väike Tom products in Estonia arrive bringing together a unique combination of fresh recipes, excellent taste combinations and sustainable packaging. We look forward to building upon these efforts and plan to delight Estonian consumers with more delicious and healthy dairy products,” Normunds Stanevics, Food Union Group CEO said.
The new Väike Tom curd snacks are sold at COOP, Selver, Rimi, Maxima and Prisma stores across Estonia.
Yasso hits Walmart
Yasso, the US frozen greek yogurt brand, has introduced its bite-size snacks, Poppables, to Walmart locations across the country.
The sea salt caramel and vanilla bean flavors of the chocolate-coated, creamy frozen Greek yogurt bites, entered more than 2,000 Walmart stores earlier this month.
Yasso’s poppables first launched at select retailers and online in March, marking the brand’s first foray into the snacking category.
Yasso’s poppables contain 60 calories, 7g of carbs, 3g of fat, and 2g of protein per snack and have no sugar alcohols, high-intensity sweeteners, or artificial flavorings.
The offerings are available at Walmart now for $4.98.
Violife launches festive selection box
Violife has launched its first Vegan Festive Selection Box, available in Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores across the UK, for £6.00.
The new Vegan Festive Selection Box contains Violife’s newest product, festive Mozzarella Flavour With Cranberry, alongside three of the brand’s other products , including the EPIC Mature Cheddar Flavour, Smoky Cheddar Flavour and Crumbly Greek White blocks.
The box also contains three festive coasters with recipes.
Bianca Harris, senior marketing manager, Violife, said, “At Violife, we celebrate living life to its fullest - which is why we wanted to create a selection that offers shoppers everything they need to celebrate with family and friends this Christmas. The four indulgent flavours, including all new Mozzarella Flavour with Cranberry, are all 100% vegan and pair perfectly with grapes, chutneys and crackers, or can be used in a range of warming winter dishes, to provide a festive spread that is suitable for everyone to enjoy.”
Norseland vegan brands expand beyond UK, new Ilchester launches
UK cheese company Norseland has introduced two of its vegan cheese alternative products to new international markets, as well as adding two new Ilchester dairy cheeses.
Mexicana Vegan is now available in 85 stores in Canada, while the Ilchester Vegan Festive Selection, which launched in the UK last Christmas, has received its first international order. The vegan Christmas selection will be available in Carrefour in Dubai from the middle of November.
The Ilchester Vegan Festive Selection launched in the UK last Christmas in Waitrose, Sainsbury's and The Vegan Kind Supermarket, and will be stocking the plant-based cheeze selection again this Christmas.
Lisa Harrison, senior brand manager for Mexicana and Ilchester, said, "Applewood Vegan launched in a number of stores across Canada last year, including Denningers Foods of the World, which has six stores in Ontario, Pusateri's Fine Foods, which has five shops in Toronto; Longos, a 36-store food retailer in Toronto; and Loblaws, which operates more than 2,400 stores across Canada.
"This was our first international order for Applewood Vegan, which was our first-ever plant-based cheeze. Sales have proved really strong and its presence in Canada has helped to raise the profile of the other vegan products in the Norseland family, hence the significant order for Mexicana Vegan, which will be launching into stores across Canada very soon. These include three Denniger Foods of the World, 19 Longos shops, nine Choices stores, two Metro Quebec shops and 46 independent delis, markets and stores across the country.
"And our Dubai order is our first one for our Ilchester Vegan range and we are hopeful that Carrefour stocking the Ilchester Vegan Festive Selection will be the first step in the right direction of securing all-year-round listings in the Middle East for our extensive vegan range."
A new Ilchester dairy cheese for the festive season is the Ilchester Cheddar Cheese with Chilli and Lime, which launched in 413 Tesco stores and will be an all year-round listing.
Ilchester Mature Cheddar with Caramelised Onion and Port Wine will be rolled out in 587 Tesco Stores from November 29 to January 6.
Harrison said, "With the pandemic forcing many people to cancel their Christmas plans last year, Christmas 2021 is set to be a big celebration as the nation will be able to get together with their friends and families to party.
"Our seasonal cheeses are always popular and we are really keen to offer cheeses that reflect seasonal flavors as well as cheeses that are versatile for different dishes or occasions. Our Chilli and Lime cheese brings the heat that so many cheese lovers adore these days combined with the freshness and zingy taste of lime. It's a cheese that can add a bit of spice to dishes but can also work well as a standalone cheese on a cheeseboard.
"Our Ilchester Caramelised Onion and Port Wine Mature Cheddar Cheese really encapsulates the flavours of winter and Christmas. Everybody loves a glass of port at Christmas and the caramelised onion adds a delicious sweetness to perfectly complement the cheddar."
The Ilchester Cheddar Cheese with Chilli and Lime has an RRP of £2.20 for a 200g wedge. The Ilchester Mature Cheddar with Caramelised Onion and Wine Port has an RRP of £2.20 for a 175g wheeler.
Jar Joy introduces desserts in pre-portioned jars
Florida-based Jar Joy has launched a line of multi-layered desserts. The pies and cheesecakes are packaged in individually portioned jars.
The pie flavors are: Key Lime Pie, Peanut Butter Fudge Pie, Coco Loco Caramel, and Mississippi Mud, while the cheesecake options are: Summer Strawberry, White Chocolate Raspberry, and Cookies n’ Cream. The three cake-inspired cheesecake flavors are: Birthday Cake, Death by Chocolate and Red Velvet.
The desserts keep in a freezer for a year and have a long shelf life in a refrigerator. The 4-ounce jars are suitable as a single serving, and there are also two, four and six variety packs.
Retail units are available in multiple configurations, including 2-pack, (MSRP $2.98 - $3.98) and 4-pack, (MSRP $7.98 - $9.98) for supermarkets and convenience stores and 6-pack (MSRP $9.98 - $11.98) for club stores. Units are shipped frozen in pallets of 60 cases.
Jar Joy products are currently sold through major retailers including Sam’s Club and Aldi. The initial Sam’s Club offerings span 75 locations in Florida and Georgia.
Jar Joy recently expanded production capacity with the acquisition of a 60,000 sq ft facility in Sanford, FL.
NotCo Revives an American Staple with New NotMilk™ Chocolate Delivering the Rich, Indulgent Taste People Should Expect from Chocolate Milk
NotMilk Chocolate launched
US company NotCo, which creates plant-based options, has debuted NotMilk Chocolate.
NotMilk Chocolate is available now in 64 oz. cartons through Fresh Direct and will launch on Amazon this fall in an on-the-go 8 oz. format.
NotMilk Chocolate is made with a combination of 100% plant-based ingredients such as peas, pineapple, cabbage, and cocoa.
Each serving is a source of calcium, vitamin D, and B12, and potassium.
“Chocolate milk is a classic, but there aren’t any options – whether animal- or plant-based – where chocolate is the star and the real, creamy, indulgent taste we should expect from chocolate shines through,” said CEO and founder of NotCo, Matias Muchnick.
“Others seem to miss the mark, whether they’re too sugary, don’t have enough flavor, or simply don’t taste how chocolate milk should. NotMilk Chocolate is more than plant-based, it is what chocolate milk should be – we want to help people rediscover and fall in love with chocolate milk again. We’re excited with this launch and supporting our retail partners to reintroduce what chocolate milk is to people across the country. It’s time we rekindled our love for chocolate milk, and we’re confident that one taste of NotMilk Chocolate will bring new and old fans back to the aisle.”
NotMilk Chocolate joins the brand’s 64 oz. varieties, including NotMilk Whole, NotMilk 2% Reduced Fat, and new NotMilk 1% Low Fat. NotMilk Chocolate comes in 64 oz. cartons and an 8 oz. on-the-go format in single, 4-pack, and 12-pack varieties.
NotMilk is available at Whole Foods Market nationally, Stop & Shop, Harris Teeter’s, Sprouts, Wegmans, D’Agostino’s, Kings/Balducci’s, Harmons, New Seasons, Earth Fare, Bristol Farms, Rouses, Weis, Gelson’s Markets and more, in addition to Imperfect Foods and vegan ecommerce site Vejii.
Yeo Valley Organic debuts spiced apple caramel yogurt
In the UK, Yeo Valley Organic has added a new Limited Edition: Spiced Apple Caramel yogurt.
The organic yogurt uses organic Granny Smith apples, cinnamon and caramel.
The pot is made from 100% recycled plastic and is 100% recyclable.
The 450g pot has an RRP of £1.70, and is available in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.