NPD Trend Tracker: From ketchup-filled hash brown to alt chicken made from dairy

From-ketchup-filled-hash-brown-to-alt-chicken-made-from-dairy-NPD-round-up.jpg
GettyImages/Henrik Sorensen (Getty Images)

In this week’s round-up of new product development, we profile FrieslandCampina’s range of meat-free chicken alternatives which uses a protein base made from dairy, rather than pea, soy or mycoprotein. Elsewhere in the meat-free category, Wall’s has developed a new recipe for its Vegan Jumbo Roll. Another big launch this month comes from The Kraft Heinz Company, which is filling hash browns with tomato ketchup. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…

In this week’s round-up of new product development, we profile FrieslandCampina’s range of meat-free chicken alternatives which uses a protein base made from dairy, rather than pea, soy or mycoprotein. Elsewhere in the meat-free category, Wall’s has developed a new recipe for its Vegan Jumbo Roll. Another big launch this month comes from The Kraft Heinz Company, which is filling hash browns with tomato ketchup. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…

GettyImages/Henrik Sorensen

NPD Trend Tracker: From ketchup-filled hash brown to alt chicken made from dairy
NPD Trend Tracker: From ketchup-filled hash brown to alt chicken made from dairy (Henrik Sorensen/Getty Images)

In this week’s round-up of new product development, we profile FrieslandCampina’s range of meat-free chicken alternatives which uses a protein base made from dairy, rather than pea, soy or mycoprotein. Elsewhere in the meat-free category, Wall’s has developed a new recipe for its Vegan Jumbo Roll. Another big launch this month comes from The Kraft Heinz Company, which is filling hash browns with tomato ketchup. Scroll through the photo gallery for more…

GettyImages/Henrik Sorensen

New recipe of Wall’s Vegan Jumbo Roll
New recipe of Wall’s Vegan Jumbo Roll

Sausage roll brand Wall’s is relaunching its Vegan Jumbo Roll with a new recipe, which was developed after a year-long project to create Wall’s ‘tastiest and most authentic match to a meat sausage roll yet’.

The new offering is made from a combination of textured peat protein and cooked giant couscous to replicate the look and texture of its meat equivalent. The recipe also includes sauteed onions and a blend of herbs and spices.

“For the increasing number of consumers looking to reduce their meat consumption, trust is key, and as the market leader in the meat sausage roll category, Wall’s gives consumers the confidence that our plant-based option will taste just as delicious,” said Jason Manley, brand director at Wall’s Pastry, which is part of The Compleat Food Group.

“With this recipe reformulation, our aim has been to draw new shoppers to the fixture by offering a newly improved plant-based sausage roll that has the same incredible great taste, high quality, and exceptional value that makes Wall’s Sausage Rolls’ Britain’s favourite.”

The newly formulated Vegan Jumbo Roll has an RRP of £1.25 and is available in Asda, Tesco and convenience stores from this month.

Image: The Compleat Food Group

Dr. Oetker relaunches with new look
Dr. Oetker relaunches with new look

Frozen pizza brand Dr. Oetker Ristorante is refreshing its packaging and rolling out three new products.

The new look is designed to be ‘fun, fresh and inviting’ and new photography and colourways. It will launched across the range this month. At the same time, Dr. Oetker Ristorante is rolling out three new SKUs: Pepperoni Mozzarella Pesto, Salame Piccante Nduja, and Primo Pollo Funghi Truffini.

“We’re pleased to be able to announce our fresh new look and feel, with both our new packaging and a range of exciting new products.  Ristorante is a much-loved frozen pizza brand, and this relaunch ensures the brand remains relevant to a wide audience of frozen pizza consumers,” said Paula Wyatt, head of marketing, Pizza at Dr. Oetker UK.

The new SKUs will land in Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado this month.

Image source: Dr. Oetker Ristorante

Black Velvet coffee pods
Black Velvet coffee pods

London-based brand CafePod has launched a new flavoured pod in its Nespresso-compatible range: Black Velvet.

The intense blend with a base of dark chocolate and hints of roasted hazelnut are a result of high-grown Ethiopian & Colombian arabica coffee beans. The ‘caramel-rich’ finish comes from Brazilian arabica.

“The name Black Velvet says it all. This dark, strong, rich blend is set to delight coffee lovers and perfectly complements an indulgent chocolatey dessert,” said Peter Grainger, co-founder at Café Pod.

“Our customers continuously request more strong coffee options, so we think we’ve found the ultimate pleasure blend that will satisfy their coffee needs.”

Black Velvet increases Café Pod’s pod range to 14 blends. The pods are made from 80% recycled aluminium and is 100% recyclable.

Black Velvet is available to purchase online, either D2C or via Amazon and Ocado with an RRP of £3.80 for 10 pods.

Image source: CafePod

Frozen veg and grain pouches
Frozen veg and grain pouches

In the UK, pulses and grains brand Merchant Gourmet is launching a new range of ‘grab and cook’ Veg & Grains pouches.

The range includes Korean-Style Vegetables & Mixed Grains, Mediterranean-Style Vegetables & Giant Couscous, and Mexican-Style Vegetables & Quinoa.

Each pack contains five different types of vegetable and counts as one of your five-a-day. Once in the microwave, the pouches are ready as soon as four minutes from frozen.

Richard Peake, Managing Director at Merchant Gourmet, said: “We wanted to create a frozen range that makes it easy to inject more plants into your everyday. The grab and cook pouches are for people who love fresh food that is full of flavour, but sometimes lack the time to create healthy, nourishing meals at home.

“We developed this range so that after just 4 minutes in the microwave you have a super healthy lunch or dinner, without having to compromise on taste or health. Just add a protein and you have a stress-free, nourishing meal, packed with flavour.”

The new frozen range is available now in Waitrose, and will be launching in Tesco from 18th September, RRP £3.00 / 400g.

Image source: Merchant Gourmet

Salt and vinegar veggie cakes
Salt and vinegar veggie cakes

Ecotone-owned Kallø is broadening its range of Veggie Cakes with a new Mini Sea Salt & Vinegar flavour.

The HFSS-compliant offering joins Kallø’s existing Veggie Cakes flavours: Beetroot & Balsamic and Caramelised Onion Chutney. According to the company, the Veggie Cakes range is performing ‘incredibly well’ with an increasing number of younger, more health-conscious consumers seeking healthier choices.

“We’re confident this new addition will continue to build incremental sales for the range,” said Adele Ward, Kallø marketing director at Ecotone UK.

Kallo Sea Salt & Vinegar Mini Veggie Cakes will be initially available in Waitrose stores nationwide from 25th August, at £0.99 RRP. For the first time, both the Kallø Mini Veggie Cakes in Sea Salt & Cider Vinegar and Beetroot & Balsamic will be launching into Waitrose’s Meal Deal from the end of the month.

Image source: Ecotone

Ketchup-filled hash browns
Ketchup-filled hash browns (Hannah Taylor-Eddington)

What’s better than hash browns and tomato ketchup? Tomato Ketchup Filled Hash Browns, according to The Kraft Heinz Company, who is rolling out the new offering into UK retail.

The launch is part of Kraft Heinz’s larger transformation to bring ‘insight-driven innovation’ to consumers faster and grow its ‘taste elevation’ platform around the world. Tomato Ketchup Filled Hash Browns follow Heinz Beanz Filled Hash Browns, which launched last year. 

“We’re so excited to be bringing our Heinz Tomato Ketchup Filled Hash Browns to our filled hash brown family. Heinz Tomato Ketchup is truly a global favourite, so it made complete sense to combine it with another classic family favourite, perfect for any mealtime,” said Sophie Higgins, head of growth platform, new ventures at Heinz.

“Here at Heinz, we’re continuing in our mission to find exciting ways to combine our beloved varieties with other iconic foods, flavours, and tastes, or even thinking about the food of the future. Keep an eye out for what comes next!” 

The new product is launching exclusively into Iceland Foods with an RRP of £3 from 28 August.

Image source: The Kraft Heinz Company

Alt chicken made from dairy
Alt chicken made from dairy

Dairy collective FrieslandCampina is launching a new meat-free chicken alternative brand in the UK. Coined Tender’lish, the brand is made up of four products: Chick’n Cheese Escalope, Crispy Chik’n Fillet Burger, Crunchy Chik’n Tenders and Crispy Chik’n Fillets.

The brand boasts a ‘prolific’ presence in retail and foodservice outlets in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands as well as in four McDonald’s markets.

The Tender’lish chicken alternatives are made from a dairy base, unlike other chicken alternative makers who use soy, pea or mycoprotein to form their base of protein. Indeed, the Tender’lish products are made with up to 60% skimmed milk.

According to FrieslandCampina, the high dairy content provides a reliable and trusted source of high-quality protein and calcium, whilst the products are a source of fibre and iron. The dairy base also provides a ‘succulent and moist mouthfeel’, with textures replicating those found in real chicken, noted the company.

“After several years of successive double-digit growth, performance in the meat-alternative category has been challenging over the past six months. However, at a time when some manufacturers are withdrawing from the UK market, FrieslandCampia is confidently investing for future growth, offering something genuinely new, different and superior within the key growth subset of chicken alternatives,” said Alison Lees, UK marketing lead for Tender’lish.

“The key category barrier remains taste, whilst our products outperform not just meat-free but even real chicken products in expert sensory panels.”

The brand is rolling out in the UK grocery channel from October, with product RSP ranging from £3 to 3.25.

Image source: FrieslandCampina