The Food & Drink Innovation Network

Latest Food & Drink Industry News

• Friday, February 3rd, 2012, (3:37 pm)

  WINNERS OF PRODUCT OF THE YEAR 2012 ANNOUNCED

  More than 9,000 consumers have voted to determine the results of the 2012 Product of the Year survey, advising fellow shoppers on the most innovative products in the consumer marketplace.

  Notable winners this year are multi-tasking products such as Nuromol, Ryvita Thins, and new Aero Finesse.

  New takes on established and well-loved brands also continue to resound with consumers this year. (more…)

• Friday, February 3rd, 2012, (1:09 pm)

  AMERICAN CHOCOLATE OUTSELLS LEADING BRITISH BRANDS

  A chocolate range made by American confectioners Hershey’s and Reese’s has taken sweet-toothed shoppers by storm this week, with sales at Asda already outstripping favourites from leading British brands.

  Some buyers have said that they’ll go to incredible lengths to keep the chocolate to themselves, with one visitor to Asda’s Facebook page saying that she’ll hide them in the vegetable drawer of the fridge.

  Hershey’s and Reece’s chocolates have been favourites in the US for more than 100 years but have only just started to make an impression on UK consumers. (more…)

• Friday, February 3rd, 2012, (11:00 am)

  TATE & LYLE INTRODUCES NEW LINE OF EXTRA DRY STARCHES

  Tate & Lyle, the global ingredients and food solutions provider, has announced the expansion of its range of native starches, with the introduction of two extra dry starch products: Merizett 116 and Merizet 118.

  Both have low moisture contents of typically 5% and 7% respectively.

  Extra dry starches are used in frozen dough, dehydrated soups, noodles, sauces, desserts, and other dry mixes in which moisture control is critical. (more…)

• Friday, February 3rd, 2012, (9:30 am)

  NESTLE LAUNCHES NEW AERO BUBBLY BAR

  Nestlé Confectionery will be reshaping the singles category with the launch of the new AERO Bubbly Bar.

  Engineered to improve the AERO range for the brand’s many fans, the new design replaces the current AERO Peppermint Medium and AERO Milk Medium bars.

  The bar offers a unique bar design, aiming to stand out from the crowd. (more…)

• Friday, February 3rd, 2012, (7:20 am)

  NEW SAN MIGUEL FRESCA LAUNCHES IN THE UK

  San Miguel has announced the launch of its first major brand extension in the UK with San Miguel Fresca, a sunshine lager, best served chilled with a wedge of lime.

  Developed as a result of a strategic partnership between Carlsberg UK and Mahou-San Miguel of Spain, the brewers have developed a beer with a clear appeal to UK consumers, while retaining all the Spanish character and integrity of San Miguel.

  ‘Fresca’, a word often used in Spain to describe a thirst-quenching, chilled drink, is being used in a bid to sum up the brand’s core consumer appeal. (more…)

• Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, (3:11 pm)

  NEW FLAVOURS IN THE MENTOS 3 LAYERS RANGE

  Following the launch of Mentos 3 Layers earlier this year Perfetti Van Melle is expanding its Mentos 3 Layers range with the addition of a Fruity Fresh blackberry-kiwi-strawberry variant.

  The combination of 3 layers of chewing gum that delivers a longer lasting flavour and have proved popular with consumers.

  Aimee Reason, Brand Manager at Perfetti Van Melle said: “Mentos 3 Layers offers a high quality chewing gum with great taste and long lasting flavour. (more…)

• Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, (1:30 pm)

  FIRST DRINKS BEGINS 2012 WITH NEW VODKA BRANDS

  First Drinks has announced that Central European Distribution Corporation’s (CEDC) international vodka brands Green Mark and Żubrόwka will be joining its portfolio in 2012.

  Green Mark is the No. 1 vodka brand in the Russian market and one of the top vodka brands in the world, with annual sales of approximately 10 million 9 litre cases worldwide.

  It is a genuine Russian vodka with international recognition. (more…)

• Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, (11:16 am)

  HAAGEN-DAZ LAUNCHES FIRST MINT LEAF AND CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM

  Luxury ice cream brand Häagen-Dazs is launching a new Mint Leaves and Chocolate product this February, which will be the first mint flavoured offering available in the luxury ice cream market.

  The new flavour consists of a smooth mint ice cream, real mint leaves and chocolate fudge pieces, which will be available in the 500ml format.

  The new flavour will be supported by Häagen-Dazs’ £3 million brand marketing campaign, including activity across TV, digital, in- store, consumer sampling and PR. (more…)

• Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, (9:08 am)

  FRENCH PASTRIES SALES ON THE RISE

  As the most important meal of the day, it’s petit dejeuner not breakfast for Brits, as pastries, such as Brioche and Pain au Chocolat rise in the hearts of the nation – growing at a faster pace than traditional British baked goods.

  According to latest research from Mintel, Brioche sales rose a sweet 25% in 2011 – from £31m in 2010 to £38m in 2011.

  And sales of Pain au Chocolat increased a mouth-watering 14% over the same two years up from £22m in 2010 to £25m in 2011. (more…)

• Thursday, February 2nd, 2012, (7:01 am)

  DANONE UNVEILS NEW CAMPAIGN

  Danone has announced the launch of its new campaign, “The little bottle with a lot inside” for drinking yogurt, Actimel.

  The £3.2m spend is being supported by a 30 second TV ad, national press, outdoor advertising, an on-pack promotion as well as PR and digital media.

  The campaign aims to encourage people to take another look at Actimel and realise there’s more to it than meets the eye. (more…)

• Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, (3:36 pm)

  WERTHER’S ORIGINAL ADDS TWO NEW VARIETIES TO ITS RANGE

  Werther’s Original is extending its confectionery range with the introduction of two new varieties.

  The brand will also be returning to the nation’s TV screens with a multi-million pound advertising campaign this spring.

  The two new varieties, Caramel Fudge and Chocolate Crunch, have been developed to reinforce the longstanding ‘taste of comfort’, a brand proposition which Werther’s has delivered for many generations. (more…)

• Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, (1:23 pm)

  HEINZ LAUNCHES ‘KNOW GROCERY GROW GROCERY’ CAMPAIGN

  Heinz, is announcing the launch of a new initiative ‘Know Grocery. Grow Grocery’ in mid-February that is aimed at helping retailers to maximise profits within the fast growing convenience sector.

  According to latest reports, the convenience and impulse sector is outperforming other areas within the grocery market and is currently experiencing a growth rate of+8.9%.

  The sector is currently valued at, £32.4bn and is projected to grow by another £10bn in five years. (more…)

• Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, (11:47 am)

  NEW LIMITED EDITION SOUPS FROM GLORIOUS

  Food brand GLORIOUS! is adding to the chilled food aisle this January with the launch of two new limited edition flavours to its fresh soup range.

  The two new additions are Oriental Spiced Tomato and New York Chicken Noodle.

  Part of the company’s commitment to searching out new tastes from across the world, the new flavours have been developed as an antidote to the season’s cold weather and dark nights and will be in stores from 28 January for a limited time. (more…)

• Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, (9:05 am)

  OCEAN SPRAY EXPANDS ITS RANGE

  Ocean Spray, distributed by Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE), is expanding its range of products to meet growing consumer demand for natural, healthy drinks.

  New Ocean Spray 100% Juices will be available in three variants; Cranberry Blend, Raspberry & Blackberry with Cranberry and Blueberry & Pomegranate with Cranberry, each containing blended 100% juice.

  Products made from 100% juice have seen greater demand in recent years as consumers seek healthier products for themselves and their families, and four in ten new products now launched contain no additives or preservatives. (more…)

• Wednesday, February 1st, 2012, (7:47 am)

  TROPICANA LAUNCHES NEW BREAKFAST CAMPAIGN

  Tropicana is launching an integrated marketing campaign which will include a new television advert.

  The substantial marketing investment and consumer engagement programme, aims to maximise opportunities for retailers.

  The Brighter Mornings campaign includes a new 30-second TV creative which uses an array of early morning scenes to portray the journey from waking up to actually coming alive. (more…)

• Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, (3:43 pm)

  KERRYGOLD BRINGS BACK SOFTER BUTTER

  Kerrygold has announced that it’s Softer Butter is back in 155 Sainsbury’s stores around the UK due to consumer demand.

  Unlike most other spreadable butters which are made spreadable by the inclusion of vegetable oil, Kerrygold Softer Butter is 100% pure Irish butter, and combines the natural creamy taste of real butter, with the convenience of a spreadable.

  Alison Palmer, Brand Marketing Controller for Kerrygold said: (more…)

• Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, (1:11 pm)

  WAITROSE UNVEILS NEW ‘YOU COUNT’ RANGE

  Waitrose has extended its Love Life own-label range with new ‘You Count’ products taking pride of place on-pack, displaying the number of calories contained in each item.

  The range extension, which launched into stores this week, consists of 64 products for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacking.

  Waitrose says the aim of You Count is to help consumers cut their calorie consumption. (more…)

• Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, (11:11 am)

  KRAFT LAUNCHES NEW PHILADELPHIA WITH CADBURY

  Kraft Foods has taken the Cadbury chocolate brand in a new direction, by combining it with cheese for the first time.

  The company is bringing together two of its brands and launching Philadelphia with Cadbury, a chilled chocolate spread made from Philadelphia Light and Cadbury chocolate.

  Kraft believes the new product has the potential to do very well and is targeting £10m in sales in the first year. (more…)

• Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, (9:39 am)

  WHO NEEDS HEALTH CLAIMS?

  It’s seminar time again and we’re starting the new season with the topic that’s top-of-mind for the majority of us which is, of course, the New European Health Claims Regulations which will be effective in Quarter 4, just in time for Christmas!

  Even the seemingly innocent products, without even a touch of health positioning about them, can have some healthy inference which shouldn’t be there.

  Or looked at the other way, for some products we can say more about their benefits than we might think. (more…)

• Tuesday, January 31st, 2012, (7:34 am)

  FLORA RE-LAUNCHES FLORA ORIGINAL AND FLORA LIGHT

  Flora, the spread brand from Unilever UK, is re-launching Flora Original and Flora Light, following a huge €35m investment into a new production facility.

  The investment aims to further enhance both the taste and health credentials of the products.

  The new cool-blending process preserves the natural goodness of the seeds used in the recipe producing a spread, packed with the goodness of Canola, Linseed and Sunflower. (more…)

• Monday, January 30th, 2012, (3:25 pm)

  THE JUICE BREWERY ADDS BLACKCURRANT FLAVOUR TO ITS RANGE

  The Juice Brewery is adding a new Blackcurrant flavour to its brewed zero alcohol adult soft drink range, Hopper Soft Brew.

  Following the success and growing popularity of its existing Apple and Citrus varieties, a new Blackcurrant flavour will be launched from February 2012.

  Hopper Soft Brew is the first ever brewed zero alcohol soft drink, made from malted barley and hops, fruit juices and spring water, which have been traditionally brewed, but the fermenting process halted before alcohol production takes place. (more…)

• Monday, January 30th, 2012, (1:21 pm)

  HOVIS TO ROLL OUT NEW ON-PACK MESSAGE

  Hovis are changing their bread packaging in a bid to leverage its distinct attributes – of the three major bread brands, only Hovis has 100% British wheat and no artificial preservatives.

  The new packaging will include a consistent blue band to flag their work with Britain’s farmers to produce loaves with flour baked from 100% British Wheat and ‘no artificial preservatives’.

  In addition the pack will now also incorporate elements of a union jack behind the Hovis logo to reinforce its British credentials. (more…)

• Monday, January 30th, 2012, (11:15 am)

  CAVIRO LAUNCHES ROMINO WINE RANGE INTO THE UK MARKET

  Italy’s wine co-operative, Caviro, has announced the launch of its premium wine range, Romio, into Morrisons stores across the UK.

  The Romio Chardonnay Grillo Sicilia IGT and the Sangiovese di Romagna DOC Superiore are classic Italian varietals that offer wine at a competitive price point (£6.49).

  Caviro works with a select group of local producers from Italian regions to produce Romio Wines. (more…)

• Monday, January 30th, 2012, (9:09 am)

  HEINZ LAUNCHES CUP SOUPS IN THE CONVENIENCE CHANNEL

  Heinz, is bringing its new cup soup format – Heinz Squeeze & Stir – to the convenience channel.

  Made from a concentrated purée, each recipe contains ‘one of your five a day’, has no artificial colours, flavours, preservatives or MSG and is low in fat.

  The Heinz Squeeze & Stir range is available in lightweight, squeezable sachets, with a RRP of £0.59. (more…)

• Monday, January 30th, 2012, (7:07 am)

  TETLEY UNVEILS NEW BLEND OF BOTH

  New Tetley Blend of Both is a full flavoured everyday tea that tastes like a standard cuppa, but also includes all the natural benefits of green tea.

  Green tea is reputed to offer many health benefits including boosting metabolic rate (which in turn can aid weight loss) and contains antioxidants which may help to fight free radicals and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

  But green tea can be an acquired taste, so Tetley has developed ‘Blend of Both’ which offers the goodness of green tea, but with the taste of a regular tea bag. (more…)

• Friday, January 27th, 2012, (3:34 pm)

  TILDA’S UNVEILS NEW ‘BEST OF BOTH’ WHITE & BROWN BASMATI RICE

  Tilda’s  has launched new Steamed White & Brown Basmati.

  This new healthier variety combines White Basmati and Wholegrain Brown Basmati, giving consumers the “best of both.”

  Whilst the white grains have a slightly sweet flavour, the brown Basmati has the bran layer left intact, so it’s rich in natural fibre and has a nutty flavour. (more…)

• Friday, January 27th, 2012, (1:22 pm)

  NEW BAKE-IT-FRESH RANGE FROM JUS-ROL

  The new Bake-it-Fresh range from Jus-Rol has been designed to make the tricky baking of bread and pastries easy at home.

  With Jus-Rol Bake-it-Fresh, all consumers need to do is take the dough straight from the package and just follow the preparation and cooking instructions.

  The new range includes Pain au Chocolat, Crusty White Rolls, White Rustic Loaf, Thin Crust Pizza Bases & Tomato Sauce and Garlic Pizza Bread. (more…)

• Friday, January 27th, 2012, (11:17 am)

  GOOD NATURED INTRODUCES BANANAS TO ITS FRUIT RANGE

  Good Natured have launched new Ban-tastic Bananas to their organic range.

  Grown using only natural predators to control pests and disease, the range is grown in harmony with Mother Nature and free from pesticide residue.

  With around only 95 calories and half a gram of fat per banana, this yellow-skinned fruit is also a great source of iron and fibre. (more…)

• Friday, January 27th, 2012, (9:04 am)

  BENECOL LAUNCHES NEW FAT FREE AND FRUIT LAYER YOGURTS

  McNeil Nutritionals Ltd, the company behind Benecol, is expanding its yogurts portfolio with the launch of new Fat Free Yogurts and Fruit Layer Yogurts.

  Both are industry firsts within the cholesterol-lowering marketplace.

  Providing consumers with more cholesterol-lowering choices, the new Benecol Fat Free and Benecol Fruit Layered yogurts are aiming to drive growth in the healthy yogurts category. (more…)

• Friday, January 27th, 2012, (7:27 am)

  CADBURY DAIRY MILK DRIVES SUPPORT FOR TEAM GB WITH POSTCARDS CAMPAIGN

  To kick off the year of the London 2012 Games Cadbury Dairy Milk (CDM), is launching a limited edition pack and on-pack promotion.

  The new promotion is rolling out to support Great Britain’s Olympic athletes, as part of Cadbury’s status as the Official Treat Provider of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

  The limited edition Union Jack designed cardboard box pack, which has been designed to achieve shelf stand- out, will feature on 120g and 230g of the CDM milk chocolate variant, as well as the £1 PMP, from 27th February 2012. (more…)

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