New product showcase 2021: Summer’s sorted with kid-friendly snacks, immune-boosting cheese balls and antioxidant-packed exotics

Forging a healthy relation-chip

The Good Crisp Company – a brand of better-for-you chips in the classic canister – has launched Cheese Balls, which offer immune-boosting properties to help consumers develop a better ‘relation-chip’ with their snacks.

The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls were inspired by founder and CEO Matt Parry’s experience in seeing his daughter undergo chemotherapy treatments for leukaemia. Witnessing the power of the immune system first hand, he set out to create a snack that was beneficial to health, adding a clinically proven immune-boosting ingredient called Wellmune.

The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls are non-GMO, gluten-free and made with all-natural ingredients, available in two flavours: Cheddar and Aged White Cheddar.

“With Cheese Balls, we are thrilled to offer a nutritious new snack that doesn’t compromise on flavour and can be easily incorporated into the family routine without guilt,” ​said Parry.

“My family’s health was at the forefront when developing this product and with the inclusion of Wellmune, we hope to bring families an immune-boosting snack that they can feel great about eating.”​

The Good Crisp Company Cheese Balls are available online, with plans for a wider rollout in select retailers across the US, for an RRP of $4 for a 2.75oz canister.

Scone up

The Atlanta-based bakery that is known for its modern wildly creative flavours – like Fig & Goats Cheese, Buffalo Chicken, Apple Caramel and Strawberry Champagne (with real bubbly) – has added a gluten-free and vegan artisanal range to its 100+ portfolio of handmade artisanal scones.

According to Seven Sisters Scones, the new offering is in response to national trends.

A Sprouts Farmers Market-commissioned study found that 2%-6% of the US population today is vegan, with more than half of young Americans aged 24-39 identifying as flexitarians that lean more toward a plant-based diet.

Like its other offerings that can be shipped across the US within 24 hours, the new offerings are individually wrapped individually to avoid cross-contamination and to provide extra freshness.

The new selection includes seven flavours, namely Banana Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Cinnamon Coffee Cake Banana Chocolate Chip, Blueberry, Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Sweet Potato & Cardamom and Cranberry Orange.

The science of baking

Kids baking subscription platform Baketivity has teamed up with celeb baker Duff Goldman to get the whole family into the kitchen.

Duff Kits are designed to help satisfy a sweet craving with ease with all the premeasured dry ingredients needed to create a homemade confection, along with step-by-step instructions.

According to Goldman, the all-in-one kit is also an effective way to teach kids the basics of baking, science, maths and reading.

“We designed our kits to give you a fun experience in the kitchen where you’ll explore the craft of baking and exercise your creativity,”​ he said.

Two kits are available online: The S'mores Sandwich Cookie that features a gooey marshmallow filling sandwiched between two fresh baked soft cookies dipped in luscious chocolate; and the Sesame Street-inspired Fuzzy Monster Cake and Cupcakes Kit to scare up a treat of your choice.

Fall in love again

Hugh Lowe Farms has re-launched its popular Mini Berries in 150g already recycled and fully recyclable PET punnets, now available in selected Waitrose stores across the UK and Waitrose Online.

Positioned as a healthy snack for all ages, the mini heart-shaped sweet strawberries are highly coveted for their incredible depth of flavour and zing of nutrients and are a thrill to be enjoyed alone, added whole to various treats, or used to give bakes and patisseries that professional touch.

Hugh Lowe Farms is a family-run business established over 125 years ago in Mereworth, Kent. The company is one of the UK’s largest soft fruit growers, producing over 5,000 tonnes of fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries between April and November each year. Thanks to a careful focus on sustainable growing, wildlife thrives on the farm, and the berries are certified to the highest standards.

“We’re really excited to be launching the Mini Berries back into Waitrose this summer to truly celebrate their versatile offering and depth of flavour,”​ said Marion Regan MD of Hugh Lowe Farms.

“These strawberries have been specially picked by specialists, which takes an enormous amount of skill. We have a very experienced team here who really do know their berries” ​

Hugh Lowe Farms’ Mini Berries can be found in selected Waitrose stores and online for an RRP of £1.

Tastebud travel

With COVID restrictions still limiting travel, a new snack brand is ensuring consumers can still  indulge in far-flung destinations – with their tastebuds.

Launched earlier this month, Kooky’s range of super fruit snacks includes freeze-dried Jackfruit, Mango and Mangosteen, and soft and chewy Banana and Dragon Fruit.

Born out of the founders’ desire to made exotic fruits more accessible and affordable, the range promises different textures and flavours in pop out colours. Dried to retain the goodness, Kooky’s snacks are 100% fruit, comprising one of your five-a-day and loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.

Kooky’s Hero Box (RRP of £10.95) features a trio of superhero fruits – Dragon Fruit, Jackfruit and Mangosteen – that come with a range of health benefits from immune, digestive, cardiovascular to beauty.

Often referred to as the most exquisite fruit of the tropics, the Mangosteen Packet is one of Kooky’s champion products. Subtly sweet, refreshingly tangy, high in fibre and low in calories, research suggests its inflammatory compounds may protect skin cells from damage associated with sun exposure and ageing. 

“Our aim is to introduce consumers to a different taste palate and broaden their minds with a variety of uncommon fruits that are beautifully unusual, just like how we are all unique in our own ways,”​ said co-founder Deena Tan.

“We hope that customers will embrace and enjoy our offerings – not only for their antioxidant and nutrient-rich profiles, but also for their unusual and quirky physical appearance, eye-catching colours and unique flavours.”​

The snacks are available online from Kooky’s online ‘frui-tique’. A special launch discount of 15% will apply to all orders made before 15 September 2021.

For the thrifty snacker

pladis is helping prudent consumers snack easy with the roll out of its popular Flipz Peanut Butter in a new £1 Price-Marked Pack (PMP) format.

The new PMP joins Flipz’ existing Milk Chocolate PMP, which was launched in August 2020 and is already worth £400,000 in the convenience channel .

“Now worth £12.6m, Flipz is a standout success story for pladis – and one which demonstrates the importance of continually bringing innovation to convenience store biscuit and snacking aisles,” ​said Jonathan Bull, marketing director – Chocolate, Cake Seasonal at pladis UK&I. 

“91% of shoppers are actively looking to save on groceries and … as a nation, we’ve all become accustomed to celebrating moments of togetherness, such as evenings in. Even as we emerge out of lockdown, sharing snacks like Flipz continue to form an integral part of reunions with friends and family, with volume growth up +11.7% YOY.” ​

The new Flipz Peanut Butter PMP is available in independent retailers and wholesalers across the UK.

Celebrating nature

GoGo squeeZ is hitting the highway this summer, travelling from Shenandoah to the Grand Canyon and stopping at 17 Sam’s club locations to celebrate the brand’s partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF) and its first plant-based & dairy-free pudding in a pouch. 

GoGo squeeZ has partnered with the NPF to ensure that all kids – especially those in communities in need – can access America’s greatest classroom. The snack brand has donated $300,000 to the cause, which will enable 15,000 children access to the NPF’s Open OutDoors for Kids​​ programme.

For over 20 years, GoGo squeeZ has innovated by turning popular foods like applesauce, organic fruits and vegetables and yogurt into on-the-go snacking staples thanks to its iconic pouch design. Today, the brand disrupts a new category yet again with the introduction of GoGo squeeZ AlmondBlend Pudding.

The first-to-market plant-based, dairy-free pudding in a pouch comes in four variants – Chocolate, Vanilla, Cocoa-Hazelnut and Banana – and packs in 5g of protein from almonds, 30% less sugar than traditional dairy puddings and only 110 calories per serving. Packed in BPA-free packaging, the vegan treat doesn’t require refrigeration before opening.

“A lot of heart went into developing this new innovation – the combination of portability with less sugar and enhanced nutrition makes it a truly modern option for families looking to offer better-for-you snacks and after-meal treats,”​ said Hele Caillate, chief marketing officer at Materne North America – GoGo squeeZ.

The new GoGo squeeZ AlmondBlend Pudding is available at select US retailers for an RRP of $3.76 for a four-count pack.

Pies by post

The Mad O’Rourke’s Pie Factory in Tipton, West Midlands, has been hand-making pies for more than 30 years. More recently, the family-run business started shipping out its delicacies by post to allow consumers across the UK enjoy its wares.

Pies By Post features a host of cheekily-named pies, such as the Hen Pecked (chicken and chestnut mushrooms in a classic creamy sauce); the 100% Bullocks (beef slowly cooked in Mad O’Rourke’s famous gravy); the Andy Murray (chicken curry); Posh ‘n’ Becks (beef slowly cooked in the famous gravy with Stilton cheese); Wham Bam Thank you Lamb (chunks of lamb in a minted gravy); and the Eeny Meeny Beeny (a vegan offering of beans, mushrooms and garlic in a tomato and chilli sauce).

Pies are baked to order and boxes can be curated to personal choice. Delivery is free, direct to your door. The company will even add a bunch of flavours and a gift card for that extra touch.

That’s breakfast sorted

To set up a smile for the day, Kellogg’s Eggo has introduced its all-new Eggoji waffles, a fun twist on the classic Homestyle Eggo Waffles.

The waffles feature playful animated faces to help break the breakfast tension for parents. From the iconic smile with heart eyes or the look of tear-jerking laughter, each box of Eggoji waffles includes up to six different designs to make any plate full of emotion.

“Eggo is often the one thing parents and their kids can agree on during chaotic mornings. Parents feel good serving their kids a delicious, warm breakfast, and kids love eating them,”​ said Joe Beauprez, marketing director of Eggo.

“And now, just in time for World Emoji Day, we’ve made our classic Eggo waffles even more exciting for families in the mornings. What better way for parents to create small wins for their kids than by serving them – quite literally – smiles on a plate?”​

The brand is also making sure that no kid will go hungry and is calling on fans to join in by using #EggojiNoKidHungry on their social posts. For each hashtag shared between 12 July and 1 August, Eggo will help provide up to 100 breakfasts to No Kid Hungry, with a maximum donation up to half a million mealsi.

Eggoji waffles are available at retailers across the US.

Baking mixes powered by SmartSugar

Miss Jones Baking Co. has launched a baking mix range that incorporates 100% whole grains, along with half the sugar content than other brands.

Everyday Delicious joins Miss Jones Baking Co.’s line of mixes, frostings and sweeteners as the first to be powered by Miss Jones Baking Co. innovation SmartSugar, a proprietary blend of sugar, chicory root, tapioca and monkfruit (which reduces sugar by 50% without any artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols and no weird aftertaste).

Everyday Delicious mixes are available in five flavours: the Monster Cookie Mix, Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix and Fudgy Brownie contain 25%  more chocolate chips, while the Banana Bread and Blueberry Muffin Mix pack 10g of protein per serving. As with all Miss Jones Baking Co. products, Everyday Delicious is easy to use and test-kitchen approved.

“Since founding Miss Jones Baking Co., we have always strived to innovate and make delicious treats we know and love better-for-you without sacrificing taste,”​ said Sarah Jones, founder and CEO of Miss Jones Baking Co.

“I’ve crafted each of our new mixes with more of what you want and less of what you don’t so you can enjoy what you bake knowing it’s tasty and nutritious to the last bite.”​

Everyday Delicious is now available to purchase online, on Amazon and from Kroger and Whole Foods Market for an RRP of $4.99.

Just add tequila!

Old El Paso is elevating taco night with a collection of on-trend items designed to bring popular street food and restaurant flavours to the dinner table without busting the budget. 

The new SKUs serve a family of four in less than 30 minutes and include Burrito Bowl Kits, available in Chipotle Chicken, Adobo Steak, Seasoned Beef (kit include Cilantro Lime white rice, seasoning mix and Queso Blanco sauce); Street Taco Kits, available in Carne Asada Steak (with Medium Creamy Chipotle Sauce), Asado Chicken (with Medium Creamy Jalapeño Sauce), and Barbacoa Beef (with Mild Salsa Verde); along with Squeeze Sauces (Spicy Queso Blanco and Cilantro Lime Fire Roasted Verde) and Cilantro Lime Rice sold individually.

Available from select retailers across the US, for an RRP of between $1.89 and $3.99.

Getting back to life

Matt Hunt – the entrepreneur behind the highly successful OLOVES, The Protein Ball Co and The Great British Porridge Co – has now turned his focus on kids with Goal Power, a new snack brand that not only encourages healthy eating, but will proactively inspire an active lifestyle after 18 months of social distancing and isolation for so many children.

Each collectable match box includes a 100% natural, no added sugar, nutritious Flapjack and a fun football card game with football facts and skills to learn. Once kids have devoured the snack, they are encouraged to use the online platforms to help them develop new skills and interests such as taking up a new sport, reading a new book or taking up a new hobby. Kids can go online to set their own goals and targets for the upcoming weeks, months and even years.

Goal Power is led by football-mad Will Power and his equally sporty sister, Em Power – both created to help kids connect to GOAL POWER through their different personalities.

The hand-baked, kid-sized oat bar comes in two flavours – Strawberry and Blueberry – and is made using 40% British wholegrain oats, coconut, dates, pea protein, crunchy sunflower seeds and fruits. The bars are all natural with no added sugar, are high in fibre, gluten-free, palm oil-free and made using a nut-free recipe, with the aim of giving kids loads of natural energy to get out and get active.

“The last year has been one of instability for children and their families. Clubs and events have been cancelled and it’s been easy to fall into the trap of using technology as a crutch. Goal Power aims to re-inspire children by giving them new skills to learn,”​ said Hunt.

Goal Power is available in select UK retailers for an RRP of 99p per pack.