Product showcase 2021: An upcycled tropical treat from RIND, cheesy innovations from Whisps and seeded bread flours from Doves

When getting cheesy is not cheesy

Whisps Snacks has launched two new treats to fill the cravings of cheese-loving Americans, with the average person consuming more than 40 pounds (18kg) of it in 2020.

Cheddar and parmesan cheeses exclusively made for Whisps are the star ingredients of Whisps Cheese Crumbs and Whisps Cheese Crisps & Nuts. The moorish snacks also tick the ontrend boxes of being high in protein, low in carbs and Keto-friendly. The Cheese Crumbs also offer a gluten-free alternative to breadcrumbs.

“Whisps fans are at the core of every decision we make and watching how people incorporate our cheese crisps into their daily lives has inspired our next moves,”​ said Katie Nahoum, SVP of Marketing at Whisps.

“In the past five years, we’ve seen our fans get creative with our Cheese Crisps, using them as an ingredient in their favourite meals and creating savoury trail mixes with our Cheese Crisps. With premium, quality cheese as the star of our new Cheese Crumbs and Cheese Crisps & Nuts lines, we’re thrilled to introduce new ways to enjoy cheese throughout your day and cannot wait to see what our fans create.” ​

Available in Buffalo and Italian Herb, Whisps Cheese Crumbs are made with 14-month aged artisanal parmesan cheese (the only copper kettle parmesan cheese made in the USA) and are low carb, gluten free and Keto-friendly. Each serving provides 13g of protein and is a good source of calcium.

The snack producer believes its Whisps Cheese Crisps & Nuts will impress everyone from cheese dabblers to cheese purists, complete with its 8-9g of protein, 3g of net carbs and less than 1g of sugar per serving. The snack is also a good source of calcium.

Whisps Cheese Crisps & Nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans and pistachios) is available in three variants, including Tangy Ranch, Smokey Barbeque and Garlic Herb.

The snacks are available from Kroger and select Costco stores across the US, with a roll out on Amazon in January, for an RRP of Crumbs: $6.99 per 3oz bag and $8.99 per 8oz bag; and Whisps Cheese Crisps & Nuts: $7.99 per 5.75oz bag.

I’m dreaming of …

… a sun-drenched beach and tropical cocktails?

RIND Snacks is warming up winter with the launch of a limited edition, island-inspired flavour punch.

The upcycled dried fruit snack producer is known to push boundaries and its Island Blend does not disappoint. The one-of-a-‘rind’ blend contains honeydew melon, mandarin orange and banana bites – bouncing with sweet and tangy notes. Made with rescued, overripe and slightly imperfect skin-on fruit, Island has no added sugar or sulfites, is 100 calories per serving and packs in 4g of fibre in every bag. The tropical blend is also vegan and gluten-free as well as kosher and non-GMO verified.

“As a non-conformist fruit snack, we’ve never been about following the crowd,”​ said Matt Weiss, founder & CEO of RIND.

“Peppermint and pumpkin spice may be nice, but we think consumers are looking for a snack to transport them this winter…which is why we’re fired up to give these summertime fruits a second life in winter.”​

Launched in 2018 in NYC, the brand retains the nutrient-rich fruit skin whenever possible and successfully diverted over 120,000 pounds of edible peels from entering landfills in 2020. It is now on track to triple that impact in 2021 with a goal of one million pounds of peels eliminated in 2022.

Island Blend is available in 2.75oz bags for an RRP of $5.99 on the company’s webite while stocks last.

Ramping up your bread bakes

Doves Farm has launched two new Seeded Bread Flours to further propel the home baking trend.  According to the UK organic flour brand, seeded and wholemeal bread flour has grown by 70% over the past year, boosted by the growing interest in homemade baking and now represents almost 40% of the total bread flour segment.

Doves is aiming to fuel this growth further with the launch of Organic Seedhouse Bread Flour, a light bread flour made from organically grown wheat mixed with organic pumpkin, sunflower, poppy, millet and golden linseeds. The flour is suitable for both handmade bakes and bread machines.

Its Organic Heritage Seeded Flour is a blend of organic wholemeal, spelt, emmer and einkorn flours mixed with teff grain, sunflower, poppy and brown linseeds.

“With an increasing number of home bakers keen to enjoy the taste and nutrition benefits of seeded bread at home, we hope our new organic seeded bread flours will provide a convenient, delicious and ethical solution,”​ said Clare Marriage, founder of Doves Farm.

Available online with an RRP of £2.69 and £2.00 for a 1kg pack.

The family-owned organic flour producer is regarded as a pioneer in organic, ethical and sustainable farming and food production, having been Soil Association certified since it was founded in 1978. Its portfolio includes 20 different flours, including white, wholemeal, bread flour, pasta flour and distinct flours like Einkorn, Emmer, Spelt, Rye and Kamut Khorsan.

Getting tarty

UK seed snack producer Munchy Seeds is gearing up for Christmas with the launch of Choccy Cranberry.

The new variant is bang ontrend, combining a festive blend of chocolate and fruit, while answering the demand for vegan and gluten-free treats. Available in a 125g sharing pouch and 450g mega packs, Choccy Cranberry comprises chocolate coated roasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds with tart bursts of dried cranberries.

“We are very excited to bring this new flavour to the market in time for the colder months,”​ said Lucinda Clay, co-founder of Munchy Seeds.

“Our chocolate-coated seeds have always been popular with our customers and we expect this launch to be no different. Chocolate coated seeds and sweet cranberries – what could be tastier than that?”​

Available in most retail outlets across the UK for an RRP of £3.60-£10.50.

Millionaire’s row

Online baking experts and the UK’s baking kit category leader Baked In has collaborated with Nestlé Carnation to develop a Millionaire’s Shortbread Baking Kit.

The kit includes all the premium dry ingredients, along with a tin of Carnation Condensed Milk to make 15 squares of Millionaire’s Shortbread. As with all Baked In products, the kit is perfectly portioned, meaning its fuss-free, cost-effective and, most importantly, waste-free.

“We’ve always believed that innovation is key to driving our business forward,”​ said Baked In founder Joe Munns.

“This launch is another way of delighting our ever-expanding customer community as we create new ways to enrich their baking experiences. As a challenger business, to team up with a timeless brand like Carnation is a real milestone, too.”​

The Carnation collaboration continues a series of partnerships for Baked In, including a limited edition Brioche Bun Baking Kit with Nutella in 20202 and joining forces with Rowse Honey in its Bread Club monthly subscription.

“Customer habits are changing.  A commitment to sustainability has overtaken the desire for convenience, which is why kits that eliminate food waste, with premium, trusted ingredients are so key,”​ added Munns.

“At the same time, there’s the magic of delighting our customer community. With Carnation we’re offering a baking experience that’s entirely new, with that thread of nostalgia running through it. We know they’ll love it.”​

Dani Campanaro, brand manager of Nestlé Carnation, added, “We’re thrilled to share this exciting new product with our Carnation customers as well as have the opportunity to reach Baked In’s loyal fan base. The Millionaire’s Shortbread Baking Kit brings together Baked In’s signature product format – modern, relevant and fun – with the classic taste of Carnation Condensed Milk. It’s joy in a baking tray and we’ve enjoyed working with Joe and the Baked In team on bringing this NPD to life.”​

The Millionaire’s Shortbread Baking Kits are available online for an RRP of $9.99.

It’s a doughnut, it’s Pop-Tarts … no, it’s a mash-up

Pop-Tarts is taking doughnuts to the next level with the ‘perfect-for-breakfast-but-still-great-on-the-go-anytime-the-craving-strikes’ Boston Creme Donuts and Apple Fritters.

Frosted Boston Creme Pop-Tarts are packed with a custard-flavoured filling and topped with chocolatey icing, while the Frosted Apple Fritter Pop-Tarts come with an apple-flavoured filling and white string icing to mimic the classic apple fritter style.

The two treats will be available at the end of December 2021 in an 8-count box for an RRP of $2.99.

However, the innovations don’t stop there and joining the roll-out are:

• Limited edition Sugar Cookie Pop-Tarts, featuring hilarious printed holiday ‘fails’" designs
• Eggo Frosted Maple Syrup Pop-Tarts, featuring a flaky, buttery crust, a maple filling and white icing – perfect for those holiday mornings when you can’t decide between an Eggo Waffle and a Pop-Tarts.

Available from selected retailers across the US.

Wake up!

Inspired by the traditional Dutch Stroopwafel, Rip Van Wafels has reached the Amazon stratosphere with 4.5 stars and over 5,000 reviews.

The fibre-loaded treats are a convenient indulgence, any time of the day. They will also satisfy the biggest sweet tooth without the sugar crash – sporting on 2g of sugar and 4g of net carbs.

Available online, as well as Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Starbucks and Costco outlets across the US.

Sweet dreams

Nightfood ice cream was formulated by a team of sleep experts for snacking that promotes deep, sweet dreams.

The sweet treat contains a sleep-friendly mineral blend of B6, zinc, magnesium and calcium. Its nutritional profile also includes tryptophan-rich casein protein, prebiotic fibre and digestive enzymes, along with a lower sugar and fat content and fewer calories

Nightfood ships its products across the US. It is also available in over 1,000 Walmart outlets, on ShareAsale and Skimlinks, along with other selected grocery stores and retailers.

Falling in ‘loaf’

Good In Bread has baked a fresh batch of last-minute gifts for time-strapped Londoners.

The subscription service has launched its Limited Edition Winter Wonderbread Festive Bundle, which will make a pretty special treat for anyone who wants to get up close and toasty.

The Bundle (RRP of £30.00 online) includes a Fruit & Spice ‘Winter Wonderbread’, inspired by traditional German Stollen, four Cinnamon & Raisin ‘Loaf Cuff’ Sourdough Bagels, a seasonal jar of honey and berry jam and a custom linen loaf bag to keep bakes oven-fresh for longer.

For budding bakers wanting hands-on experience, founder and certified master baker Emily Caron has also created a series of one-hour Online Sourdough Masterclasses (RRP £30.00).