Festive product showcase: Pringles Scorchin’, Frank Dale’s frozen mini treats and Ginger Bakers’ Cranberry, Orange & White Chocolate flapjack

Great British breakfast

The Great British Porridge Co. has launched a new flavour to its 100% natural, no added sugar instant porridge lineup.

The limited edition Apple & Cinnamon instant porridge is a warming festive treat that combines the naturally sweet and fruity flavour of apples with the husky fragrance of cinnamon.

“We have been desperate to launch a Christmas flavour and feel we have created something that not only tastes amazing, but is so evocative of Christmas,”​ said Jacqueline Barleycorn, founder of The Great British Porridge Co.

“Cinnamon is a lovely festive flavour and coupled with the sweetness of the apples, it really is a delicious combination that we know our customers will love.”​

Launched to bring some much-needed cheer to Christmas after a turbulent year, the new instant porridge is one of the healthiest breakfasts you can choose, according to the brand. It is packed with protein, fibre and real ingredients, sweetened only with dates, and suitable for those following gluten- and dairy-free diets.

Apple & Cinnamon joins the five other flavours in The Great British Porridge Co range, which includes Classic Chocolate, Red Berry & Pumpkin Seed, Strawberry & Peanut Butter, Caffe Latte and Blueberry & Banana.

Available in a  7-serving 385g pouch for an RRP of £3.99, the porridges are available from the company’s online shop.

Ring in Christmas

Cap’n Crunch’s Christmas Crunch is back to really get consumers into the holiday spirit.

Cap'n Crunch is a corn and oat breakfast cereal manufactured by Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo since 2001.

The limited edition Christmas variant features red and green Crunch pieces in shapes such as Santa hats and Christmas trees, which can be used to decorate cupcakes, jazz up a snack mix or dress up a gingerbread house.

It also features the Cap'n himself wrapped up in Christmas string lights and wearing a festive scarf and gloves,.

Quaker Oats has also rolled out a new Life! variant that’s bound to add pep to the holiday and beyond.

Chocolate-flavoured Life! comprises whole grain squares that provide 24g of Heart Healthy whole grains per serving to get the entire family off to a great start each day. According to health experts, diets rich in whole grain foods that are low in total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.

The cereal is also packed with five B vitamins and a good source of calcium.

Both new products are available online and at major retailers across the US for RRPs from $2.96 to $10.99 (3-pack 13oz boxes).

Turn up the heat

Pringles is turning up the heat this festive season with its first ever Scorchin’ collection, which is designed to test snackers’ limits, delivering bold flavour followed by a heat that builds over time.

Pringles Scorchin' Cheddar takes cheddar cheese to a whole new level with an extra peppery kick.

Pringles Scorchin' BBQ emulates the outdoor cookout, balancing smoky flavour with a hint of sweetness, wrapped up in a pop of heat from cayenne pepper.

Pringles Scorchin' Chili & Lime combines zesty, citrus hints with a chili pepper bite.

"We’ve launched spicy flavours in the past, but Pringles Scorchin' is our first dedicated collection,"​ said Gareth Maguire, senior director of marketing for Pringles.

“As we created this collection, we knew spice was important, but we also wanted to preserve the insanely accurate flavours our fans have come to expect from our products. I'm proud to say, we have succeeded on both fronts to offer the perfect balance of bold flavour and spicy heat that builds over time.”​

The new variants are rolling out in limited releases to retailers across the US for an RRP of $1.99 for a 5.5oz can. A full release, including a Grab & Go size, will follow early next year.

Enjoy a gluten-free Christmas

Cake makers Ginger Bakers has added a Cranberry, Orange & White Chocolate flapjack to its Squares gluten-free traybake range to encapsulate the Christmas feel.

The new addition features sticky cranberries, chunks of white chocolate and is topped with a decadent white chocolate drizzle.

The new treat joins the brand’s six-strong portfolio, which includes a Chocolate Brownie, Ginger Jake (a chewy traybake with toasted oats and a hint of ginger), Lemon & Polenta traybake cake, Chocolate Nancy (packed with fruits and nuts and topped off with Belgian chocolate), Caramel Shortbread and a Winter Spiced Brownie (a chocolate traybake with a hint of orange zest and cinnamon).

The Squares Gluten Free range has been specifically designed for coeliac sufferers, who often have to eliminate gluten-rich cakes from their diet.

Great care is taken by the Ginger Bakers team to prepare its gluten free range in accordance with exacting SALSA guidelines, in a dedicated free-from kitchen to avoid any risk of cross contamination.

‘’Around on in 100 people suffer with coeliac disease in the UK and many more suffer with some form of gluten intolerance,”​ said Ginger Bakers founder Lisa Smith.

“Cakes are a treat designed to bring a little joy and consumers shouldn’t be about worrying whether or not they can eat them, which is why we took the decision to create a range of cakes and bakes that simply everyone could enjoy without having to worry.”​

Available online, each box contains four individually wrapped gluten free cakes and is priced at £3.50.

The brand also offers a carefully curated Cake Club box, available on monthly subscription, that is delivered to your door.

Available in three month (£35), six month (£70) and 12 month (£125 – which works out at just £11.25 a month) subscriptions for both the brand’s original or gluten-free collections of cakes and traybakes.

Savoury bars shake up snacks space

The Savourists is aiming to disrupt the snacks sector with the launch of one of the UK’s first ever savoury bar ranges.

Featuring innovative flavour combinations – Black Olive & Nori Seaweed and Sundried Tomato & Herb – the bars comprise ancient grains (quinoa, puffed amaranth and sunflower seeds) to provide a snack that is packed with fibre and plant-based protein. They are also low in sugar and gluten free.

“We are on a mission to shake up the on-the-go snacking aisle with an exciting new savoury snack bar proposition,”​ said Harry Turpin, founder of The Savourists.

“For too long, sweet has dominated with hundreds of fruit and nut bars, often with misleading health messages and similar taste profiles. When you dig deeper into the nutritional content, some snack bars have as much as 17.7g of sugar per 35g, which is 50% of the entire bar.​

“We want to evolve the category, that’s why we’ve created The Savourists brand. Our savoury bars are low sugar, use only the finest real ingredients and offer something completely new in terms of taste.”​

The bars have rolled out in Sainsbury’s as part of its ‘Taste of the Future’ drive, along with recently secured listings in Planet Organic, Wholefoods and a host of independents for an RRP of £1.85 per 40g bar.

Stocking stuffers

Mindful snacking US startup Supernola has expanded distribution of its line of organic superfood snacks and introduced a new 4-pack box, which are perfect as Christmas stocking stuffers.

Supernola aims to strike a balance between living a healthy, active lifestyle and enjoying a decadently guilt-free treat.

Its certified organic, plant-based and certified paleo on-the-go clusters are a great alternative to single serve energy/snack bars and act as a multifunctional snack for any occasion, especially Christmas.

Supernola’s Dragon Fruit Lemon Zest, Dark Chocolate Nut Crunch and Triple Berry Vanilla flavours are now also available in six Erewhon stores throughout the greater Los Angeles area, while all six of the brand’s variants can be found in 64 7-Eleven stores throughout Hawaii. The Dark Chocolate Crunch and Triple Berry Vanilla variants are available in all Sprouts stores across the West Coast of the US.

In addition, the producer has created a 4-pack box of its individually packaged snack clusters (available for an RRP of $8.99) to address changing consumer needs.

“The uniqueness of Supernola's delicious flavours and its versatility as clusters vs. a bar has lent itself well to buyers in and out of the nutritional bar category,”​ said Dave Barackman, Supernola’s national sales director.

“With the addition of these 426 new retail stores, we’re thrilled to offer consumers a new mindful and diverse grab and go snack option. We look forward to continuing to expand Supernola’s reach nationwide.” ​

Hot cakes

New kid on the [snacking] block is 3Bros Stroopwafels, which uses the original recipe – a caramel made with sugar beet molasses and lashings of butter, sandwiches between a cinnamon wafer cookie – to bring Dutch tradition to the US.

Stroopwafels were invented in Gouda, The Netherlands, in the late 18^th​ century, and have increasingly grown in popularity in the US.

3Bros handmake its stroopwafels in its nut-free Georgia bakery and, unlike other stroopwafels on the market, have shelf life of only 12 weeks to ensure their ideal freshness.

The family-owned Fayetteville-based producer was founded by Leslie and Guido Vliegen earlier this year and started supplying its stroopwafels to local farmer’s markets – which sold like hot cakes – and now carries large distribution throughout the US state.

The brand recently added two new variants to its portfolio, including chocolate-dipped stroopwafels and Snippers – pressed wafer pieces that can be used as baking inclusions or toppings.

“The Stroopwafel has been a Dutch favourite for over a century, and we’re thrilled to be launching 3Bros to offer the freshest stroopwafel on the market,”​ said Guido Vliegen.

“During this difficult time, we are happy to offer an American-made product that is sure to bring a smile to everyone who tries our fresh and delicious stroopwafels.”​

3Bros Stroopwafels are available in singles and 8-packs from retailers, grocers and local coffee shops in the US state, as well as online and on Amazon.

Just for toddlers

Amara, a food technology company known for its trailblazing proprietary technology that locks in the taste, texture and nutrients of fresh baby meals in a convenient pouch, has expanded into the snacks space.

Landing “another first for the baby food industry”,​ Amara’s Organic Smoothie Melts are a melt-in-mouth snack for babies and toddlers (8 months to 4 years of age), designed to excite developing palates and shaped to encourage skills such as grasping and chewing.

The Melts leverage the nourishing essentials of fruits and vegetables without any added sugar or unnecessary ingredients and are available in plant-based and yoghurt-based varieties, including Beets n’ Berries, Carrot Raspberry and Mango Carrots. Packaged in a resealable bag, they are ready-to-eat and shelf-stable for up to two years.

“Parents tell us we’re the only packaged baby food they trust to give their babies – we’re thrilled to continue to grow with our customers to give them better alternatives for their babies and toddlers when they’re on-the-go. We started Amara under the vision of providing families with fresh, healthy, convenient, and affordable baby food and we’ll continue to do that as their babies grow up,”​ said Amara founder and CEO Jessica Sturzenegger.

The Organic Smoothie Melts are available online, from Amazon and select grocery retailers in the US, with a nationwide roll-out scheduled for the new year.

Give 2021 a heart healthy start

Kellogg’s is giving its Raisin Bran fans a whole new way to enjoy a heart-healthy start to their morning with Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Toasted Oats and Honey.

The new variants includes the ingredients they know – bran flakes and raisins — along with crisp, whole-grain toasted oats and a touch of real honey.

Every serving is a good source of fibre and delivers essential nutrients like iron, all without sacrificing taste. With only 5% of Americans getting enough fibre on a regular basis – crucial to support digestive health and an important part of overall wellness – the brand says it’s a delicious, heart-healthy way to get a sunny start the day, along with New Year goals.

Available from US retailers nationwide, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Toasted Oats and Honey has an RRP of $2.99 for a 15.6oz box and $3.99 for a 22.1oz box.

Festive spread designed to dazzle

This year’s Christmas celebrations might be a slightly more muted, but consumers can still indulge in decadent party treats delivered to their door by food delivery service, Frank Dale.

“The brand of choice for professional chefs”​ (according to the company), Frank Dale is now available to consumers, too, giving them a bite-sized collection of gorgeous canapés, scrumptious quiches, perfect pies and delicious cakes to dazzle any special occasion (and especially the festive one).

Frank Dale also caters for specialist diets, including vegetarian, vegan and – coming soon – gluten free.

The restaurant-quality frozen miniature gastronomic treats are a modern twist on the UK’s traditional favourites and include Yorkshire Puddings, Fish & Mushy Pea Rosti, Steak & Ale and Chicken & Tarragon Pies;  Vegan Pies and Quiches; Sharing Tarts; and a variety of sweet treats like  Victoria Sponges and Black Forest Cake, among others.

Orders include six packs in any combination and are available for free next day delivery in prices ranging from £3.99 for 12 mini quiches to £6.99 for 12 mini cakes.