NPD round-up: cold brew coffee bags to healthy kids' snacks

Square Root extends non-alcoholic cocktail range​

However, we kick off with the low- to no-alcohol trend's continued momentum as East London soft drink brand Square Root unveiled a Passionfruit and a Raspberry twist on its best-selling classic Non-Alcoholic Mojito cocktail. 

The two limited edition summer flavours will be available in more than 200 Young’s Pubs across London and the South East until the end of summer, as well as via the Square Root online store. They join the company’s growing range of adult focussed non-alcoholic drinks including its Non-Alcoholic G&T and Non-Alcoholic Negroni Spritz.

To create the limited edition flavours, Square Root took its Non-Alcoholic Mojito – developed last year in collaboration with Sober Girl Society’s Millie Gooch – and added either a taste of the tropical (sweet and juicy passionfruit) or some summery home comforts (tart Herefordshire Raspberries). The drinks were produced and bottled in house at Square Root’s East London Soda Works.

The release of the two seasonal drinks takes the total number of Square Root’s non-alcoholic cocktails to five. Since releasing its first ready-to-drink cocktail – The Non-Alcoholic G&T – In December 2018, the company reported a substantial increase in the number of adults looking for high-quality, alcohol-free alternatives.

Presto's Cold Brew Coffee Bags​

Sticking with drinks, Presto, the ethical British coffee start-up, has launched what it believes to be the UK’s first Cold Brew Coffee Bags, designed to capitalise on the warmer weather and what it describes as a continuing British thirst for a cold caffeine hit. The bags are designed to deliver a barista-quality cold brew and have a recommended selling price of £9.99 for 30 bags.

Presto said its Cold Brew Coffee bags had been specially developed for optimum cold brewing, containing 25% more ground coffee per bag to help speed up the brew time. The bags comprise sustainably-sourced single origin Arabica beans from Mogiana in Brazil, which Presto said were ideal for cold brewing as the beans were naturally sweet with low acidity. The brew delivered notes of chocolate and malt with a sweet cinnamon and biscuit finish, the company claimed.

Presto operates an ethical sourcing policy and the coffee bags are Rainforest Alliance Certified and use 100% recyclable, plastic-free compostable packaging.

Radnor Infusions range extends​

Radnor Infusions, the new flavoured Welsh sparkling spring water brand from Radnor, launched Blackberry & Pomegranate and Mango & Pineapple variants for retailers. Infusions, produced in Radnorshire, is made using spring water infused with flavours and extracts. It is designed as a standalone soft drink that can also be used as a refreshing mixer for gin and vodka.

Canned at source in mid Wales, Infusions comes in two other flavours – Lemon & Mint and Raspberry & Black Cherry. The drinks are sugar, sweetener, calorie and preservative free and come in recyclable cans. Infusions is available in cardboard shelf-ready 4 x 330ml can packs made for easy fridge access. The recommended retail price is £3.50.

Radnor Infusions's first two flavours hit Sainsbury’s stores last month. Products are also available from Ocado, wholesalers and contract catering suppliers.

Kiddylicious launches pre-schooler snacks​

Baby snacks brand Kiddylicious launched healthy snacks made for children aged three and over. The range includes alternatives to mainstream adult snacks, including Veggie Buttons, Popped Hoops and Fruity Drops to appeal to pre-schoolers. 

Portion-controlled and fit for little fingers, the fresh Kiddylicious range was specifically designed to keep parents in the category for longer, the company said. Products are labelled ‘low in saturated fat’, ‘packed with veggies’ and ‘over 95% fruit’.

Veggie Buttons are air-popped, not fried and come in vibrant Mixed Pepper and naturally sweet Butternut Squash and Beetroot flavour combinations. Popped Hoops are packed with vegetables, with each serving providing a source of protein from lentils and rice and are available in Cheesy and BBQ flavours. Finally, Fruity Drops are jelly roundels made from 96% fruit and high in fibre in both Strawberry, Apple and Pumpkin, Raspberry and Apple variants.

Lactalis UK & Ireland: Grated Mozzarella​

In dairy, Lactalis UK & Ireland announced that it was adding a new Grated Mozzarella to its Galbani portfolio. Available from 5 July, Galbani Grated Mozzarella is made with pasteurised cow's milk.

The launch was in response to a survey indicating almost three quarters of consumers used mozzarella for pizza and half for pasta - both occasions where grated was the most convenient format. The 180g packs are being marketed in resealable bags, which are designed to keep them fresher for longer.

Castle Dairies: Welsh Butter roll​

Castle Dairies launched a new product partnership with Halen Môn Anglesey natural sea salt to produce a Welsh Butter roll.

Made with Welsh cream and Halen Môn sea salt crystals, the butter is packaged as a premium 200g roll and went on sale in 54 Tesco stores throughout Wales in early July.

Castle Dairies churns its butters with 100% Welsh cream sourced from over 200 Red Tractor Assured farms in Wales.

Grenade's new Fudged Up Carb Killa Protein Bar​

For sporty consumers seeking a protein hit, Grenade added a new flavour to its snack bar range: Fudged Up Carb Killa Protein Bar. The 60g bar is packed with 20g protein and just 1.7g sugar, this triple-layered product is designed for chocoholics looking for a healthier alternative to high-sugar confectionery without wanting to compromise on taste. 

Each bar features a fudge-flavoured centre topped with a dark chocolate chip layer, plus a gooey caramel layer and is topped with milk chocolate. It started its roll out on 13 July to customers such as Holland & Barrett, Applegreen and Roadchef hits Co-op Food shops on 8 August, Tesco stores on 9 August, Nisa outlets from 26 August and Morrisons from 27 September.