World first: Pets at Home to sell lab-grown meat dog treats
British cultivated meat manufacturer Meatly achieved an important first this year after gaining UK regulatory approval for its cultivated meat in July 2024.
Produced in collaboration with plant-based dog food brand, The Pack, a limited-release of ‘Chick Bites’ went on sale at Pets at Home’s store in Brentford, London in February.
Pets at Home - one of the largest investors in Meatly - is the first retailer to sell pet food made from cultivated meat globally, aligning with its ambition to make pet food ‘more sustainable’ by making and selling products using less carbon, land and water.
Commenting at the time of the launch, Owen Ensor, founding CEO of Meatly said the idea felt like an audacious goal.
“Just two years ago this felt like a moon shot. Today we take off. It’s a giant leap forward - toward a significant market for meat which is healthy, sustainable and kind to our planet and other animals,” he said. “We’re proud to work alongside fellow pioneers Pets at Home and The Pack for this momentous endeavour.”
Chick Bites combine plant-based ingredients with Meatly Chicken to provide an alternative to traditional dog treats.
To make Meatly Chicken, a single sample of cells was taken from one chicken egg - according to the company, this has produced enough cultivated meat to ‘feed pets forever’.
Korean hangover cure drink launches in the UK
A new Korean pear juice drink designed to prevent hangovers was launched in the UK last spring.
Nashi Pear Juice was founded by London-based sibling duo Taya and Lucy Jackson and sold 1,000 cans inside its first month.
The sisters developed Nashi after researching the use of Korean pear juice as a hangover remedy, with a modern study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology confirming its benefits in supporting alcohol metabolism and reducing hangover symptoms.
“We created Nashi because we believe life is for living, whether that means hitting the gym, enjoying time with family, or simply getting through the workday without a pounding headache,” said Taya Jackson.
“We’re not about encouraging excessive drinking – we’re about making it easier to enjoy a balanced lifestyle so you can have the night before and the morning after.”
Nashi Pear Juice is made of 100% Korean pear juice and is available now for purchase directly via the brand’s website.
Each can of Nashi delivers a 220ml dose of Korean pear juice, the amount that has been shown to support the body’s alcohol breakdown process.
The drink should be consumed 20 minutes before consuming alcohol after it which it should help the body process alcohol.
Kellogg’s and Minor Figures announce NPD
Back in April, Kellogg’s added to its cereal range with the launch of its all-new High Protein Bites.
The non-HFSS cereal contains 21% plant-based protein and is high in fibre, while it comes in a ‘Choco Hazelnut’ flavour.
The NPD went on sale exclusively in Sainsbury’s from the start of May, before it launched across all major retailers in June, while each 400g pack retailed at £3.50.
Commenting on the launch, Kellogg’s senior activation brand manager, Lejla Damon, said that the firm was catering to shoppers that are looking to start their day with a protein rich breakfast.
“This is why we are so excited to announce the launch of Kellogg’s High Protein Bites, in a delicious Choco Hazelnut flavour – bringing greater choice to the everyday shopper looking to up their protein intake,” Damon added.
In the same week, Minor Figures launched its new ‘Hyper Oat’ range of drinks. The “category-first” collection of functional oat drinks was designed to reimagine the plant-based drinks space.
Available in four flavours – berry, matcha, turmeric and mango – the range is not aiming to mimic the taste or texture of dairy, but rather is “bright in colour, light in flavour, and rich in function”.
The berry and mango SKUs were first made available in Waitrose and Ocado, while the full range launched on Amazon and via independent retailers in May, retailing at £3 per carton.
Samworth Brothers partners with YO! on ready meal range
This year, Samworth Brothers partnered with restaurant chain YO! on the launch of a new Asian ready meal range.
The new range is designed to deliver “restaurant-quality meals” that can be purchased conveniently and then enjoyed at home.
Unveiled in supermarkets on 23 April, the range was initially made available at a promotional price of £4 per meal, down from £4.80 to drive customer interest.
With five mains and three sides, the SKUs are being manufactured by Samworth Brothers and were developed in partnership with YO! owner The Wonderfield Group.
The mains include Chicken Katsu Curry, Beef Teriyaki, Miso Aubergine Bowl, Firecracker Chicken Rice and Korean-style Chicken Donburi dishes, while edamame, chicken bites and gyozas can be purchased as sides.
“At Samworth Brothers, we are proud to manufacture and distribute high-quality, innovative meal solutions,” said Robin Averill-Hampshire, senior commercial strategy manager at Samworth Brothers.
“This partnership with YO! is a fantastic opportunity to bring an authentic and trusted high-street brand into more homes across the UK.”
According to Kantar data, the ready meals category has been experiencing substantial growth, with brands in this space delivering £30 million growth in the 12-month period up to February 2025.
The category has also seen a surge in buyer numbers, with 31% of new shoppers entering through ready meal brands.
KFC partners with London firm for limited edition Gravy Gelato
In a quirky launch, fast food chain KFC partnered with artisan ice cream maker Hackney Gelato to roll-out a limited-edition gravy flavoured gelato.
Sold exclusively though KFC’s online store, Gravy Gelato looked to blend the taste of the fried chicken franchise’s signature condiment with ‘traditional Italian gelato craftsmanship’, with notes of peppercorn and chicken.
Blurring the line between dinner and dessert, the gelato came in 460ml tubs and was sold for £5.50 – a ‘treat’ for KFC mega fans.
Commenting on the launch, KFC brand manager Phoebe Syms said: “With this collaboration, we’ve taken the nation’s gravy obsession to the next level…to give the people what they never knew they needed.”
Tom Lister, Hackney Gelato CEO, added: “We’re no strangers to pushing flavour boundaries, but gravy? This is a first for Hackney Gelato.
“When KFC asked if we could do this, it took some convincing of Enrico and our chefs, but as ever they stepped up and delivered – we can’t wait for fans to try this intriguing and savoury delight.”
All proceeds from the sale of the gelato went to the KFC Youth Foundation, empowering young people across the UK.
M&S strawberry & crème sandwich breaks the internet
Over the summer, Marks & Spencer really turned heads with its borderline bonkers ‘red Diamond Strawberry & Crème’ sandwich.
As expected, the odd concoction duly went stratospherically viral – even making its way onto national news outlets, including the BBC and The Guardian.
Drawing inspiration from Japanese ‘sweet sandos’, the SKU was a stroke of marketing genius, timed to coincide with the start of the Wimbledon Championships – themselves famously associated with the historical fruity treat.
But do strawberries and cream belong on a sandwich? It most likely doesn’t matter in the end, as the limited-edition item is now long-gone from M&S’ shelves having achieved everything it set out to – get the supermarket’s name to the top of the pop news agenda.
In a rather telling LinkedIn post, Kathryn Turner, director of product development at M&S Food said: “Our Strawberries & Creme Sando landed in-store last week and I’m delighted that it’s created such a buzz online and in-store.”
“Thanks to some brilliant innovation, the sandwich has made headlines and generated hundreds of pieces of coverage, including spotlights on national television. We’ve even seen our socials go strawberry mad, with 12.6 million views and 38.5k likes on Instagram, the sandwich has become our third most liked post ever.”
Gazpacho con tin can? Chilled, canned RTD soup arrives in UK
This rather interesting NPD (which appears to simply be gazpacho with extra steps), is said to be the UK’s first chilled, ready-to-eat soup available in a 100% recyclable aluminium can.
Dozz is designed to be drunk straight from the can, cold – with no bowl, microwave or cutlery required.
The soup offers a fresh and convenient solution for health-conscious consumers looking for a light lunch or snack on the go. Each 310ml can is low in calories, ranging from 33 to 57 kcal, and free from preservatives and artificial colours.
Having already proven popular in Europe and secured listings with several major European retailers, Dozz made its UK debut at the Lunch! Show in September, where it was featured in the Innovation Gallery.
Commenting, Ender Bolat, Dozz’s general manager, said: “Today’s consumers are time-constrained but more health-conscious than ever.
“We created Dozz to be an on-the-go solution, something fast, nutritious and enjoyable. Whether you’re commuting, in back-to-back meetings or simply don’t have time to cook, Dozz offers real food that’s ready when you are, with no heating and no hassle.”
The range includes 10 different flavours – Gazpacho, Mixed Vegetable, Yogurt and Mint, Tomato, Broccoli, Chicken, Chilli Bean, Lentil, Mushroom, and Spinach – at an RRP of £2.50.
Pistachio Pots: New NPD from The Coconut Collab hops on the Dubai Chocolate craze
The new flavour of ganache has been inspired by two hot UK hits – pistachio and Dubai chocolate.
The Pistachio Pots join The Coconut Collab’s line-up of dessert pots – Choco Pots and White Choc Pots. Like the other dessert pots, this latest addition to the range is plant-based and gluten free, made without palm oil and with no artificial colours or sweeteners.
The Coconut Collab Choc Pots have gained a loyal following since launching in 2016, with White Choc Pots added to the range in 2024.
Underscoring its small ganache pots’ popularity, Circana data shows that The Coconut Collab is the only dairy-free dessert brand currently in growth.
“Over the past decade our little ganache pots have gained cult status with UK shoppers. The new pistachio launch is a perfect example of trend-led innovation – the right product at the right time,” said James Averdieck, founder of The Coconut Collab, who was also the brains behind dessert brand Gü.
The launch of these Pistachio Pots follows explosive interest Dubai chocolate – a trend sparked by a TikTok video posted in December 2023.
At just 118 calories per serving, the new Pistachio Pots are available in Morrisons and Ocado now, at a RRP £2.95 (4 x 45g), with further retail launches in October.
Quaker Oats unveils clean label porridge
The PepsiCo owned brand was the latest to roll out a breakfast option made with simplified ingredients with its ‘Quaker Oats & Fruits & nothing else’ in September.
Quaker Oats & Fruit are made from natural ingredients, with over 80% wholegrain oats and real fruit, and sweetened with date power. Following moves made by other brands, such as M&S and the US protein brand RXBar, the new porridge features the ingredients list front of pack.
Research published earlier this year by NSF, shows that more than three-quarters (76%) of UK adults read food labels before purchasing – a figure that rises to 82% among 18-34-year-olds. Moreover, almost half (45%) of consumers pay more attention to labels compared to five years ago.
The study also found that consumers prioritise comprehensive processing information (70%) and detailed allergen information (65%) as the most valuable additions to food labels.
“At Quaker, we understand how important it is for people to start their day with the right fuel.
“We’ve made Quaker Oats & Fruit both delicious and nutritious, with clean and transparent ingredients, helping to give the nation better food choices so they can maximise their mornings with a healthy and satisfying breakfast,” commented Josephine Taylor, Quaker marketing director UKI at PepsiCo.
