Speciality Food Magazine - May 2025

specialityfoodmagazine.com 37 SECOND STREET ROASTED HAZELNUT TOFFEE BRITTLE DARK CHOCOLATE The Irish maker’s irresistible plant- based toffee brittle, enhanced with hazelnuts, and coated in smooth Belgian dark chocolate. secondstreetbakeshop.com BROWN BAG CRISPS ABERDEEN ANGUS BEEF & ONION A classic pairing of succulent Aberdeen Angus roast beef, with a bold hit of onion. Free from gluten and dairy. b r ownbagcrisps.co.uk FARMHOUSE BISCUITS FARMHOUSE OAT FLIPS A key line for the brand and one of its biggest sellers. These are packed with chunky oats, delivering a toasty, warm, sweet flavour and crumbly texture customers love. farmhouse-biscuits.co.uk A TASTEOF TRADITION Retailers are always looking to the future, but what if the key to success could be found in the past? W hat do you reach for when you’re craving comfort food? It’s certainly not chocolate-coated insects, fruit leather bars or a protein shake! While all these products have their place in food retail, especially as consumers think more carefully about wellbeing, health, sustainability and a number of other purchasing considerations, no one working in food and drink can deny the pull that traditional and nostalgic foods have had over the last 12 months. There’s a growing consumer preference, says Good Food Studio development manager, Gabriel Bray, towards retro products, and those perceived as more ‘wholesome’, likely influenced by an increased awareness of ultra-processed food. “This shift suggests that the recent nostalgia trend isn’t just about sentimentality – it’s also becoming a marker of quality and authenticity,” he says. Ensuring you follow new trends, while embracing the old, is key in fine food retail today, say insiders. So, alongside those aforementioned insects, be sure to deliver a thread of homely, cosy-feeling lines across categories, showing them just as much love during promotions as the super-flashy boxes of newness. 5 WAYS TO TAP INTO THE NOSTALGIA TREND ● Seek out products with traditional and nostalgic branding. Chequers, candy stripes and dots all draw the eye, as do vintage-style tins, and even oldy-worldy typefaces on packaging. Consumers are being drawn to products that will look bring them a sense of cosy comfort when they look in their cupboards or pantries ● Retro puddings are ‘in’. Big, blousy desserts are here to stay and should be a major consideration in your café or foodservice operation, deli counters and even the freezer aisle. Try sampling roulades, gateaux, billowing lemon meringue pies, trifle pots, blancmanges and cream- laden Victoria sponges. And create some fun inspiration around your product lines on social media – maybe showing how to use bottles or jars of chocolate sauce and local ice cream to make banana splits or sundaes at home ● When it comes to snacks, although shoppers are being drawn in by wellbeing claims, they’re still totally on board with the classics, and crisps will never stop being part of their ‘treat me’ experience. The flavours most resonating at the moment tally with tradition – consumers are being drawn to meaty varieties especially, from good old roast beef and mustard to ham or chicken. Don’t forget to stock up on prawn cocktail too, with some excellent premium options from artisan makers now available ● The rattle of a biscuit tin is so evocative of many people’s childhood memories. Remind shoppers these aren’t just for gifting occasions by putting them front and centre in tasting sessions, maybe with little cups of tea for dunking. Show them how gift tinned biscuits can play a part in their self-treating experience ● Sweets are so much more appealing decanted from big glass jars, or sold in miniature jars reminiscent of traditional candy shops. If you have space and resource, set aside an area for your own tuck shop, or pre-pack pick ‘n’ mix sweets into decorative bags as a grab and go option 2/3 OF GLOBAL CONSUMERS ARE SEEKING OUT TRADITIONAL COMFORT FOODS AND SMALL INDULGENCES FOR SELF-CARE PURPOSES FMCG GURUS Peppermint Teas SUMMERDOWN Summerdown brings you a range of 100% plastic-free restorative herbal teas, all made from the essential herbs grown on the brand’s RSPB Fair to Nature certified Hampshire farm. The collection includes the original Peppermint tea, which is ‘twice as minty’ because Summerdown’s Black Mitcham peppermint leaves are dried and then infused with the essential oil from its own distillery; a relaxing and soothing Peppermint & Camomile tea; and, for those in search of a truly comforting, shoulder-loosening brew, a mild and calming Camomile tea, made from floral camomile heads grown on the farm. summerdown.com STOCK CHECK COTTAGE DELIGHT CHEESE BOARD CHUTNEY This chutney brings the warm taste of British Bramley apples and figs to the table in a chutney that bursts with fruity goodness. cottagedelight.co.uk ENGLAND PRESERVES CHERRY AMOUR JAM Deeply flavoured, with a hint of almond. This jam is made with nearly 60% cherries sourced from a historic orchard in Essex. englandpreserves.co.uk THE GREAT BRITISH PORRIDGE CO RED BERRY & PUMPKIN SEED A healthy and balanced start to the day. Combines British wholegrain gluten-free oats with goji berries and raspberries. Naturally sweetened with dates and coconut cream. greatbritishporridgeco.co.uk Traditional sweets are making a comeback, and Walker’s Nonsuch Toffee is leading the way. As one of Britain’s oldest toffee makers, the family-run company of five generations offers rich, creamy Toffee Twin and Toffee Duo hammer packs, made with care for you to share. Twi n features classic Original Creamy, while Duo combines Original Creamy and Nutty Brazil. Perfect for Father’s Day or simple summer delights, these retro-style treats blend nostalgic flavours with modern appeal. With the signature toffee hammer included, just “whack, unwrap, and enjoy” each delicious bite. Walker’s Nonsuch brings heritage confectionery into today’s trend-driven market with timeless charm. walkers-nonsuch.co.uk Traditional Toffee s WALKER’S NONSUCH