Speciality Food Feb/March 2024

14 PRODUCT NEWS Take stock with our new food and drink round-up @specialityfood New palm oil-free spread launches A breakthrough brand hoping to shake up the plant-based spreadmarket has launched a sustainable alternative to traditional margarine, made without any palmoil. The Flower Farm’s Spread combines sunflower oil with shea butter from the nuts of the karite tree, which grows in abundance in the African Savannah, with the brand saying a family of four switching from a palm-oil infused brand could save up to the equivalent of 27sqm of palm oil plantation a year. It’s a mission close to founder Marcel VanWing’s heart. “The Flower Farm grew out of my personal love for the rainforest,” he says. “I lived in Indonesia for four years, and sawwithmy own eyes the devastating damage to the rainforest for the construction of palm oil plantations. And yet still this continues. “The rainforest is the basis of everything global nature needs. If we want to preserve the planet for future generations, we have to act now. Using palm oil-free products is a small step, but it’s a good place to start. Hopefully one day I can tell my children that I have don e something positive to tackle rainforest deforestation.” theflowerfarm.world Premium ready meals producer expands its reach Premium frozen readymeal brand, FieldGoods, founded during lockdown by brothers Elliot and SamDay, has just launched into 80 independent stores, including Partridges and Fortnum&Mason. The duo moved back to Devon fromLondon during the height of the Covid crisis, where they had successfully been running pop-ups and restaurants. Spotting a gap in the market for nutritious, sustainable convenience meals made without compromise, they set out to create a range of delicious suppertime solutions, using prime ingredients fromBritish suppliers. Beef is native and grass-fed, chicken and pork is free-range, fish is fromMoxon’s and ChalkStream, and all packaging is home compostable or recyclable. In addition, the HQ uses 100% renewable energy from the business’s own solar panels, or carbon offset sources. “Our mission is to reinvent and elevate the readymeal market,” says Elliot. “The brand has grown its range with sales up over 100% year-on-year. It is clear there is a demand from customers looking for inspirational, fresh and convenient meals.” Options available for independent retailers include Thai Red Vegetable Curry, Tarragon Chicken, Miso Butter Hispi Cabbage, Mac & Cheese, Hasselback Potatoes, Melt in the Middle Chocolate Brownie, and Sticky Toffee Pudding. fieldgoods.co.uk Suma unveils new organic pestos Suma has launched two new organic, vegan, authentically Italian pesto, just in time for spring . Available in Green Basil or Red Sun- Dried Tomato, the brand hopes they will become store cupboard staples – ideal for stirring through pasta, or adding to a sandwich. Kate Willis, brand co-ordinator at Suma, says, “Due to supply issues we couldn’t continue with our existing Italian pesto range. This left us with the challenge of sourcing a new range. We were looking for authentically produced Italian pesto and were really lucky to find some which are made in the Genoese area of Italy. “We think customers will enjoy our new pestos as much as we do. We are really excited about the range and hopefully will bring some more new and existing additions soon. “These pestos are good to have in stock. They’re ambient products, with a long shelf-life, and in recyclable packaging. And a great price too.” The products are available to order from 1st March. wholesale.suma.coop “Tasting good and doing good don’t have to be in conflict,” says Ben Vear, co-founder of Living Things, a new gut-friendly soda . The refreshing range of carbon negative drinks have wellness at heart, being low in sugar, and high in fibre and prebiotics, with around two billion live cultures per can. Flavours include Raspberry & Pomegranate, Peach & Blood Orange, and Lemon & Ginger, and the sodas contain just 13kcal per 100ml, while being free from artificial sweeteners. “More than ever the consumer isn’t looking for another sugar-filled soft drink, but for solutions that don’t just taste great, but also pack health benefits and environmental credentials. With Living Things we’re creating a new class of soft drink that finally does all three. “We’ve takenmany months to develop Living Things into what we believe can be a category-defining product, brand and aesthetic, so we’re incredibly excited to be finally sharing it with consumers and investors. We’re also absolutely delighted with the investment interest we have received so far.” drinklivingthings.com Living Things breaks into the functional drinks market ChicP reveals range of innovative ambient hummus products The team at ChicP is delighted to unveil a new range of HFSS compliant hummus snacks, that don’t require refrigeration . It’s taken 12 months to conceive the new line, says founder HannahMcCollum, who adds that she’s always wanted to create a range of products with a long shelf life to help with food waste in the travel and convenience sector. Ready to eat on the go, vegan, and high in fibre, the shelf ready pots are available in Plain, Harissa, Basil and Truffle flavours, alongside a chocolate hummus dip, containing less than a quarter of the sugar and less than half the fat of the leading hazelnut chocolate spread brand, while being full of protein. “ChicP snacks are the perfect health snacks for kids, an office lunch, or ‘on the go’,” says Hannah, who adds, “New solutions to help food waste while creating delicious, colourful, healthier, plant-based natural foods is our way of contributing to a more sustainable food system. chicp.co.uk