Speciality Food Magazine -November/December 2025

specialityfoodmagazine.com 13 Tapping into the growing demand for both protein and fibre- rich products, Bio&Me, founded by Dr Megan Rossi BSc PhD RD AKA The Gut Health Doctor, has announced the launch of its newDaily Boost Fibre & Protein bars. The bars are available in Blueberry and Cocoa variant s and contains 9g of protein plus 10 diverse plant-based ingredients including wholegrain oats, dates, pumpkin seeds, carrots and extra virgin olive oil to help consumers to achieve their protein and fibre goals. The bars are HFSS-compliant, with the Cocoa variant containing 5.2g of naturally-occurring sugars and the Blueberry variant containing 6.3g, plus they are gluten-free and vegan-friendly, and contain no artificial ingredients, sweeteners or palm fat. Dr Megan Rossi, Bio&Me co-founder, said, “At Bio&Me, we’re on a mission to make looking after your gut health deliciously easy. So many protein bars on the market are laden with added sugars or non-sugar sweeteners like sucralose and stevia which the World Health Organization now cautions against, along with emulsifiers, palm fat, andmore – all of which are Ultra Processed Food red flags, and go against fundamental gut health principles. We wanted to do things differently. We’ve worked hard on development to elevate the health standard of protein bars. These new bars not only deliver on protein, but also the too often forgotten about, yet equally important nutrient, fibre, sourced from a diverse range of plant ingredients. We’re bringing the protein:fibre index into the spotlight. This is something I studied inmy PhD as being a key predictor of health outcomes as opposed to isolated nutrients.” bioandme.co.uk Bio&Me releases new Fibre + Protein bars Premium octopus lands in UKmarket Spanish importer Mevalco has announced the launch of anMSC-certified octopus range. The range includes three-star Great Taste Award-winning MSC Cantabric Sea Octopus, which has been sourced exclusively through the importer’s long-standing partner El Viejo Pescador before being cooked sous-vide at low temperatures for optimum quality. The range has been designed to represent the best of sustainability, traceability and quality and brings the distinctive flavour of Cantabrian waters, delicate texture and a rich nutritional profile. DavidMenéndez, managing director of Mevalco, said, “We are delighted to introduce this exceptional octopus to the UK retail market. Harvested with the utmost responsibility and expertise, it represents both a culinary delicacy and a centuries-oldmaritime tradition. Through our partnership with El Viejo Pescador, we are proud to bring the best of Asturias to discerning retailers and their customers.” mevalco.com Franklin & Sons releases Yuzu variant The premium brand of soft drinks, tonics, sodas andmixers has announced the launch of its new Yuzu Soda. Created using fresh yuzu juice, the soda is a carbonated combination of the sweet-sharp citrus fruit popular in Asian cuisine and fresh water from the Lake District. The new soda can be enjoyed on its own over ice or mixed with a variety of spirits. Pete Thornton, senior brand manager at Franklin & Sons, said, “Consumers are increasingly seeking unique and refreshing flavours that bring a sense of discovery to everyday drinks, and yuzu is a perfect example of that trend. Our newYuzu Soda captures this trend perfectly, offering a bright, citrus-forward profile that works both on its own and as a versatile mixer.” franklinandsons.co.uk