NPD Trend Tracker: Protein special edition

Fry’s plant-based mince sees Tesco launchUK plant-based brand Fry’s Family Food has launched its plant-based mince in supermarket retailer Tesco. Its Shape & Sizzle Mince, according to the brand, is high in fibre, low in saturated fat and a good source of protein.

The mince is made from non-GM soya and is, according to the brand, ‘shapeable’, which means that it has a lot of versatility.

“We believe our Shape & Sizzle Mince is the first ever shapeable plant-based mince in UK supermarkets, which means consumers will now have a lot more versatility when it comes to making their favourite family meals. The mince works well for meatballs, burgers and koftas as well as other classics such as Bolognese, shepherd’s pie and lasagna”, says Emma Herring, head of marketing at Fry’s.

The mince is available in Tesco at an RRP of £2.50 for 300g.

Müller teams up with Myprotein for protein-filled yoghurts Sports nutrition brand Myprotein is collaborating with dessert company Müller to create protein-filled yoghurts, aiming to tap into surging demand for protein-rich products.

The range, according to the brands, is HFSS-compliant. Each 500g yoghurt pot contains 49g of protein in natural flavours and 45g in vanilla. The range also includes 200g low-fat puddings and low-fat mouse, both containing 20g protein. The mouse comes in chocolate and salted caramel flavours, while the puddings come in chocolate and vanilla.

“The question we’ve been asking ourselves is how do we continue to optimise our health and nutrition range, while bringing something to the dairy aisle that is unique, appeals to expanding shopper needs, and drives further protein category growth,” said Richard Williams, CEO of Müller Yogurt & Desserts.

“What we found is that existing and new protein yogurt shoppers have some concerns around taste, credibility in terms of sports nutrition, and many can be intimidated by brand positioning which focuses on elite sports.

Image Source: Myprotein“So, by expanding our range and bringing together Myprotein, who are the experts in sports nutrition with Müller’s reputation for outstanding taste, we are confident that we have found the perfect pairing for shoppers.”

The range will be available from 11 September. The yoghurt pots will be sold at an RRP of £3, the puddings at £1.95, and the mouse at £2.50.

Birds Eye expands chicken shop rangeInternational food brand Birds Eye has announced the release of seven new products in its Chicken Shop range. The range, which aims to take advantage of the ‘fakeaway’ trend, provides consumers with classic chicken shop dishes at a retail level.

The range includes Loaded Burgers, which are available in Tennessee Style BBQ and American Style Gravy; Hickory BBQ Chicken Wings; Buttermilk Chicken Tenders; Hot & Fiery Chicken Chunks and Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings. Alongside the chicken products, the range also includes Crispy Potato Ridges.

The new items in the range are accompanied by a packaging redesign, which aims to appeal to younger consumers.

Image Source: Birds Eye“Our Chicken Shop brand is worth over £20m RSV and having grown +30% in the past two years there is a huge opportunity beyond this for retailers. With Birds Eye’s Chicken Shop range driving incremental sales to the total frozen chicken category by bringing in younger shoppers, and with a focus on taste and inspiration from the Quick Service Restaurant sector, we’re sure that the new products in the range will help shoppers indulge in that Friday night feeling any night of the week,” said Charlotte Vause-Cross, brand manager for Chicken Shop and Birds Eye.

The range will be available in supermarket retailers from 9 September.

Subway launches new menu Sandwich chain Subway is launching a new menu. The Wild & Mild menu will include spicy items, including the Furious Chicken Sub and the returning Jalapeno Cheese Bread, and milder items, such as the Steak Texicana sub. Subway’s saver menu will also see the addition of the fiery X-Spicy Nacho Chicken Sub, and, on the mild side, Subway’s first Ham and Cheese Toastie.

Subway is also releasing a new Wild & Mild sauce, which will be available as an option for those creating their own subs.

“We’ve added a number of new Subs to both our Signature Series range and our great-value Saver Subs menu that highlight our signature sauces – plus after a five-year hiatus, we’ve finally brought back our much-loved Jalapeno Cheese Bread!” said Deniz Safa, director of regional culinary and innovation, EMEA at Subway.

Image Source: Subway“From our latest Wild & Mild Subs to our signature sauces, we’ve really dialled up the spice levels, so whether you want fiery hot with our x-spicy chipotle Southwest sauce, or tingly mild with our mango habanero, we’ve got something to ignite your taste buds.”

All these new items are available now.

S’mores flavour muscle milk Sports brand Muscle Milk is releasing s’mores flavoured shakes. Available for a limited time, the shakes will include notes of chocolate, marshmallow and graham crackers.

Each container, according to the brand, has only 170 calories, and includes 25 grams of protein, is a good source of vitamin A and fibre, and has no sugar.

Image Source: Muscle Milk”With active adults seeking more protein, the limited-batch Muscle Milk S’mores Protein Shakes deliver a delicious s’mores taste with 25 grams of protein, all in a convenient grab-and-go package,” said Marissa Pines, senior marketing director at Gatorade, parent line of CytoSport, which owns Muscle Milk.

It is available to buy from Amazon as of today.