Trends

As reported by the IFE (The International Food and Drink event) earlier this year, the fast growing snack market is now worth a huge £365m, growing 1.5% over the past year. Furthermore, 39% of British consumers are more likely to experiment with new exciting flavours in their snacking, demonstrating that there is definitely an ever growing gap in the market for products with innovative flavour combinations. One of the top trends is innovative flavours, as reported by FONA International ‘some 40% of consumers say that interesting flavours are the most influential factor in the packaged products they purchase’. Confectionery brands, and others, are constantly bringing out new and innovative flavours to diversify their ranges, and this trend looks to continue in 2019, with companies capitalising on complex and interesting flavours.

FOODS

LOVE BROWNIES

This multi award winning, Yorkshire based bakery business hand makes a superb range of chocolate brownie based gift boxes and hampers as well as individual packs, all in a variety of delicious flavours. They even do wedding cakes and corporate gifts – the wittily named ‘earning brownie points’ mini hamper is such a good idea!. In line with the research (above) they have achieved authentic and unusual flavours – we particularly liked the chocolate orange brownies – so faithful to the actual chocolate orange and utterly ‘more-ish’.

www.lovebrownies.co.uk

Highly recommended

 

WALNUT TREE

We also sampled the various delights of Walnut Tree (www.walnut.gifts.co.uk); this business specialises in a comprehensive range of festive indulgencies – those that are must have yet often difficult to find. Having achieved 12 Great Taste Awards we expected their gift packs to be excellent – we particularly liked their white chocolate ‘branch’ pack – pictured above – which features mendiants in white chocolate with fruit, nuts or coffee beans.

www.walnut.gifts.co.uk

Highly recommended

 

DRINKS

 

ROSE COTTAGE DRINKS

Originally made in the owner’s family home, Rose Cottage, this producer of Gin Liqueurs can truly be described as having a notable ‘cottage’ industry which deserves a laudable mention. We tried the possibly unique Stinging Nettle Gin Liqueur and were very surprised – it was delightful – refreshingly citrus but with no bitterness and certainly an unusual drink which will appeal to gin aficionados who are looking for something different; it also fits in well with research trends in terms of consumers seeking out new flavours.

www.rosecottagedrinks.co.uk

Highly recommended

 

THE OXTON LIQUEUR COMPANY

Presented in beautiful bottles (which can be personalised), we love the range this company produces and as such we were pleased to revisit their stand (we have long been a fan of their Damson Gin Liqueur) and check out their new offerings. We were delighted to discover their new bramble whisky, which, as explained, has a long and loving development process to create the wonderful festive fruit flavour which ultimately presents with a smooth finish and gentle warmth. Truly described as the whisky for non whisky drinkers we appreciated the innovative energy behind creation of this product – it hits the mark in terms of trends and should equally be ‘a hit’ amongst consumers seeking original products for Christmas.

www.oxtonliqueurs.co.uk

Highly recommended