Clean-label plant-based alternatives and brand collaborations that marry ice cream and craft beer form part of this week’s product round-up.
Seasonal flavors are also on show, as well as a resurgence in vanilla-flavored offerings across both dairy and dairy alternative products.
Mackie’s and BrewDog’s co-branded beer
British craft beer maker BrewDog teamed up with ice cream company Mackie’s to launch a limited-edition honeycomb-flavored stout.
Developed by BrewDog’s brewing team, Two Scoops (7% abv) is a stout inspired by Mackie’s’ Honeycomb ice cream. The two brands - which hail from Aberdeenshire in Scotland - wanted to introduce a beer that’s indulgent but still ‘distinctly BrewDog’ according to director of global brewing at BrewDog, James Kemp.
“Collaborating with another Aberdeenshire business of BrewDog’s scale and creativity has been hugely rewarding,” said Mackie’s MD Stuart Common. “Two Scoops brings together our shared values of innovation and quality, while also shining a spotlight on the talent that exists right here in the north-east of Scotland.”
Two Scoops retails at £3.75/440ml and is available via BrewDog’s website before being rolled out at major UK retailers over the coming weeks.
Giraf’s ‘barista-approved’ alt milk
South African plant-based alt milk company Giraf has released a vanilla-flavored Macadamia Milk product in the UK: a plant-based dairy alternative with no added seed oils or gluten that’s “rich in healthy fats and nutrients”.
Giraf Macadamia Milk launched in the UK in June and is said to have “a naturally creamy texture and a subtle, nutty sweetness” thanks to being made from macadamia nuts, the company says.
The milk alternative is also suitable for use in hot drinks but also as a cooking ingredient.
Chobani’s Dairy Coffee Creamer Cookie Butter
Adding to its range of flavored refrigerated coffee creamers, US dairy brand Chobani has released a Cookie Butter option to satisfy demand for speculoos-flavored seasonal beverages.
Cream, milk, cane sugar, and natural flavors are on the ingredients list which doesn’t feature anything artificial in keeping with Chobani’s clean-label, natural USP. The product is available in 24 fl oz cartons.
Elmhurst’s Costco launch
Plant-based dairy alternatives maker Elmhurst 1925 has partnered with Costco in the US to launch an exclusive three-pack of its Unsweetened Cashew Milk.
This is the first time the brand enters the warehouse club space, bringing its best-selling, clean-label product to a broader audience, says the company. Debuting at Costco locations throughout the Los Angeles area and Hawaii, the three-pack will be available at an SRP of $13.69.
Crafted with just two simple ingredients, cashews and filtered water, the beverage contains up to three times more nuts per serving than other brands and is suitable for use in hot drinks, cereal or as a cooking ingredient.
The brand will also be launching a three-pack of its OatNog in Costco stores across the Bay Area beginning in early-November.
Yeo Valley’s Madagascan Vanilla kefir
British organic dairy brand Yeo Valley Organic has added a Magascan Vanilla flavor to its range of drinking kefir.
Packaged in a 500ml bottle, Yeo Valley Organic Madagascan Vanilla Kefir offers an “indulgent option for consumers looking for something comforting and versatile”, says the company.
Yeo Valley Organic’s Kefir range is packed with 14 live culture strains to support gut health; while vanilla was chosen as a popular flavor that can fit across different use occasions and times of day.
Yeo Valley Organic is also expanding its Blueberry Kefir range to include a 1L bottle format as well as a 4x 100g multipack offering. All products are available now in select Sainsbury’s stores.
Truffle Ghee from 4th & Heart
Grass-fed ghee maker 4th & Heart has launched Truffle Ghee to address demand for premium cooking ingredients.
Available at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide in the US, the ghee is infused with black truffles and black truffle salt and can be used as an alternative to traditional butter and oils.
Priced at $12.99, the product is lactose-free and made from clarified butter.