Aluna Rum is set to expand its range with a fresh new product later this month that expertly blends premium rums sourced from Sri Lanka and the Caribbean with the exotic flavours of South Asia to create a true taste of the tropics.
Aluna Tropica is bursting with flavours of pineapple, lemongrass and almonds, with a smooth finish of honeyed spice. The founders have stayed true to form with this addition, creating a spirit that not only advocates for a free-spirited lifestyle, but also provides a lighter, natural take on the rum category that’s accessible to all.
The Aluna range has already accumulated multiple accolades, premium listings and recognition, with a host of gold medals to its name. The first release was Aluna Coconut Rum which challenged the existing preconceptions of coconut rums being sickly sweet and synthetically made. Its success with consumers in the UK and overseas confirmed that the team were onto something. Aluna Coconut Rum was followed by two lower-sugar rum-based liqueurs, Aluna Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur and Aluna Peach & Pomelo Liqueur.
Aluna Tropica is a more considered rum made with natural flavours and less sugar which caters to the health-conscious, more mindful consumer as well as the adventure seekers with a lust for life. Using all-natural South Asian ingredients including pandan leaf, spiced pineapple, lemongrass, and galangal, Aluna Tropica is bursting with a natural flavour that will transport rum lovers to faraway lands.
“We can’t wait for UK consumers to get the chance to taste Aluna Tropica," said Co-founder Guy Ritchie. "We’ve had some incredible feedback on this spirit already. It’s a less sugary, really differentiated flavoured rum that’s as enjoyable neat as it is in a cocktail – something we think will go down really well this summer.”
Co-founders Heather Graham and Guy Ritchie have a significant track record within the drinks industry. Their combined CVs include time spent working with William Grant, Pernod Ricard and others, building brands such as Reyka, The Kraken and Bushmills. They set out to use this experience to develop a brand of more nuanced natural spirits that appeals to the modern consumer.
Heather Graham commented: “We have focused on taking a step away from the usual dark rums and sugary profiles. The freedom to select from a greater diversity of premium world rums whilst experimenting with new culinary ingredients from South Asia has allowed us to create a really appealing product for those who like to explore better drinks”
Aluna has been a proud member of "1% For The Planet" since 2021, committing a minimum of one per cent of total sales to support environmental non-profits.
Aluna Tropica will be distributed in the UK by Mangrove Global and available from Thursday 20 June at an RRP of £32 – the ideal drink to sip on the Summer Solstice.
All Dressed Up has announced wider availability of its range of natural dressings to independents, having confirmed a duo of new wholesale wins with Cotswold Fayre & Diverse Fine Foods, which will list the full range, extended by a new Spicy Harissa, from mid-January. Along with a thriving e-commerce shop, the brand is also available in stores and across more than 100 farm shops.
All Dressed Up offers a range of four flavourful dressings that can be used every day to elevate simple ingredients and make cooking more delicious, simple and fun. Not solely for salads, the dressings offer a quick and easy way to enhance everyday dishes. Using all natural ingredients, and never, UHPFs, the range is free from refined sugar, gluten and dairy. The dressings come in an easy to squeeze bottle format.
The range is the brainchild of Leiths-trained chef, Tess Reed, who wanted to create a brand that not only looked and tasted great, but was good for you too.
“As a lifelong fan of salad dressing, I’d always been really underwhelmed by what was on offer in the supermarkets, with the majority of dressings full of saturated fats, emulsifiers and refined sugars,” said Reed. “I started thinking that the world needs good salad dressing! Not just dressing for leaves, but dressings that you can use everyday in a variety of ways, that elevate simple ingredients and make cooking more delicious, simple and fun.
“I am so excited to be starting the New Year with such a step-change to our distribution. Our independent retail partners have always been our heartland, and continue to be at the core of everything we do. Having two such established wholesalers on board for 2025 means we can continue to extend our availability.”
Leading healthy cake brand Soreen has added Apple & Mango to its popular soft-baked Lift Bar range.
The latest addition to Soreen's non-HFSS portfolio, responds to consumer research highlighting 72 per cent of shoppers would prefer fruity flavoured Lift Bars for a mid-morning boost.
The new flavour aims to drive incremental growth to the Lift Bar range – which ranked fifth among the top ambient grocery launches in 2023 - and taps into the popularity of the sought-after apple and mango flavour pairing.
"We're committed to championing feel-good nutrition," says Liz Jacobs, marketing director at Soreen.
"We're uniquely positioned in the cake category to drive innovation and offer exciting new products in an aisle which is traditionally associated with afternoon and evening consumption. The new Apple & Mango flavour provides a perfect mid-morning pick-me-up that satisfies consumer demand for healthier, delicious snacks and supports retailer health agendas."
The Apple & Mango flavour joins the current range of Lift Bar multipacks: Blueberry and Raspberry & Vanilla. The whole range contains naturally occurring vitamin B12 which reduces tiredness and fatigue, making it ideal for morning snacking.
The Lift Bar range also contains a source of fibre, making it a great choice for consumers looking to boost their gut health.
Soreen Lift Bars appeal to a younger audience looking for a mid-morning snack that offers health benefits and delivers great taste. As the only 100% HFSS-compliant brand in the category, Soreen offer retailers flexible secondary display options throughout the store, further maximising their appeal to health-conscious consumers.
The launch will coincide with a second burst of the Soreen’s masterbrand ATL campaign running in January, live across TV, BVOD and social. The campaign will reach more than 80 per cent of all UK adults.
The Apple & Mango Lift Bar will also receive standalone support via shopper marketing, which will include POS, sampling and digital media across both in-store and online.
The new variant is available as an impulse channel exclusive in the UK for six months from January.
Snacking giant pladis has added a second variant to its popular McVitie’s Gold Billions range.
McVitie’s Gold Billions Chocolate & Hazelnut – layers of delicious crisp wafer with a chocolate and hazelnut flavour cream filling coated in golden caramel chocolate – is available as an impulse channel exclusive for six months from January 2025.
“This launch builds on the phenomenal success of multi-award-winning McVitie’s Gold Billions, which had grown to be a £5m brand only 18 months after launch. It is the number one on-the-go sweet biscuit in impulse ,” said Olivia Haley, brand manager, chocolate biscuit bars & commercial brands, pladis UK&I.
“We know consumers are increasingly looking for an indulgent treat in on-the-go snacking, and our brand and range strategy is centred around indulgence. In consumer testing, they absolutely loved this bar, which scored a huge 88 per cent intended repurchase rate.
“The single bar format lends itself to the on-the-go nature of the Impulse channel, and retailers have been hugely supportive of the new brand launch.”
The McVitie’s Gold Billions core range is being supported with a social and PR campaign in February and March, a first for the brand, as well as instore point-of-sale activation.
McVitie’s Gold Billions Chocolate & Hazelnut (RRP 89p, PMP 79p) is available in wholesale from 6 January.
Gherkin brand Mrs Elswood has unveiled a new duo of snack pickles in handy pouches for maximum on-the-go enjoyment.
The innovative new Mrs Elswood Pickle Bites are available in convenient 50g packs – perfect for on-the go snacking, picnics and lunchboxes – in fiery Peri Peri and the original Classic flavours.
“Delivering all the much-loved punch and crunch of a Mrs Elswood Gherkin but now in a handy pouch for extra convenience, we’re confident that Mrs Elswood Pickle Bites will be a hit with consumers seeking a new vegetable-based snacking experience,” commented Mat Moyes, Marketing Controller for Mrs Elswood.
“We know that consumers are increasingly seeking healthier snacking alternatives – and a pickled vegetable fits the bill perfectly. Pickles are a wonderfully versatile little product – delicious either on their own or when pimping up the dullest of dishes!” added Moyes.
“However, virtually all pickles sold in the UK come in jars and we appreciate that when people are out and about, they don’t want to be dealing with a load of pickle juice so we’ve developed a pickle with all the flavour and barely any brine and popped them into pouches to help consumers enjoy our gherkins wherever they may be.”
Mrs Elswood Pickle Bites are the result of the meeting of three key trends – convenience and portability, the desire to snack more healthily and the growing consumer desire to zing up the everyday with flavours developed specifically to put a punch into lunch.
The launch of Mrs Elswood Pickle Bites comes as gherkins continue to show strong growth in the UK (+10.6 per cent value growth). Mrs Elswood is now the UK’s #1 gherkin with a 17 per cent value share.
Gluten-free, vegan and kosher with an 18 month shelf-life, Mrs Elswood Pickle Bites (RRP £1.79 per 50g pouch) are available through brand owner Empire Bespoke Foods, a leading UK importer and distributor of speciality foods.
Rowntree’s has announced the launch of its latest innovation - Jelly Tots Tangy, as it celebrates the 60th birthday of Jelly Tots.
A vibrant and playful twist on the much-loved classic Jelly Tots, originally launched in 1965, this new creation steps into the sour space, offering fans a flavourful experience that combines nostalgia with tanginess!
Made with real fruit juice, the sweets are not only bursting with flavour but are also vegan-friendly, appealing to a broader audience who value delicious treats.
Packaged in a 140g sharing bag, Jelly Tots Tangy (RRP £1.50) is perfect for any sharing occasion, whether it's a family gathering or fun sociable events with friends.
“At Rowntree’s, we are dedicated to bringing joy and innovation to our fans. With Jelly Tots Tangy, we’ve taken a beloved classic and added a refreshing twist that we believe will resonate with both new and loyal fans alike,” Hayley Nixon, senior brand manager for Rowntree’s, said.
“It’s not just a sweet; it’s a fun experience to share and enjoy together!”
Jelly Tots Tangy rolls out in stores nationwide this January.