News in brief: a round-up of industry stories
We visit different corners of the industry to bring you a selection of stories in bitesize form.
Trends for 2025
According to The Food People, this year’s key trends centre around omnivore diets, with more people striving for a balance between plant- and animal-based foods; natural ingredients and minimal processing, increasingly sought after as awareness of UPFs mounts; and the prevention of food waste, with tech playing a bigger role in extending shelf life and detecting food spoilage. Also expected to be big this year: retro desserts; ‘mini meals’ featuring functional foods; transparency and provenance; freeze-dried fruit; and groundbreaking sweet protein alternatives.
Salty and sweet
In other trends set to define 2025, Nicola Woods, event manager at Speciality & Fine Food Fair, says sustainable, organic-approved gourmet salts such as the award-winning Blackthorn Salt will play a major role in domestic kitchens as consumers dine out less and invest in premium ingredients to elevate home-cooked meals.
Woods also predicts that boundary-pushing wine merchants with ‘striking branding’ will continue to change public perception of the credibility of tinned wine, while on the condiments front she believes the UK is ‘on the cusp of a hot honey boom’. “It’s hard to find a pizzeria in the capital at the moment that doesn’t include hot honey in some form on its menu.”
New year, new look
Alongside a full re-brand across its 120-strong collection Mr Organic kicked off 2025 by launching a new range of beans in glass jars and upgrading to a more premium jar for its Pasta Sauces.
Through an updated logo and new labels showcasing plants, the brand has achieved a ‘cleaner, more modern look that will help the products stand out to shoppers’. The ‘friendly Mr Organic face in the logo’ remains central to the company’s identity, while branded lids have been added to jarred products to increase recognition.
Stephanie Lee, brand manager, comments: “We … made a conscious decision to stay on top of health trends. Right now, there is a huge focus on gut health; research shows positive results in the microbiome by consuming 30 plants a week. We decided to include plant points … to help health-conscious consumers calculate their plant points to reach their goal each week.”
#OneSimpleChange
ALTER/NATIVE by Suma has teamed up with sustainable lifestyle brand BambuuBrush to co-launch a range of eco-friendly, stylish and practical bathroom accessories made from moso bamboo (which the brands note is not a food source for pandas). The range comprises Bamboo Toothbrushes, Bamboo Toothbrush Travel Cases, Bamboo Soap Dishes and Bamboo Cotton Buds.
The collaboration is backed by a social media campaign using the hashtag #OneSimpleChange, in which consumers are encouraged to move away from plastic by making ‘small, mindful changes’ to their daily bathroom routines.
Redefining whey protein
The Organic Protein Company will add a new flavour to its range in February. Cookies & Cream is described as ‘a masterpiece in clean indulgence’, offering a popular taste while ‘staying true’ to the company’s ethos of health, authenticity and clean ingredients.
“The new Cookies & Cream blend redefines what is possible with whey protein powders,” says the brand.
The recipe combines ground Bourbon vanilla pods, roasted cacao powder, Spanish pink rock salt and unrefined coconut sugar with the brand’s signature cold-filtered organic whey protein.
Desire to be different
After broadening its distribution to Ocado.com, this month condiments brand All Dressed Up becomes available to indie stores after confirming ‘a duo of new wholesale wins’ with Cotswold Fayre and Diverse Fine Foods, each stocking the full range of Everyday House, Miso & Lime, Tahini & Lime and Spicy Harissa.
‘Born out of a desire to be different’, the brand was founded by Tess Reed to provide an alternative to supermarket dressings which are typically full of emulsifiers, saturated fats and refined sugar. Using natural ingredients, the flavourful range elevates everyday dishes — not just salads — without dairy, gluten or UPFs.
“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 … means we can continue to extend our availability,” comments Reed.
Garden Organic x Viridian
Viridian Nutrition has entered into partnership with sustainable gardening charity Garden Organic to safeguard the future of a ‘valuable herb’ comfrey — a key ingredient in the brand’s range, known to promote wound healing, reduce inflammation and relieve sore muscles and sprains.
Holly Thallon Steenson, Viridian MD, says the two parties ‘share the same core principles of embracing organic growing by focusing on practices that enhance soil health and plant nutrition by avoiding, pesticides and synthetic chemicals’. “For Viridian, it’s important to help preserve this comfrey collection which has rightly so been placed in the charity’s care for many future generations to enjoy.”
Image credit: Garden Organic
‘Wellness with a wink’
G Spot, the functional drinks brand co-founded by actress Gillian Anderson, is broadening its UK reach with a nationwide Sainsbury’s listing, while remaining with CLF to serve independents. The three-SKU range features Lift (berries, apples, peppercorn, bacopa, theanine and cordyceps); Soothe (apples, sage, angelica, magnesium, maca, reishi, and ashwagandha); and Protect (lemon, meadowsweet, ginger, lemon, turmeric and chaga).
“It’s now easier than ever for people to get a taste of what G Spot is all about — bold, refreshing and unapologetically good for you,” comments Anderson. “With our adaptogen and nootropic-enhanced drinks you never have to compromise — taste and health go hand in hand. Or as we like to say, G Spot brings indulgence and wellness together in every sip.”
Fitness fuel from nature
Marathon runners have a new option when it comes to energizing their bodies during the final stretch: The Scottish Bee Company’s B-Fuel Natural Energy Gel. Each sachet of Scottish heather honey delivers 25g of carbs (15kcal of raw energy) along with antimicrobial properties to foster ‘good bacteria’ and polyphenols to tackle airway inflammation.
Suzie Millar, co-founder, says: “As a sports aid honey has historically hidden its light under a bushel. We wanted to add an easy-to-use squidgy sachet of best-in-class honey that can be effortlessly consumed mid-run or workout. There is so much caffeine and synthetic gloop in the marketplace; we just wanted to remind people that, as with so many things, nature often has the answer.”
Bolder, better breakfasts
2025 sees the launch of Dutch challenger brand Holie’s through UK wholesalers, bringing with it ‘the world’s most healthy cereal range’.
Breaking onto the breakfast scene with three granola SKUs (Low Carb Crunch, Protein Peanut Butter and Protein Crunch) and three muesli SKUs (Chocolate, 4 Nuts and Protein) the brand hopes to change the world of cereals through ‘bold, better, healthier alternatives that don’t compromise on crunch or taste’.
Valentijn Van Santvoort, co-founder, says: “Big cereal brands have been hiding sugar in food that they claim to be healthy, when it’s not! That’s why we’re bringing Holie’s to the UK, to offer consumers a range of cereals that are genuinely good for you.”
By Rosie Greenaway, editor