From Milka chocolate milk to sweet butter

Sweet butter “a new standard” for the butter category​

We know butter is on trend right now, and that trend continues with the launch of a pastry-flavoured offering from UK start-up All Things Butter.

Cinnamon Bun Butter was developed in collaboration with Ruby Bhogal, finalist of the popular British television show Great British Bake Off 2018. The former contestant has joined All Things Butter as an equity partner.

The new offering is described as a “sweet” and “creamy” butter, aromatic with notes of cinnamon, sugar and a hint of lemon. It is designed for spreading on toast, crumpets, muffins and waffles.

Cinnamon Roll Butter complements All Things Butter's savory range, which includes salted, unsalted, garlic-herb and chili varieties.

“I am excited to announce that I will be joining the All Things Butter team to lead the brand’s next venture and penetrate a new market for sweet butter,” said Bhogal.

“We've been working on some really delicious recipe developments aimed at evolving the category and getting people to use butter in new, creative ways. Cinnamon Bun is just the first in a series of amazing new flavours and I'm sure all foodies will love it as much as I do!”

From the perspective of Toby Hopkinson, who founded the company last year with chef Thomas Straker, the sweet butter range brings innovation to the butter category, which has seen “little to no” innovation in recent years.

“As we see from both the All Things Butter and Ruby's audiences, consumers are looking for new, interesting flavors in their everyday lives, and that's exactly what we aim to deliver with our groundbreaking butter concepts.

“With Ruby’s passion for flavour and her expertise in baking, we are confident that our sweet butter range will set a new standard in the butter category.”

Milka chocolate, but with milk​

Confectionery giant Milka is expanding into the beverage sector. The Mondelēz International brand is considered one of the most popular chocolate brands in Europe and will also be available in milk form from June 2024.

This move came as Mondēlez signed a licensing agreement with European dairy cooperative Arla Foods. According to the agreement, Arla has the rights to produce, distribute and market chocolate milk under the Milka brand in three countries: Germany, Austria and Poland.

In these regions, consumers will have access to three different flavours (Original Chocolate, Caramel and Noisette) and three different pack sizes (220 ml, 250 ml and 750 ml). All products will be produced at Arla Foods' dairy in Esbjerg, Denmark.

“Milka is a beloved brand and I know we have the production, trading and marketing expertise to take it to the next level. That’s why our ambition is clear,” said Patrik Hansson, EVP and CMO at Arla Foods.

“We want to be number one or two in our launch markets.”

Ready meals for the air fryer: A first in the UK​

Britain's first Airfryer ready meal range will be launched at Farmfoods, Poundland and independent stores across the country. The 14-strong product line from

Frozen ready meals are considered a novelty in this category because they were specially developed for the hot air fryer.

The range sold by MJ's Diner includes chicken nuggets and fries, katsu chicken and crinkle cut chips, breaded fish fingers with fries and beef meatballs with fries and gravy. All ready meals have less than 915 calories.

An estimated 12.5 million households in the UK use air fryers, which MJ owner Noel Davis sees as a clear opportunity.

“Our range fills a gap in the market for those looking for quick, delicious and affordable meals without compromising on quality,” said Davis. “With the increasing popularity of air fryers, we are delighted to be able to offer Brits a convenient solution to their culinary cravings.”

Davis continued: “The offer is a no-brainer for time-poor Brits. It's cheaper, faster, healthier and of far higher quality than ordering in – every time.”

The frozen ready meals are ready in under 20 minutes and, although designed for the air fryer, can also be cooked in a conventional oven. The products cost between £1.99 (€2.33) and £2.49.

Heinz fills Rösti with beans​

Kraft Heinz is filling Rösti with baked beans again, but this time with a new barbecue sauce.

The new offering, which follows two previous launches of bean-filled hash browns, combines Heinz BBQ sauce with hash browns, adding a “unique twist” to the breakfast classic. “First we launched the iconic Beanz Hash Browns, followed by Tomato Ketchup Browns, and now we're bringing another much-loved Heinz favourite to our Hash Browns collection – a new twist to your breakfast this summer,” said Caio Fontenele, Head of Growth at Heinz.

Heinz Barbecue Filled Hash Browns will be available exclusively in UK Iceland stores from 4 June. “We are committed to offering innovative and exciting food to our customers and we are delighted to be able to offer the new Heinz BBQ Filled Hash Browns exclusively in our stores,” commented Andrew Staniland, Head of Buying at Iceland Foods and The Food Warehouse.

“The launch of Heinz Tomato Ketchup Filled Hash Browns was a huge success last year and we can’t wait for people to try this incredible new product, which is sure to become a firm favourite with breakfast, BBQ sauce and hash brown lovers alike.”

Oat smoothies with hidden vegetables​

Oats are not only a trend in the category of alternative dairy products for adults, but are also used in the category of children's food. And sometimes even mixed with vegetables.

This is the approach of Three Robins, which is launching oat milk-based smoothies for

Three to twelve year olds in the UK. The dairy-free smoothies contain no added sugar and are a source of vitamins B12, B2 and D as well as folic acid and iodine.

They also contain “hidden” vegetables, including carrots, parsnips, zucchini and beetroot.

Three Robins launched in 2022 after founder Karen Robinson learned that one of her children was lactose intolerant. “As a mother, I was frustrated by the lack of quality options on the shelf and couldn't find a brand that could meet all of our young family's needs.

“I was disappointed by the high sugar content of so many supposedly healthier snacks and the limited selection of nutritious, plant-based kids' treats that my boys would actually enjoy.”

The new oat milk-based smoothies launch this month at a recommended retail price of £1.89 per 100g.