Fletchers Group of Bakeries has launched a Half & Half sliced loaf under its Kara brand, in response to demand from younger customers. 

 The product combines wholegrain and white flours, and has been introduced to the out-of-home market for Kara Foodservice.

The company says this is the first major branded 50:50 loaf for the foodservice industry.

Fletchers Group head of foodservice Chris Haddy said: “This is an innovative product for the foodservice sector and taps into an established trend towards healthier breads, which still carry a white bread flavour.

“Our Half & Half bread has been extensively researched prior to manufacture to deliver a product which matches consumer likes. This includes reduced bitterness, increased sweetness and the texture of a white bread, but it also contains no hydrogenated fats or preservatives.”

Data from Tesco, compiled by research company Dunnhumby, found a 20% rise in retail market demand for 50:50-style bread by young adults, and 30% growth in demand by young families in the last year.

Kara’s Half & Half bread is a thick-sliced 18 plus two sliced loaf configuration, manufactured from 50% wholegrain flour and 50% white flour.

Half & Half is available in 110mm x 115mm slices and each loaf weighs 750 grams.