A Rainbow Veg Toasted Flatbread, a Smashed Falafel Sub, and a Chocolate & Salted Almond Bun are among the new bakery items added to retail and coffee chain menus in the new year.
Some items are catering to consumers looking to make dietary resolutions to their Christmas indulgences, while others are keeping the spirit of Veganuary alive with plant-based recipes. And some just aim to invigorate the taste buds as the temperatures stay low.
Check out our round-up of the latest limited-edition bakery NPD rolled out for winter:
Costa
Nishant Bhatia, global food and beverage innovation director at Costa Coffee, claims that “January is about finding small moments of comfort and enjoyment”.
This is said to be front of mind when creating Costa’s latest food menu additions, which introduce bold tastes and make ideal options for lunch or a quick pick-me-up. For something warming and plant-based, there’s the new Onion Bhaji Wrap made with onion bhaji, spinach, chickpeas, roasted onion and peppers, tikka masala sauce and mango chutney in a spiced tortilla.
Morning cravings, meanwhile, are satisfied by the new Tomato & Mature Cheddar Croissant. The coffee brand is also bringing back sweet bakery treats such as the Orange & Raspberry Victoria Sponge, Berry Crumble Slice, and Banana & Chocolate Muffin.
Gail’s
The premium bakery chain, which is on track to open 40 new shops during its current financial year, has unveiled several new bakery items as part of its Winter menu.
This includes a Smoked Chicken Caesar Club (rsp: £8.40) comprising soft white bread layered with crispy free-range bacon, smoked free-range chicken, slaw coated in Caesar dressing, tomato, and rocket. As a nod to the croutons in a Caesar salad, the middle slice of bread has been toasted in bacon fat.
On the sweet side, there’s a Chocolate & Salted Almond Bun (£4.70 / £28 for box of six) which features extra virgin olive oil brioche filled with custard made from dark chocolate, almond milk and almond butter. The bun is topped with a dark chocolate glaze and toasted almond sticks. There’s also a Pistachio & Chocolate Croissant (£4.20 / £25 for a box of six) created from a twice-baked pain au chocolat finished with an extra layer of pistachio frangipane and nibbed pistachios.
M&S Cafés
For toastie lovers who are wary of their new-year diets, M&S Cafés are offering a trio of new Italian-Style Toasted Flatbreads all under 500 calories each.
There’s the Mediterranean-Style Rainbow Veg Toasted Flatbread (rsp: £6.95) stuffed with chickpeas, butternut squash, spinach, chargrilled peppers, and pickled red onions plus a smoky and sweet chipotle and red pepper tapenade to deliver on the flavour front.
The Mozzarella, Sunblush Tomato & Pesto Toasted Flatbread (£6.95), meanwhile, has creamy mozzarella, tangy tomatoes, herby pesto and peppery fresh rocket. And the Chicken & Pesto Toasted Flatbread (£7.50) is filled with British chicken, basil pesto, freshly sliced avocado, sweet semi-dried tomatoes, and rocket.
Larger lunchtime options include the new Katsu Chicken Burger (£11.95), which has buttermilk chicken tenders drizzled with mild Katsu curry sauce in a brioche bun. The Fish Finger Ciabatta (£10.95) comprises flaky cod fish fingers in signature farmhouse crumb with Rosa Verde salad and a tangy salt & vinegar mayo in a ciabatta roll. Both are served with chunky chips.
Pret A Manger
Pret says it has kicked off the new year with a wave of flavour-forward innovation shaped by customer demand. This includes the new ‘Greek-ish’ Baguette featuring British chicken breast coated in yoghurt mayo with feta, cucumber, tomato, Kalamata and fresh mint on a stone-baked baguette – available in full size or half baguettes, alongside five other options from just £1.99.
There’s also the Mexican Style Chickpea & Bean Hot Wrap, which was inspired by the sell-out success of the Chipotle Chicken Super Plate and helps contribute to the 20% increase in hot wrap sales at Pret this month. The new item is made with spicy chargrilled chickpeas, a black bean-inspired mole with chipotle ketchup, finished with a sprinkle of feta, coriander, and melting Grevé.
The high street chain – which recently appointed Ross Warnes as its new UK & Ireland president – has also launched two new soups and a sweet porridge option to warm the palates this winter, along with a new Apple Cinnamon Latte.
Subway
Putting a lighter twist on a classic sandwich is the new Breaded Chicken Sub at Subway, which features filleted chicken breast that is quadruple coated and baked – not fried – to golden perfection. Also including crispy maple streaky bacon, melted cheese, and sweet chilli sauce, it can be customised with a choice of fresh salad and veggies.
There’s also a new vegan-friendly option, the Smashed Falafel Sub, being trialled in 300m UK stores. It brings together falafel made from green chickpeas, blended with a mix of fresh herbs and spices, served in freshly baked bread with crisp veggies and topped with a choice of sauces. Both new menu items are available as footlong or six-inch subs, or as wraps, salads or spuds.
Back by popular demand at Subway is the Oat & Raisin Cookie, now with a new and improved fibre-rich recipe that’s packed with even more raisins.
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