A raft of new free-from bakery products have been unveiled by brands, including no-egg quiches, plant-based sausage rolls, gluten-free pizza, and vegan-friendly cakes and biscuits.
This supports the continued expansion of the free-from sector, catering to dietary requirements such as veganism and consumers living with allergies and food hypersensitivities.
Below is a round-up of recent free-from NPD.
No-Egg Quiches, Crackd
Crackd has launched a range of no-egg quiches in three classic flavours – Quiche Lorraine, Cheeze & Broccoli, and Caramelised Red Onion. Priced at £3 each, the 150g quiches in fully-recyclable packaging will hit Tesco shelves nationwide from the end of May.
Products are certified by the Vegan Society and are handmade in Devon using Crackd’s plant-based liquid egg replacer, created with pea protein and corn oil, baked in a golden pastry crust. Each recipe also includes vegan Applewood cheeze, with This Isn’t Bacon Lardon providing the meaty element of the Quiche Lorraine.
Crackd marketing manager Nisha Singadia said they had identified quiches as being a key opportunity area. She noted there were previously no plant-based offerings in the quiche sector, which had experienced 8% growth according to research from 2021. The Coronation Quiche had recently been named the national dish to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III.
Safetylicious Oat Squares, Angelic
Free-from brand Angelic has created Raspberry & Apple and Banana & Chocolate varieties of flapjack-style squares, available via Ocado.
Priced at £3 for a pack of four (30g per square), the oat squares are free from the top 14 allergens including nuts, dairy, soya, eggs, and gluten.
The product has been developed to take the worry out of kids’ snack times and are said to be the first children’s biscuit to meet the criteria in allergy-free school policies. According to charity Allergy UK, most schools in the UK will have one or two children with a food allergy, with numbers set to rise. The appointment of an Allergy Tsar was debated in parliament last week, while Food Standards Scotland recently launched free online allergen training for businesses.
Mini Veggie Sausage Rolls, Gosh!
Plant-based manufacturers Gosh! has joined the ever-expanding market of meat-free sausage rolls.
The new Mini Veggie Sausage Rolls are comprised of 100% natural plant-based sausage with sage and black pepper, encased in a light, moreish pastry. Touted as a healthier snack, they contain no artificial ingredients, E-numbers or added sugar.
The 27g mini rolls come in packs of six (rsp £3.10) and will be available in Tesco stores from 29 May.
Vanilla Celebration Cake, Just Love Food Company
After launching its Confetti Traybake, Just Love has doubled down on new vegan-friendly vanilla cake offerings this month by unveiling a celebration cake.
The company said it overcame ‘considerable challenges’ to create the party cake free from nuts, milk, and egg while not compromising on taste or texture’.
Big enough to serve ten revellers, it comprises vanilla sponge filled with vanilla frosting and plum and raspberry jam, covered with soft icing, and hand finished with multicoloured decorations. Cakes are made at the firm’s nut-free, peanut-free, milk-free factory in Blackwood, South Wales, and go on sale at £6 each in Asda stores nationwide.
Deep Dish Vegan BBQ Chick’n Pizza, Chicago Town
Frozen pizza brand Chicago Town have partnered with vegan food specialist Squeaky Bean to produce a plant-based version of its deep dish pizza.
The Vegan BBQ Chick’n Pizza features Chicago Town’s signature smokey BBQ sauce combined with vegan mozzarella and smoked gouda on a deep dish base, topped with Squeaky Bean’s chicken-style pieces, red peppers and sweetcorn.
The new product was launched in Tesco and Farmfoods stores from 15 May, priced at £3.05.
Squeaky Bean, which is owned by The Compleat Food Group, recently came out with snack-sized vegan sausage rolls in shareable packs. Described the deep dish pizza as the “ultimate vegan comfort food”, Squeaky Bean’s marketing controller Rebecca Youseman said they were “excited to introduce more people to our products and prove that meat-free alternatives can match, if not taste even better, than their meat equivalents”.
Hazelnut Praline Biscuits, Rhythm 108
From its bakery in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, Rhythm 108 has launched its vegan Hazelnut Chocolate Praline Biscuits, which are also organic, gluten-free and palm-oil free.
The crunchy, buttery sable biscuits are filled with rich, gooey hazelnut praline filling. Each share bag (135g) contains approximately nine biscuits and is priced at £3.
Available in Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Planet Organic stores, via Ocado, and from wholesalers.
Gluten-free Margherita Pizza
Modern Italian food brand Crosta & Mollica has unveiled its first gluten-free pizza.
The dough for the gluten-free base uses proper wheat flour and is slow-proved, creating an open crumb structure for a gratifying crunch. It is topped with Crosta & Mollica’s classic tomato sauce, mozzarella, and Sicilian oregano. The 355g margherita pizzas are £5 each and available for purchase exclusively from Ocado.
Crosta & Mollica, which recently achieved B Corp status, said it had created the product after recognising importance of the gluten-free category within the food industry. The gluten-free market is ‘currently worth an estimated £835 million per year’ and remains on a growth trajectory, claimed the company.
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