Our latest round-up of savoury bakery NPD sees influences drawn from various global cuisines, plus some close to home.
There are sandwiches filled with French, Italian and American-style ingredients, a hearty British pie, and an Indian paratha you can pop in your toaster.
Discover more about each new bakery innovation below:
Chicken, mushroom & cider pie, Higgidy
Savoury pastry specialist Higgidy has partnered with cider brand Thatchers to create the “ultimate chicken pie”.
The Creamy Chicken Mushroom & Thatchers Cider Pie combines 100% British free-range chicken pieces with white and chestnut mushrooms in a creamy sauce featuring golden Thatchers cider. The filling is encased in butter-enriched shortcrust pastry and a puff pastry lid glazed with free-range egg yolk and hand-sprinkled with a garlic and thyme crumb – these pastry parts are made with Wildfarmed regenerative flour. The flavour is further enhanced with blended beans and butternut squash puree plus whipping cream for extra indulgence, noted Higgidy.
Priced at £3.75 (200g), the new product joins the rest of Higgidy’s pie range from 9 September, with listings at Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Ocado.
The latest collaboration between the Samworth Brothers-owned company and a premium alcohol brand follows last year’s successful launch of the Slow-cooked Steak & Guinness Pie.
Beef and brie sandwiches, Paul x Raymond Blanc
Another collaboration, this time between craft bakery chain Paul and Michelin-star chef Raymond Blanc, has given rise to a pair of new French-style sandwiches for the autumn season.
These include ‘Le Boeuf Blanc’ (rsp: £8.95), comprising roast beef with celeriac remoulade, horseradish and truffle oil, and ‘Le Brie Blanc’ (rsp: £8), featuring brie with caramelised onions, marinated chicory, crushed walnuts, truffle oil and fine ribbons of celery.
Both served in Paul’s signature freshly baked baguettes, the meat and vegetarian menu options launch at its stores in London, Oxford, and Reading on September. ““These recipes are rooted in the food I grew up with in France but created for how people eat today,” commented Blanc. “It has been a joy to work with a family business that has protected its craft for five generations, and I hope each sandwich brings a little French pleasure to the day.”
Mortadella, mozzarella & pistachio baguette, Pret
Said to be inspired by summer visits to Bologna in Italy, the new Mortadella, Mozzarella & Pistachio Baguette (rsp: £7.50) joins the Chef’s Specials range at Pret. Featuring Mortadella layered with creamy mozzarella, basil & pine nut pesto and fresh rocket, plus a sprinkling of pistachios, it is served in a stone-baked baguette.
The food-to-go chain had earlier unveiled the New Yorker Club Sandwich (£7) made with salt beef, cheese, gherkins, mustard mayo, and carrot slaw. It also came out with a range of Coronation Chicken menu options such as a sandwich, baguette or half baguette.
On the sweet side, Pret launched a Dubai Style range of desserts including the Dubai-Style Chocolate Pot (from £3.25), comprising a creamy chocolate cheesecake topped with pistachios, along with hot chocolate and latte creations.
Paratha Toasties, Shana Foods
South Asian foods specialist Shana Foods has rolled out what it bills as the world’s first authentic paratha designed specifically for the toaster. Ready from frozen in just three minutes, the new product allows consumers to achieve the golden, crisp finish they expect from a paratha without the need for frying or pan cooking. The Paratha Toasties (rsp: £2.75, pack of eight) have already secured listings at Tesco and in Ocado and are also available via wholesalers.
Wembley-based Shana Foods – established in 1996 by the entrepreneurs behind tropical fruit drink brand Rubicon – said its latest NPD taps into demand for convenience, which it notes is the leading driver of frozen food purchases, cited by 33% of consumers [Vypr Consumer Horizon Report, January 2025]. “Consumers increasingly want food that fits easily into their busy lives, but they do not want to compromise on taste or authenticity,” said Shana Foods MD Radha Nagrecha Gagneja.
Chicken Nacho Ranch Sub, Subway
With Brits allegedly discovering ranch sauce during trips to the US for the World Cup over the summer, and Google Trends showing a 20% surge in searches for the condiment during July, sandwich chain Subway has launched a new Buttermilk Ranch sauce at UK stores.
The company has also introduced a Chicken Nacho Ranch sub filled with rotisserie-style chicken, cool original Doritos, double mozzarella and cheddar, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and finished with the tangy and creamy new ranch sauce.
To promote the limited-edition sub, Subway got a ‘Ranch Ranger’ (actually showjumper Fabian Williams dressed in double denim) to deliver an order on horseback to a south London street. “Ranch has been having a real moment – and it’s a flavour people have been actively seeking out. From social feeds, to supermarkets, and now, to our menu – we’re excited to introduce Buttermilk Ranch to our wide sauce line up this summer and as another way for guests to have it their way,” said Cathy Goodwin, director of culinary & innovation at Subway EMEA.
No comments yet