KTC Edibles Ltd (KTC), the UK’s largest supplier of edible oils, has launched Super High-Oleic Frying Oil, a traceable high-performance and long-life frying oil.
HOPO is blended using 100% traceable, organic, carbon-neutral RSPO Certified Sustainable Identity Preserved (IP) high oleic palm oil sourced directly from Daabon, a global leader in sustainable agriculture. KTC Super Hi Oleic can be offered with full traceability back to Daabon’s CI Tequendama SAS mill in Northern Colombia, providing complete visibility and zero deforestation guarantees - all the data customers need to comply with their obligations under the new European Union Deforestation Regulation (EU DR).
DAABON’s carbon-neutral organic palm oil has a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) calculated CO2eq of -977kg per tonne, cradle to gate. The LCA was conducted using Ecopalma’s carbon footprint estimation tool, harmonised with the ISO 14067 standard.
This traceability offers other sustainability benefits, allowing customers to calculate their Scope 3 emissions - and because it’s sourced from Daabon, a global leader in sustainable agriculture, it can be an effective way for companies to reduce the carbon footprint of their frying operations.
Gary Lewis, Sales Director at KTC Edibles, explains, "Super Hi Oleic offers the gold standard in sustainable, high-performance, long-life frying oils. We believe in offering consumers innovative new products that not only meet their culinary needs but also align with their values and sustainability goals. This is a giant leap forward in the industry, and we're proud to be at the forefront of positive change."
The high oleic palm oil used in the product also offers some unique performance advantages. It has higher oxidative stability and smoke point, lower PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) and saturated fats than standard oils. The non-GMO, non-additive formula also provides a long shelf life, a well-balanced fatty acid profile and neutral taste attributes, ensuring it can be blended with other vegetable oils for premium performance at competitive prices.
Created using a natural, non-GMO hybrid of a standard African palm tree and a native Latin American palm tree, high oleic palm oil offers significantly higher crop yields than standard palm. It also requires manual pollination leading to additional employment, helping boost the local economy - the costs of which are offset by the higher yields.
Super Hi Oleic Frying Oil is the latest addition to KTC's range of certified sustainable, traceable and responsibly sourced palm oil products for bakery, food manufacturers and fryers in the UK.
Casillero del Diablo (#1 Chilean brand and the UK’s #3 wine brand overall) has announced the launch of Casillero del Diablo Zero, a gently dealcoholized wine, in response to growing consumer demand for options for those moderating or cutting out alcohol from their lives.
Following extensive trials headed by winemaker Max Weinlaub, the brand has produced a dealcoholized sparkling which they feel more than meets the quality and drinkability standards that wine lovers expect from Casillero del Diablo. It is made with 100 per cent Chardonnay grapes from the Central Valley, early harvested for freshness, and contains a mere 22 calories per 125ml glass.
“We’re so pleased to launch this new Casillero del Diablo bottling, in the run-up to the festive season when many people will be looking for a quality non-alcoholic alternative," said Brands Controller at CyT UK, Claire Raine. "Our team has worked really hard to produce a sparkling which is worthy of the brand and the style. We’re delighted with the result.
“Almost two thirds of British adults either limit their alcohol consumption, or do not drink alcohol. These trends are being led primarily by younger adults, and we want to make sure we stay relevant and important to everyone. Consumers are now getting used to seeing no/lo options from their favourite drinks brands.”
Sales figures bear this out, with No/ Lo category volume sales projected to rise by 19.3 per cent in 2024. (Mintel). Casillero del Diablo Zero – a year in the making, after multiple trials with the clear goal to mimic a full alcohol Prosecco-style wine – launches in December 2024, RRP £6. It will be available via several UK wholesalers and in independent retail.
Kopparberg, a partner of Budweiser Brewing Group, has announced its latest product, Crisp Apple, expanding its listing with the 4% ABV beverage that taps into the evolving tastes of cider drinkers.
Kopparberg Crisp Apple offers drinkers the much-loved taste of a classic apple cider, balanced with a slightly sweeter profile that the brand is famous for. Whilst apple cider is seeing a resurgence, particularly amongst younger drinkers, Kopparberg, the brand with more 18-34 year old drinkers than any other beer or cider brand [Savanta, 2023] is perfectly placed to bring its cider expertise to the evolving category.
In addition to creating an offering that meets growing consumer demands, this new product aims to attract new a audience and offer an alternative to the more traditional cider brands already on offer.
Whilst Kopparberg has continued to increase its share across both the on and off trade since 2023, Crisp Apple offers drinkers the opportunity to try a modern apple cider, from a brand that consistently delivers on taste and refreshment. Consumers will be able to get their hands on the new product on draught, bottle and can, across both the on and off trade, giving drinkers the chance to consume the product in their preferred format.
“Taste spearheads everything we do at Kopparberg and there is no brand that understands younger drinkers better than we do. With a growing demand for modern apple ciders, we are thrilled to be able to bring Kopparberg Crisp Apple to market in 2025, to ensure that drinkers can access the products they want, from the brands they love,” Peter Bronsman, founder, Kopparberg, said.
Brian Perkins, president, Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I, added: “Kopparberg’s ability to meet evolving consumer tastes with new flavours is a key reason behind it being the leading brand in fruit cider in the UK. With the rise in apple cider as a preferred choice in the category, the product will not only attract existing fans, but also build new brand fans. We’re confident it will be a big hit across both the on and off trade and we look forward to seeing the reaction.”
Kopparberg Crisp Apple will be available in on trade from January 2025 and the off trade from March 2025.
Vape firm Riot Labs has jumped onto the Wrexham AFC Hollywood success story by sponsoring the lowly Norfolk Isthmian league Wroxham FC to share their story of how they missed out on star-studded investment by just ‘one letter’.
Wroxham FC, the non-league football club who claim they missed out on celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney by just ONE letter, have gone viral after a staggered release of their three-part documentary sharing their unique story.
Riot Labs' campaign garnered the attention of international media, featuring on BBC Breakfast and even across the pond on ESPN - the makers of the original Welcome to Wrexham, who also posted the story to their 15 million followers on X.
It’s a story the club have wanted to tell for over three years, finally made possible thanks to new club sponsor, Riot Labs, who have invested in the club as part of a drive to help non-league football fans quit smoking.
As part of the deal with Riot Labs, the club has declared their iconic 50-person Kenny Cooke stand behind the goal “smokefree” for the rest of the season to encourage fans to kick the habit, leveraging the community spirit and perseverance in grassroot football clubs to reflect the journey of a smoker quitting.
Riot Labs have also led an on the ground activation at the ground with their Riot Rehab programme to educate and provide samples of alternatives to smoking directly to fans.
The club released the trailer and series, aptly named, Welcome to Wroxham - and have since racked up close to a million views across social media, garnering thousands of comments from football fans, including many from Wrexham.
The series features wholesome characters from the Norfolk-based football club, including tireless cigar smoking 78 year-old Head Groundsman, Barry Letten, and club Chairman, James Blowers.
Riot led a guerilla marketing campaign by ‘accidentally’ plastering all the promotion for Welcome to Wroxham outside the Wrexham AFC stadium… in Wales!
“It’s simply a great story that had to be told,” Ben Johnson, Riot Labs CEO, commented.
We're always looking for new ways to help people quit smoking, and non-league football is a great audience to target. To be able to support the club and give them the platform and investment to share their unique story is an honour and the reaction has been brilliant - we hope it helps them attract future sponsors, and maybe even Hollywood owners of their own.”
Natural energy drink brand TENZING has launched its first Christmas ad campaign – calling for the return of the original Santa Claus. The 60-second video looks at the changing physique of Father Christmas having signed a sponsorship deal with a famous sugary drink brand over 100 years ago.
The jolly character, depicted as he’s now known, did not always sport a round belly and bursting belt. Back in the day he was slim and strong, a powerhouse of festive energy – hauling trees and presents himself. No sleigh, no reindeer, and definitely no truck. In the video, we see Santa having to make a decision; continue with the cash or opt for a healthier alternative. The ad ends with the return of the original Santa, half the man, fuelled with double the energy having chosen to drink TENZING.
The Christmas campaign has been launched in support of the brand’s latest launch – Fiery Mango, which is the first energy drink of its kind created specifically for the winter months. Unlike Santa’s current soft drink of choice, this innovative new recipe is 100 per cent plant-based and boasts a powerful combination of natural ingredients from Vitamin D and C to Magnesium and Lion's Mane. It would be perfect for fuelling Santa over the festive period when vitamin D levels, energy levels, mood and immunity are all notoriously low. It’s the clean, natural energy he needs to power his sleigh the way he used to – no truck required.
The advert is launching with Lad Bible, Google and TikTok today
Organic food supplier Biona has announced the launch of a new organic Thai Red Curry Paste, which is available to retailers from January onwards, with an RRP of £3.39.
This new medium-hot Thai Red Curry Paste brings the authentic flavours of Thailand to the UK kitchen, crafted with a traditional recipe for a bold and vibrant taste, featuring high-quality, organic ingredients, including chilli, garlic, ginger and lemongrass. Unlike many curry pastes on the market that contain shrimp, Biona’s recipe is also fully vegan, making it a versatile choice for a variety of diets. The recipe also replaces sugar with agave syrup, which will suit those consumers looking for healthier options.
According to Mintel’s 2024 World Cuisines report, over half (54 per cent) of British consumers say they’re cooking from scratch more than they used to. South-east Asian cooking sauces in particular are in strong growth, surging in both value (by 28.4 per cent) and volume (up 11.9 per cent), to cement themselves as the current fastest-growing cooking sauce type.
“We’re pleased to launch this new Thai Red Curry cooking paste as it is well aligned to meet growing consumer demand for scratch cooking and vibrant flavours from further afield," said Carmen Ferguson, Brand Manager at Biona’s parent company Windmill Organics. "We know consumers are increasingly looking for high-quality organic versions of their usual store cupboard ingredients so this latest launch should really hit the spot.”