Page 49 - Food&Drink Magazine Jan-Feb 2019

NEW IN STORE
PLANT-BASED BEVERAGE GROWTH
US plant-based milk and dairy-free cold brew coffee brand Califia Farms continues its push into the Australian market with the launch of three new dairy-free summer beverages: Go Coconuts; Chocolate Coconut Almond Blend; and Mocha Cold Brew Coffee. The products are available in Woolworths stores across Victoria.
Califia Farms says Australia’s sales growth of the plant-based beverage category reflects the company’s sales growth.
The company launched into Australia last year and says it began to make a conscious effort in 2014 to reduce the sugar content across its portfolio by 57 per cent by lowering sugar in existing products and offering more unsweetened products.
The 750ml bottles of Go Coconuts, Chocolate Coconut Almond
AUSSIE CANNABIS GIN
Melbourne’s The Cannabis Company is distilling an initial release of 300 bottles of an innovative new spirit is named The Myrcene Hemp Gin, named in reference to the most abundant terpene found in cannabis. Terpenes are the primary constituents of the essential oils in many types of medicinal plants and flowers and are considered the “essence” of a plant.
The Cannabis Company initially began offering plant-based vegan hemp products for both the human and pet markets but soon started experimenting with the distillation of spirits in Healesville Victoria. For the small-batch crafted gin, during the development phase select elements from the cannabis plant were used in the spirit’s distillation, giving it a considerable hemp content and earthy, woodland character
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MEXICAN-INSPIRED CHRIS’ DIPS
Family-owned Australian food brand Chris’ has released four new south-of-the-border style products to its range of homestyle dips and Snack Packs.
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Blend and Mocha Cold Brew Coffee have an RRP of $4.00, and join a range of Califa Farms almond milks and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) cold brew coffees.
but according to the company, the spirit was still “just a gin” in terms of taste. Further research isolated and examined a variety of terpenes and extensive testing resulted in myrcene being selected as the backbone of the gin.
Also found in hops, bay leaves and mangoes, myrcene composes up to 50 per cent of the total terpene content found in individual strains of cannabis, with myrcene strains reputed to produce joyful and euphoric effects alongside an overall feeling of relaxation.
BEN & JERRY’S ICE CREAM GOES LIGHT
Chris’ latest offerings includes Guacamole; Spicy Corn, Chilli & Lime; and a Mexican-twist on a classic with Tzatziki, with Lime & Coriander.
Guacamole is available in both a 200g tub and as a Dip & Corn Chip Snack Pack.
“We keep a finger on the pulse of the latest Australian food trends and have created our latest Mexican SKUs in response to extensive analysis of industry research and consumer habits,” Chris’ head of brand marketing Megan Bata says.
Prices start from RRP$3.50 for the Homestyle dips and RRP$3 for the Dip & Corn Chip Snack Packs.
Chris’ 200g homestyle range of dips is available at selected independent grocers, Caltex Service Stations, and at Woolworths.
The Snack Packs are available at selected Woolworths.
www.foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au | January-February 2019 | Food&Drink business | 49
A new range of light Ben & Jerry’s ice cream with chunky, swirly flavours will be released in Australia in February after first being launched in the US and the UK.
Ben & Jerry’s Moo-phoria ice cream is claimed to contains 45 per cent less fat than standard ice cream, coming in at between 150 and 160 calories per serving.
Available in three flavours, the new lighter ice cream is made from organic dairy ingredients and is Fairtrade certified. Moo-phoria flavours include Chocolate Cookie Affair, a light chocolate and vanilla ice cream swirled with chocolate chip cookies; Caramel Cookie Fix, a light vanilla ice cream with shortbread cookie and salted caramel swirl; and PB Dough, a light chocolate ice cream with chocolate chip peanut butter cookie dough.
Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is sold via the Uber Eats app, and is also available from Scoop stores and petrol and convenience stores nationally.
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