News in brief: a round-up of industry stories
We visit different corners of the industry to bring you a selection of stories in bitesize form.
#NCW25
Back for its second edition, Natural Cosmetics Week — an initiative run by NATRUE — returns on 17-23 November with a new theme (‘Natural Care, Real Impact: Trust What’s Behind the Label’) to highlight the power of certification and call for greater trust in beauty.
“Natural Cosmetics Week is more than a campaign — it’s a collective effort to build a more honest and responsible future for the sector,” says NATRUE.
Participants can expect expert-led webinars, educational content including behind-the-label insights, influencer projects and social media campaigns.
Weleda: what’s new
Weleda has announced a host of new and updated products to update and extend its iconic Skin Food line.
New additions include the silky Skin Food Super Serum, formulated with hyaluronic acid, ceramides and Weleda’s Skin Food phyto infusion to nourish, hydrate and support the skin barrier; and a re-launched line of high performance, larger-format Body Lotions which pair Weleda’s most popular and proven botanicals with advanced new skin actives, and reposition the lotions in the premium sector.
A Skin Food Lip Stick joins the line-up as a delicately fragranced ‘rescue’ for chapped lips — ‘an ideal impulse purchase at point of sale this autumn’, says the brand. “This everyday nourishing, hydrating and repairing lip stick is a vegan formula that will comfort and smooth, leaving a buttery sheen on the lips for a glowy rather than glossy finish (differentiating itself from the ever-popular Skin Food Nourishing Lip Balm). With unisex appeal, it an obvious go-to SOS product for all the family.”
Single-serve silken
Clearspring has now made its award-winning organic Japanese silken tofu available as a 200g single serve pack, ‘ideal for modern, mindful living’, first-time tofu tasters, smaller households and those conscious of food waste.
“With tofu now enjoyed by one in six UK households, it’s clear that more people are discovering its versatility and flavour,” says Clearspring MD Maria Dawson. “At the same time, 43% of consumers say they waste food due to oversized portions, so our new single serve tofu pack is a simple, sustainable solution.”
A perfect pairing
Suma Wholefoods has teamed up with with Hodmedod to bring health food retailers ‘something seriously special’ — its new Refried Fava Beans.
Suma calls fava beans (also known as broad beans) the ‘unsung hero of UK pulses’. Using Hodmedod’s British-grown Fava Beans the cooperative has brought to market a rich, flavour-packed bean base which it says it is ‘perfect for loading onto tacos, spreading in burritos, spooning over rice or just scooping up with tortilla chips’.
“Fava beans are paler than refried beans made with kidney or pinto beans, but just as delicious,” explains Suma. “Hodmedod’s are the absolute legends of UK-grown pulses, grains and sustainable farming, so collabing with them on this is the perfect pairing.”
Kallo’s first foray
Kallø has made its entry into the dairy alternatives market with two new premium oat milks: Organic Oat & Protein Milk and Organic Gluten-Free Oat Milk, each crafted with minimal ingredients and processing.
The Oat & Protein option packs 25g of natural plant protein per litre, catering to consumers seeking higher protein oat milk which doesn’t compromise on quality. The Gluten-Free variant is made from 100% gluten-free oats to accommodate those with gluten allergies or sensitivities.
The launch comes as brand owner Ecotone announces Jonathan Fish as the new UK commercial director. “Jonathan brings a wealth of food and drink experience from senior roles … and will be leading Ecotone UK’s commercial strategy at a pivotal time for the organic and sustainable food sector. Given Ecotone’s portfolio of purpose-driven brands … this appointment signals a strong commitment to driving growth while keeping sustainability at the heart of its strategy,” says the company.
Flavour-forward
Premium soda brand Jamu has unveiled a re-brand centred around bold graphics and a ‘flavour-forward focus’.
Offering an alternative to sugar-laden carbonates, Jamu’s new flavours deliver ‘exceptional taste’ and functional gut benefits via 6g of prebiotics and apple cider vinegar.
The 14 allergen-free, vegan collection comprises Raspberry & Hibiscus, Blood Orange & Peach and Lemon & Basil, all made with natural ingredients, real fruit, botanicals and zero added sugar.
“We know that people want a drink that ultimately tastes great, so that was our priority when formulating the new flavour profiles. We wanted to create sparkling drinks that would suit all occasions, from an afternoon pick-me-up to drinking socially with friends. The fact that our cans promise so many other health benefits to consumers is an added bonus,” explains Patrick Grant-Sturgis, co-founder.
‘Back and better’
Tesco has relaunched its own-label organic range with an extended product list and a redesign aimed at ‘standing out’ and ‘feeling premium’. The supermarket believes the expanded range will ‘put quality, clarity and customer choice at the heart of organic shopping’ and make it easier to find organic options in Tesco stores.
“Why now? Because demand for organic is growing faster than the non-organic market, and our customers are telling us they want more,” says Ali Gosling, senior brand manager.
”From this week, you’ll start to see our new Tesco Organic packaging rolling out across stores and online. But this isn’t just a redesign. We’re also launching new products across key fresh categories — giving customers even more reasons to choose Tesco for their organic needs. This is about making organic accessible, not exclusive. Tesco organic is back and better than ever.”
By Rosie Greenaway, editor