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.

5-day Sleep Challenge

Adaptogenic Apothecary is launching a new natural sleep supplement formulated to improve duration and quality of sleep. Peace Soothing Bedtime Drink uses ten powerful botanicals, herbs and mushrooms to encourage relaxation and a deep slumber. Accompanying the launch is the 5-day Peace Sleep Challenge:

Prioritize bed before 10.30pm

Enjoy Peace at least an hour before bed

Avoid caffeine after 3pm

Create a healthy bedroom environment, eliminate screens at least one hour before you want to sleep. Replace scrolling with reading, breathwork or meditation

Exercise and movement: incorporate a 30 min outside walk, daily.

New brew from Oato

A limited edition flavour has been added to the Oato range: Caffè Latte joins the brand’s fresh oat drinks, housed in reusable glass bottles for inclusion in the Modern Milkman’s morning rounds.

The new small-batch drink combines smooth coffee with classic fresh Oato, finished with ‘subtle tones of vanilla and caramel’. The Lancashire-made product uses 100% British oats and filtered water, staying true to Oato’s commitment to quality and sustainability.

Modern Milkman comments that the collaboration ‘aligns perfectly’ with its mission to deliver fresh, sustainable products to consumers’ doorsteps. “We can't wait to get this unique offering out to our community. Together, we're not just fuelling mornings; we're championing a healthier, more sustainable way of life.”

Sustainable September

Ethical bamboo drinks company Juno Bamboo Water is celebrating eight months of growth in 2024 as it prepares for Sustainable September. “Botanical extracts are trending rapidly as consumers increasingly are looking for natural, proven and ethical sources of wellbeing in a convenient format. This trend is supported by the fact that 80% of people worldwide are relying on herbal remedies to support their wellbeing,” says the brand.

All three flavours of this canned bamboo beverage — Juicy Mango, Zesty Yuzu and Passionfruit — have been listed in Selfridge’s since July, furthering founder Guillaume Poncet’s goal to ‘bring the goodness of bamboo to the masses’.

New haircare duo lands

A new COSMOS-approved ingredient is the star of KinKind’s recently reformulated Give Me STRENGTH! shampoo and conditioner bars, launching this month.

The addition of hydrolyzed rice water protein — which has racked up 330 million TikTok views — is said to increase hair volume by 32% when combined with wheatgerm oil and rosemary oil. The brand positions the bars as ‘perfect for fine, flat or thinning hair and an ideal solution for post-baby or menopausal hair’.

Each plastic-free bar provides up to 50 washes and delivers ‘instant lather’, even in hard water areas.

Planet-first deodorant

Described by He Fe as a planet-first, skin-identical deodorant, Deo Serum concentrates sustainably sourced hemisqualane and squalane into a ‘gentle, weightless barrier that invisibly rebalances body odour over 24 hours’.

The brand developed the 20ml travel-friendly spray ‘with botanicals and minimalism at its heart’, offering fans of aluminium-free deodorant ‘a new level of elegance and simplicity’ for their bathroom shelves.

Sustainability sales boost

Anti-plastic campaigning soda brand GUNNA Drinks is reporting a recent sales spike relating to its sustainable 470ml aluminium bottles.

Sales boosts have been recorded in Midcounties Co-op stores, with a ‘nearly three-fold increase in cash sales’, indicating ‘strong consumer appetite for sustainable alternatives to single-use plastic bottles’.

Initial ‘runaway’ success of Turtle Juice (Tropical Lemonade) and Pink Punk (Raspberry Lemonade) led to significant expansion in distribution and saw the brand secure prime front-of-store positioning as part of the retailer’s meal deal offer.

Wellbeing waters

A new range of flavoured sparkling wellbeing waters has been developed by Sweet Freedom, featuring the ‘pioneering use’ of surplus cocoa juice — a first on the UK market.

Derived from the cocoa bean, cocoa juice usually goes to waste so its use as a natural sweetener in Sweet Freedom Fizz ensures additional income from each harvest for cocoa farmers.

The range comprises: Lime & Mint (for energy and focus); Raspberry & Cranberry (for immunity); Mango & Mandarin (for nervous system support); and Pineapple & Coconut (for gut health).