SHELF TALK Cornish plant-based ice-cream brand gets new name and refreshed look By Tom Dale
Cornwall-based vegan ice-cream maker Coconuts Organic has announced a rebrand and name change to Cecily’s ahead of major NPD announcements this year. The plant-based ice-cream company, which recently closed a third crowdfunding round early, has designed its new packs to make more of the founder Cecily Mills’ Cornish heritage and reflect more of herself in the brand. “The rebrand has been on the cards for a long time,” said Mills, “but then in lockdown we were looking at where we wanted to take the brand, how we wanted to diversify products in the future, and it suddenly the time was
right to detach from Coconuts Organic.” The new image and name, said the founder, gives the brand more scope to develop new products and use different milks in the future. Mills said that the decision also came about because of a desire to put more of herself into the brand. “We wanted to get across that this is my passion, I started this in the annexe of my house in Cornwall – this is me and it’s my product and I love it so much.” With a swathe of new lines in the pipeline and yet to be announced, Mills revealed one product she is particularly excited about, Lovely Little Bites – bite-sized pieces of icecream – designed to be eaten like chocolates from a box. “We’ve had a really positive response from buyers that have sampled them,” she said. “There’s nothing in the freezer at the moment from people who want plant-based snacking options. You have a tub of ice-cream or a stick, but there’s nothing communal.” Cecily’s has recently launched into M&S Food, but Mills remains dedicated to the brand’s relationship with independents, who, she said, play a huge part in their plans for the future. According to the founder, the company plans to launch indie-only ranges in the future. cecilys.co
WHAT’S NEW Kent Crisps has launched a new addition to its range of handcooked snacks, Lamb & Rosemary flavour crisps. In keeping with the brand’s local ethos, the new line uses grass-fed Romney lamb from Kent Shepherd. The new flavour is available in cases of 20 x 40g bags. kentcrisps.co.uk Pep & Lekker has rebranded and reworked the recipe of its Seed Snacks to broaden their appeal. The rebrand includes a new recyclable pack and the recipe change has replaced sunflower oil with olive oil and reduced the chia seeds, also adding date syrup to the sweet options. pepandlekker.com Devon-based Sandford Orchards has launched a collection of vintage ciders; a cask-aged cider, ‘Sandford Reserve’, a fresh oak-finished cider, ‘Apple & Oak’ and a vataged cider, ‘The General’. RRP £32.00 for 12 x 500ml bottles.. sandfordorchards. co.uk
Chocolatier hopes to inject ethics into the industry
Chunk of Devon are launching a Ploughman’s Pasty and new vegan Ploughman’s Pasty ready for British Summertime. Containing all the key ingredients of a traditional ploughman’s lunch including ham, cheese, apple and a dollop of the nation’s favourite, Branston pickle. They will be available for nationwide delivery from 28th March from chunkofdevon. co.uk with an RRP of £3.50 per pasty (box of 8 – £28.00). chunkofdevon.co.uk
A new brand is hoping its range of unique bean-to-bar chocolate will inspire a more ethical approach across the industry. Wnder’s founder Luke Pearson said that child labour, slavery and environmental exploitation are still rife in the cacao industry, despite many attempts by the larger companies to combat the problems. Wnder aims to give consumers confidence that they are “doing the right thing while maintaining flavour and quality.” “Why wouldn’t you want an ethical brand?” he said. “Modern chocolate should absolutely be doing the right thing in terms of the way cacao is grown, how the people who process the incredible beans are treated and how as a business we can give back.” Pearson said the brand aims to work with lesser-known cacaos, which was behind the decision to launch the Papua New Guinean bar. “It’s known to be difficult to work with but returns massively with unique umami smokey notes,” he said. Launching last year with two varieties – Vineyard from Nicaragua and Campfire from Papua New Guinea – and has recently unveiled
a range of drinking chocolates harking back to the origins of the delicacy. The 65g bars have an RRP of £6.95 (wholesale price: £124, 30x65g) and Wnder’s drinking chocolates RRP at £14 and £19 (trade, £7.50 and £10) for its 69% and 100% Guatemalan respectively (both 150g). wnderchocolate.com
Vol.22 Issue 3 | April 2021
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