Brits drinking more coffee as they deal with the stress of the pandemic.

All malt and no ‘moo’

Iconic British brand, Horlicks, has launches a new foodservice product – Horlicks Vegan.

All malt and no ‘moo’, this dairy-free Horlicks blend provides foodservice operators with a delicious ingredient that can be used to create an extensive range of on-trend, dairy-free menu options, say the brand.

“Whether a foodservice operator is looking to use this blend to create a delicious dairyfree version of the classic malted beverage that our nation knows and loves, or whether they are looking to create dairy-free shakes, frappes, bakes, cakes and more, our highly versatile Horlicks Vegan will help satisfy soaring demand for new vegan options, as well as meet the trend for malted flavours on menus,” said Michelle Younger, marketing manager for Horlicks.

Available from Aimia Foods, the new product extension also marks the first vegan-friendly malted drink brand to enter the European market. Registered by the Vegan Society, the new recipe has been developed to cater not only to vegans, but also for those who suffer with dairy allergies.

Brits drinking more coff ee as they deal with the stress of the pandemic

Almost a third of British people (28%) are drinking more coffee in an effort to alleviate the stress of the pandemic, claims new research initiated by Coffee Direct. A whopping 78 milion extra cups per day are being consumed by thirsty Brits since the beginning of COVID, they report, largely due to the increased numbers of people working from home since the start of the pandemic (only one in 10 - 13% - said they are drinking less since March last year), they feel. According to the new fi ndings from Coffee Direct, who deliver freshly roasted coffee beans directly to consumer doors, one in fi ve Brits claim their caffeine consumption has escalated, and they are drinking one more coffee each day. More than one in fi ve (22%) are consuming two or more, one in 10 three more a day, and less than one in 20 (4%) are consuming fourseven more cups per day, they found. The most common reasons for drinking more coffee at home are taking more breaks (62%), to help with stress (28%) and to increase motivation (27%). The new research also shows that, on average, people are drinking around two fewer take away coffees per week. Lewis Spencer, founder of Coffee Direct said: “The way in which our lives have transformed in such a short space of time has heavily impacted our daily routines, which has seemingly resulted in an increasing number of cups of coffee. “This trend is supported by a 96% uplift in online coffee orders since late March last year, across our entire range of freshly roasted coffee beans, including our fi lter, espresso, percolator and cafetiere lines. We’ve also seen a rise in orders for whole coffee beans, showing an increase in people keen to grind their own beans and make their coffee from scratch – perhaps because they have more time to do so now they’re working from home.”

Psychologist and wellbeing consultant, Lee Chambers, added: “Firstly, we are surrounded by more environment cues to ‘brew up’ when working from home - our domestic environments are designed to live, relax and express ourselves in. As we have more authority over our working patterns, incorporating making a coffee into our schedule, gives us those moments of disconnection that are vital to our wellbeing. With the social coffee shop experience being limited, it can also feel like a treat - a moment of peace carved out for ourselves in uncertain times. “What is clear is that the making of coffee is gaining signifi cance as an activity that provides benefi ts - in the future, I’m sure we’ll be looking to combine the social benefi ts of coffee with the creative and relaxing elements in the dynamic world we live in.” Jay Bhayani, employment lawyer and managing director of HR law fi rm, Bhayani Law observed: “One of the problem areas is the lack of breaks taken, as a coffee can be drunk whilst still working. As an employment lawyer I have seen a huge increase in mental health issues for home workers. Employers should be checking in with their staff regularly, and should ensure they have home working policies which encourage regular breaks and physical activity, even if it’s a short walk or some ‘deskercise’.”