www.happen.com

Feb ‘19

Innovation in action: the insider’s guide

to the insights and ideas impacting your

world. Spotted by the people who make

Happen, happen.

Source

Coca-Cola

Non-alcoholic fizz gets a refresh

The world’s largest beverage company

is accessing health-conscious trends

with the launch of Bar Nøne, a range of

alcohol-free sparkling drinks. Coca-Cola

brought the new range to market in just

ten months, claiming it’s targeting a

“mindset” not a demographic.

Sweetened with juice and cane sugar,

the low-calorie brand is aiming for a

wide appeal with four flavours.

https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2019/01/coca-cola-launches-

line-of-alcohol-free-sparkling-drinks/

Image: Coca-Cola

Source

drink420

All the chill, none of the high

A London drinks startup is taking

cannabis mainstream - at least, the legal

part. Launched by Simplee Aloe

cofounder Alex Lai, the cans pack a

15mg-sized cannabidiol (CBD) punch.

CBD lacks the psychoactive properties

of marijuana but could help reduce

anxiety and insomnia. Drinks 420 makes

no medical claims, instead focussing on

its all-natural, low sugar content and the

tagline ‘time to unwind’.

https://drink420.co.uk/

Image: drink420

Source

Kopparberg

Refreshing water with an alcoholic

twist

Balans has launched its alcohol-infused

flavoured sparkling water in the UK. The

Swedish cider-maker’s brand targets the

booming ‘healthy alcohol’ market, with

4% ABV and less than 60 calories.

Balans follows in the footsteps of brands

that have seen success with alcoholic

seltzers in the US, including Diageo’s

Smirnoff Spiked Sparkling Seltzer.

https://www.foodbev.com/news/balans-aqua-spritz-kopparberg-

releases-alcoholic-sparkling-water/

Image: Kopparberg

Source

Noveltea

Oolong Tea + Scotch Whisky

Having already had success with their

gin and rum-based teas, Noveltea is

moving into whisky. Each product

combines cold brewed tea with alcohol

and complementary botanicals. The Tale

of Oolong is an infusion of whisky with

jasmine flowers, red rose petals, papaya

and mango flakes, and will be stocked at

luxury stores including Fenwicks,

Harrods and John Lewis.

https://www.noveltea-drinks.com/product/the-tale-of-oolong-

oolong-tea-with-whisky-70cl/

Image: Noveltea

Source

Koko

Super-charged, vitamin-rich

coconut drink

Dairy-free brand Koko has launched a

fortified coconut drink aimed at all ages,

from toddlers up. Enriched with folic

acid, iodine, calcium, and vitamins A,

B12 and E, Koko claims it has more

nutrients than any other “non-specialist

plant or dairy milk”. The drink is also a

dairy-free alternative to so-called

‘growing-up’ milks, marketed at parents

of young children.

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/new-product-

development/koko-rolls-out-super-fortified-milk-

alternative/575853.articleImage: Koko

Source

ProperCorn

Palm-oil free, healthier microwave

popcorn

The UK startup claims its new

microwave popcorn range is the first

palm oil-free product of its kind, using

shea butter, rapeseed oil and natural

seasonings instead. It took just one year

to develop the three flavours - sweet,

salted and cinnamon - which

ProperCorn says contain up to 26% less

saturated fat than other brands.

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/new-product-

development/propercorn-unveils-palm-oil-free-microwaveable-

popcorn/572777.article?rtnurl=https://www.google.com/#Image: Propercorn

Source

Waitrose

Waitrose launches vegan ‘fish’

fingers

Waitrose joined the Veganuary rush with

an expansion of its own-label range. A

twist on the classic, the fish ‘less’ fingers

are made from seaweed and tofu and

can be accompanied by a silken tofu

tartar-style sauce. Waitrose added more

than 80 new own-label vegan and

vegetarian products in 2018

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/new-product-

development/waitrose-launches-fishless-fingers-in-uk-

supermarket-first/575063.articleImage: Waitrose

Source

Bol Foods

Premium vegan ready meals opt

for bio-plastic packaging

Bol Foods has launched four new meals

packed in 100% recyclable boxes. The

packaging is made from 95% sugar

cane offcuts and 5% plastic. Bol has

undergone huge changes in the past two

years - first going vegetarian, then

vegan, and now moving towards a fully

sustainable approach. Its salads, soups

and veg pots still come in plastic.

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-supplying/new-product-

development/bol-launches-vegan-dinner-range-in-bio-plastic-

box/575204.article?rtnurl=https://www.google.com/#Image: Bol Foods

Source

Ossa Organic

Whole Foods Market opens its

first bone broth bar

Ossa Organic will serve beef, chicken

and vegan broths at the pop-up located

in Whole Foods’ High Street Kensington

store. Tapping into the booming

wellness trend, the collaboration aims to

market bone broth as “the new coffee”, a

healthier way to kickstart your day and

digestive health.

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/buying-and-

supplying/marketing/whole-foods-market-opens-bone-broth-bar-

with-ossa-organic/575958.articleImage: Ossa

Source

Wensleydale

Gin-infused Wensleydale cheese

The award-winning Wensleydale

Creamery has joined with Masons

Yorkshire Gin to launch a caramelised

orange and gin variation of the classic

Yorkshire cheese. Historically, the

crumbly cheese is paired with mulled

wine and cranberries over the Christmas

season. But the two Yorkshire producers

are hopping aboard the gin wave to

target a younger market.

https://www.wensleydale.co.uk/blog/love-cheese-love-gin-the-

perfect-yorkshire-blend-is-here/

Image: Wensleydale Creamery

Source

Camelicious

Camel milk ice cream launches in

the UK

Camelicious is launching its camel’s milk

ice cream in the UK, after the success of

its UHT drink sold in Asda. Camel milk -

the unexpected cow’s milk alternative of

the moment - is higher in unsaturated

fats and is easier to digest for those with

a dairy intolerance. It’s also higher in a

number of vitamins and minerals, and is

considered a more sustainable

alternative to cow’s milk, due to camels

producing far less methane.

https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/28/moschino-fresh-couture-

perfume_n_8406220.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer_us=aHR0cHM6Ly93d

3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_cs=WkowqyLMr3eqs9tl5ZVR7AImage: Camelicious

Source

Nestlé

Fully plastic-free packaging for

Smarties

Smarties packaging is going fully plastic-

free this year, in Nestlé’s latest move

towards sustainable alternatives. The

Swiss food and drinks giant is also

starting to swap all its plastic straws for

paper ones this quarter, and introducing

paper packaging for Nesquik and the

Yes! snack bar.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/jan/15/nestle-

targets-plastic-smarties-caps-reduction-recycle

Image: Nestlé

Source

Scrumbles

Gut-friendly pet food

Healthy-eating is no longer just for

humans - pet-owners want their entire

family to eat well. South-London startup

Scrumbles sells ‘gut friendly’,

hypoallergenic, all-natural meals for your

furry friends and has just become a

registered B Corporation, part of a group

of 2,700 companies that adhere to high

social and environmental standards.

https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pet-digestive-system

Image: Scrumbles

Source

Volkswagen

Charge while you shop at Tesco

Tesco is launching free charge points for

electric vehicles in partnership with

Volkswagen. The supermarket chain is

promising to install close to 2,500

charging stations at 600 outlets by 2020.

A large enough charging network has

remained an obstacle to faster adoption

of electric vehicles, but brands are

increasingly stepping up to help ahead

of the EU’s 2021 emission targets.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46386858

Image: Volkswagen

Source

Playsight

SmartTracker: AI tech for sports

Playsight’s video analytics software

makes live streaming sports games

easy. The machine learning tool

automatically switches camera

according to the best view, and adapts

and improves with each game. Every

second is captured and analysed so the

system can be used to help teams

improve their form, and venues can

setup a subscription to the service.

https://playsight.com/

Image: Playsight

Source

Fresh

Black Tea Kombucha face care

You know a food trend has reached its

peak when people start applying it to

their faces. Kombucha is a fermented

tea thought to be high in antioxidants

and good for general gut health. Fresh

skincare has concentrated the formula

into a face mask that promises softer,

more supple skin - for £77 per 100ml.

http://www.fresh.com/UK/collection/black-tea-age-delay-

skincare/#?prevPage=menu

Image: Fresh

Source

Avon

Avon launches 2-hour delivery

The classic beauty brand is responding

to an ever-impatient consumerbase with

the launch of a two-hour delivery

service. Rappi will take over deliveries of

more than 100 products in São Paulo in

Brazil (Avon’s largest market), and

Bogotá and Medellin in Colombia. The

service is set to expand across South

and Central America. It’s part of an

ongoing campaign to ‘Open Up Avon’

and make it digital-first.

https://www.avonworldwide.com/news/two-hour-delivery-service-

brazil#Beauty

Image: Avon

Source

Amazon

The online giant expands its

health and beauty market

Amazon is expanding its own-label

beauty and vitamin ranges, promising

high-quality, affordable items.

Competition in the beauty market is

enormous, but Amazon is selling the

Find products in bundles and will target

Prime customers, who are more likely to

make free one-day purchases to trial the

range. Its Solimo brand has also

expanded to 36 vitamin products.

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/channels/online/amazon-expands-

health-and-beauty-presence-with-own-label-make-up-and-

vitamins/575955.articleImage: Unsplash

Source

Unilever

Refillable, reusable packaging

Unilever is joining waste-free shopping

system, Loop. The platform allows

consumers to buy products in reusable

containers. These are picked up from

households once finished, then refilled.

REN Clean Skincare, Hellman’s and

others will use the new aluminium and

glass containers, while Dove, Sure and

Lynx are trialling refillable stainless steel

deodorant sticks.

https://www.unilever.com/news/news-and-features/Feature-

article/2019/we-are-introducing-reusable-refillable-packaging-to-

help-cut-waste.htmlImage: Unilever

See you next month!

www.happen.com

Image © Team Lab Planets

Contact: London@happen.com

New business: EllenT@Happen.com

Media & PR: ElizabethN@Happen.com