Premium chocolate drink Chocomel is launching a new plant-based variant in January.
Chocomel Plant-Based’s exclusive cashew nut and pea milk formulation offers the same chocolatey richness as the original and has been rated as 93% positive in advance taste tests, with 48% unable to fault the product at all, beating current market leaders in a blind test.
As more and more consumers seek everyday treats, the premium milk drinks category has grown by 51% year on year (IRI), but with growth of 81% Chocomel is driving forward well ahead of the category average with sales of £6.9m, according to brand owner FrieslandCampina UK.
Alongside the growth of the move towards ‘better for you diets’, recent research suggests that 32% of UK consumers are regularly enjoying plant-based milks [Mintel] and that this growth is expected to continue over coming years.
Chocomel Plant-Based will be available in a 1 litre tetra pack – a format ideal for sharing which has proved a huge success when launched for Chocomel original in the grocery channel this year.
Gabriella Sudall, marketing manager NPD (Chocomel) at FrieslandCampina UK, said: “Delivering a plant-based product to the market is a big step forward in Chocomel’s development within the UK. Dairy remains a key pillar of our FrieslandCampina product offering, but we want to make sure that we meet – and exceed - the desire of many consumers who enjoy both dairy and non-dairy products.”
“A 2021 YouGov survey found that 3% of people in the UK are vegan and this is currently on the rise. For Chocomel Plant-Based, it was vital to get the thick and creamy texture as close to the original as possible. Our technical team has worked tirelessly to ensure we are able to re-create Chocomel’s famous velvety and chocolatey taste, and we’ve been genuinely delighted with the results - and so have our shoppers.”
“The January launch is also the perfect occasion to try Chocomel Plant-Based as a warm serve for a comforting, delicious hot chocolate-style treat – a serve beloved in the Netherlands since 1936!”
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