Orkla has unveiled a host of innovations set to be introduced by its subsidiaries in the Nordics.
In Norway, Pizzabakeriet will launch a new pizza with grilled organic vegetables, which is joined by a second pizza offering – Grandiosa Nybakt – which features a raw crust that rises in the oven as it bakes.
Arve Heltne, senior vice-president of Orkla commercial excellence, said: “With Grandiosa Nybakt we are bringing frozen pizza a step closer to both home-made and restaurant pizzas.”
In Denmark, Orkla will launch a range of new food products including organic jams from Den Gamle Fabrik and Naturli Smørbar, an organic plant-based spread
In Sweden, meat-free brand Felix Veggie will expand into ‘morotsbullar’ (carrot balls) and vegetarian burgers, while in Denmark Funky Field will release a series of products designed for consumers avoiding lactose or meat.
“Several of our new products meet consumer demand for vegetarian and organic food,” Heltne said. “A good example is Funky Fields, an innovative series of soy-based dinners that make it easy for people with busy lives to choose vegan and vegetarian.”
Among the new launches is Funky Fields nuggets. The brand also includes 100% plant-based ice creams available in four flavours.
Orkla will capitalise on growing interest in root vegetables by launching Paùluns Superknäcke Rotfrukt, a range of two healthy crispbreads available to consumers in Sweden. The crispbreads, which contain 26% root vegetable, come in carrot and beetroot variants.
They highlight the challenge of meeting the demands of Swedish consumers, who are often looking to satisfy more than one concern at once.
“Nationally produced food is a clear trend in Sweden,” Heltne explained. “Felix Veggie morotsbullar, for example, are made from Swedish carrots without any additives. The products have environmentally friendly packaging, made from 60% renewable plastic.
“The health trend is going strong. Consumers still want less added sugar and salt in their foods, and products without additives. At Orkla we’re working systematically across all borders to satisfy this demand. There is clearly more focus on healthy ingredients outside the Nordic region as well.”
Orkla has demonstrated its commitment to consumer health by reformulating Felix ketchup with less sugar and less salt and launching Spilva pickled cucumbers in Lithuania without any additives.
The Norwegian company has also launched Gutta smoothies in Latvia are 100% vegetable or fruit-based, as well as being completely free from added sugar; Vitana Farmer’s Soup in the Czech Republic that is free from palm oil or artificial additives; a series of gluten-free pasta sauces and vegetable mixes, as well as healthier vegetable-based baby foods, from its Hamé brand; and a range of simple-to-heat Indian dishes from MTR of India, Orkla’s largest vegetarian brands.
“We are continuing to focus on making everyday favourites healthier with less salt and sugar, and more of the good ingredients,” Heltne continued. “Several of the products we have now launched are a response to consumer demand for more natural products that contain no additives.”
In terms of consumer health, Maxim Protein Bite is a new sports bar with natural ingredients and a high plant-based protein content.
And Orkla will bring Tine’s Litago dairy drinks and Nidar’s Stratos chocolate bar together for a unique collaboration, which offers exciting branding opportunities because both brands are representing by cartoon cows.
The result is Stratos chocolate tablets and bars with a Litago milkshake filling, as well as a Litago milkshake with a Stratos flavour.
“The launch of Stratos with a Litago milkshake filling is an exciting example of collaboration between two strong brands,” Heltne concluded.
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