The latest news, trends, analysis, interviews and podcasts from the global food and beverage industry
Butter is one of the world’s longest loved dairy products, treasured across the globe for its versatility. Whether enjoyed in the simple and classic form of being spread over a fresh, warm slice of bread; melting atop a stack of hot and fluffy American pancakes; or sizzling in a pan as you cook up your favourite recipes, this age-old ingredient continues to delight in numerous dishes.
In recent years, food and beverage brands have given this kitchen staple a modern makeover, with launches of innovative new butter formats – from plant-based varieties to unique flavours – churning up consumer interest.
Let’s take a look at some of the industry’s recent creations. You butter believe it…
🍫 All Things Butter's sweet range 🍫
UK-based dairy brand All Things Butter has expanded its portfolio with a new sweet butter range. The new range was developed with baker Ruby Bhogal, who has joined the company as an equity partner.
The first product in the range, Cinnamon Bun Butter, launched earlier this year. It blends creamy British butter with cinnamon, sugar and a hint of lemon. The spread is designed for spreading over baked goods such as toast, crumpets, muffins and waffles.
Most recently, the brand added to the range with a new Chocolate Butter product, blending rich chocolate with 100% British cream that has been twice-churned for extra flavour and creaminess. Its sweet flavour is achieved through the inclusion of icing sugar, cocoa powder, light brown sugar, lemon juice and vanilla extract powder, with a hint of salt.
The brand designed the NPD to provide a ‘more grown-up’ take on a classic chocolate spread, as well as a versatile and convenient ingredient that can be used in home cooking and baking applications.
🍅 Kerrygold's savoury 'Butter Blends' 🍅
Kerrygold, an international brand of Ornua, has introduced Kerrygold Butter Blends, a savoury range of flavoured butters.
The brand's creamy line of butters are made with milk from Irish grass-fed cows and slow-churned for a smooth finish. Free from artificial flavours or preservatives, the new butter blend offerings are made with milk rich in naturally occurring beta carotene.
The varieties contain three flavours: Chive & Onion, Sundried Tomato & Basil and Bell Pepper & Garden Herbs.
Chive & Onion features the distinct herby flavours of chive, onion, and parsley combined with Kerrygold's original pure Irish Grass-fed butter. Sundried Tomato & Basil contain dried tomatoes, basil, oregano, thyme, onions and garlic, blended with the Irish Grass-fed butter. Meanwhile, Bell Pepper & Garden Herbs features Kerrygold's pure Irish Grass-fed butter blended with paprika, oregano, basil, onions, garlic and bell pepper.
✨ Arla's Anchor Squeezy and Lurpak Plant Based 🌱
This summer, Arla expanded its range of Anchor butter by introducing a new Squeezy variant.
Anchor Squeezy combines the taste of Anchor butter with the convenience of a 'squeezable' bottle. The new product is a blend of concentrated butter and rapeseed oil designed to simplify baking processes and reduce mess.
Additionally, the company introduced a plant-based version of its popular Lurpak spread into the UK and Danish retail markets in August this year.
According to the dairy cooperative, its plant-based Lurpak offers the same taste and quality that the dairy butter brand is known for, made with a minimal list of natural plant-based ingredients to fulfil clean label demand. It offers the same functionality as its spreadable dairy counterpart, making it suitable for spreading, cooking and baking.
🥩 A1's Steakhouse Butter 🥩
Kraft Heinz’ A1 steak sauce brand has unveiled its first innovation outside of the sauce category in more than five years, A1 Steakhouse Butter, developed in collaboration with Epicurean Butter.
The butter combines steakhouse-inspired flavours with a buttery, creamy texture, tapping into the growing trend of flavoured butters and butter-based recipes. It is infused with fresh herbs and the classic tangy flavour of A1 Steak Sauce, providing a bold, savoury pairing for meat dishes and beyond, in a quick and convenient format.
The new innovation is available online and at retailers across the US, in 3.5oz tubs for $4.99.
🧂 Challenge Butter and Lawry's Butter Snack Spread 🧂
Challenge Butter partnered with McCormick-owned seasoned salt brand, Lawry's, to launch a new butter-based, seasoned snack spread in the US last year.
Challenge Seasoned Butter Snack Spread is a combination of 'freshly churned' Challenge Butter and Lawry's signature blend of salt, herbs and spices.
The butter snack spread is available at select retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Albertsons, Meijer, HEB and Raley's, for an SRP of $3.99 per 6.5oz tub.
🧄 Flora's smoked garlic Plant B+tter 🧄
Flora Food Group's Flora brand has expanded its 'Plant B+tter' range with the addition of a smoked garlic-flavoured NPD this year.
The product is described as a ‘category-first’ for butters, spreads and margarines. Launched in 125g tubs with a recommended base cost of £1.75, the innovation aligns with Flora’s mission to provide better-for-the-planet dairy alternatives without sacrificing taste. The brand's range is now fully plant-based, including its Flora Buttery variant.
The product aims to bring versatility, taste and performance to UK kitchens and can be used in a range of dishes, such as garlic mushrooms or pasta dishes.
Flora Smoked Garlic is suitable for vegans and free of all common allergens. It launched exclusively in 250 Sainsbury’s stores across the UK from 29 September and is now rolling out to additional retailers.
🥛 Miyoko's Creamery's flavoured Oat Milk Butters 🥛
US plant-based dairy brand Miyoko's Creamery has unveiled two new oat milk butters in ‘Garlic Parm’ and ‘Cinnamon Brown Sugar’ flavours.
The new oat milk butters use traditional dairy creamery methods to create a product that appeals to both ‘dairy and dairy-free enthusiasts,’ the brand said in a statement announcing the launch.
Miyoko’s latest creations aim to bring a bold and complex flavour to meals, underscoring the brand’s commitment to creating high-quality dairy alternatives while uncovering new flavours in both sweet and savoury varieties.
The new flavours are an extension of Miyoko's classic oat milk butter product, made with a base of organic cultured oat milk. They are designed to enhance anything from sourdough bread and baking recipes through to sautéing.
🍋 Sublime's No.11: Lemon, Caper & Dill 🍋
Sublime has launched No. 11: Lemon, Caper & Dill, a new butter flavour that aims to appeal to food enthusiasts looking for unique culinary options.
No. 11 features a blend of lemon, caper berries and dill. The lemon provides a bright acidity, while the capers add a briny complexity. Dill contributes a light, grassy note, creating a balanced flavour profile suitable for various dishes.
This butter is versatile and can enhance a range of proteins, including chicken and pork. However, the company says it is particularly well-suited for seafood, complementing fish like cod, halibut and salmon, as well as shellfish such as mussels and scallops.
Sublime emphasises the use of high-quality ingredients, with No. 11 made from cream sourced from grass-fed British dairy and salt. It contains no oils or artificial preservatives, resulting in a straightforward product.
With a higher butterfat content, No. 11 holds up well in cooking, making it suitable for risottos, sauces or simply spread on bread.
🧈 Willicroft's 'Original Better' fermented plant-based block 🧈
Dutch plant-based dairy start-up Willicroft launched its first non-cheese product last year, a plant-based fermented butter.
In a statement announcing the launch, Willicroft emphasised that the product is not a margarine and tastes, spreads, cooks and bakes exactly like dairy butter. The company developed the product using fermentation, enabling it to recreate the taste of 'high-end' dairy butter without any artificial flavourings. It melts at the same temperature as its dairy-based counterparts.
In line with Willicroft's cheese portfolio, the new butter product also uses a base ingredient of beans as well as other natural ingredients. It is created using European soybeans sourced in Austria.
According to the brand, its butter contains less saturated fats than other plant-based butters available while being “just as spreadable and meltable”.
The fermented plant-based butter launched into retail and foodservice in September 2023, initially in the Netherlands and Germany, following two years of development and over €350,000 investment.
🧄🌿 Aldi's Specially Selected flavoured butters 🧄🌿
Supermarket chain Aldi released two flavoured butters under its Specially Selected brand in the UK last year.
The limited-edition butters included Specially Selected Truffle butter, which is made with real British cream, truffle oil and black pepper; and Specially Selected Garlic & Herb.
Aldi's Specially Selected flavoured butters were launched in December 2023 as a limited-time offering for the festive season, priced at £1.59 for a 110g portion. Will they return for 2024?