Tag: new products

Aldi launches Iron Brew jelly babies as part of next top product search

  • Range also includes Vegan broccoli and cauliflower crisps perfect for Veganuary and naturally sweetened soda from iconic Scottish company, Bon Accord 
  • All products available as Specialbuys while stocks last 

Aldi has launched a range of delicious new products that have been developed and manufactured in Scotland following the supermarket’s search for the country’s Next Top Product.  

Working in partnership with Scotland Food & Drink, Aldi’s search to uncover exciting new products was relaunched early last year as part of the supermarket’s support of local suppliers and their commitment to increase the range of Scottish products sold in store.   

Previous winners and now long-term suppliers of Aldi include Inverness-based Cobbs Bakery and Orkney’s Argo’s bakery. After winning the competition for their Orkney Caramel Shortbread, Argo’s Bakery went on to win Own Label Product of the Year at the 2017 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards and Bakery Product of the Year at the 2018 Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards. 

Fans of Scotland’s other national drink can pick up a pack of Iron Brew flavoured Jelly Babies (99p, 200g), developed by Greenock-based Golden Casket.

Health-conscious consumers trying Veganuary can pick up a packet of broccoli crisps (69p, 22g / £1.29, 78g) with Cheese or Sour Cream & Chive from Aldi’s new Fife-based supplier, Grower’s Garden. Available in snack size, or as a sharing bag, these are made using their own farm-fresh vegetables grown in the East of Scotland.  These gluten-free and vegan-friendly crisps are broccoli like you have never had it before!  

Or why not try Aldi’s new gluten-free and vegan-friendly Cauliflower Crisps in snackable or shareable bags (69p, 22g / £1.29, 80g). Created by Kilmarnock-based Nudie Snacks using wonky looking cauliflowers that would otherwise not be used, customers can choose from Cheese & Caramelised Onion or Katsu Curry flavour. 

To wash everything down Aldi customers can now choose from a range of naturally sweetened soft drinks from iconic Scottish company, Bon Accord. 

Founded in Arbroath in 1903, Bon Accord was a much-loved brand across Scotland until it closed its operations in 2000. After 16 years, the Great-Great-Granddaughter of one of its founders reimagined the brand and brought it back with a range of juices that have been naturally sweetened with coconut nectar and real fruit juice.

Choose from Cream Soda, Rhubarb Soda, Pink Grapefruit Soda, or Ginger Beer (£1.29, 275ml). 

Also launched this week is a range of Scottish Savoury Biscuits baked to perfection by Turriff-based supplier, McKenzie Biscuits.

These light savoury biscuits are made from a unique and award-winning recipe developed by the McKenzie family at their bakery in North East Scotland, and customers can choose from two delicious flavours: Plain, or Rosemary. Or why not try their Oat & Honey Biscuits (99p, 150g), perfect with a cup of tea on a cold January afternoon.  

For anyone with a sweet tooth there’s new Confectious Fudge flavoured with Strawberry and Lemonade Gin (£1.29, 150g) created by Aldi’s long-term supplier, Aldomak. 

Scotland Food & Drink Chief Executive James Withers commented: “It’s great to see these fantastic new products from some exceptional Scottish companies launching in Aldi today.

“Last year was incredibly tough for the food and drink industry and 2021 will continue to be challenging, so I’d encourage everyone to look out for these outstanding new products when they next visit their local Aldi and help support these incredible suppliers.”  

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director, Aldi Scotland, said: “We’re committed to supporting independent Scottish suppliers and bringing their quality products to our stores.

“It was a privilege to judge Aldi’s Next Top Product search last year and I’m excited that our customers in Scotland can now try these delicious new products, knowing that they are backing Scottish suppliers when they shop at Aldi.” 

Aldi’s ‘Next Top Products’ are now available from all 96 Scottish stores while stocks last. You can find your nearest Aldi store here. 

Apple Airpods, a cheap kettle and swivelling camera are among Which? 50 best products of 2020

Apple’s Airpods Pro have been named Which?’s product of the year for 2020, in a diverse list that includes a £12 kettle, a camera with a swivelling display for selfie-addicts and even a robot vacuum cleaner that empties its own dust bag.

The consumer champion’s experts nominated their favourite products launched or tested over the last year – whittling down 3,500 products to just 50 based on exceptional innovation, sustainability or value for money.

The diverse list of high-performing tech, cars and home appliances is led by the Apple Airpods Pro (£219), with Which?’s judges deciding they improve the already exceptional standard AirPods in every way – going as far as to say it is “remarkable that tiny earpods can create such versatile, powerful and spatial sound”.

By adding a rubber earpiece, Which? experts found that Apple has created a more secure fit which makes them better at cancelling outside noise, more comfortable and crucially, difficult to lose – which is welcome when a single replacement costs £85.

In second place was the Halo Capsule (£249), a recyclable cordless vacuum that comes with enough capacity and extra disposable bags to fill a bathtub with dust.

Which? researchers found that this exceptional vacuum not only cleans brilliantly, but every component of the carbon fibre machine is recyclable. Every two years it can undergo a full service where the old battery will be recycled and replaced with a new one, if needed – a significant step forward for sustainability.

Completing the top three is another environmentally-friendly pick, the Kia Soul (£37,295). An electric vehicle (EV) praised by experts for its long range and efficient battery. It lasted 242 miles in Which? independent tests, enough to get from London to York with enough energy left over in the battery to find a parking space in town.

The cheapest product in Which?’s top 10 is a wireless security camera, the TP-Link Casa KC200 (£80), which came in at number seven. While it performed almost as highly as the top-scoring wireless security camera in Which?’s tests, it costs two thirds less and doesn’t scrimp on the quality of the footage it produces.

Among the more quirky products in Which?’s list and in 42nd place, is the iRobot Roomba S9+. While pricey at £1,500, this robot vacuum is not only excellent at cleaning, earning a full five stars in this category Which? testing but it also empties its own dust bag. Innovative and high-scoring, Which? experts said, “it had to get in the top 50.”

Despite costing just £12, Asda’s George Home Cream Kettle GPK201C-19 made it into Which?’s top 50 products of the year at number 47. Experts said it was a bit noisy, but with its simple and stylish appearance, it represents “phenomenal” value.

In 50th place on the list, the Sony ZV-1 camera (£699) has a swivelling selfie display, making it perfect for vloggers who want to look perfect for their next YouTube upload. It produces “superb” quality videos and is only slightly let down by the quality of still images it shoots.

Harry Rose, Editor, Which? magazine, said: “Apple’s new Airpods Pro edged out some fantastic contenders by taking a product that was already exceptional and improving it to the point of near-perfection.

“It is a huge task to sift through the thousands of products Which? tests each year and whittle it down to just 50 – but this year’s list showcases the very best in high-tech gadgets, advances in sustainability and value for money products proving there are great buys out there for anyone prepared to do their research.”