Iceland aims to drive innovation through its Brands on Ice accelerator scheme, highlighting the creativity in the frozen food sector.
- Arla, McCain, Abbeydale Food, and Mantinga were among the winners announced, showcasing their unique product offerings.
- Mantinga presented a groundbreaking donut with sour acid powder, a world-first innovation.
- Iceland is committed to redefining possibilities in frozen retail, with plans to introduce these innovations in 2025.
- The initiative also provides financial support, with investments up to £100,000 for successful brands.
Iceland has reintroduced its quarterly Brands on Ice accelerator scheme to foster innovation within the frozen food industry. This programme has been pivotal in highlighting new and exciting product concepts from a range of suppliers. Winners from this round, including Arla, McCain, Abbeydale Food, and Mantinga, demonstrated exceptional creativity and commitment to category innovation.
Mantinga garnered attention with its unique creation, the ‘Donut Ring of Sour’, which they claim to be the first donut featuring sour acid powder. This inventive product underscores the innovative spirit encouraged by the scheme. Arla introduced a new premium ready-to-drink coffee range, the Starbucks Chilled Classics, while McCain unveiled a new potato snacking range.
Other innovative products featured in the scheme included Oatsu’s convenient overnight oat breakfast solutions and Space Food’s freeze-dried candy and remarkable ice cream that does not melt. These products exemplify the innovative potential that Iceland seeks to nurture through its accelerator.
Oliver Gilding, Iceland’s head of innovation and licensing, expressed enthusiasm about the calibre of products presented. He remarked, ‘This session reaffirmed our vision to redefine what’s possible in frozen retail. The calibre of products presented was nothing short of exceptional, and it’s clear our partnerships are paving the way for a bold, customer-focused future.’
Looking to the future, Iceland plans to launch these winning innovations in their stores during 2025, showing ongoing commitment to innovation in the frozen food sector. Each successful brand stands to receive an investment of up to £100,000, further supporting their development. This initiative follows the successful launch of the scheme in May, which saw new products from brands such as Britvic, Müller, and Happy Egg.
The scheme’s revival comes at a time when other supermarkets, like Tesco, Co-op, Ocado, and Waitrose, are also launching their own initiatives to foster brand innovation, intensifying competition in the retail sector.
Iceland’s Brands on Ice scheme continues to drive innovation, showcasing groundbreaking products that push the boundaries of frozen food retail.
