‘We want the brand to be enjoyed by as many consumers as possible and are delighted to introduce our new vegan friendly recipe across the full range of sweets’

This October, Rowntree’s iconic fruit pastilles, will be available in a vegan-friendly recipe for the first time ever.

The 140-year-old brand made the move following growing demand from customers requesting vegetarian or vegan pastilles.

The original recipe of the highly sought-after mix of blackcurrant, lemon, strawberry, lime and orange chewy sweets was developed by brothers Henry and Joseph Rowntree, along with French confectioner August Claude Gaget and contained gelatine- an animal product.

However, Nestlé’s product development specialists after trialling over 30 recipes finally removed the gelatine while ensuring the sweets retained the fruity flavour and chew they are famous for.

The new vegan friendly recipe will be used across the full range of Fruit Pastilles sweets and customers can grab the vegan versions sold in sharing bags starting next month with single tubes and multipacks available from February 2021.

Popular demand

“We have had many requests from consumers over the years asking if we can make Fruit Pastilles vegetarian or vegan,” said Meg Miller, brand manager for Rowntree’s.

“We want the brand to be enjoyed by as many consumers as possible and so we are delighted to be able to introduce our new vegan friendly recipe across the full range of sweets.

“In developing the new formulation, we were very conscious of our responsibility as custodians of this much-loved brand and its long history.”

The brand added that while the vegan versions are made slightly softer than the classic sweets- in line with the market trend of preferring softer variants, it has preserved the ‘fabulously fruity chew that has made Fruit Pastilles a classic for almost a century and a half.’

 Nestlé expanding vegan portfolio

Nestlé has been steadily expanding its vegan range to woo vegans and flexitarians. This new offering joins Nestlé’s other veganized products, which include Jelly Tots, Carnation vegan condensed milk and Nescafé Gold dairy alternative lattes.

Last month,  the food giant announced the launch of its first plant-based tuna alternative called Vuna in the Swiss market.

According to the brand’s market head for Switzerland, Eugenio Simioni, the plant-based tuna is “another example of the innovation strength of Nestlé in Switzerland, and the exceptional capabilities and expertise we have in this country in the area of food and nutrition.”

It also offers dairy-free products made from rice, oat, soy, coconut and almonds.

• UK tofu sales surged by 82% during the lockdown

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Mohsina Dodhiya

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