Iceland’s latest initiative, the Brands on Ice accelerator scheme, has spotlighted several innovative products in the frozen food sector.
Iceland has relaunched its notable quarterly brand accelerator initiative, Brands on Ice, marking its commitment to fostering innovation within the frozen food industry. This second session has seen a number of brands being recognised for their cutting-edge concepts. Arla, McCain, Abbeydale Food, and Mantinga are among the prominent winners that were announced, showcasing their creative efforts that push traditional category boundaries.
Mantinga’s unique offering, the “Donut Ring of Sour,” was presented as a groundbreaking concept, being claimed as the world’s first donut infused with sour acid powder. Meanwhile, Arla impressed with their premium ready-to-drink coffee under the Starbuck Chilled Classics range. McCain introduced a novel potato snacking range, aligning with the growing trend for convenient and innovative snacks.
Other remarkable entries include Oatsu, which brought forward an easy overnight oat breakfast solution, and Space Food, which introduced freeze-dried candy and a novel ice cream that remarkably does not melt — a potential game-changer in the industry.
Oliver Gilding, Iceland’s head of innovation and licensing, emphasised the significance of this initiative, stating that it reinforces the retailer’s vision to explore new possibilities in frozen retail. “The calibre of products presented was nothing short of exceptional,” Gilding noted, highlighting the potential of these partnerships to shape a forward-thinking, customer-centric future.
The scheme, first introduced in May, provides each successful brand with an investment of up to £100,000. The previous round of winners included well-known names like Britvic, Müller, and Happy Egg, demonstrating Iceland’s dedication to supporting diverse and groundbreaking brands.
This initiative by Iceland comes at a time when other supermarkets, such as Tesco, Co-op, Ocado, and Waitrose, are also launching similar efforts, underlining a competitive push towards innovation in the grocery sector.
The Brands on Ice accelerator scheme signifies Iceland’s proactive approach to revolutionising frozen food offerings, setting a benchmark in creative product development for the industry.
