Wunda was initially developed as part of Nestlé's R&D Accelerator initiative. Working with a start-up mindset, Nestlé said its 'intrapreneurs' created it and scaled up production in only six months. They had access to the company's dairy and plant protein expertise as well as proprietary technologies and small to medium scale equipment. There is a quiet food revolution underway that is changing how people eat,"​ said Cédric Boehm, head of dairy for Europe, Middle East and North Africa. "In Europe, at least four in ten shoppers are already choosing some dairy alternatives.​ The new range includes a varied selection of all the well-known brands along with some new producers bringing niche products to the market. Many of the drinks in our range are versatile and can be used in a variety of ways including steaming for your perfect latte or a dairy-free alternative in your favourite recipe. We’ve expanded on some of your favourite ingredients including almond, coconut, oat and hemp, as well as introducing a range of pea milks and combinations milks to help you find something to suit every taste and occasion.” Haris Deane, Long Life Milk Buyer

Creamy, with a slightly sweet taste, Sproud Original is very similar to dairy milk in taste and texture. Like other Sproud products, it’s free from the most common allergens, including nuts, and it contains no soybeans.

Sproud Unsweetened

Some, however, complain that it has little taste and may even have a faint taste of peas the first time that you drink it. Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Sproud Pea Protein Milk is dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. The Unsweetened variety is also keto-friendly.* Wunda is launching first in France, the Netherlands and Portugal, with a roll-out to other European markets planned. The drinks range is designed to be consumed in the same way as dairy milk, for example on its own, as a complement to cereal, in hot drinks and in cooking. Nestlé said it aimed to further expand the Wunda brand in the dairy alternatives segment. Consumers generally love the taste and texture of Sproud Unsweetened. It’s delicious cold, and it also froths well and works well in coffee.

Food Manufacture ​held its virtual conference The Future of Plant-based Proteins: Roots of Further Growth​ on 31 March. Speakers and panellists included James Fisher, lead product developer, convenience meals, Marks & Spencer; Felippe Castillo, director of marketing and innovation at Tyson Foods and Karl Williams, group technical director, Meatless Farm. In recent years, there’s been a growing interest in plant-based products as a way of looking after ourselves and the environment. To keep up with the ever expanding trends, our Long Life Milk buyer Haris has been working hard to develop and increase our range in store and bring a new selection of plant-based alternatives to our shelves.Water, Protein from pea (1,9%), Non-GMO Canola Oil, Acidity Regulator (Dipotassium Phosphate), Calcium Carbonate, Gluten Free Oat Oil, Natural aroma, Salt, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D. Rich and foamy Sproud Barista was developed especially for coffee beverages. It’s especially suited for the barista’s choice for lattes, cappuccinos, and other espresso drinks. It’s also well-suited for cooking or for use in drip coffees. The name Sproud comes from the words “so proud,” and this Swedish company has a lot to be proud of. From a sustainability standpoint, peas use less water to produce than dairy or almonds, resulting in a lower carbon footprint. Sproud Pea Protein Milk is also shelf stable for up to a year, so it can be transported and stored without need for refrigeration. This means a significant reduction in energy usage and waste. Over the past few years, several national Barista Championship competitors had openly defied the prior rule which stipulated they could only use cow’s milk. Ultimately, these competitors’ decisions to willingly score zero in the milk course round played a key role in changing the format of the WBC – and many would agree for the better.

The ‘original’ activated almond milk uses just four simple ingredients: whole organic activated almonds, filtered water, organic brown rice and sea salt. Water, Non-gmo Canola oil, Protein from peas, Agave Syrup, Acidity Regulator (Dipotassium Phosphate), Calcium Carbonate, Gluten Free Oat Oil, Salt, Vitamin A, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin D. The neutral and creamy texture means it’s the ideal companion for coffee. Rich and foamy but still low in sugar, makes this perfect for a vegan latte. Sproud is made by a small company called Sproud International, which was founded by a small group of entrepreneurs who wanted to provide consumers with a healthy, environmentally-friendly alternative to dairy milk. Maria Tegman, chief executive and co-founder at Sproud said: “Our Unsweetened remains our number one variant in the UK because of its versatility and zero-sugar content, but many Sproud fans here like using all three products, so we're really glad Booths has recognised this by making the full range available to customers.”​

Leftover Stuffing & Turkey Frittata

Partly that’s because we’re all more switched on to just how damaging dairy is to the environment (Sproud only emits a sixth of the greenhouse gases of cow’s milk, fyi). But it’s also because plant m*lks got better – tastier, creamier and, crucially, delicious in coffee.