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Tesco’s 2024 accelerator programme focuses on healthy brands

From high-fibre snack bars to sugar-free supplements for kids, health and wellness brands are prominent in the 2024 cohort of UK retailer Tesco’s accelerator programme.

The list includes 16 brands, 11 of which are in the food, drink and supplement categories. Tesco’s programme aims to support newer brands to the market by pledging a year-long mentoring, learning and development cycle that aims to support the growth and continued innovation pipelines for those businesses within its supply base.

Supporting business diversity while rooting for better health

A Tesco spokesperson responded to questions from Ingredients Network, outlining that the selection process for the programme was focused on the retailer’s core purposes, which highlight the customer, community, and planet.

The retailer is also looking to support diversity, equity, and inclusion by specifically supporting business leaders from under-represented backgrounds, with 10 of the 16 brands being led by either women or individuals from more diverse backgrounds.

Another criterion is to show support for brands that are making efforts to reduce their environmental impact across the supply chain and supporting healthier lifestyles.

Tesco’s 16 brands include Aagrah, Better Nature Tempeh, Jake & Nayn's, Superfoodio and Wha Gwan – all diverse-owned brands, with Bold Bean Co, Fearne & Rosie, Piccolo, Seep and The Gut Stuff all being women-owned.

“We’re really excited to announce a further 16 brands as part of our accelerator programme,” said Rachel Hann, Tesco’s head of innovation and express product strategy. “We’re passionate about supporting diversity within our supply base which reflects the communities we serve across the UK, and these new brands add to the fresh and inspirational selection from our first cohort earlier this year. We can’t wait to see how customers respond to them.”

A supplement and a functional food brand make the mark

The list of brands also includes two dedicated to health: Nutriburst Vitamins which is focused on both kids’ daily and advanced nutrition needs, together with The Gut Stuff, which features a range of snack bars that have been developed to help enhance gut health through its high-fibre formulation.

Nutriburst was founded by Simran Kanwar with a mission to develop healthier vitamin gummies for her children, with an emphasis on them being lower in sugar That resulted in a range of sugar-free gummy supplements that have now been extended to a broad range of adult supplementation requirements, all developed with a net-free zero plastic footprint, according to the company.

The Gut Stuff features a range of high-fibre fruit and nut bars. Each bar contains nearly 28 g of fibre per 100 g, thanks to the inclusion of ingredients like date paste, chicory root fibre, sunflower seeds, peanuts, desiccated coconut, dried apple, ground cinnamon, almonds, and freeze-dried raspberries.

Healthy food and drink claims are a recurring theme

Most of the brands have been developed with consumer health and wellness in mind, representing a broad spectrum of health and wellness claims, as well as fitting into the requirements of active lifestyles.

Tempeh, from Better Nature, is a high protein solution complete with fibre and gut-friendly bacteria that is formulated from just three ingredient. Made from soya bean, its launch was inspired by Indonesia cuisine, which is one of a number of national cuisines in the Asia Pacific that relies on soya beans as a major source of protein.

The team comprises four co-founders, Indonesian national Driando Ahnan-Winarino, who did a PhD in tempeh fermentation; Chris Kong, who also heads up business development; Elin Roberts, who leads on marketing; and Fabio Rinaldo, who is in charge of product development.