Never Miss an Update!
Receive personalised weekly email newsletters with industry news curated just for you.
Northern Ireland-based snack producer Kestrel Foods has expanded its flagship brand Forest Feast with the commercial launch of a new chocolate-coated freeze-dried fruit range.
Packaged in 100g stand-up sharing pouches, the new line combines whole freeze-dried fruit pieces with double-layered Belgian chocolate enrobing. The product rollout enters the premium snacking and confectionery fixture as food manufacturers increasingly deploy freeze-drying technology to preserve fruit texture and deliver contrasting, multi-sensory eating experiences.
Formulation and Product Range
The range applies an artisan panning process to coat crisp, whole freeze-dried fruit in dual layers of Belgian chocolate, pairing creamy white chocolate under-layers with milk or dark chocolate finishes.
The freeze-drying technique extracts moisture while retaining the structural integrity, concentrated fruit acidity, and natural aromas of whole berries, creating a sharp textural contrast against the velvety chocolate melt.
The debut product lineup entering commercial distribution includes:
🍓 Double Chocolate Crispy Strawberries: Whole crisp freeze-dried strawberries enrobed in a layer of creamy Belgian white chocolate and finished with smooth Belgian milk chocolate.
🫐 Double Chocolate Crispy Raspberries: Whole freeze-dried raspberries enveloped in Belgian white chocolate and coated in a rich 46% cocoa Belgian dark chocolate layer.
Both SKUs are formulated without gluten-containing ingredients, utilize sustainably sourced cocoa, and contain no artificial colours, synthetic flavourings, or chemical preservatives.
The product introduction arrives amid sustained consumer trade-up into premium confectionery and fruit-forward snacking.
By pairing whole fruit with indulgent Belgian chocolate, the platform bridges everyday confectionery treating with functional fruit ingredients, addressing shifting consumer demand for cleaner, dessert-inspired impulse snacks.
The format is engineered for high-frequency consumption occasions, including at-home evening indulgence, desk-side treating, and premium on-the-go snacking.
Retail Distribution and Pricing
The Forest Feast chocolate-coated freeze-dried fruit collection has commenced physical and online retail distribution across the United Kingdom.
Offered in 100g shelf-ready resealable pouches at a recommended retail price (RRP) of £3.40 to £3.99, the line is rolling out across independent grocers, farm shops, speciality food halls, Boots, and the brand's direct-to-consumer e-commerce portal.
.jpeg)
