Former CEO of Graze Launches Urban Legend
“We need radical solutions to the UK’s obesity crisis. Consumers are finding it too hard to move away from treats, so instead of hoping the nation will no longer overindulge, we saw an opportunity to partner with the science community to re-think the way this type of food is made and demonstrate that manufacturers can formulate for more ‘responsible indulgence’”, says Fletcher.
Doughnuts That Are Good For You
Urban Legend’s range of doughnuts contain no artificial preservatives, sweeteners, colours or flavourings. In fact, to make the vibrant colours extracts from flowers, plants and vegetables have been used including safflower and beetroot.
Other benefits include:
1. No red traffic lights under the Government labelling scheme
1. HFSS compliant
2. CQUINN compliant
Beyond the taste, look, feel and impact on our health – Urban Legend is about bringing innovation into the food industry including pioneering a patented manufacturing process that facilitates the creation of nutritious bakery products without compromising on taste.
The Science Behind It
Using techniques normally used in the study of advanced materials, they discovered how to make a steamed dough resemble and taste like something normally much higher in sugar, fat and calories. This involved mapping the “mechanical” properties of a normal doughnut along 14 dimensions.
Tricking the Mind
Likewise, Fletcher recognises the psychology behind indulgence: if you can trick the senses, you can trick the mind. He has done this by:
1. Using a technique to deposit a micro layer of fat on the outside of the doughnut, retaining the taste and texture of a deep fat product with barely any of saturated fat being added to the product.
1. Using clever natural flavour combinations that enhance sweetness and cue indulgence.
2. Using alternatives to sugar discovered in melons, pears, roots and leaves.
Urban Legend doughnuts will be available to buy from its brand-new store in the Brighton Lanes (Brighton Place) from today. The doughnuts will also be available to buy via Uber Eats and Deliveroo in the near future, and there are discussions with retailers both keen to prepare for HFSS but also demonstrate taking a lead on obesity.
A special test kitchen and lab has been custom built in Park Royal, West London, which will service the London market and work on new iterations of the products. The vision is to expand the techniques to also encompass other baked goods.