Baked by Rich’s, the sweet baked goods brand, has joined forces with Nestlé Professional to launch three new “coffee-shop quality” cookie flavours for the convenience channel.

The ‘Baked by Rich’s, Made with…’ range includes Matchmakers Zingy Orange, Aero Peppermint and Little Rolo.

Available as a thaw and serve format, the cookies are designed for retailers who want to offer a fresh bakery option but don’t have the space for an in-store bakery. Bake-off frozen pucks are available for larger stores and grocery multiples.

The three flavours will be available from August, with four cookies per bag (RRP £2.29).

The brand noted that premium cookies sales were up 20% in 2021 and ‘filled cookies’ have also helped to grow the category by adding value and encouraging trade up. The range allows retailers to offer an in-demand coffee and bakery combination, with recent Rich’s trials showing a 2.5 times increased rate of sale when cookies are placed near an in-store express coffee machine.

John Want, Sales, Marketing and R&D Director at Rich’s, said: “Our Baked brand is worth over £2.5m since launching in 2020 and this big-name mash-up is the natural evolution of the portfolio. With value on the mind of many in the months ahead, consumers are looking to trusted and well-known goods to guarantee quality. Nestlé Professional’s portfolio includes some of the most recognised confectionary brands in the world and our development team has loved using these unique and delicious ingredients to create mouth-watering new cookies for independent retail.

“With more of us out and about for work and pleasure in 2022, there’s a real opportunity to make the most out of the recovering food-to-go sector and offer premium, fresh cookies to shoppers. There is also still a sizable working from home contingent, which provides convenience stores in residential areas with more top-up and treat occasions throughout the day.”