Latest news with #RanitaCowled
News.com.au
a day ago
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Is this real?': Arnott's drops big Shapes announcement
A popular Aussie snack is about to be released in a gluten-free version — a move foodies are calling 'the best news of 2025'. Arnott's released a gluten-free version of Barbecue Shapes last year, but after the move captured the heart of Australia's coeliac community, it left some wondering if other favourites would follow suit. Now, more than a year on, a new gluten-free flavour is set to hit the market — Chicken Crimpy. Australians who follow a gluten-free diet, or who can't eat the protein found in wheat, barley and rye for health reasons, have been begging for a coeliac safe version since Arnott's first launched its allergen-friendly range. 'Hope you will be making other flavours like Pizza and Chicken in gluten free. My little girls love them and can't have them at the moment,' one said. Another pleaded: 'Please bring out Chicken Crimpy Shapes.' 'Please do gluten free Chicken Crimpy, I'm begging,' someone else asked. Another said: 'I miss Chicken Crimpy.' The brand has listened, with the item set to hit a range of stores including Coles, Woolworths and independent retailers later this month. Ranita Cowled, Arnott's Growth & Innovation Director, told 'Arnott's Shapes Chicken Crimpy has long been one of the top performers in our Shapes range. It's a flavour Aussies know and love, so when we first set out to expand our gluten free savoury range, it was always on our radar. 'After successfully launching Arnott's Gluten Free Jatz and Barbecue Shapes, we felt the time was right to bring Chicken Crimpy into the mix. It has a unique and much-loved melt-in-your mouth texture, making it a natural next step in making more of our most-loved snacks accessible to everyone.' Ms Cowled said a range of factors go into deciding what products are adapted from the standard to the gluten-free range. This includes consumer insights, but also whether the flavour and standard can be created with the same texture. A box of the Gluten Free Chicken Crimpy Shapes will set customers back $5.50, with Ms Cowled stating the brand is always trying to keep the range as 'accessible as possible'. There are a number of factors that contribute to the higher cost of gluten-free products. 'First, the special gluten-free ingredients are significantly more expensive,' she said. 'Second, our gluten-free products are made in our dedicated smaller scale gluten-free bakery in Marleston, South Australia. 'Third, we have very strict process and allergen controls, taking extra measures to ensure our gluten free status. These are all essential to delivering the highest standards of quality and care, but they do come at a premium cost.' Gluten-free content creators expressed their excitement over the new product announcement. Christopher Tsalikis, also known as Melbourne Coeliac, broke the news on Instagram and called it the best thing he'd heard all year. 'My absolute favourite flavour of Shape, I am so excited for this. Firstly, huge shout out @nectoriouspapi for sharing this photo,' he said. 'But guys, check this out. Get excited. I know my Pizza lovers out there are gonna be disappointed.' Kati Keksi, who spruiks a lot of gluten-free products on social media, also shared her thoughts on the Shapes. 'Well well well, pretty sure I called it. I knew the next Shapes would be gluten free chicken crimpy, it's the biggest seller in NSW after all,' she said. Social media users lost their minds over the cracker aisle addition. 'I used GF BBQ shapes in the food processor to make GF breadcrumbs for Schnitty,' one said. Another added: 'Bacon and cheese next I hope.' 'If this is some sick April fools joke in May I'm going to cry because these were MY FAVOURITE FLAVOUR,' one weighed in. Someone else commented: 'Omg every time the kids have them I look at them jealous and think it is worth eating just one lol so I just smell them and walk away – confessions of a coeliac.' 'Is this real? I saw comments on a TikTok that the creator had mocked up an image to try to convince Arnotts to do them. I really hope it's true though,' one said. Another commented: 'STOP I'M SCREAMING.' 'Woohoo!!!!! This is awesome. They better hurry up with the Pizza Shapes,' was another reaction.
Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Aussies heartbroken after popular Arnott's biscuit quietly disappears from shelves: 'Discontinued'
A beloved Aussie biscuit has been discontinued – but many shoppers have only just realised it was gone. Biscuit lovers recently noted that they were no longer able to purchase Arnott's Full O' Fruit packets in supermarkets. FEMAIL reached out to the Arnott's team, who confirmed that the sultana-loaded biscuit had been pulled from shelves. Arnott's Treating Business Director, Ranita Cowled confirmed that Full O' Fruit was officially discontinued in 2021. 'For 160 years, Arnott's has proudly baked some of Australia's most iconic biscuits and crackers. While Arnott's Full O' Fruit was retired from production in 2021 we continue to offer a range of delicious fruity options,' said Ranita. The wholesome treat, which contained more than 50 per cent real fruit, was described as 'a lightly baked biscuit bursting with succulent sultanas and a delicate hint of citrus peel'. Ranita suggested that Full O' Fruit fans instead try some of the brand's other 'fruity' offerings. 'These include our iconic Arnott's Raspberry Shortcake, made with a jammy raspberry-flavoured filling, and the Arnott's Spicy Fruit Roll, made with sultanas, currants, raisins and zesty lemon peel – both perfect for those who love a touch of fruit in their biscuit tin.' Similar to a Garibaldi biscuit, the now discontinued Arnott's Full O' Fruit was described as 'a lightly baked biscuit bursting with succulent sultanas and a delicate hint of citrus peel' A recent Australian Reddit thread saw a poster complaining of suddenly not being able to 'find them anywhere'. 'Full O Fruit! Sadly discontinued now,' confirmed one responder. Another comment referred to the defunct treat by its humorous nickname: 'squashed fly bikkies'. Others noted in the comments that Full O' Fruit was essentially a 'Garibaldi biscuit', which consists of currants squashed and sandwiched between two thin baked biscuit oblongs. Garibaldi biscuits are hugely popular in Britain and manufactured by several UK brands, including Crawfords, Morrisons and Tesco. Besides 'squashed fly biscuits', Garibaldi biscuits are also colloquially referred to by other nicknames, including 'fly sandwiches', 'flies' graveyards', 'dead fly biscuits' and 'fly traps'. The confirmation of the discontinuation of Arnott's Full O' Fruit comes following recent mystery surrounding the fate of Arnott's Chocolate Wheatens. Debate recently erupted online amongst Aussie biscuit lovers after some claimed the currently on-shelf Arnott's Milk Chocolate Digestives were a 're-brand' of the discontinued Chocolate Wheatens. But investigations by our lifestyle team proved this theory incorrect. The biscuit mystery was sparked by a recent post shared on the 'Memory Lane - Growing up in Australia' Facebook page, after one member shared a nostalgic tribute post expressing their fondness for the now defunct Arnott's Chocolate Wheaten. The innocent post lit up with comments from biscuit lovers – many of whom responded with surprise about the popular item no longer being available on shelves. But among the responses were also many comments insisting that Arnott's Chocolate Wheaten Biscuits were indeed still available in shops. 'Now they're called Digestives,' asserted one response. This claim that Milk Chocolate Digestives are a re-branded version of Arnott's Chocolate Wheaten makes logical sense given their visual similarities. Both products feature a plain wheat biscuit with hole details, while the back of the biscuit is dipped into milk chocolate featuring a distinctive ripple line pattern. FEMAIL approached an Arnott's spokesperson to seek clarity around whether Arnott's Milk Chocolate Digestives were indeed a re-branded replica of the original Arnott's Chocolate Wheaten Biscuits. Arnott's Chocolate Portfolio Senior Marketing Manager Rebecca Chan set the record straight – confirming that although the biscuits are 'similar', they are not in fact the same. 'While Arnott's Chocolate Wheaten biscuits were discontinued in 2017, we know they still hold a special place in the hearts of many Aussies,' Rebecca said. 'For those craving a similar satisfying crunch with a hint of chocolate, our Arnott's Digestive range available at Independent retailers is a great alternative.'
