Unilever group prepares low-carb food launch

Unilever Bestfoods is understood to be preparing to launch a range of low-carbohydrate products in the UK. Carb Options, will be the widest range of low-carbohydrate products available in the UK.

Carb Options, launched in the US earlier this year, is aimed at consumers following low-carbohydrate diets, such as the Atkins’ and South Beach diets. The Carb Options range is likely to include sauces and dressings, cooking sauces, ice cream and drinks. It will be rolled out using Unilever’s existing portfolio of brands, which includes Hellmann’s, Colmans, Ragu, Pot Noodle and Bertolli.

In the US, Carb Options’ 18 products include cooking sauces, peanut butter and snack bars. The range, which includes products under the Lipton and Skippy brands, contains six grams of carbohydrates per portion and is sold at a higher price than standard products.

Unilever has admitted that its Slim-Fast diet brand has suffered a loss in sales in the US, due to the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. The diets are also growing in popularity in the UK and it has been reported that about 3 million people in this country are trying the Atkins’ Diet. Unilever will not confirm a UK launch of the range.