Atkins chocolate bars to appear in UK stores

Atkins Nutritionals, the food manufacturing arm of the Atkins diet business, is launching a range of low-carbohydrate chocolate bars for followers of the diet. Atkins Endulge will be available in branches of Boots from the end of April.

There are six bars in the Atkins Endulge range, including chocolate and crisp, chocolate and caramel wafer and a chocolate-only bar. The bars range from 24g to 30g in weight, and contain between 1g and 4g of carbohydrates per bar, depending on the variant. The bars will cost 99p each.

The range, which has been reformulated for the UK market, offers followers of the Atkins diets indulgent products that can be eaten as a treat. Earlier this year, Atkins Nutritionals launched a range of cereal bars, bake mixes and milkshakes. The range is available in Boots, Holland & Barrett and independent health-food stores.

Food giant Unilever Bestfoods has also launched a range of low-carbohydrate products, called Carb Options. The range was introduced in the US earlier this year and the company plans to bring it to the UK (MW last week). Also in the US, HJ Heinz has launched a low-carbohydrate version of tomato ketchup, One Carb Ketchup (MW October 9, 2003). The company is expected to launch it in the UK, if it is successful.