Food Innovation Director Appointed By Freaks Of Nature

Yorkshire-based desserts brand Freaks of Nature has appointed chocolatier, patisserie and bakery expert Claire Gallagher as Director of Product Innovation. Claire joined the company in January following a period of significant growth for the disrupter plant-based dessert manufacturer.

Commenting on the senior appointment Freaks of Nature’s Founder Peter Ahye said: “Claire is a highly innovative product developer; it really is quite a coup for us to have her on board. She had been working with us for a few months as a consultant helping to expand our product range but now she is a fully-fledged member of the team.

“The input she had in developing our latest dessert has been invaluable. It’s the first plant-based and gluten-free Belgium chocolate mousse in the UK. She’s as passionate as I am about creating great tasting plant-based desserts without compromising on quality.”

Claire’s entire 25 year career has been spent immersed in the food industry. She has worked alongside some of the world’s top Michelin-starred chefs including Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir Quat Saisons where she honed the culinary skills that set her in good stead for the challenges she faces today.

In recent years Claire led the Food and Drink Innovation Team at Bettys delighting customers with treats such as afternoon tea, chocolates and continental cakes.

Claire added: “I am so excited about joining Freaks of Nature, I love that the company is so bold in its approach to making the best tasting plant-based desserts possible. We are committed to using the highest quality raw ingredients and because we are the only producer making desserts in a dedicated site that is free from gluten, dairy and egg the market potential is significant and safe!”

All of Freaks of Nature’s desserts are produced in its purpose-built facility in Ossett which is British Retail Consortium (BRC)­­­ grade A accredited and is the largest factory of its kind in Europe. Developed to meet the needs of people with dairy, gluten and egg allergies and for those following a plant-based diet, the company’s products are suitable for over 98% of the UK’s consumers.

The dessert market disrupter has 15 products on sale at major retailers including Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, CO-OP, Ocado, Planet Organic and Whole Foods.