Florette is to launch a new, branded variety of watercress that it has trademarked under the name Peppercress, The Grocer can reveal.

The exclusive-to-Florette leaf has a sharper, more peppery taste than conventional watercress and a more tender, “less stalky” texture, according to Florette’s parent company, Soleco UK.

It will go on sale in May as part of a new Florette mixed salad bag called Peppery Crispy (rsp: £1.74), which will carry a prominent front-of-pack flash saying “with Peppercress”.

Peppercress had been developed to boost flagging sales in the “strong mixes” segment of the bagged salad category, currently down 3.5% year-on-year by value, said Soleco UK.

“By branding the leaf ‘Florette Peppercress’ and powerfully signposting its flavour benefits, Florette is set to add a peppery point of difference to a number of its signature mixes,” it added.

Florette’s move to trademark a leaf echoes Vitacress’s wasabi rocket, which is sold under the Steve’s Leaves brand and also marketed for its strong flavour.

Florette is also launching a range of salad kits, under the name Best Dressed, containing a dressing and a topping such as croutons. The kits will be available in four variants, including a mix of pea shoots, green romaine and baby red Batavia with a pea and mint dressing and sea salt and black pepper croutons. The other three variants are still in development.

The kits will go on shelves in May, priced at £1.79 for a 140g bag.

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