Ye Olde Oak is preparing to launch into the snacking market with Dot Breaks ­ mini salamis in a foil pouch. The product was unveiled at the show by parent group Struik and will be officially launched in the UK in the New Year ­ under the slogan The meaty snack in a pack'. Dot Breaks come in natural, spicy and onion flavours. Each easy-open foil pouch contains 12 mini salamis and will retail for 99p. Each pack has a nine-month shelf life. This particular piece of npd was possible thanks to the acquisition by Struik of a factory in Belgium 18 months ago that had the technology to make such a product. Although it marks a significant departure for Ye Olde Oak, which is best known for its canned meat ranges, managing director Jon Gymer said it would build on the company's heritage. "We are not turning our back on our core business," he said. "The idea is to move into the snacking market with meat based products." And he hinted that further meat snacking products were in the pipeline. Gymer hopes Dot Breaks will attract new consumers to this part of the snacking market ­ as well as winning business away from Peperami. And he said Ye Olde Oak would be launching its product into both retail and foodservice channels. Gymer explained the company was keen to develop in the foodservice sector ­ building on its success in developing the McDonald's hotdog this year. Dot Breaks was also strategically important for Struik, said Gymer, because it gave the group an opportunity to build a pan European brand. {{NEWS }}