Poland is a rare economic success story in Europe. Fuelled by the strong Polish work ethic and a good education system, Poland was Europe's fastest-growing economy in 2022, its GDP growing by 5.1%, compared to 4.3% for the wider Eurozone. On current trends, its economy will be bigger than that of Switzerland by 2030 and on a par with the Netherlands.

It is therefore not surprising that when we recently spent some time in supermarkets in Poland, we found the shelves as laden with innovative food and beverage products as anywhere in Western Europe. Poland is now a sophisticated market.

Here are four products that stood out to us:

1. Mushroom-based sausages from Dobra Kaloria, a 10 year old family-run company that offers better-for-you snacks, breakfast food and, since 2019, a range of plant-based meat alternatives. These sausages are made with oyster mushrooms as the first ingredient and deliver 23g of protein per 100g. They are promoted as free-from soy, 100% natural and a source of potassium for muscles and the nervous system. The Polish family company provenance message is also strong.

2. Sauerkraut juice from the GutBio brand, a private label brand from Aldi. This may sound odd to Western consumers but is a reasonably common product in Poland, where cabbage plays an important role in the traditional diet. The juice contains only two ingredients: organic sauerkraut and ascorbic acid and the product is promoted as made from ‘real’ cabbage.

3. Porridge with oat drink powder from Polish brand Sante. Promoted as “the first porridge on the market with an oat drink instead of milk”, it was launched in spring 2023. It is said to be nutritious, lactose-free, a source of manganese and “there is not a gram of added sugar in it - all its sweetness comes only from freeze-dried fruit.” The brand promotes freeze-drying as “a model fruit drying process that preserves the most nutrients”. The product contains five ingredients: Wholegrain oats, dried dates, oat drink powder, freeze-dried fruit and flavourings. It delivers 1.5g of fat, 17g carbs (4.5g sugars) and 2.5g protein per 100g.

4. Smoothie bar with beetroot & blackcurrant. The fruit and veg mixture is layered between wafers, creating a refreshing snack with a rather sharp and intense flavour. The bar is described as made with 80% fruit and vegetables, of which 9% is beetroot and 6% blackcurrant.