Carl Clarke to launch Future Noodles brand
Described as bringing 'affordability, flavour, convenience, sustainability and nutrition together', Future Noodles will be available to order online for delivery across the UK at £3.75 per pot, and are effectively designed as meal kits that can be prepared in a matter of minutes by adding boiling water.
The brand aims to 'reinvent' the perception of instant noodles using zero plastic in its packaging and sustainably-sourced ingredients.
Clarke, who is co-founder of London-based fried chicken restaurants Chick ‘n’ Sours and Chik’n, has worked closely with leading food nutritionists, scientists and innovators to create the three Future Noodle flavours.
They include smoky shiitake and miso noodle soup made to a Japanese recipe with dehydrated shiitakes, smoky mushroom, and tofu puffs for extra protein; yellow curry, with a rich coconut curry soup made with super root turmeric, lime leaf, coconut milk and freshly ground spices; and spicy kimchi with natural dehydrated kimchi, fresh dried chillies, Korean chilli flakes and 'punchy' spices.
“Working ridiculous hours as a chef in kitchens, Japanese instant noodles have always been my go-to snack, and as great as they tasted I knew they weren’t good for me, so the idea for Future Noodles was born," says Clarke.
"It has taken lots of hard work and clever experts to create a plant-based product that is not only super tasty, but nutritionally complete too. Basically, these noodles are a healthy addiction."
The launch of Future Noodles follows a successful crowdfund campaign last year in which Clarke raised more than £55,000 to help cover production costs.
Partnering with charity food bank Fare Share, the brand also promotes a ‘Buy One, Give One’ initiative, meaning that for every packet bought, Clarke and his team will donate a Future Noodle meal with the aim to support those suffering from food poverty and homelessness.
So far Future Noodles has donated 8,000 meals.