During this extended period of lockdown, people have been turning to food for comfort. A lot of this has been sugar-based, therefore not healthy and liable to increase a person's weight. Especially with the restrictions on exercise outside and gyms being closed. Delushious address this with delicious sweet treats which are also healthy.

Delushious creates supremely decadent cakes and chia fruit spreads, bursting with flavour but with no added or refined sugar. The company is owned by Rob Lewis and friend Tom, who share the same passion for producing and providing healthy, tasty, desirable food. Rob was a Chef and Horticulturalist at Jamie's farm known for its TV series. While there, he had to convince children to work on the land, then eat what nature produces. Pick up pitchforks rather than mobile phones and a banana over a Mars bar. Rob quickly learnt that the only way to do this was to create food that supplied nutrition along with great taste. He got so much positive feedback from people tasting his creations, that he wrote a cookbook, becoming the seed leading to Delushious being formed. Tom left University and obtained a job at Soil Association, organic food and farming charity. He developed a passion for healthy eating and sustainable food. Then he moved into marketing working with PukkaHerbs, Yeo Valley and the NHS.

The company has a motto. Now you can have your cake and eat it. The saying is undoubtedly true, as I sampled their bite-sized cake bars. Delushious have three to choose from, Sour Cherry Tiffin, the Great Taste Award-winning Chia Coconut Bar and Black Forest Brownie. “It’s always surprised me the amount sugar in shop-bought cakes,” says chef and Delushious co-founder Rob Lewis. “If you’re looking to buy a treat to go with your cup of tea, most cakes on the shelves are packed with it – as well as many other questionable processed ingredients. Even many of the so-called ‘healthy’ cereal and energy bars contain excessive amounts of sugar either added or through the high levels of dried fruits they use – or they’re merely bland and lacking in joy. So rather than create another dried fruit and nut smush bar, I set about concocting something a bit different: a range of decadent, snack-sized cakes that taste incredible but which people could really savour, safe in the knowledge that what they are putting into their body is healthy and low in sugar.”

The spreads come from a seed of an idea Tom already had, to launch a range of low sugar, superfood chia fruit spreads. “When looking for low sugar jams for my kids I was struck by how tired and little innovation there’s been in the category,” says Tom. “It’s unsurprising that it’s in decline when you consider most quality jams and conserves are around 60% sugar. ” Rob began working on the spreads at the start of 2020, creating an initial range of three aimed at healthy young foodies and the growing numbers of parents looking for low sugar alternatives for their family. “Our range of three high fruit spreads have interesting flavour twists and are fused with superfoods like chia and acai – and importantly they contain up to 93% less sugar versus a standard quality jam,” says Rob. “People go wild for them. Following extensive testing in farmers’ markets, we’re now manufacturing them ourselves in a food hygiene certified kitchen. The next step is to find a manufacturer as we can’t keep up with demand.”

The future looks delightful for Delushious with both Rob and Tom impressed with how the company has grown already. “We have huge ambitions, but first we need to focus on the increasing distribution of our cakes and spreads in the independent retail channel,” said Tom. “We’ve recently secured new distributors which will help, and we’re making real headway selling direct via our website.” “A longer-term I’d like to create further cakes including sharing sizes which would sit in the bakery aisle,” says Rob enthusiastically. “With consumer awareness around the negatives of sugar, there’s so many categories we could go into once established – from ice-creams to puddings. Watch this space!”

My family and I enjoyed all the Delushious items we tried. I had the spreads on cereal, toast, porridge and Ice cream. It gave me the feeling I was eating something good for me while indulging. Food should make you happy, and all the lovely goods from Delushious do this for me.

Delushious cakes ★ Up to 77% less sugar versus a standard equivalent ★ No artificial sweeteners ★ Gluten-Free ★ Vegetarian ★ Biodegradable packaging Black Forest Brownie. Deliciously decadent and rich, made with Fairtrade dark chocolate, sour cherries, free-range eggs, butter, cocoa powder, covered in crisp dark chocolate. No added sugar. Chia Coconut. Sumptuous coconut heaven with chia seeds and coconut with ground almonds, oats, dates, raisins, butter, coconut oil, cocoa and maca powder, topped with fairly traded dark chocolate and chia seeds. No added sugar. Great Taste Award (2019). Sour Cherry Tiffin. A chocolate lover's heaven. Tart cherries, pecans, almonds, prunes, raisins, and biscuit pieces, covered in a fair-trade dark chocolate, date syrup and butter mix, then topped with freeze-dried raspberries. No refined sugar. 4. Delushious chia fruit spreads ★ Upto93%lesssugarvsajam ★ Up to 70% fewer calories vs a jam ★ Up to 68% fruit ★ High in fibre ★ No artificial sweeteners ★ Vegan ★ Gluten-Free ★ Perfect for adding to yoghurt and porridge, or spread on toast Acai & Summer Berry Chia Fruit Spread. Rich summer berries, organic acai and chia seeds combined to create a taste explosion. Raspberry and Cardamom Chia Fruit Spread. A fragrantly fruity indulgent treat with raspberries, chia seeds and a hint of cardamom. Strawberry & Balsamic Chia Fruit Spread. A hint of balsamic vinegar helps to intensify this sumptuous strawberry and chia seed spread. Perfect for adding to yoghurt and porridge, or spread on toast.

Delushious Delights That Don't Damage Your Diet.