Mintel’s Global New Products Database has seen many exciting new food product launches from May 2001.
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Cakes get biscuit & chocolate taste
Two brands, from biscuits and confectionery, are being extended into the UK cakes market. The Galaxy chocolate countline brand from Mars is being added to McVitie’s range of cake muffins. It joins the likes of Jaffa Cakes muffins and M&M’s brownie. Also, Jammie Dodgers biscuits from Burton’s Biscuits are coming out in a cake variety distributed by Lowthers Cakes. It is not the first time the biscuits have been extended. In the past we have seen Jammie Dodgers fruit gums (back in 1999), and dipping biscuit sticks with a separate jam sauce (in 2000).
More Rispinos flavors
The Uncle Ben’s Rispinos low fat and calorie rice snacks from Mars, which are also gluten- and wheat-free, are gaining momentum in Europe. They were originally positioned as a healthier alternative to sweet goods as they came in flavors such as caramel and apple. Now we are seeing more savory additions, perhaps to compete with crisps. Recent savory additions include Paprika, Cheese & Onion and Pizza (in Belgium, Germany, Brazil, Switzerland). The brand has also been introduced in more convenient roll packs in the UK.
Beer & wine trends
Added calcium is commonly found in juices and water. Now we find it in beer. New in China, from Mila Brew Company, under the Reeb brand is a relaxing beer with calcium claimed to be healthier. For wine, we report on a new boxed line with a premium positioning. Boxed wines are mainly associated with value-for-money, so it will be interesting to see how Sainsbury’s new Petit Chablis will challenge the mold.
Ale flavors/packaging
A touch of spice is being added to the ale market in the UK. New from St. Peter’s Brewery is a lemon & ginger spiced ale. Also in the UK ale market, we report on the launch of a new mini-cask presentation (holding 5 liters) for the Bombardier Ale brand from Charles Wells. Cask packaging is usually found for lagers, so it is interesting to see its use for ales. In the Bombardier case, the cask must be left to stand for four hours before using, to allow it to settle.
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By GlobalDataCoffee news
Coffee trends include novel brands and flavorings and a weight loss line. With regard to flavorings we report on two coffee syrups to add that extra kick. In Sweden, Saturnus’s line comes in mint chocolate, hazelnut and vanilla varieties. And in the UK, a new player is entering the coffee flavoring market. Rowse Honey, a supplier of honey, dessert sauces and coulis, now launches Cafe Duo, syrups in hazelnut, amaretto and vanilla flavors. The weight loss coffee has been launched under the Mokate brand in Poland from FPUK Mokate, and is claimed to be the first instant coffee in Europe to help weight loss. Finally, the interesting coffee blend is an iced drink in Spain. It has been introduced by Refrigor under the Afrobeat label and is made with a mix of coffee and lemon.
Ice cream coffee
Coffee flavors are getting more interesting, and in France inspiration has come from the ice cream market. New from Nestle under the Nescafe brand is a range of American ice cream flavored, coffee-based drinks with varieties such as Totally Toffee and Cookie Temptation. For tea, a premium positioning has been given to new teas in India, through novel packaging. Both Nathmulls and another company called Kashi Udyog have packaged their new Darjeeling and Nepal teas in intricate, hand-crafted wooden boxes.
Water developments
In Italy, water packaging is becoming more sophisticated. New there from Danone under the Danone Activ brand is Boario, a natural, still mineral water, packaged in a bottle with an “innovative” seal, said to maintain the water’s properties. Also of interest in the water market is a new Virgin still water in South Africa which will initially be available in newly acquired Virgin Active health clubs.
Popping breakfast cereal
During 1999-2000 there was a huge number of products with exploding candy. It was mainly found in chocolate confectionery lines, although we also saw its use in some yogurts. Now popping candy is being added to the ‘snack, crackle & pop’ marketed Rice Krispies cereal from Kellogg. It has been launched as a limited edition line in the UK. Also new in the UK cereal market is a chocolate addition to the Weetabix Minibix line, containing chocolate chunks.
Added convenience for breakfast cereals
The convenience trump card in breakfast cereals continues to focus on packaging concepts. Rumblers from Ennis Foods was one of the first dual compartment, cereal and milk ideas. Kellogg followed with Kell-Bowl for the foodservice sector. Now, Kellogg is again adding more convenience with a shelf stable launch in the UK called To Go Twinpots. It contains a portion of cereal, a separate portion of branded (Express Dairies) milk and a sachet of Tate & Lyle sugar.
Confectionery extensions
Leading chocolate countlines are continuing to receive the extension treatment. We are referring to the likes of Twix, Snickers and Crunchie. The first two (Mars-owned brands) have both been extended in Germany. Twix is now available in a peanut butter variety, while Snickers has become crunchier with crisped rice pieces. The Cadbury Crunchie countline is also being extended with mini nugget pieces. Also of interest in chocolate confectionery in Belgium, is a Dolfin plain chocolate bar with pink pepper.
More chocolate news
For a limited time only, the Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate block line is available in a crunchier version with puffed rice pieces in Australia. It is not the first time the line has seen novel extensions. Back in 1998 we saw a licorice addition in New Zealand. Also of interest in the chocolate confectionery market is the Brazilian introduction of a Garoto Taleto white chocolate bar with red fruit pieces.
Savory twist for sugar confectionery
Children’s tastes can be hard to predict, and we have seen so many weird and wonderful flavors and shapes for kids in the confectionery market. These have included matchstick shaped sweets, and lollipops that play music in your head (Soundbites from Cap Candy). But things are getting stranger. In the UK, Nestle Rowntree has introduced under the Wonka brand, Oompa Sweets in flavors such as mashed potato & cucumber, and snozzberry. The fruit roll-ups trend is also beginning to develop in the UK. It is already a fairly established market in the US and Australia, but has only just begun in Europe. We recently reported on the Winders line from Kellogg.
Now Nestle Rowntree has introduced its line called Fruit Squoosh made with 95% juice and fruit. Finally, also of interest in the sugar confectionery market is Laban Seig Damer in Norway from Nidar. They are jelly sweets in the shape of curvy and big hipped women!
Confectionery in Canada
Cadbury has gone crazy in Canada with the introduction of four new sweets. Chocolate Eclair Candies are caramels with milk chocolate inside. Caramilk Coffee Chocolate Bar features pockets of coffee-flavored filling in a milk chocolate bar. The Marbled Truffle Bar is a white and milk chocolate bar with a hazelnut praline center. Rounding out the group is the Yogurt Chocolate Bar with rice crisps.
Ocean Spray yogurt move
US cranberry specialist, Ocean Spray is venturing outside of the juices market in the UK. It is expected to launch a range of low fat bio, cranberry yogurts, following a venture with Highgrove Foods. Other novelities in dairy include: the Brazilian launch of Milkybar milk drink from Nestle; and the German launch of another probiotic cheese, from Herz Konig.
Fortified milk in Egypt
Functional and enriched milks are well established in most European markets. The trend is also slowly moving into other countries. New in Egypt from The Nile Company under the Enjoy Xtra label is a UHT milk fortified with calcium and vitamins A, B, C and E. It is said to be the first enriched UHT milk of its kind in Egypt.
Sharing & snacking meals in UK
Snacking continues to be an important trend in prepared meals. The latest such product is marketed under the St Ivel brand that is best known for its dairy products. Through a collaboration with Uniq Foodservice, St Ivel has launched Pasta Snack Meals in plastic tubs with a “spork” (cross between a fork and a spoon). Sharing is what retailer Marks & Spencer has in mind for its latest range. The new Share the Taste range is made up of Mediterranean and North African tapas-style dishes, to make eating a group occasion. Also of interest in meals, are new The Simpsons branded meals from Kerry Foods, in ethnic varieties such as Chilli Mega Meal and Hot Curry Banquet. Finally, the ethnic trend is also being picked up by Marlow Foods, manufacturer of Quorn (meat substitute brand). It has launched a meat-free Saute & Serve Balit meal.
Increasingly advanced pet food
Reflecting what is happening in human food, we are seeing pet food with more technologically-advanced claims and formulations. Many examples are mentioned in this issue, including: Clinic Complete dog food in the Netherlands from Pasco International to improve digestion; a Yarrah branded cat food, also in the Netherlands, which is organic; a Whiskas cat food from Mars in the UK now with a Lifecare ingredient to prolong cats’ lives; and a relaunched Pedigree dog food in the UK formulated with antioxidants to strengthen the immune system.
Children’s blue mayo & curry sauce
The children’s market is getting brighter. New, in South Africa, from Nestle under the Crosse & Blackwell brand is Gloob!, a bright, bubblegum blue colored mayonnaise for kids only! For nourishment, it is also enriched with vitamin A, folic acid, iron and zinc. The popularity of Indian food in the UK is also affecting children. New from retailer Sainsbury’s, under its Blue Parrot Cafe range, is a Tikka Masala mild curry sauce. Innovation in the sauces market is also highlighted through packaging and positioning developments. In the UK, the ready-to-use, stir-in concept we have seen for pasta sauces, has now moved into the noodle market. New from Sharwood’s is a range of convenient stir-in sauces in varieties such as Thai coconut & lemongrass and Malaysian curry-style.
The packaging innovation affects a new olive oil in France from Compania Almentaria del Sur de Europa which is available in a carton (rather than a bottle), said to help maintain its vitamin E content.
Spicy & ketchup crisps
The potato snacks market sees new and interesting variety additions. In Australia, Smith’s Snackfood has flavored its new crisps with Heinz brand Big Tomato sauce. Ketchup has also been used in a new Chio crisps line in Germany, and it is also flavored with curry. Finally, in the UK, McCoys from KP Foods get the spicy treatment with flavors such as Firecracker and Balti Curry.
Breakfast News in Canada
Extending its reach into the breakfast arena, J. M. Schneider, now known as Schneider Foods has introduced in Canada, Lunchmate Pancakes Big Combo and Kit and a Waffl’s Kit to Canadian consumers. The Big Combo includes a drink besides pancakes, sauce, and cereal that comes in the Kit.
Sweets in Canada
Now kids in Canada can learn how to spell and rot their teeth with the new Spelly Jellies from Nestle under its Wonka line of candies. The candies are in the shape of letters and 65g bags for 79 cents. The candy madness continues in Canada with the introductions of Regal Confection Simpsons fruit flavor jelly pops. Each pop is in the shape of the head of a member of the television family.
FABs in Canada
Beverages abound this month in Canada. Several vodka-based flavored-drinks have hit shelves recently including Toronto, ON-based Ste. Pierre Smirnoff’s Smirnoff Ice Vodka Mixed Drink made with citrus flavoring and sold in 6-packs. Another is Seagram Misted Grape Vodka Coolers with a 5% ABV and a retail price of C$8.99 for a 4-pack by Seagram. Vex Hard Black Raspberry Lemonade, which combines vodka, lemon juice and natural flavors.
Whisky Packaging
In Canada, making points for fun packaging is KR Estate Distillery and its Oh Canada Maple Cream Whisky in a maple syrup-based brown glass jug. The 750ml package retails in Quebec for $24.95.
Easy additions
In the US, Borden Foods expands its line of Classico Creations, a line of shelf-stable sauces designed to be spooned or spread on entrees straight from the jar, with Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce. A Basil Pesto variety is already available. They retail in 10-oz. glass jars for $2.79 – $3.29.
I spy spices
A brand new line called Gourmet Collection will begin retailing this Fall in the US from McCormick. The 22 item line includes eight organic seasonings and some fancy seasonings such as Ancho Chile Pepper, Lemon Grass, Garam Masala, and Wasabi Powder. Jars will retail for $3.98 each.
Vitamin soy milks
8th Continent, a new company formed through a partnership of DuPont and General Mills, debuted its first products in the US, a line of vitamin-fortified soy milks, to consumers in the Northeast, West Coast, and Mid-Atlantic regions recently. Three varieties are available: Chocolate, Vanilla, and Original. All flavors retail in 8- and 32-fl. oz. bottles for 99 cents and $1.99, respectively.
Stop the soup
Campbell’s gets out of the soup aisle with a new line of meal kits in the US called Supper Bakes. The kits include everything necessary for a casserole-type meal, except the meat. A seasoning flavor packet, can of soup, and pouch of pasta/rice/stuffing is packed in a 19.8-oz. box. Chicken with Rice, Lemon Chicken with Herb Rice, Savory Pork Chops with Herb Stuffing, and Garlic Chicken with Pasta take only five minutes to prepare and 30 minutes to bake, according to the company. They sound like translations of the tried and true recipes that have appeared on the boxes of Minute Rice and Stove Top for years. They will appear in supermarkets nationally beginning in July.
Meal kits in the US
In the US, in yet another take on the lunch meal kit comes Funny Bagels On-The-Go-Combos from Funny Bagel Food. This combo is positioned as the only “prepacked lunch that packs a nutritious punch!” Each of the four varieties, Lean Beef Bologna, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Pizza, and Bagels & Cream Cheese, are packed with two Funny Bagels, a 6.75-fl. oz. Apple & Eve juice, and a Stonyfield Farms Yosqueeze Lowfat Yogurt.
Cereal Snacking
In the US, General Mills will soon launch a cereal/snack mix called Morning Mix Cereal in three flavors: Honey Nut, Cinnamon, and Fruit Nut. Packed in six individual pouches, the company is targeting the on-the-go breakfast crowd by not necessitating the addition of milk. The Honey Nut variety contains granola clusters, raisins, almond pieces, and cranberries.
Trick or treat
Holidays love promotions and Kellogg’s “Spooktacular Halloween” fits right in. New this Fall in the US will be Jack O’ Lantern Apple Jacks, Kreepy Rice Crispies, and Candy Corn Pops. The limited edition cereals will be around through Halloween.
Sounds like a miracle drink
New in the US, from a company called Phlo, New York, comes McCoy’s Vital Cell Defense Zo Fruit Drinks. The company says they contain time-released vitamin E EsterPC that zones in where needed and protects cells from the effects of aging and exposure to toxins and stimulates cell repair.
Talking turkey
In the US, Hormel Foods has extended its Jennie-O line with So Easy Cooked Meats. Slated for store shelves this summer, the line echoes Hormel’s refrigerated meat products (roast pork, barbecue beef, etc.) , with varieties such as Turkey Breast Roast in Lemon Herb Sauce, Turkey Breast Chunks in Alfredo Sauce, and Shredded Turkey Breast in Barbecue Sauce. The Hormel meat line has done very well; this one should be equally popular.
It ain’t easy being green
In the US, Heinz has licensed today’s favorite ogre, Shrek, for its EZ Squirt green ketchup. And gracing the red variety is Princess Fiona from the movie. Both bottles also feature sticker offers.
A little bit sweet, a little bit salty
Snyder’s of Hanover has extended its pretzel line in the US with Yo-Zels, which are yogurt-filled pretzels. The fillings are Vanilla, Strawberry, and Peanut Butter. Those sweet flavors are the first we’ve seen with pretzels.
Yoplait tubes in the US
Right on the heels of Yoplait’s Go-Gurt and Expresse yogurt in tubes come two more tube products in the US. Kozy Shack has Tube-A-Licious Portable Pudding. Squeezable and spoon-free, it comes in a chocolate variety, refrigerated. ConAgra extended its Hunt’s Snack Pack line with Sliders, “a totally tubular gel snack”. These don’t require refrigeration, but can be eaten refrigerated or frozen.
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