MINTEL'S GLOBAL NEW PRODUCTS DATABASE NEW FOOD PRODUCT INTRODUCTIONS Chicago, IL, May 2002 -- Mintel's Global New Products Database has seen many new exciting food product introductions this past month.

Dairy news
Dairy developments in this issue focus on breakfast positioned lines, packaging novelties and flavor extensions. The breakfast market has changed immeasurably over the years with increased demand for "on-the-go" products for busy consumers. This has led to the emergence of breakfast positioned cereal bars, and more convenient single-portion cereals with milk. Now, the Yoplait yogurt brand is also venturing into this "on-the-go" breakfast market. New in Australia from National Foods under the Yoplait brand is B-Fast on the Go in pots, made with milk, cereal and fruit and suitable for eating hot (after microwaving) or cold. It is a healthy option in that it is 97% fat free and is said to provide the goodness of cereal and sustained energy. The packaging novelty has appeared in China from Shanghai Jia Nong. It comprises a chocolate flavored milk available in a plastic pouch shaped to resemble a jug with an incorporated handle and pouring spout. Finally, the Yakult fermented drink has been extended in Brazil with the launch of Yodel, a pineapple flavoured line packaged in a single-serve carton with a straw.

Fortified biscuits & cakes
Obtaining vitamins, minerals and other essential ingredients through fortified foods rather than supplements or naturally remains a continuing trend. Three bakery introductions in this issue highlight this continuation. In New Zealand, Griffins Foods (Danone) has added three new lines to its Wine range of biscuits: CalciWines, to boost calcium intake (with one serving containing more calcium than half a cup of milk); VitaWine, with vitamins; and FibreWine with added fiber. In Belgium, Gayelord Hauser has added sesame biscuits with added magnesium, green tea extract, vitamins and betacarotene to its range of healthy biscuits. And in Spain, La Bella Easo has introduced soft Magdalene cakes fortified with fiber and bifidus.

New entrants in bakery
Kellogg's Special K breakfast cereal brand and Mars' Snickers chocolate countline are both making an appearance in the bakery market. With the help of Irish Pride, Special K branded, sliced white bread is being introduced into Ireland. It is formulated with Special K flakes and is said to be 99% fat-free. We have already seen chocolate countline branded cakes in the UK (e.g. Rolo and Yorkie muffins), now we are seeing the first confectionery branded flapjack. The Snickers Flapjack has been introduced following a collaboration between Mars and McVitie's. The co-branded line will no doubt add a new dimension and attract new consumers to the segment. New "snacking" formats are also appearing for McVitie's biscuits with the UK launch of Munch Bunch. They comprise mini Digestive or Hobnobs branded biscuit pieces coated in milk chocolate in easy-to-carry 40g foil bags. These moves highlight the continuing blurring between bakery, chocolate confectionery and even snacks markets.

Flavor additions for carbonates
For carbonates, product innovation has come with the addition of different flavors and tastes to existing brands. This has been especially true for the Fanta brand from Coca-Cola which has seen many new flavor additions in the last couple of years. The latest include Cheeky Lychee in Hong Kong, and Grape in New Zealand. Only recently we reported on the introduction of lemon and cola blends from the likes of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. Now, the Sunkist brand, better know for its orange flavored carbonate has been introduced in a Lemon Cola variety in Hong Kong. Finally, the most interesting flavored carbonate has been launched in the US where Coca-Cola announced it is to release a Vanilla Coke in mid-May. It is to be supported by a major marketing campaign

Ice cream innovations
It is now common to see chocolate countlines move into ice cream as the recent Cadbury Dream impulse ice cream in the UK highlights. More unusual is the recent UK introduction of Mini Roll's ice cream bars from Cadbury. It is one of the first times we have seen a cake brand such as Mini Roll's venture into the segment. Doughnuts are also inspiring ice cream! New in the Philippines from Nestlé is Woppo Banana Choco Pop, a banana flavored chocolate coated ice cream in the shape of a ring doughnut - together with a hole in the middle. In the US, new from Good Humor-Breyers is Popsicle Bubble Pop. The fruit punch-flavored ice is on a stick made of bubble gum! While in Canada, kids are expected to enjoy the latest ice lolly from Nestlé. The new Bugz Ice Pops are frozen treats that feature bug-shaped gummies inside the Orange & Strawberry and Orange & Grape-flavored pops.

More fortified waters...
Health-oriented, fortified waters continue to have an important role to play in the water market - especially in Europe and the US. The latest "health" waters include Balance, which has appeared in Austria from Vöslauer Heilquellen-Verwertung. It comprises a natural mineral water available in two interesting varieties: Rosé and Body. The Rosé line contains pomegranate, hibiscus and red clover and is claimed to refresh, stimulate and have aphrodisiac qualities. The Body line has grapefruit, star fruit, lemongrass, passionflower and ginseng for a healthy mind and body. In Japan, perceived to be the birthplace of some of these healthy "near waters" we report on the introduction of Fiber Water from House Foods. As the product name suggests, it is fortified with fiber and is claimed to cleanse the body from the inside. The Perrier water brand is also innovating the water market with the French introduction of Fluo flavored and colored waters in two interesting varieties: Citron Genièvre, a yellow colored line with a lemon and juniper berry flavor; and Cerice Gingembre, a pink colored water with a cherry and ginger flavor.

...and more water for kids
Many bottled waters tend to have a non-specific/family target audience. However, we are slowly starting to see more segmentation with regard to target audience. For young "sporty" adults we have seen brands such as Reebok Fitness Water. And for children, past product introductions have included Sainsbury's strawberry flavored water in the Blue Parrot Café range; and Dannon Fluoride To Go! in the US, also offering fluoride protection. Another more recent introduction comprises Buxtons branded mineral water for kids in the UK from Perrier-Vittel. It is aimed at nursery and primary school-aged children and features space on the label for children to write their names on. It comes in a sports bottle.

Confectionery news
Confectionery developments in this issue focus on new formats, new brands and packaging changes. The Vichy water branding is appearing on new confectionery in Italy. The Vichy mints from SNPV are made with mineral salts that have been extracted from Vichy water. In the UK, Nestlé is adding more fun to the Smarties chocolate drops by packaging them in plastic, resealable cans resembling soft drink cans. They even feature a ring-pull. Finally, chocolate countlines continue to diversify into smaller versions of the original line. For example, we have seen Mars' Celebrations chocolate selection, Cadbury Crunchie Nuggets and KitKat Chunky Minis. Now, the Dime line from Kraft Foods is available in Nuggets format to extend the brands' appeal beyond its usual 8-14 year old market.

Flavors for beer
An emerging trend in the beer market is the addition of flavors to compete with FABs or to simply give added value. Recent flavorsome beers include a banana flavored beer in the UK from retailer Tesco. It is said to offer the natural sweetness of banana together with the bitterness of beer. In Germany, Holsten has introduced Cooler, a lemon flavored beer available in 2.5% ABV and alcohol-free varieties. Finally, new in France from Pernod Ricard is Arobase, a range of shots in sachets (e.g. caramel & vodka, lemon & tequila, and ginger) to be added to beer. They come in convenient 20ml round sachets with a hole in the middle so they can be placed on the neck of the bottle.

Flavor & pack novelties in Sauce & Seasonings
Cigar packaging has inspired the introduction of new Bourbon vanilla pods in the UK from Fiddes Payne. They come in metal, test tube-style packs with screw metal caps. They were on display at the recent Food & Drink Expo in Birmingham (UK). For vinegar, a seaweed touch is being given. New in Belgium from Domaines Des Terres Rouges is a cider vinegar with seaweed and shallots. The recent development of fun colored ketchups (e.g. Heinz Ez Squirt ketchup in an orange color) has inspired mustard to venture along the same avenue. For instance, also at the Food & Drink Expo was a patriotic Welsh mustard in a red colour from Blindings.

Drip-free tea bags
Drip-free tea bags are getting more advanced. New in Denmark from Irma are Earl Grey string tea bags packaged within a triangular paper wrapper. There is a tear-off facility attached to the tea bag string which, once the tea bag is used, serves to pull it back to the paper wrapper without mess or dripping.

Savory snacks galore
This month there has been an abundance of innovative launches within savory snacks. Fun savory snacks that change the color of your tongue first came to our attention last year when Walkers introduced in the UK Monster Munch brand snacks that turn tongues blue. Two similar lines have now been introduced in Australia. Tiny Twisties from Smith's Snackfood (PepsiCo) are cheese flavored snacks that also turn the tongue blue. And Snack Brands has launched Dragonball Z cheese flavored snacks that also change color. With regard to packaging, we have already seen some breakfast cereals packaged in snack-style bags, now savory snacks are appearing in breakfast cereal-style boxes! New in the UK from Golden Wonder are Wotsits branded Goalden Balls snacks in paperboard boxes containing 12 packs of the snack and World Cup 2002 memorabilia. In South Korea snacks are being inspired by the carbonara pasta dish. New there from Orion Frito-Lay are penne shaped, carbonara flavored potato snacks! In the US, for those seeking more than just an original-flavored potato chip, new under the Humpty Dumpty brand are limited edition potato chips in Fries & Gravy and Grilled Cheese & Ketchup flavors. Also in the US, organic launches continue to sweep the nation. The latest come from Frito-Lay which has launched the Natural sub-brand of snacks including natural and organic varieties.

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