Recent food and drink highlights from global new products database include Philadelphia dairy snack bars andLay's brand seaweed chips
Chicago, IL, June 2002 -- Mintel's Global New Products Database has seen many new exciting food product introductions worldwide this past month.
Dipping Trends
Dipping continues to be a popular way of eating/snacking. The latest to join the plethora of available lines is Mini Donuts 'n' Dip in the UK from Country Style Foods. The frozen, mini ring doughnuts are microwaveable and come with a separate chocolate flavor dip. In the Netherlands, separate sauces (which presumably can be used as a dip or spread) accompany new Italian breads from Molto Amata. Varieties available are Pane Aioli (to create garlic bread); Pane Pesto; and Pane Tricolore (three colored bread).
On-the-go packaging
In July 2002, people on the move will be able to enjoy their favorite Nabisco snacks to go. Mini Chips Ahoy!, Mini Cheese Nips, Mini Oreo, Nutter Butter Bites, Ritz Bits Sandwiches, and Teddy Grahams will be available in the US in Go-Pak containers. The packaging comprises portable, 3-oz reclosable cups that are crush-proof and fit in most car cup holders.
A Jolt of energy
For those wanting the pep of Jolt Cola without having to drink all that sugar, Taste of Nature is now offering in the US, Jolt Cola Energy Rush! Caffeine Tablets. They are also formulated with taurine and guarana for an even extra kick.
Souper convenient
Campbell's Soup at Hand could be great news for soup lovers in the US. This new line of soup includes Creamy Chicken, Classic Tomato, Cream of Broccoli, and Vegetable Medley varieties. The innovation is that the cup is shaped to fit the palm of the hand, and is also microwaveable.
DariFree Development
Darifree! new in Canada, is not your ordinary dairy-free beverage; it is not made with soy or rice, but potatoes! The product, manufactured by DariFree Development, is currently available in two flavors: Original and Chocolate.
The lizard takes a wild leap
The SoBe line in the US, known for its lizard-logo beverages, will expand into new segments of the market this Summer with Power Gum and a candy bar option. This will be the first time the brand appears on any non-beverage product.
Herta for kids
Herta (Nestlé) is aiming for a bigger share of the children's market with the French introduction of Croc'Orico!, a complete range of products for 4-10 year olds. Products include potato & ham cakes, steaks, poultry nuggets and vegetable fritters. To attract children (and parents) they are packaged in colorful boxes with animal characters.
All-in-One omelette making kit
Making an omelette could not be simpler. New in France, from Matines, is Les Idées Malines, an omelette making kit containing six fresh eggs and a separate glass jar of ingredients.
Sports bottles for spreads
Sports bottle packaging has inspired a number of sectors including sweet spreads. New in Hong Kong, from Taikoo Sugar, is a golden syrup in a plastic bottle with a sports nozzle.
Snacking salami
Salami is getting the snacking treatment in Germany where Reinert has launched Snäkx Salami which resemble potato snacks and even have a crinkle-cut shape.
Using the force for marketing purposes
General Mills has introduced, in the US, glow-in-the-dark lightsaber tubes featuring characters from the Star Wars saga for its Go-GURT portable yogurt line. The company claims that this is the first time glow-in-the-dark technology has been used in the dairy industry or on any tube snacks.
Asian snacks news
Some of the flavors we come across when examining Asian new products are often perceived as "unusual". No doubt Asian consumers would say the same about some European lines. These "unusual" flavors, however, do much to inspire many a new product launch. Past interesting flavors have included sweetcorn and black bean flavored ice cream and pea flavored savory snacks. Most of these Asian products tend to be produced by local Asian companies who are familiar with their consumers' tastes. However, we are also finding that large Western companies are developing products that cater for specific regions. For example, in the Philippines, Frito-Lay (PepsiCo) recently added a Porphyra (seaweed) variety to its well- known Lay's potato snack brand. It is unlikely that this flavor will appear in any Western country! Sweet flavors are also appearing in the savory snacks sector. Again in the Philippines, we report on the introduction of Oishi Cinnamon Chips from Liwayway Marketing Corporation.
Soda colors the rainbow
We have seen two interesting carbonated soft drink introductions in the US this month. Red Fusion is a cherry-flavored soft drink is from the Dr Pepper division of Cadbury-Schweppes Beverages. The second is Pepsi Blue from PepsiCo, a blue-colored, berry-flavored beverage that will be available in August. They follow on the heels of other novel soda introductions of late, such as Code Red Mountain Dew, Vanilla Coke, and Sobe's Mr Green.
Tetley gets therapeutic
Herbal infusions and teas remain an important market as consumers are still heavily interested in the natural, therapeutic benefits of herbs and botanicals. Leading tea company, Tetley is now attempting to give the market even more of a boost in the UK. It has introduced Tea:therapy, a range of black teas with the added taste and benefits of herbs. Varieties comprise Uplifting with ginseng and peppermint; Calming, with lower caffeine content, camomile, lemon balm and honey; and Balancing, again with a lower caffeine content but with added fennel and lime flower.
Functional dairy
Dairy remains one of the most active sectors with regard to functional launches. In the UK, Red Kite Farms is positioning its new Slumber Bedtime Milk as a sleep aid. It contains higher levels of melatonin (a naturally produced substance which allegedly regulates mammals' body clocks) than regular milk, because it comes only from milk produced at night when cows' melatonin levels are higher. Also in the UK, the Shape yogurt brand from St Ivel is venturing into functional areas. It has introduced Bio Yogurt Drink with L casei bio culture and enriched with calcium and vitamins.
Philadelphia enters snacks market
The Philadelphia soft cheese brand from Kraft Foods is attempting to gain some share of the "on-the-go" snack bar market with an interesting launch in Germany. New Philadelphia Kräuter Snack comprises a cream cheese & herb bar surrounded with wholemeal bread.
Established in 1972, Mintel incorporates Mintel consumer intelligence, global new products database (www.gnpd.com), and Mintel consultancy. Mintel is an independent research company which operates offices in Chicago, London, Munich and Sydney. For more information on Mintel, please visit our website at www.mintel.com.
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