KANSAS CITY — Convenience is key in new products hitting shelves that eliminate prep work for breakfast bowls, smoothies, specialty coffees and more.
The Kraft Heinz Co. is cutting down on morning meal prep with three new Just Crack an Egg breakfast scramble bowls: Veggie, Southwest Style and Protein Packed. Featuring Oscar Mayer meat, Kraft cheese, Ore-Idea potatoes and diced vegetables, each cup requires only the addition of one egg.
“Consumers are demanding more of their breakfast,” said Matt Riezman, associate director of marketing for the Just Crack an Egg brand. “We know people are looking for something that’s easy to prepare but also satisfies their personal breakfast desires. Our four original varieties satisfy people’s desire for a convenient, hot breakfast on a weekday that reminds them of something they only had on the weekend. Now, we’re expanding the line to include meatless options, incorporate spicy flavors and provide an option for people looking for more protein.”
The Coca-Cola Co.’s Simply Beverages brand is launching a new line to make sipping a smoothie a simpler process. New Simply Smoothie Fruit Smoothies are chilled, ready-to-drink 100% fruit smoothies in three varieties: strawberry banana, mango pineapple and orchard berry. 
Each shake-and-sip smoothie contains between 130 and 140 calories per 8-oz serving and comes in multi-serve 32-oz bottles and in single-serve 11.5-oz bottles.
“It’s no secret that just about everyone loves the healthy, on-the-go goodness of fruit smoothies,” Coca-Cola said. “What they don’t love, however, is the hassle and mess of chopping, blending and cleaning up smoothie ingredients. Simply Beverages is delivering the best of both worlds with a new line of chilled, ready-to-drink, 100% real-fruit smoothies.”
Conagra Brands, Inc. is catering to convenience-seeking consumers with new Reddi-wip Nitro Creamer and Sweet Foam. The new Reddi-wip Barista Series products are made with only six ingredients and deliver flavor notes of vanilla to hot and cold coffee beverages.
“Given the continued strength of coffee sales and the fact that many consumers already use our regular Reddi-wip in their coffee, we saw an exciting opportunity to bring a cream-based innovation to market that would better replicate popular coffee drinks and the coffeehouse experience but in the convenience of home or work,” said Ryan Clark, president of the Refrigerated and Frozen division at Conagra Brands. “The Barista Series gives consumers a coffeehouse experience any time of day, without the coffee shop lines or price.”
“Consumers today want lunch options that are fresh, delicious, filling and convenient. In fact, 55% of U.S. consumers said they were looking for quick and easy meal options." — Jeff Haines, Bonduelle Fresh Americas
Offering a convenient new lunch option, Bonduelle is introducing Heat & Eat Harvest Bowls in four varieties: Chipotle Chicken Veggie & Rice, Basil Pesto Turkey Veggie & Fettuccine, Moroccan Inspired Chicken Veggie & Grains, and Korean Inspired Beef Veggie & Rice. Ready in three minutes or fewer, the bowls feature a blend of vegetables, meats, grains and simmer sauces packaged in microwavable bowls. Each bowl offers 13 to 19 grams of protein and 280 to 410 calories.
“Consumers today want lunch options that are fresh, delicious, filling and convenient,” said Jeff Haines, executive chef for Bonduelle Fresh Americas. “In fact, 55% of U.S. consumers said they were looking for quick and easy meal options. This unique new hot lunch option features high-quality meat proteins, fresh veggies and healthful grains all combined with delicious globally-inspired sauces for a quick, satisfying lunch in less than three minutes."
