KANSAS CITY — Consumer routines have been upended by the pandemic. Canceled morning commutes have led to an increase in at-home breakfast consumption. Restricted gatherings mean fewer occasions for multi-serve desserts.
New products hitting retail shelves cater to a new normal. Miniature cheesecakes in peel-and-plate packaging are debuting from Sara Lee Frozen Bakery, Oakbrook Terrace, Ill. Individually wrapped and portioned, Sara Lee Mini Cheesecakes are available in classic, strawberry and salted caramel truffle varieties.
”Sara Lee Mini Cheesecakes are on-trend now more than ever because they’re individually wrapped snacks that you can eat right out of the cup with a fork or spoon,” said Ryan Malone, chief marketing officer of Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. “We’re pleased to answer increasing consumer demand for ‘touchless snacking’ with our innovative packaging that helps consumers feel confident about the safety of their food.”
Convenience remains an important attribute to consumers, even if they are spending more time at home. Two brands are introducing instant oats featuring added protein and nutrient-dense ingredients. Purely Elizabeth, Boulder, Colo., is launching collagen protein oats in multi-serve pouches, made with a base of organic oats, quinoa, amaranth, flax and chia, plus grass-fed collagen. Flavors include blueberry walnut and vanilla pecan.
Earnest Eats, Solana Beach, Calif., has debuted a range of breakfast options made with quinoa, oats and amaranth. Protein + Probiotic Instant Oatmeal Packets contain 9 grams of whey protein isolate and 500 million colony forming units of probiotics. Flavors include maple and apple. Superfood Instant Oatmeal Packets contain ingredients such as sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and dried apples and are available in apple cinnamon and maple almond varieties.
“Instant packets are still one of the hottest formats in the oatmeal category, because it’s a super easy way to take them with you, and we wanted to find a way to make our nutritious whole food options more accessible and affordable for shoppers in this aisle,” said Andrew Aussie, president and founder of Earnest Eats. “We created the world’s first oatmeal to combine protein and probiotics with our original Protein + Probiotic hot cereals in cups and bags. After years of success and increased requests from consumers for this line and our Superfood Oatmeal we’re excited to make them both available in the single-serve packet format.”
