Burger King unveils fall L.T.O.s
MIAMI – A value menu burger topped with french fries and a chicken Parmesan sandwich headline Burger King’s seasonal menu.
For $1, the french fry burger includes a flame-broiled beef patty topped with fries, lettuce, ketchup and mayonnaise on a sesame seed bun.
The chicken Parmesan sandwich features a breaded white-meat chicken filet with tangy marinara sauce and melted Parmesan cheese on a toasted artisan bun.
Also available for a limited time are Buffalo chicken strips, white-meat chicken battered in seasoned breading and tossed in a spicy sauce.
The items are available beginning in September.
Dole introduces chopped salads
MONTERREY, CALIF. – Dole is debuting chopped salad kits and blends with such ingredients as kale, sweet carrots, cheddar tortilla chips and Applewood smoked bacon.
Chopped salad kit varieties include chipotle and cheddar, bacon and bleu cheese and barbecue ranch. The chopped blends are available in Asian and summer garden varieties.
“While kale continues to surge in popularity, we included it in our new chopped salads for reasons that go beyond current trends,” said Markus Eriksson, senior brand manager of product development at Dole Fresh Vegetables. “Kale was used as a flavor enhancer, to optimize the taste profile and to add specific color and health benefits. It is one of the primary product attributes, along with all-natural ingredients, that distinguishes Dole’s chopped salads line.”
The salads will be available nationwide beginning in mid-September.
Yoplait Go-Gurt Protein debuts
MINNEAPOLIS – General Mills is launching Go-Gurt Protein yogurt tubes in select regions.
With 5 grams of protein per serving, the yogurt contains no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners and is available in strawberry, fruit punch, berry and berry lemonade varieties.
The products are available for a suggested retail price of $2.99 for an 8-count pack in Northeast, North and mid-Atlantic and Central Northeast stores with plans for additional distribution in October.
Wholly Guacamole adds snack cups
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – Wholly Guacamole, a Fresherized Foods brand, is introducing 100-calorie cups in four flavors: classic, spicy, avocado ranch and chunky avocado. Wholly Guacamole Minis are gluten-free, kosher-certified and contain no preservatives.
The products are available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99 to $4.99 for a 4-count box and $5.29 to $5.99 for a 6-count box.
Marzetti expands dressings
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Six varieties join the lineup of Simply Dressed refrigerated salad dressings from T. Marzetti Co., a subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corp.
Made with such ingredients as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil, yogurt and sea salt, the new flavors include light balsamic, light roasted tomato, light red wine Italian, light vegetable ranch, cherry Balsamic vinaigrette and lemon vinaigrette.
The new flavors are available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.79 to $4.49.
Sprout launches organic snack pouches
DULUTH, GA. – Organic baby food maker Sprout Foods targets older children with a new line of pureed snack pouches.
Featuring quinoa, Greek yogurt, coconut milk, fruit and vegetables, Sprout Smash Organic snack pouches are available in three varieties with a total of nine flavors. Veggie & Fruit Smash Smoothie flavors include butternut squash and grape, carrot and orange, and pumpkin and strawberry. Coconut Milk Smoothies are made with quinoa and come in banana and berry, cherry and apple, and peach and banana flavors. Greek Yogurt Smash Smoothie flavors include acai berry, blueberry and blackcurrant, and strawberry and cherry.
The products are available in grocery stores nationwide.
Gold’n Plump pumps out new chicken flavors
ST. CLOUD, MINN. – Pesto and mesquite flavors join a lineup of seasoned whole chicken products from Gold’n Plump, a GNP Co. brand.
“Offering on-trend new seasonings of our premium whole chickens in no-touch convenient bake-in-bag packaging minimizes preparation and clean-up to maximize family time,” said Sara Danforth, new product development manager for GNP Co.
Other flavors include lemon pepper and sweet barbecue.
The gluten- and allergen-free chickens are fully trussed and highly trimmed. The new flavors are available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $7.49.
Pure Protein launches soft-baked bars
RONKONKOMA, N.Y. – Pure Protein, an NBTY brand for active lifestyles, is adding soft-baked bars in double chocolate vanilla crunch and chocolate peanut butter crunch varieties. With 17 grams of protein and 5 grams of sugar, the bars have a cake-like center and crunchy exterior.
The soft-baked bars extend a family of products that include shakes, powders and nutrition bars. They are available nationwide at select retailers.
Blount adds soups and sides for food service
FALL RIVER, MASS. – Blount Fine Foods, a maker of gourmet soups and sauces, is adding six varieties of single-serve, grab-and-go soup and a line of side dishes for food service and retail club stores.
Soups include New England clam chowder, gluten-free creamy tomato, broccoli cheddar, gluten-free chicken tortilla, baked potato and chicken noodle.
“Hot-to-go at retail has been our hottest product category for the last few years, but consumers don’t always want to eat restaurant-quality fresh soup the day they purchase it,” said Bob Sewall, executive vice-president of sales and marketing. “Knowing the demand was there for a premium, single-serving, fresh soup with an excellent shelf life, we worked hard to develop the technology and production processes that enable us to launch this first-of-its-kind product. To accomplish this, we developed state-of-the-art filling equipment with a proprietary design that allows a smaller portion of soup to be filled very accurately without any sacrifice in ingredient distribution.”
Side dishes include vegetarian, organic and gluten-free options. Vegetarian sides include butternut squash, gluten-free chipotle mashed sweet potatoes with cranberries, gluten-free mashed cauliflower with cheddar cheese, gluten-free creamed spinach and mushrooms, gluten-free organic spiced lentil and chickpeas, gluten-free organic kettle black beans and gluten-free cinnamon apples. The line also features three varieties of macaroni and cheese: classic, with smoked bacon and buffalo-style.
“The sustained growth of value-added, prepared foods is no longer just a ‘trend’ in the marketplace,” Mr. Sewall said. “It is how consumers shop and eat now, and that is not going to change. Consumers want as good a meal at home as they can get in a restaurant, including items they can’t or won’t make themselves.”
The soups and side dishes are shipped and sold fresh or frozen to food service and retail clubs.
Sprouted cereals roll out
ABBOTSFORD, B.C. – One Degree Organic Foods, a maker of bread, flours and seeds, is introducing veganic sprouted cereals. Made with verified non-bioengineered ingredients, varieties include Ancient Grain O’s, Ancient Grain Flakes, gluten-free Ancient Maize Flakes, gluten-free Brown Rice Cacao Crisps and gluten-free Brown Rice Crisps. Ingredients include coconut palm sugar, sprouted maize, amaranth, flax and sprouted brown rice.
“Our goal is to provide healthy food with traceable ingredients so customers know what they are eating and understand the related benefits of each meal,” said Danny Houghton, vice-president of marketing and sales for One Degree Organic Foods. “All ingredients are 100% veganic and traceable to their family farm of origin.”
The products are available at select retailers nationwide.
Health Warrior extends chia bars
NEW YORK – Health Warrior Chia Bars have sprouted new flavors: banana nut, coffee and apple cinnamon. With 100 calories and 5 grams of sugar or less, the chia seed-based energy bars are vegan, dairy-, soy- and gluten-free. Other varieties include coconut, acai berry and chocolate peanut butter.
The bars are available at select retailers nationwide.
Monterey ranch chicken sandwich returns to Wendy’s
DUBLIN, OHIO – For a limited time, Wendy’s Monterrey ranch crispy chicken sandwich returns to the chain’s value menu.
The sandwich features white-meat chicken topped with Monterey jack cheese and ranch sauce.
The item is available nationwide for 99c.
