Flurry of new cereal launches on tap for General Mills
MINNEAPOLIS — General Mills, Inc. has a full slate of new products set for introduction in 2014, including several new cereals.
In January, the company will add a cranberry almond flavor to its Nature Valley Protein Granola line. The company also will launch two varieties of Fiber One Protein cereal: maple brown sugar and cranberry almond. Fiber One Protein provides 10 grams of protein and 20% of the daily value of fiber per serving.
Aside from protein-packed cereal, General Mills plans to extend its Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Cheerios lineups with new varieties. Chocolate Toast Crunch and a dark chocolate version of Multigrain Cheerios with 14 grams of whole grain per serving will hit store shelves in the coming months. General Mills also will add to its Cascadian Farms organic cereal line with Graham Crunch.
Kashi debuts globally inspired pizzas
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — Kashi, a business unit of the Kellogg Co., is broadening its single-serve frozen pizza line with two globally-inspired vegetarian varieties: Greek Tzatziki and Tikka Masala.
Greek Tzatziki is topped with spinach, artichokes, tomatoes, feta, mozzarella and a yogurt sauce flavored with cucumber, dill and garlic. Indian Tikka Masal has mozzarella, fire-roasted eggplant, spinach, tomatoes, crushed red pepper and a spicy Tikka Masala sauce.
Featuring crust made with whole grains, flax and sesame, the pizzas contain 17 to 18 grams of protein and 23 to 24 grams of whole grains per serving.
The products are available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99.
Kellogg announces pipeline of products
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. – Stretching across the Kellogg Co.’s U.S. portfolio of cereal, snacks and frozen foods, a range of new products promise portability and nutrition.
New ready-to-eat cereal options include Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats Touch of Fruit with raisins; Kellogg’s Krave S’mores, featuring graham-flavored whole grain shells filled with chocolate and marshmallow crème; and Kashi Organic Promise Raisin Vineyard, with rice, wheat, quinoa flakes and raisins.
Snack launches include Nutri-Grain Fruit and Oat Harvest bars in strawberry and blueberry flavors; Kellogg’s To Go Morning Biscuits in oats and honey and oatmeal raisin varieties; and Special K Indulgent Moments 70-calorie snack bars in coconut and caramel pretzel flavors. Kashi Granola and Seed bars are debuting in honey oat flax and chocolate chip chia varieties, made with whole grains, quinoa, flax and chia seeds.
Under the Pringles banner comes new Tortilla Crisps in three flavors: original, nacho cheese and Southwestern Ranch. The Cheez-It brand expands with a new Grooves line, which has the flavor and texture of Cheez-It crackers in zesty cheddar ranch and sharp white cheddar flavors. Keebler is introducing Fudge Covered Coconut Dreams shortbread cookies with layers of caramel and toasted coconut.
Debuting in the frozen food section are Eggo Bites maple-flavored waffles and french toast in vanilla and cinnamon varieties. The products are packaged in single-serving microwavable pouches for on-the-go eating. Special K’s bacon, egg and cheese flatbread extends the line of lower-calorie breakfast options. Additionally, Morningstar Farms has added an organic, Non-G.M.O. Project-certified roasted garlic and quinoa burger made with quinoa, lentils and vegetables.
ConAgra expands frozen lines
OMAHA — ConAgra Foods has expanded its Bertolli and P.F. Chang’s frozen meals and desserts.
New single-serve Bertolli Al Dente meals feature a tray-in-tray steam cooking method and are available in four varieties: chicken Florentine Alfredo, tortellini Margherita, asiago ravioli primavera and chicken carbonara.
Bertolli Rustico Bakes Meals include six single-serve varieties: chicken Parmigiana and penne, ricotta and spinach cannelloni, Italian sausage and meatball rigatoni, chicken portabella ravioli, stuffed shells alla vodka and creamy spinach rollatini. Four dual-serving options include manicotti alla vodka, stuffed shells Bolognese, ricotta and mozzarella ravioli and ziti alforno.
Additionally, Bertolli is adding three flavors to its Skillet Meals for Two line with Pappardelle Bolognese, ricotta and lobster ravioli, and chicken Margherita and penne. Joining the lineup of Bertolli single-serve frozen desserts are tiramisu, lemoncello, triple chocolate strata cake and cappuccino strata cake.
Bertolli Skillet Meals for Two and Rustico Bakes Meals for Two are available for approximately $5.99 per item. The Bertolli Meal for One and Rustico Bakes Meal for One are available at a suggested retail price of $3.59. The desserts are sold at approximately $2.99.
ConAgra also is introducing a pair of options to its P.F. Chang’s Skillet Meals for Two line with Szechuan-style shrimp and Mongolian-style chicken. The P.F. Chang’s Skillet Meals for Two are available for approximately $7.99.
Canada Bread debuts gluten-free bread
TORONTO — Dempster’s Bakery Gluten Zero, a line of bread made by Canada Bread Company Ltd., has been certified by the Gluten-Free Certification Program (G.F.C.P.) in partnership with the Canadian Celiac Association. The line of gluten-free loaves may be found at major retailers across Ontario, Eastern Canada and Quebec (under the Bon Matin brand) bearing the G.F.C.P. trademark of assurance.
Available in whole grain loaf and white loaf, both Dempster’s Bakery Gluten Zero offerings include the G.F.C.P. trademark and are 100% gluten-free and are made in a 100% dedicated gluten-free facility in Toronto. The loaves unopened will remain fresh for 21 days and once opened can be enjoyed for up to five days, and can be found in the fresh bakery aisle of grocery stores. Each loaf retails for C$5.49 to C$6.49.
The G.F.C.P. is a voluntary certification program designed to help brand owners to differentiate their gluten-free products from other products carrying gluten-free claims, by displaying the G.F.C.P. endorsed trademark.
New items roll out at Panera Bread
ST. LOUIS — Panera Bread has launched a spate of seasonal and standby items, including a soup, sandwich and pasta.
The newest addition to the bakery-cafe’s popular pasta platform is chicken tortellini Alfredo, which pairs tortellini pasta filled with ricotta, Swiss and romano cheeses in an Alfredo sauce with smoked, pulled chicken and asiago-Parmesan cheese.
The fontina grilled cheese sandwich features Vermont white cheddar, fontina, reduced-fat chive and onion cream cheese spread and a four-cheese Italian blend on thick-sliced white Miche bread.
The country-style mushroom with truffle soup combines tender white mushrooms, onions and tomatoes simmered with cream and flavored with truffle, shallot puree and red wine.
Limited-time items include a cranberry walnut bagel, reduced-fat cranberry orange cream cheese, a red velvet crinkle cookie, and holiday bread, which has sweet egg dough mixed with honey, golden raisins, cranberries and chocolate chips, filled with chunky apples and cinnamon sugar and baked with a crumb topping and icing drizzle. Holiday beverages include peppermint mocha and a new hot chocolate with chocolate chip marshmallows.
The Better Chip adds beet, chipotle flavors
LOS ANGELES — Beet and chipotle join the family of flavors from The Better Chip, a brand of snack chips made with non-bioengineered corn masa and vegetables from Fresh Gourmet L.L.C.
The chipotle flavor is made with red, ripened jalapeno peppers that are smoked over wood chips and crushed into whole-grain corn masa. The beet variety feature chopped fresh beets that are cooked in the chip.
Other varieties include jalapeno with sea salt, red peppers with salsa fresca, spinach and kale with sea salt, corn with sea salt and sweet onion with white cheddar.
The new flavors will be available beginning in early 2014 in supermarkets nationwide.
Quaker expands cereal options
CHICAGO — The Quaker Oats Co., a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., has expanded its breakfast offerings with hot and cold cereals.
Quaker Warm & Crunchy Granola, a hot cereal with multigrain granola, is available in apple cinnamon, honey almond and cranberry almond varieties.
In apple cranberry and honey almond flavors, Quaker Instant Oatmeal Cups contain 190 calories, 5 grams of protein and 7 grams of protein per serving.
Extending the Real Medleys line of oatmeal and bars are ready-to-eat cereals in cherry pecan almond and peach apple walnut varieties. The cereals feature multigrain, real fruit, nuts and crunchy granola clusters.
“We’re focused on driving innovations that excite consumers while providing the wholesome goodness of Quaker Oats,” said Justin Lambeth, chief marketing officer for Quaker Oats. “Whether it’s a craving for a satisfying crunch, the need for a wholesome and comforting on-the-go option, or the desire for a flavorful medley of real ingredients, these new innovations aim to meet the many needs of families today.”
The products will be available nationwide beginning in 2014.
Pasta-flavored chips debut
LOS ANGELES — Pasta Chips, a new reduced-fat snack chip line from Keen Marketing & Manufacturing, draws flavor inspiration from Tuscan sauces and tastes. Made with semolina flour, ancient grains and Italian herbs, the snack chips contain 4 grams of protein, 60% less fat than potato chips and 20% less fat than pita chips. Flavors include marinara, Alfredo, spicy tomato basil, garlic olive oil and Mediterranean sea salt.
Pasta Chips will be available at select retailers beginning in January.
Kashi launches new bars
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — Kashi, a business unit of the Kellogg Co., has launched new Crunchy Granola and Seed Bars in two flavors: honey oat flax and chocolate chip chia.
The Honey oat flax bars contain flax seeds, whole grains and quinoa with honey. The bars provide 320 mg ALA omega-3 fatty acids, 3 grams of fiber, 25 grams of whole grains and 6 grams of total fat.
The chocolate chip chia bars feature a blend of chia seeds, whole grains and quinoa sprinkled with sweet bites of chocolate chips, with 320 mg ALA omega-3 fatty acids, 3 grams of fiber, 23 grams of whole grains and 7 grams of total fat.
The Kashi Crunchy Granola and Seed Bars are available at select grocery retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.99. MBN
