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SIDE DISH - CCD's Monthly Compilation on Food and Beverage Industry Trends
Hitting the Shelves

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCHES

September 2009

Pepperidge Farm serves veggie-infused goldfish…The new Goldfish Garden Cheddar crackers contain a third of a serving of vegetables and are part of a ěstealth healthî trend growing for years in cookies, crackers, chips and fruit snacks. Research conducted by Pepperidge Farms shows that 73% of parents say their child has gone an entire day without eating a single vegetable. (Brandweek, 8/28)

 
  • Gelatin grows up…Three new antioxidant-rich flavors join the Jell-O brand sugar-free line: Açaí, Raspberry Goji and Wolfberry. Adding superfruit flavors makes the dessert more appealing to parents as well as adults concerned with weight management and healthful eating. (Prepared Foods, August)
  • Benefiting beverages…Brain function, mood drinks, gut health and cardiovascular benefits are just a sampling of the functional claims appearing on new beverages. Hybrid drinks, such as Cherry 7Up with Antioxidants, are another way functional benefits are being introduced to new beverage segments. However, some ingredients, like those associated with mood, have less research than behind them than others, like probiotics. (Prepared Foods, August)
  • Drama Queens…Cranberry Raisinets debutLeveraging the superfruit trend and cranberry's popular status, Raisinets now come in a cranberry variety and are aimed at on-the-go women seeking more healthful snacks. (Brandweek, 8/18)
  • Johanna Foods, Inc. launches Earth Wise Beverages…The U.K. line intends to meet consumers' expectations for better-for-you products and premium package design aesthetics. Flavors include Watermelon Supreme, Harvest Lemonade, Passionfruit Aloe and Pomegranate Blueberry. Read more about aloe as an up-and-coming healthful ingredient in our soon-to-be-released Beverage Trends Culinary Trend Mapping Report. (Creativematch, 8/19)
  • Introducing Perky Jerky…The caffeinated beef jerky from PEMS, LLC combines premium quality meat with the energy boost equivalent of two cans of energy drink. Each 90-calorie serving has 22 grams of protein, making it a healthful, low-fat snack. (PR Newswire, 8/24)
  • Samuel Adams unveils new collection of fall seasonal brews…Illustrating the trend in more seasonal food and beverage offerings, the Samuel Adams Harvest Collection features six distinct craft beers including a new style, Samuel Adams Dunkelweizen, a dark wheat beer traditional to Germany. Other flavors in the Harvest Collection Variety Pack include Octoberfest, Cherry Wheat, Brown Ale, Irish Red Ales and Lager. (PR Newswire, 8/26)
  • Unwrap a little Godiva every day with the introduction of Godiva Chocolatier Gems…The new, individually wrapped chocolates are intended to make the brand more affordable and accessible. The Gems will be available in new locations such as Safeway, Publix and Wegmans. Three varieties include Solid Gems, Caramel Gems and Truffle Gems, available in milk or dark chocolate. (PR Newswire, 8/27)
  • Happymelts make snack time easy, fun and healthy…Happyfamily, a premium baby and toddler food brand has introduced Happymelts, the first-ever infant food boosted with both prebiotics and probiotics to promote a balanced digestive system. Happymelts are a naturally sweetened freeze-dried yogurt snack that melt in baby's mouth and are easy to pick up and swallow. They contain organic fruit and yogurt and are fortified with calcium and vitamin D. (PR Newswire, 8/31)
Food Front

FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY HEADLINES

September 2009

The real cost of food…The conversation about sustainable food, humane meat production and the high environmental and human cost of cheap food hits the pages of Time. There are more choices than ever for alternative-to-conventionally grown food, but are consumers willing to pay for them and consider the hidden costs behind some low prices? (Time, 8/21)


  • Personalized foods…Thanks to advancements in nutritional systems biology, product formulators are seeking ingredients that provide select segments of the population with specific health benefits, so called lifestage foods. From supplement drinks for pregnant women to omega-3 DHA-fortified kids' food to vitamin-E-rich foods for men, lifestage foods hold promise. (Food Product Design, August)
  • Beyond packaging: Wal-Mart turns to sustainability…The mass retailer, in cooperation with a group of suppliers, universities and other industry leaders, announced plans to develop a worldwide sustainable product index to rank suppliers. The score will be on product labels, informing the consumer as well. (Food Processing, August)
  • Kids are well aware which foods are healthy, finds Technomic…A new study finds that nearly nine out of ten kids surveyed say that fresh vegetables and whole fruits are healthful. Other healthful foods identified by kids are salad, steamed veggies and eggs. The findings are part of a new Kids & Moms Consumer Trend Report designed to help restaurant operators and suppliers understand dining behavior. (PR-Inside.com, 8/5)
  • Wal-Mart debuts club store for Hispanics…Houston is the location of Wal-Mart's first Mas Club, a store oriented to Latinos. It is as a cross between Sam's Club and a warehouse-style bodega and includes a tortilleria, Mexican-style baked goods and a butcher shop. Signs are in Spanish with English translations. (Supermarket News, 8/10)
  • How consumers approach functional foods…Whole grains, fiber and protein are top of the list for consumers looking to improve their diets by eating more of a specific type of food, according to a new American survey by the International Food Information Council. (Food Navigator-USA, 8/13)
  • The cupcake bubble…Is the cupcake trend going to explode like the dot-com and housing/credit bubbles? Newsweek thinks so. Cupcakes are easy to make at home, they are getting too expensive and competition is growing, all reasons why a sugar crash is imminent. Get your fix now! (Newsweek, 8/14)
  • Battling inflammation through food…There is growing evidence that foods like vegetables and fish can ease an overactive immune system, according to a host of new diet books such as The Anti-Inflammation Zone by Barry Sears. These books come at a time when chronic inflammation is an emerging field in medicine. (Los Angele Times, 8/17)
  • Snacking occasions grow faster than any other daypart , says NPD… While breakfast and lunch sales are down in foodservice, evening snack sales are holding or growing slightly. Despite the recession, consumers are still looking for convenience, food they crave and value, though value is not the primary driver. For more on snacking, see our Snack Foods Culinary Trend Mapping Report. (NRN, 8/31)