Click for a slideshow of new products.
Burger King’s Big reveal
MIAMI — Burger King has added a stacked sandwich to its permanent menu. The Big King has two beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and a sweet thousand island dressing on a three-layer sesame seed bun. The new burger is available nationwide for $3.69.
The chain also is offering for a limited time a barbecue rib sandwich, featuring a boneless rib patty, onions, pickles and a sweet and spicy barbecue sauce on a sesame seed bun.
Dunkin’ rolls out red velvet
CANTON, MASS. – Dunkin’ Donuts is ringing in the season with red velvet. A red velvet latte and a glazed red velvet cake donut with a cream cheese icing drizzle are available for a limited time.
Other seasonal items include a peppermint mocha, a white chocolate latte, a salted caramel hot chocolate and a star-shaped Bavarian kreme-filled donut topped with green icing and white star sprinkles.
Also debuting on Dunkin’s menu for a limited time is the Spicy Smoke Sausage Breakfast Sandwich, which includes a spicy split sausage link with egg and cheese on an English muffin.
Lay’s debuts chocolate-dipped chips
PLANO, TEXAS — Giving new meaning to the words “chocolate chips,” Frito-Lay, a division of PepsiCo, Inc., is launching Lay’s Wavy Potato Chips Dipped in Milk Chocolate.
The sweet-meets-salty snack will be available for a limited time exclusively at Target stores for a suggested retail price of $3.49.
Birds Eye adds vegetable blends
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Designed to cut kitchen time, a new product line from Pinnacle Foods’ Birds Eye Vegetables brand features pre-sliced and diced vegetables that are flash-frozen at the peak of ripeness.
Recipe Ready includes vegetable blends for pizzas, stews and soups, casseroles, stir-fries or fajitas, with such varieties as tri-color pepper and onion, broccoli stir-fry, chopped onions and garlic, pizza supreme blend, Southwest blend, primavera blend and more. The product line is available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $1.59 to $2.59.
Sonic launches new fries
OKLAHOMA CITY — New skin-on french fries are debuting at Sonic Drive-In. Made from whole russet potatoes, Natural-Cut Fries are crispier and fluffier than the chain’s original fries, according to the company.
Sonic also has introduced a limited-time lineup of spicy items, including the Classic Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Island Fire Spicy Chicken Sandwich, Island Fire SuperSonic Cheeseburger and the Southwest Chipotle Breakfast Burrito, featuring such bold ingredients as a sweet and spicy habanero sauce, smoked chipotle sauce, cayenne pepper seasoning, pepper jack and smoky cheddar cheeses and fire-roasted red and green peppers.
J&J Snack expands Superpretzel line
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. — New pretzel products from J&J Snack Foods’ SuperPretzel line offer savory and sweet flavors.
SuperTwists feature hand-twisted soft pretzel dough with cheese fillings in honey chipotle, fiery pumpernickel and jalapeno ranch varieties.
Sweet Cinnamon Soft Pretzel Bites feature bite-size bursts of cinnamon sugar flavor.
Combining old-world flair with a traditional twist, Bavarian Soft Pretzels are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, including braids and jumbo.
Orville Redenbacher’s debuts Gourmet Naturals
OMAHA — Popping up under ConAgra Foods’ Orville Redenbacher’s banner is a line of microwave popcorn with half the fat of the brand’s butter-flavored product. Gourmet Naturals popcorn is packaged in a pop-up bowl in four flavors: classic butter and sea salt, garlic butter and sea salt, zesty pepper butter and simply salted. With zero grams of trans fat per serving, the products are gluten-free and 100% whole grain.
Gourmet Naturals are available at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.99.
Johnsonville enters meatball category
SHEBOYGAN FALLS, WIS. — Marking a category debut, Johnsonville Sausage, L.L.C. is launching a line of frozen pre-cooked meatballs and sausage slices.
Made with pork blended with herbs and spices, the products contain no M.S.G., artificial colors or flavors. Meatball flavors include classic Italian, homestyle and three-cheese. The sausage slices are available in two varieties: mild Italian and hot and spicy.
Tortilla maker debuts low-carb flour tortilla
SANTA ROSA, CALIF. — La Tortilla Factory has added to its product lineup with the launch of a low-carb flour tortilla. The new product is high in fiber, low fat and contains zero grams of trans fats.
The new low-carb flour tortillas are made with unbleached wheat flour, cellulose fiber and expeller pressed canola oil. They contain 70 calories per serving and provide 5 grams of protein and 36% of the recommended daily value of fiber.
The tortillas are available in four varieties: original whole wheat, large-size whole wheat, garlic and herb, and traditional flour.
The debut of low-carb flour tortillas coincides with the unveiling of new redesigned packaging for the entire La Tortilla Factory low-carb product line.
La Tortilla Factory’s line of low-carb tortillas is available at independent grocers and supermarkets nationwide. The suggested retail price is $4.59 for a bag of 8 tortillas.
B&G builds on Cream of Wheat brand
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — One hundred and twenty years after debuting at the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair, Cream of Wheat is once again offering consumers a new product with the launch of three hot cereals.
Cream of Wheat Maple Brown Sugar Stovetop is the brand’s first flavored hot cereal in the stovetop category. It features maple and brown sugar flavors and is considered an excellent source of iron, calcium and vitamin D. The hot cereal is ready in just 2½ minutes, B&G Foods, Inc. said.
Cream of Wheat Maple Brown Sugar Stovetop is available at major retailers throughout the United States for a suggested retail price of $4.19 for a 28-oz box.
B&G Foods also has introduced Cream of Wheat Instant Bananas and Cream. The flavored instant hot cereal is available at a suggested retail price of $4.19.
Finally, in an effort to reach the growing number of gluten-free consumers, B&G Foods has launched Cream of Rice. The product is available for $2.49 for Cream of Rice Stovetop and $4.19 for Cream of Rice Instant.
Annie’s adds mac and cheese pizza
BERKELEY, CALIF. — Combining two childhood favorites, Annie’s has added a macaroni and cheese pizza to its rising-crust pizza line. The product features pasta elbows and creamy cheddar cheese sauce atop a rising crust made with organic flour and whole grains. The pizza contains no artificial flavors, synthetic colors or preservatives.
Annie’s Macaroni and Cheese pizza is available in the frozen section at Super Target stores with plans to roll out to retailers nationwide later in the year.
Rockin’ Refuel offers lean variety
PHOENIX — Shamrock Farms has expanded its Rockin’ Refuel line of protein beverages to include a lean variety. With 150 calories and 20 grams of protein per serving, Lean Builder is available in chocolate and vanilla varieties.
“Our new Lean Builder product comes with even fewer calories for everyday active people looking to stay in shape and build lean muscle,” said Blake Atkinson, director of brand management for Shamrock Farms. “As one of the pioneers in protein fortified milk, Rockin' Refuel is constantly evaluating the needs of people who lead active lifestyles in order to create new products that are beneficial to achieving their physical goals.”
The product is available in the dairy section of select retailers nationwide.
New buns debut at Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.
CARPINTERIA, CALIF. — Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. are introducing fresh-baked buns for its premium burgers. The raw bun dough is given time to rise before it is baked, cooled, sliced and served, resulting in a dense texture and sweeter flavor, according to the company.
Starting Nov. 14, the new buns will come standard on any Six Dollar Thickburger at Carl’s Jr. and one-third-pound Thickburgers at Hardees’s, as well as substituted on other sandwiches for an additional charge.