Slideshow: New products from Green Giant, Mamma Chia, Dunkin’ Donuts
Green Giant Fresh expands hummus selection
SALINAS, CALIF. — Green Giant Fresh is adding eight new hummus flavors to the lineup. The varieties include classic with a sesame seed topping, roasted red pepper with red pepper coulis topping, roasted garlic with roasted garlic topping, roasted pine nut with pine nut and sundried tomato topping, artichoke spinach with roasted red pepper and spinach topping, garden vegetables with roasted vegetable topping, Mediterranean with tapenade topping, and sundried tomato and basil with onion and balsamic vinegar topping. Green Giant Fresh hummus is cholesterol, gluten, and trans fat free. In addition, it is Non-GMO Project Certified and Vegan Certified.
GoPicnic launches ready-to-eat breakfast line
CHICAGO — GoPicnic is announcing ready-to-eat breakfast box kits, which are all under 400 calories. The kits are made for a variety of diet specifications, including vegetarian and gluten-free. The breakfast kits don’t contain artificial colors or flavors, trans fat, high-fructose corn syrup, or added MSG. The box meal options include Creamy Vegetable Spread & Multigrain Crackers, Chocolate Almond Butter & Croissant and Maple Turkey Sausage, Fruit & Nut Mix.
Pirate’s Booty introduces macaroni and cheese
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Pirate’s Booty, a business unit of B&G Foods, is debuting macaroni and cheese products. Made with organic wheat pasta, the macaroni and cheese contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives and 0 grams of trans fats. The pasta product is available in four varieties: shell-shaped aged white cheddar, elbow-shaped aged white cheddar, mild cheddar, and pirate-themed shaped aged white cheddar. Pirate’s Booty macaroni and cheese is available nationwide.
Mamma Chia releases new flavors
CARLSBAD, CALIF. — Mamma Chia is releasing two new beverage flavors: strawberry lemonade and pineapple coconut. Both flavors offer organic chia seeds and fruit juices and are Non-GMO Verified, gluten-free, vegan, Kosher and USDA Certified Organic. The chia beverages are sweetened with less than one tablespoon of Agave nectar and one bottle packs in omega-3s, 25% of the daily recommended amount of fiber, four grams of protein, and 95 milligrams of calcium. The flavors join the lineup of blackberry hibiscus, cherry lime, cranberry lemonade, raspberry passion, pomegranate mint, coconut mango, and guava.
Chili’s enters the frozen food category
MINNEAPOLIS — Chili’s Grill & Bar and Bellisio Foods are partnering to start a new line of frozen meals. The line includes single-serve entrees and multi-serve meals. The single-serve options are bacon macaroni and cheese, Cajun-style chicken alfredo, cheesy chicken pasta Florentine, chicken bacon ranch, chicken fajita rice bowl, island chicken and rice, mango chicken with rice, and pepper jack macaroni and cheese. The multi-serve meals include bacon macaroni and cheese, chicken bacon ranch, chicken fajita rice, nacho potatoes with beef and bacon, and seasoned chicken bites with honey chipotle sauce. The frozen meals will be sold at retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.79 to $3.49 for single-serve entrees and $6.99 to $7.99 for multi-serve meals.
Al-fresco offers oven-roasted gourmet chicken meatballs
SAN MATEO, CALIF. — Al-fresco natural is introducing oven-roasted gourmet chicken meatballs to the freezer aisle. The meatballs are gluten- and pork-free and have no fillers. In addition, they are fully cooked and packaged in resealable pouches. The gourmet meatballs are available in flavors such as spicy jalapeño and pepper jack, caramelized onion, and Italian.
Nasoya releases TofuBaked
AYER, MASS. — Nasoya is debuting TofuBaked in two flavors: sesame ginger and teriyaki. The tofu product is fully prepared and ready to eat cold or hot. TofuBaked is marinated and baked, vegan, Non-GMO, and contains no preservatives or soy protein isolate. In addition, each 8-oz package packs in 32 grams of protein. TofuBaked is sold for a suggested retail price of $4.99 per package at supermarkets nationwide.
Twix becomes bite-sized
HACKETTSTOWN, N.J. — Twix Brand, a business unit of Mars, Inc., is downsizing the candy bar into bite-sized pieces. With an aim for portion control, the caramel and chocolate candy bar bites are unwrapped and sold in a 2.83-oz sharing size as well as a 7-oz resealable pouches. Twix bites are sold nationwide at convenience, drug, mass, grocery, specialty, and value stores as well as vending machines.
Nonni’s upgrades biscotti bite line
OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILL. — Nonni’s Food is launching two new biscotti flavors. The two new flavors — double chocolate salted caramel and berry almond — join the almond dark chocolate biscotti bite variety. The almond dark chocolate bites contain almond pieces and are dipped in semi-sweet dark chocolate, while the double chocolate salted caramel bites are packed with caramel bits and dipped in milk chocolate with sea salt. The berry bite flavor includes nuts, berries, and a Greek yogurt coating. The bite-sized pieces are only 100 calories per serving, which is about three cookies. Each bag of Nonni’s biscotti bites contains five servings and is available for a suggested retail price of $3.49. The bites are available at select grocery retailers nationwide.
Dunkin’ Donuts adds grilled chicken flatbread sandwich to menu
CANTON, MASS. — Dunkin’ Donuts is rolling out a new grilled chicken flatbread sandwich. The menu addition includes grilled chicken, ancho chipotle sauce, and reduced-fat cheddar cheese on a multigrain flatbread. The sandwich is 360 calories and packed with 16 grams of whole grain. “Chicken is one of the most popular choices for lunch, and when we launched our breaded chicken last year, the feedback from our guests was incredible,” said John Costello, president of global marketing and innovation at Dunkin’ Brands. “With the new grilled chicken flatbread sandwich, we continue our commitment to expanding the breadth of our all-day choices by introducing a new, leaner chicken sandwich we believe our busy, on-the-go guests will really enjoy as well. As our brand grows and more and more guests visit our shops in the afternoon and evening, providing the widest variety of new and innovative all-day menu items remains a key to our continued success and differentiation.” The grilled chicken sandwich is available at Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide.
General Mills pumps up cereal with protein
MINNEAPOLIS — Cheerios, a business unit of General Mills, Inc., is stepping up the cereal market with the introduction of Cheerios Protein. Traditional Cheerios are combined with granola clusters to create two flavors: oats and honey and cinnamon almond. Oats and honey features 29 grams of whole grain, while cinnamon almond packs in 27 grams of whole grain. Both varieties contain 7 grams of protein, which compares with 3 grams of protein in yellow box Cheerios. 2Cheerios Protein is sold nationwide is 14.1-oz boxes.
Chips Ahoy rolls out birthday cake and Oreo cookies
EAST HANOVER, N.J. — Chips Ahoy, a brand of Mondelēz International, Inc., is releasing two new offerings: birthday cake frosting and Oreo creme-filled cookies. The birthday cake flavor features confetti chips and a frosting filling, while the Oreo option is a chocolate chip cookie filled with vanilla and Oreo crème. Both flavors are sold nationwide in 9.6-oz packages at a suggested retail price of $2.99.