What’s new on shelf: Gearing up for the holidays with Thanksgiving Dinner-flavored potato chips, a quickly assembled Gingerbread House and a gluten-free Christmas cake

FOR THANKSGIVING​

Turkey chips

Pringles is releasing a line-up of chips with flavors inspired by various Thanksgiving foods.

The snack maker is re-releasing three of the most popular flavors from its Pringles Thanksgiving Dinner launched last year, including Stuffing, Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Corn, Mac & Cheese, Cranberry Sauce, Green Bean Casserole and Pumpkin Pie.

The three flavors that have made the grade for a limited time release this year are Turkey, Stuffing and Pumpkin Pie.

The snack maker notes the Turkey Pringles are a take on the traditional oven roasted turkey, Stuffing tastes like the herb-y side dish, and Pumpkin Pie is sweet and spiced, based on ‘grandma’s recipe.’

Designed, sealed and delivered to mimic the canned goods in your pantry around the holidays, Pringles Thanksgiving Crisps come in mini Pringles cans. Available online for $14.99 for a large can that contains all three flavors in mini cans.

Don’t forget the stuffing

Trader Joe’s has also jumped on the festive bandwagon and is rolling out Turkey & Stuffing Seasoned Kettle Chips for Thanksgiving.

According to Trader Joe’s product description, ‘First you taste the turkey, then comes the stuffing. If you close your eyes, you’ll swear you can taste the creamy gravy… even as you crunch. This is Thanksgiving in a chip, and just like your regular holiday meal, one helping won’t be enough!’

The thick-cut kettle chips are gluten free and seasoned with celery, sage and thyme as well as other ‘Thanksgiving meal-evoking flavors.’

Available in Trader Joe’s for $1.99 for a 7oz bag.

A Hong Kong favorite

Jack ‘n Jill – the popular Hong Kong potato chips brand – has added another exotic flavor to its line-up.

The company released Egg Prata with Fish Curry potato chips last year and has now rolled out a Bak Kwa, based on the region’s barbecued meat dish.

According to the company, the limited edition flavor contains ‘bak kwa seasoning, soy sauce, soybean powder and spices.’

Available for HK$1.40 for a 60g packet at selected retailers.

FOR CHRISTMAS​

No fairy tale

The patented system enables construction of Gingerbread House kits in less than five minutes, allowing the consumer to enjoy the classic holiday tradition.

The company is using a lifestyle blogger campaign to launch the product, which it expects to garner more than 2.2 million online impressions during the critical gingerbread house holiday shopping season. Additionally, the line is being promoted in online, print and broadcast consumer and trade media.

The kits include Gingerbread House panels, assorted candy and pre-mixed icing. With the new Link &Lock design, the Gingerbread House can be built quickly and decorated within minutes.

According to the company, what used to take hours, now takes minutes.

Bee International’s entire 2018 Gingerbread House Kit line features the new Link & Lock system.

Available in retailers nationwide and online, with a RRP of $9.99 to $12.99.

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire…

British bulk ingredients supplier Brusco has launched a range of whole chestnuts for both trade and retail routes to market.

The range is aligned to capitalize on Christmas trends, and is a great addition to snacks, salads and stuffing. The vacuum-packed products offer a number of health benefits including low cholesterol and fat and high fiber. They are also naturally gluten-free and vegan.

The naturally sweet chestnuts are of Spanish origin (Castanea sativa) and grown wild.

Brusco’s chestnuts (marketed under the Porter Foods brand) are harvested at peak season to capture the moisture and flavor, and retail their quality through blanching and vacuum packing - all conducted close to source in Spain at a BRC accredited factory.

For Christmas, the company will also be rolling out Marrons Glacés (candied chestnuts) to high-end retailers.

The chestnuts are available from selected UK retailers and wholesalers, as well as on Amazon.

Spar-ring on a super Christmas

Spar has unveiled its own-brand portfolio for Christmas 2018.

The retail giant will be offering 20 snacks and other products, including vegetable samosas, vegetable spring rolls and onion bhajis, in festive packaging to match in-store POS.

It is launching three new mince pies this year following its win at the Local Shop Quality Food Awards, where its Luxury Mince Pies won the Christmas Gold Q award.

Spar will also donate 10p from the sale of its Turkey Feast and Wensleydale & Carrot Chutney sandwiches to Marie Curie. The sandwiches will be available from November 14 until Christmas Day.

Marketing support for the Spar Brand Christmas range will include digital, POS, social media and radio activity.

A gluten-free Christmas

Sussex based Gluten Free for You and Me had added a festive gluten free Christmas cake mix to its expanding product portfolio, which includes fruity tea bread with spices, gingerbread cake mix, banana bread, lemon drizzle cake and carrot cake mixes.

Founded by Anne Pinner, the baker’s range of 14 cake mixes have been tried and tested by both gluten free and non-gluten free customers who all reported the same freshly baked taste, perfect cake rise and moreish texture.

Gluten Free for You and Me’s cake mixes are all easy to make and there is no wastage as each order contains only the amount required to make each cake. Many of the mixes are also suitable for vegetarians.

Available online, with a RRP ranging between £2.95 and £10.00, depending on the mix.

FOR ANYTIME​

Vegan pancakes American-style

Frozen food distributor Central Foods has extended its free-from range for foodservice operators with the launch of a new vegan American pancake.

The move is in response to both the increase in demand for plant-based, vegan products and the growing appetite among consumers for eating out at breakfast and brunch.

The 4½” American-style pancake can be topped with both sweet and savory options to create a breakfast item or light snack. Suitable for both vegetarians and vegans, the pancakes have a defrosted shelf life of two days.

Northampton-based Central Foods supplies more than 400 different lines into foodservice, ranging from vegetarian and free-from items, bakery items and canapés, among other, sold through national and regional wholesalers and foodservice caterers.

On the run

Beef with Pepperjack, Beef with Bacon and Zesty Honey BBQ Now Available in 2oz. Pack

Wenzel’s Farm – a producer of small batch, hand crafted and naturally hickory smoked meat snacks – has reformulated its Zesty Honey BBQ flavor by adding real honey and a bit of extra spice.

The company has also repackaged its Beef with Pepperjack, Beef with Bacon, and Zesty Honey BBQ flavored snack sticks in convenient 2oz. packs, to provide busy consumers with a nutritious snack in a hurry.

Available in convenience stores and supermarkets throughout the Midwest, as well as online.

A little bit of Italy comes to the UK

UK importer Eurostar Commodities is bringing Grandi Molini Italiani to the UK.

First opened by Antonio Costato, the family business has grown into a leading global brand, exporting more than 900,000 tons of flour annually.

Eurostar will debut the mill’s premium flour at the European Pizza and Pasta Show being held at London Olympia from November 13-15. Live demonstrations on the technical elements of making the perfect dough will be led by Eurostar's technical development manager Davide D’Auria.

The importer has an extensive logistics network to ensure Grandi’s ‘00’ flour arrives in the right time and in the perfect condition, every time.

The Yorkshire-based company supplies over 10,000 tons of product to the UK and Europe annually, including Frumenta pizza and pasta flours, Crispy Bite durum wheat pizza flour and Eurostar own brand products, such as Gluten Free and ‘heat treated’ flours.