What’s new on shelf: Free range chicken and humanely raised pork stix, Unicorn fruit fun for kids and a British favorite in a new format
To infinity and beyond
To celebrate its release on June 21, Kellogg’s has rolled out a Toy Story 4-theme cereal in the US.
The cereal comes in two boxes, one featuring Woody and Jessie, and the other the infamous Buzz Lightyear.
Both are filled with fim cereal rings covered in red and blue dots in the same flavor – Carnival Berry.
Available at Walmart’s and Giant Food Stores for a RRP of $3.65 for a family-sized box.
Going crackers for minis
Lance, the maker of sandwich crackers for more than 100 years, is rolling out a bite-size version of its classic sandwich crackers.
Lance Minis come in two versions: Toast Chee Peanut Butter – a creamy peanut butter sandwiched between two cheese-flavored crackers – and Whole Wheat Peanut Butter.
"With more than 20 varieties of our classic sandwich crackers, we are sure there is more to come for Lance Minis in the future," Chris Graziano, director of marketing at Lance, told BakeryandSnacks.
Like the original offerings, these are made with real peanut butter and no artificial flavors or preservatives and no high fructose corn syrup.
Lance Minis are available from US retailers including Walmart, Amazon, Harris Teeter, ShopRite, Wegmans and Kroger for a RRP of $5.99 for a 12ct (1oz) Multipack, $3.39 for an 8oz Shareable Box, and $1.49 for a 2.5oz Single Serve Bag.
Oh my bagel
Warburtons has launch a new full-size bagel range that are conveniently pre-sliced.
The bagels are produced on the company’s new multi-million-pound line at its Bristol bakery following the traditional process of boiling and then baking to produce a soft and chewy bagel.
The launch follows the success of Thin Bagels, which now count for 20.2% of the bagel market and have generated £20.5m ($26.7m) in sales in the past year.
Bagels are currently the second biggest growing segment of the sandwich alternatives market with 8.7 million households consuming the donut-shaped bun last year.
The 80g bagels – available in two variants: Cinnamon & Raisin and Plain – come in packs of five and are available in the UK through Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, Tesco and convenience stores with an RRP of £1.60 ($2.08).
The UK’s number one bakery brand has also added Fabulous Fruit Loaf to its fruited portfolio, which includes fruity teacakes, a raisin & cinnamon fruit loaf and a fruit loaf with orange.
The 400g Fabulous Fruit Loaf is packed with cranberries, raisins, currants and sultanas.
Also available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Waitrose with an RRP of £1.99 ($2.59).
African beat
British halal food manufacturer KQF has launched its Wild Coast range of halal biltong, made from ingredients certified by the Halal Monitoring Committee (HMC).
Biltong is a form of dried, cured meat that originated in southern African countries.
Wild Coast's Beef Biltong – in two flavors: Chilli or Salt & Pepper – is made with 100% British and Irish beef. The products are subject to minimal processing: simply marinated, air-dried and sliced.
Chicken Biltong comes in chilli flavor and, like the Beef Biltong, has a high protein content and is low in sugar. It contains less than 2% fat.
“We developed Wild Coast Biltong as a simple protein snack for more health-conscious consumers,” said KQF managing director Faruk Vali.
The biltong is available in re-sealable 50g packs and does not need to be refrigerated.
Sprout for joy
One Degree Organic Foods has added a Sprouted Pumpkin Seed and Flax variant to its lineup of plant-based, Non-GMO and gluten-free granolas.
The new granola is made with organic heirloom Styrian Pumpkin Seeds from Austria, which are a rich source of B vitamins and essential fatty acids, including Omega-3s.
The product is sweetened with a combination of organic coconut palm sugar and organic date syrup – two low glycemic index sweeteners.
The company believes people deserve 100% transparency in everything they eat and all its products are certified as glyphosate residue-free and display the Bio-Checked Non-Glyphosate Certified seal.
"We are dedicated to offering consumers clean, nourishing foods, and sourcing ingredients direct from farmers that use only plant-based cultivation methods," said co-founder Stan Smith of One Degree.
It’s magic
Magic Spoon has created a range of super-healthy Keto-friendly cereals in four flavors: Fruity, Cinnamon, Cocoa and Frosted.
All are made with a protein blend (milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate), coconut oil, tapioca flour, chicory root fiber and a special sweetener blend of monk fruit, stevia, and allulose.
According to the company, allulose is a ‘rare’ sugar found in figs and maple syrup that has zero glycemic impact and contains less than 0.4 cal/g.
Each serving only contains 110 calories, 12g of protein and 3g of net carbs.
Sold exclusively on Magic Spoon’s site for $39 for a four-box case.
Pop goes the snack
Aussie popcorn brand Cobs has launched a chip-style snack that combines potato, rice and corn.
The air-popped chips, called Pop’d Chips, are created by combining heat and pressure, which the company claims creates a snack that has 60% less fat than a regular potato chip.
Only premium high oleic sunflower oil and natural seasonings are added, making it a healthy snack.
Cobs Pop’d Chips come in three flavors including Sour Cream & Chives, Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream, and Salt of the Sea.
“Over the past fourteen years, Cobs has established itself as a leader in the ready-to-eat popcorn category, and we’re now taking our knowledge of ‘better for you’ snacks into the development of this flavour-packed chip range,” said Kristie Ellerton, Cobs head of marketing.
Available at Woolworths and independent supermarkets in 110g bags for a RRP of AU$4 (US$2.80).
Free range
Nick’s Stick’s, a producer of 100% grass-fed beef and free-range turkey meat snacks, has added a Free-Range Chicken offering to its lineup.
The Chicken sticks contain no artificial colors, sugar, MSG or nitrates and are suitable for consumers following Paleo, Whole30, Keto and gluten-free diets.
Nick’s handcrafts its snack sticks in small batches and no antibiotics or hormones are added.
Available online for a RRP of $3.25 for a 1.7oz pack.
Fruit made fun
UK children’s snack company Fruit Bowl has added a new offering to its popular Fruit Flake range.
Unicorn Fruit Flakes combine the company’s top selling Flake flavors – Raspberry, Strawberry and Blackcurrant – in soft, chewy pieces of fruit purée.
The Flakes are made with real fruit, giving parents peace of mind that the snacks also contribute towards their child’s five-a-day. They are also gluten-free, vegan and veggie friendly and contain only naturally occurring sugars. According to the company, each pack contains the same amount of sugar found in a single apple.
Unicorn Fruit Flakes were rolled out in Morrison’s stores across the UK in April – with a further launch into Waitrose this month – in convenient single packs for a RRP of £0.49 ($0.63) and multipack bags for a RRP of £2.00 ($2.61).
The launch is being supported with a nationwide consumer launch campaign, which includes the chance to win a unicorn for a child’s birthday party.
The wider Fruit Bowl ranges are readily available at Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, The Co-Op, Asda, Waitrose as well as on Ocado and via a number of local and independent stores.
Cherry bake
Lantmännen Unibake UK has tapped in to the British public’s love of a Cherry Bakewell tart with the introduction of a new format.
The Cherry Bakewell Plait Danish Pastry – part of its Schulstad Bakery Solutions range – features 24 layers of flaky pastry, a cherry remonce filling, along with the brand’s signature glaze, flaked almonds and hand finished white icing swirls.
According to the company, the new addition is set to add value to the Danish Pastry category, which already sees $68.5m purchases a year.
“Traditional British flavors are experiencing a significant resurgence. It is therefore imperative that brands work with their customers to explore ways to bring these flavors to life across new formats and consumption occasions,” said Kate Sykes, marketing manager at Lantmännen Unibake UK.
Humanely raised
US cured meat producer La Quercia has introduced a line of snackable salami sticks.
Rustix by La Quercia contain 12g of protein per serving, made from humanely raised pork, handcrafted in Iowa by celebrated artisans of American charcuterie.
According to the company, the line was born out of the desire to create a snack from antibiotic-free pork that has been humanely raised on American family farms.
The salami sticks – available in two varieties: Spicy and Smoky – are made with meat from the pork shank, a lean cut that La Quercia does not use in its prosciutto making.
“Sebastian Beumer, our production lead, made some of these for fun. I saw them in the plant and pressed him to perfect them,” said La Quercia founder Herb Eckhouse.
“Good quality meat with simple ingredients and light curing have made for a snack we reach for again and again.”
Available in 2oz packs for a RRP of $5.99.
Rustix joins La Quercia’s extensive line of charcuterie, available in select supermarkets, specialty stores and restaurants across the US.
