Etcetera
It looks like Coca-Cola has figured out what it wants to do with milk, and it's not Choglit. Coke now says it will introduce a product called Swerve that's 50% milk, and low in fat with 150 calories per can. With flavors like chocolate, vanilla/banana, and blueberry Swerve is certainly targeted at kids, and it's expected to be available for vending machines as those kids return to school in the fall. Coke's scrapping it's test brands, Choglit and Slap. Byrne Dairy Inc., Syracuse, N.Y., may also be looking to sell more dairy beverages to kids. The company is breaking ground this month on a 31,000 sq. ft. UHT plant in Syracuse. Saputo Cheese USA Inc., has entered into an agreement with Western Marketing & Sales, LLC to form Gallo Protein 2003. Based in Atwater, Calif., Gallo will manufacture and market whey protein isolates and related products from the WPC (whey protein concentrate) supplied by Saputo's California cheese plants, and other cheese operations. The probiotic dairy drink Kefir enjoys a good reputation as a healthful product, and now the Journal of the American Dietetic Association (May '03) has published a study which indicates that it can improve lactose digestion and tolerance in adults with lactose maldigestion. Baskin-Robbins, the 4,700-unit chain of Randolph, Mass.-based Allied Domecq Quick Service Restaurants, said its franchisees in the North-east would add 1,100 new outlets that would be co-branded with sister concept Dunkin' Donuts by summer's end.