Expect to see some new feature flavors—in both the natural and churned lines—this year from Velvet Ice Cream Co., Utica, Ohio. And while president Luconda Dager is hush-hush about other 2012 plans, she says what won’t change is the company’s continued focus on quality and value.
Mikawaya is a Vernon, Calif.-based candy maker and ice cream processor that is on the move with new products and formats backed by social media marketing. The company plans to expand its ice cream offerings with its first pint line — Mikawaya Exottics — to be released as early as this April.
Philip R’s Frozen Desserts made headlines in 2010 with its award-winning Lollibons (picture an ice cream lollipop or a cake pop on a stick). The Swiss vanilla almond Lollibon was selected as a silver finalist for Outstanding Perishable Foodservice Product in the 2010 sofi Awards from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade. In 2011, the novelty received a top award from the World Dairy Expo Championship Dairy Product contest in the creative and innovative class.
During a recent visit to Whole Foods Market, I slowed down my pace in order to better observe the trends in new products and label claims. Filtering out natural, organic and similar marketing tactics, one solid trend that was apparent across most food categories was a tie-in to fruit. The pork chops had a serving suggestion to include apple sauce. Breakfast cereals either contained dried fruit pieces or a recommendation to add something fresh from the farm stand.
The category posted double-digit gains last year. Single-serve, non-aseptic energy drink sales were up nearly 17%.
March 13, 2012
There was no energy crisis when it came to demand for energy drinks in the 52 weeks ended Dec. 25, 2011. The category showed double-digit growth in both dollar sales (up 16.6%) and unit sales (up 17.6%), according to Chicago-based SymphonyIRI Group.
Philadelphia Indulgence is a chocolate cream cheese spread made Kraft Foods’ Philadelphia cream cheese. Kraft calls it “a completely new way to enjoy chocolate whether paired with salty snacks, breads, fruit or alone on a spoon.”
New shelf-stable Hershey’s Real Dairy Coffee Creamer comes in a Mocha Chocolate variety, which obtains its characterizing coffee profile from natural and artificial flavors.
Order bacon-wrapped Tater Tots in a blue cheese bechamel sauce or a parmesan-crusted walleye BLT sandwich at the new Hot Dish restaurant. at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.