NEW SKUs

Frozen Pizza for Adult Tastes
Most frozen pizzas come in varieties such as cheese, pepperoni, or sausage that appeal mainly to kids and teenagers. Schwan’s Consumer Brands North America, Inc. is trying to change that with pizza designed for adult tastes. The Bloomington, Minn.-based company has introduced Freschetta California-Style pizzas, fusing together creative combinations of flavorful vegetables, all-natural cheeses, premium meats, and signatures sauces (some with wine) on a square-shaped crust for a new taste experience. Varieties in the new line include Mediterranean Garlic & Veggie, Spicy Chicken & Feta, Bacon Spinach & Artichoke, and Sundried Tomato & Cheese. “We understand that consumers’ tastes are advancing, and they’re seeking new flavor combinations and quality ingredients, especially when it comes to their pizza,” said Chris Leising, Freschetta Brand Director. “With Freschetta California-Style pizza, we have provided an easy, unique solution offering a fusion of flavors through better ingredients—combinations previously unseen in the frozen pizza market.”  

Soda Pop Goes Natural
Responding to consumer demand for products made with natural ingredients, Pepsi-Cola North America Beverages, Purchase, N.Y., has transformed its Sierra Mist brand of lemon-lime soda into Sierra Mist Natural. Containing five ingredients, the new carbonated drink is made with sugar and contains no artificial preservatives or flavors. “New Sierra Mist Natural has been stripped of everything artificial and is naturally sweetened with real sugar so that the crisp, clean taste of lemon-lime shines through,” said Kristina Mangelsdorf, Vice President of Natural and Flavored Sodas at PepsiCo.

To complement its new formulation, the brand has a new look with an updated logo, package design, and new light green bottle. The product rollout includes an extensive marketing campaign aimed at the brand’s 25–39-year-old target consumer. The campaign uses the tagline, “The soda nature would drink if nature drank soda.” 

Container Keeps Beans Fresh
H.J. Heinz Co. Ltd., Middlesex, UK, has launched Heinz Beanz Fridge Pack in the UK. The product comes in a 1 kg resealable plastic jar supplied by RPC Containers, Northamptonshire, UK. The polypropylene jar is equivalent to nearly two-and-a-half standard size cans—an average of five servings. The product has an ambient shelf life in excess of one year; once opened, it lasts about 5 days in the refrigerator.

The packaging is distinctive with its square-round (“scround”) design. In addition to capturing attention on the retailer’s shelf, the jar’s shape maximizes volumes during distribution and fits comfortably on refrigerator shelves. The package is decorated with a colorful shrink sleeve supplied by CCL Label, Norfolk, UK. Gravure printed in four colors and two white layers for opacity, the sleeve is printed on OPS to minimize vertical shrink onto the scround container. The sleeve incorporates a see-through portion control guide to make it easy for consumers to see how much product remains. Each package carries a suggested retail price of £1.79.