NEW SKUs

Caffeinated Candy Bars
Caffeine has been showing up in a growing number of food products. One of the latest caffeine-enriched products is Snickers Charged candy bar from Mars Snackfood US, Hackettstown, N.J. It contains 60 mg of added caffeine—about double the amount of an 8-oz soft drink. The limited-edition candy bar also contains taurine and B vitamins. “Snickers Charged offers consumers a bar of substance and a delicious and satisfying way to tackle the afternoon hours when one needs to re-power,” said Michele Kessler, Vice President, Marketing, Mars. “Research shows that consumers desire a product that not only provides a boost of energy but is also satisfying in taste,” added Kessler. The 1.83-oz product retails for about 65 cents.

Twix Java candy bar—also from Mars Snackfood US—contains espresso beans and coffee-flavored caramel. The beans contribute a negligible amount of caffeine—2 mg/serving. The limited-edition product comes in a 2-oz package containing two bars. It retails for about 55 cents.

Bottled Water Blues
Bottled water has come under increasing attack in the United States for a range of issues, such as ground-water depletion, packaging waste, and energy usage. Perhaps in response to these criticisms, Nestlé Waters North America, Greenwich, Conn., has recently introduced a new half-liter bottle—dubbed Eco-Shape—that uses about 30% less plastic than comparable-size water bottles. At 12.5 g, the PET container is claimed to be the lightest half-liter bottled water on the market. The Eco-Shape bottle’s pinched-in waist facilitates gripping. In addition, the paper label on the recyclable bottle is 30% smaller than the previous label. Nestlé Waters is rolling out the new bottle across all of its regional spring water brands, including Ice Mountain, Poland Spring, and Arrowhead. A 6-pack of the new container for the Arrowhead brand carries a suggested retail price of $2.49.

Yogurt with Added Fiber
General Mills, Minneapolis, Minn., and its Yoplait brand may help consumers meet their daily fiber needs with their introduction of Fiber One creamy nonfat yogurt. Each 4-oz cup of yogurt contains 5 g of fiber—20% of the recommended Daily Value. Available in several flavors, including Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach, and Key Lime Pie, each cup has 80 calories, 0 g of fat, and is a good source of calcium and vitamins A and D. “No other yogurt packs as much of a fiber punch as Fiber One yogurt,” said Mike Secor, Fiber One Marketing Manager. The product comes 6 cups to a carton, which carries a suggested retail price of $3.29.

“Fiber has been proven to play an important role in health, including both digestive health and as part of weight management,” said Suzanne Skapyak, MS, RD, a dietitian at General Mills’ Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition. “Food options that contain a significant amount of fiber, such as Fiber One yogurt, and other important nutrients are smart health choices.” According to a National Fiber Council survey, Americans believe they consume the most fiber during breakfast (42%), followed by dinner (32%), and lunch (18%).