NEW SKUs
Sara Lee Corp., Downers Grove, Ill., and its Senseo gourmet coffee brand have teamed up with Godiva Chocolatier to introduce two gourmet-flavored coffees—Crème Brûlée and Chocolate Crème. The products are distributed through national mass market retailers, supermarkets, and online retailers. Made from 100% premium Arabica coffee beans, Godiva Crème Brûlée and Chocolate Crème coffees come in packages of 16 pods. The coffees range in price from $5.49 to $6.49 per package.
"The expert blends of Senseo coffee paired with Godiva’s rich taste is sure to create a new coffee sensation, hitting all of the senses with its unique taste and aroma," said John Risley, Director, Marketing, Senseo. "Both bold and sweet, the new line will turn the average coffee break into a tempting luxury experience."
Not Your Typical Brown Bag Lunch
Whether strapped for cash or time, more Americans are eating lunch at their desks. But about half of them eat something less healthful than they would like, according to a recent survey. To help these workers find more nutritious fare, ConAgra Foods, Omaha, Neb., has launched Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers meals. The shelf-stable meals, which carry a suggested retail price of $3.49, come in six varieties—Sweet & Sour Chicken, Sesame Teriyaki Chicken, Ziti & Meat Sauce, Rotini & Zesty Marinara Sauce, Southwestern Style Chicken, and Szechwan Beef with Asian Style Noodles.
The microwavable meals are made from premium ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, wine reductions, and fire-roasted vegetables. "Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers are designed with a distinct cooker to separate the starch and the sauce, helping to maintain the flavor and texture of both. Consumers prepare the rice or pasta fresh in the microwave, and mix it together with the sauce and meat to create a complete, healthful meal all in about five minutes," said Jess Sweley, Director of Research & Development, ConAgra Foods.
Heart-healthy Breads
George Weston Bakeries, Toronto, Canada, is rolling out new Arnold and Brownberry breads containing Heart Choice natural plant sterols, which are scientifically proven to lower cholesterol and reduce the risks associated with heart disease. Cognis, La Grange, Ill., supplies the plant sterols.
New Grains & More Double Oat Hearty Oatmeal Bread was formulated to promote heart health, and contains 0.4 g of plant sterols. When combined with a healthy diet and exercise, Double Oat Bread may help lower cholesterol by 15%. "Our goal is to deliver valuable health benefits without compromising taste and Cognis helped us do just that with its naturally sourced Heart Choice plant sterols," said Jennifer Hartley, Business Director, Arnold & Brownberry Brands. "This launch truly redefines the phrase, ‘the best thing since sliced bread!’ In quantitative testing, we found that reducing cholesterol is one of the top five health benefits consumers prefer when purchasing bread."