NEW SKUs

A Better Burger
Americans appear to be craving a more indulgent hamburger as evidence by the growth of gourmet burger chains like Five Guys, Smashburger, and Bobby’s Burger Palace. Recognizing this trend, Burger King Corp., Miami, Fla., has launched BK Stuffed Steakhouse burger—a limited-time menu item. The meat patty contains bits of cheddar cheese and jalapeño peppers. It’s topped off with a poblano-based sauce, tomatoes, and lettuce on a premium bakery bun. The new burger carries a suggested retail price of $3.99. “Our guests have expressed their love for our quality burgers, and we know that they enjoy the bold combination of spicy and cheesy in a big way,” said Jonathan Muhtar, Vice President, Global Product Marketing and Innovation. “With our first ever stuffed sandwich, we’re giving our guests what they want—juicy 100% beef infused with jalapeños and cheddar for an experience you can see and taste in every bite.”

Easy-Close Bag Keeps Fruit Snacks Fresh
Mariani Packing Co., Vacaville, Calif., is bringing innovation to its dried fruit snacks with TouchLock, a velcro-like micro-hook closure system which allows consumers to simply touch to lock and close their dried fruit bag. The new closure is part of all of the company’s stand-up gusseted packaging. “Consumers get frustrated when traditional resealable zippers don’t close upon first try,” states Joe Flannigan, V.P. Sales and Marketing. “Alignment has to be just right to work properly. When this doesn’t happen, it makes for an unhappy consumer and ultimately the brand experience with that consumer can be compromised.” Made of food-grade, heat-sealable polyethylene, TouchLock packaging does not have to be perfectly aligned to seal properly. “As long as the micro-hooks on the sides touch, you’ll get the bond you need to reseal your bag and keep your dried fruit fresh,” states Miranda Ackerman, Marketing Director. Aplix, Charlotte, N.C., maker of the microhook closure system, has granted Mariani exclusivity on usage in the United States for an undisclosed period of time.

Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Drinks
Jamba Juice, Emeryville, Calif., has launched Probiotic Fruit and Yogurt Blends—drinks containing over 500 million active cultures per 12-oz serving. The drinks are available in three flavors—Vibrant Blueberry, Strawberries Alive, and Thrivin’ Mango, and are made with whole fruits and probiotics. They are an excellent source of vitamin C and have no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial flavors, and no artificial preservatives. “We understand that there is a growing demand for on-the-go products that satisfy the needs of the health-conscious consumer,” said Susan Shields, Chief Marketing Officer. “More and more consumers are seeking functional beverages and foods to help solve a variety of dietary needs and we wanted to offer a new product that is innovative, nutritious, delicious, and serves a special purpose.” Upon customer request, probiotics, soy protein, or an energy booster can be added to Jamba Juice’s smoothies.