Fresh-Brewed Soup; Edamame High-Protein Snacking; Smoked Salmon Bacon

Brewing a Fresh Cup of Soup
Campbell Soup Co., Camden, N.J., and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Waterbury, VT, have teamed up to launch Campbell’s Fresh-Brewed Soup in K-Cups, which can be prepared in Keurig coffee machines. The new product was designed to meet consumer snacking needs. Snacking is a growing behavior among U.S. consumers, with more than half snacking multiple times a day. Consumers are also looking for snacks that serve as mini-meals to satisfy hunger, and there is an increasing need for ultra-convenient options. The new product consists of a broth K-Cup pack and a packet of dry pasta and vegetable blend garnish. Consumers brew a broth cup over this garnish to create a snack in a few minutes. The companies expect to launch three varieties of the new soup, including Homestyle Chicken Broth & Noodle, in 2014. The new soups are expected to be merchandised in the same aisles and retail sections of stores where Keurig Brewed K-Cup pack varieties are sold.

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Edamame Offers High-Protein Snacking
Seapoint Farms, Huntington Beach, Calif., has launched Crunchy Coated Premium Black Edamame—a glutenfree, non-GMO, and protein-rich snack. Black edamame is made from a unique variety of black soybean that is distinctly sweet and prized in Japan. The sea salt-seasoned product contains 9 g of protein and 140 calories per serving and is a good source of fiber (4 g per serving). It comes in a 3.5-oz stand-up pouch with a suggested retail price of $1.99. The new product can be eaten right out of the pouch or added to salads, soups, or other foods.

The company has also expanded the packaging options for two of its dry roasted edamame items: Lightly Salted Dry Roasted Edamame and Spicy Wasabi Dry Roasted Edamame. Both varieties are now available in eight-bag boxes of 100-calorie snack packs, as well as in individual 1.58-oz snack-size bags. The 100-calorie pack boxes carry a suggested retail price of $3.99–4.99, while the 1.58-oz bags are priced at $.99.

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Bacon from Smoked Salmon
First made from pork and then from turkey, bacon is making a new splash with a “fishy” source—salmon. MacKnight Food Group, Miami, Fla., has introduced Salmon Bacon, which is made from farm-raised Atlantic salmon, salt, sugar, and hardwood smoke. A 2-oz serving delivers 80 calories (45 from fat), 5 g of fat (2 g saturated), and 14 g of protein. In contrast, traditional bacon has about 300 calories and 47 g of fat per 2-oz serving. In addition, the salmon bacon is rich in omega-3 fatty acid. “Salmon bacon is a very versatile product and may be cooked in a variety of ways,” says Ian MacKnight. He adds that their salmon burgers, now carried by select Wal-Mart retailers, offer a guilt-free option for enjoying comfort food. “Salmon burgers and salmon bacon are the perfect alternatives for those not willing to swear off bacon cheeseburgers entirely,” says MacKnight.