Branching Out in Frozen Foods; Eggs as Snacks; Custom Mozzarella

Not Your Typical Frozen Snacks
Rich Products Corp. is taking regional American fare national with its launch of three Farm Rich frozen snacks—Toasted Ravioli, Crispy Dill Pickles, and Chili Cheese Bites. Available throughout the United States at Walmart and other select grocery retailers, each of these new products embraces different tastes and traditions from favorite regional flavors around the U.S.

Inspired by the iconic St. Louis dish, Farm Rich four-cheese Toasted Ravioli are made with mozzarella, Parmesan, Asiago, and Romano cheeses and lightly breaded. After 12 minutes in the oven, the ravioli are served crispy and golden brown with a warm, cheesy center. Farm Rich Crispy Dill Pickles, a version of fried pickles popularized in the South, are round, crunchy kosher dill pickle slices covered in a lightly seasoned breading. Nine minutes in a conventional oven yields a golden and warm product. Farm Rich Chili Cheese Bites feature a corn chip coating filled with smooth cheddar cheese and mild chili sauce. All three products carry a suggested retail price of $5.00 to $5.50 per 18- or 20-oz bag.

Packaging Turns Egg into a Snack
The Original Egg Co., Staffordshire, U.K., a new niche brand under the Stonegate family, has launched a unique Snack Egg into the retail market at Waitrose grocery shops. Spotting an opportunity for a high protein, low-fat, low-carb healthy snack, The Original Egg Company has developed a new single portion shelled hard-boiled egg which is a convenient product for those eating on the go. The 60-calorie Snack Egg is a nutritious option for a speedy snack or a packed lunch from home.

An innovative flow wrap packing machine individually wraps the BRC standard British free range eggs within minutes of being cooked. The company also worked with Sirane to develop an absorbency patch to remove any potential off odors. All eggs are British free range and come from birds that have been raised to high welfare standards.

Custom Mozzarella for Caprese Salads
Wiscon Corp., Melrose Park, Ill., has launched a new fresh mozzarella product, Caputo Caprese Slice. These pre-cut, thicker style slices offer convenience, fresh quality, and consistent size. “After the successful launch of our 1-oz. Fettine slice back in 2005, we always knew that we would have to accommodate the consumer with a thicker slice,” said Natale Caputo, President. Caprese Slice comes in a 1.31-lb (15 1.4-oz. slices) vacuum package without water. “The Caprese slice, at exactly 1.4 oz., is the perfect size for that garden grown beefsteak tomato,” said Caputo.“Furthermore, we have improved our packaging which allows a clear distinction of each individual slice.” A 1-oz serving contains 80 calories, 6 g of protein, 6 g of fat, and provides 15% DV of calcium. In addition to Caprese salad, the product can be used on sandwiches and other applications that require sliced mozzarella.