WORLD: New worldwide food product introductions

03 Jul 2003

Source: www.just-food.com

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Here are some of the new food product introductions registered by Mintel's Global New Products Database this past month around the world.

Turkish-style Doritos

When it comes to savoury snack flavours, we continue to see global companies and brands thinking locally and catering for regional tastes. For example, the Pringles brand from Procter & Gamble has appeared in a number of local flavours such as curry in the UK and Funky Soy Sauce in Japan. Pepsico's snack brands have also appeared in flavours catering for local tastes. These include seaweed flavoured Lay's potato crisps in Thailand and China, and seaweed flavoured Doritos in China. Now, the Doritos brand is continuing with its "think local" theme with the Turkish introduction of A la Turca corn chips, specially designed for Turkish tastes. They contain poppy seeds and have a dried tomato flavour.


Danone soya re-entrance

Danone first entered the non-dairy soy "yoghurt" market back in the late 1990s with the French introduction of Sevea, a 100% vegetable soya and oat based yoghurt-alternative, free from cholesterol and gluten. However, the product was soon withdrawn following concerns over links between GM foods and soya. Now, Danone is having another stab at launching non-dairy products, this time in Spain. The company has launched a Danone Bio Soja functional range with Essensis active bifidus in regular, peach and red fruit varieties.

Another interesting functional launch has appeared in Italy. It has been introduced under the Zen Linea Salute brand by Techno-Foods and comprises a creamy, strawberry flavoured yoghurt which is claimed to be naturally rich in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) & Omega 3. It is said to be a unique yoghurt, produced with 100% Jersey cow's milk coming from the Zootecnica Adelaide Company.

Cheese news

Several new cheese products are soon to be available in the US, targeting specific market sectors. From Angel Technology comes a cholesterol-reducing cheese, where during the cheese making process all milkfats are removed before the curdling process. The cholesterol free product is high in polyunsaturated (good) fats and pytosterols. Also making cheese news is an organic line of cheeses under the Pasture Pride brand. The milk used contains no hormones, antibiotics, or pesticides, and the cows are hand milked. Varieties include colby, muenster, and juusto (described as a buttery bread cheese). From BelGioioso Cheese comes Parveggiano, a vegetarian, animal rennet-free cheese aged for ten years.

Ale flavoured ice cream

The addition of alcohol in take home ice cream has done much to give a premium touch. This is particularly true when the addition is Champagne, and spirits and liqueurs such as Grand Marnier and tequila (for example Lychee Cactus Tequila in France from Picard). However, the latest alcoholic addition has a somewhat more masculine and everyday appeal. The product in question has been introduced in the UK and is ice cream flavoured with Newcastle Brown Ale from brewer Scottish & Newcastle. It is made in Doddington near Wooler in Northumberland, using fresh cream and milk, ale and fudge, and due to the cooking process it contains less than 1% ABV. It is only available for a limited six-month period.

Seasoned almonds for salads

For an exciting twist to a boring salad, Trophy Foods' Salad Sensations is the perfect candidate. This line of seasoned Salad Almond Toppings is suitable for Canadian consumers on-the-go who want to make meals more healthy and interesting. Salad Sensations are available in four flavours including Garlic Caesar, Bacon & Cheddar, Tomato & Basil, and Teriyaki.

Bubblegum tea

In South Africa, Khoisan Tea is attempting to target children with its latest flavoured rooibos tea range. The range includes some fun and interesting varieties such as Bubbly Gum and Vanilla Gorilla. Rooibos is a naturally caffeine-free tea variety grown in South Africa, with a sweet taste and low in tannin.

More "energy" chocolates

Energy giving ingredients continue to make appearances within the chocolate confectionery sector. Past launches have included Cadbury's Boost with guarana, and Milka Energy with dextrose from Kraft Jacobs Suchard. Now Alfred Ritter in Germany has developed an energy giving line within its Ritter Sport chocolate tablet range. The new line is called Active Crunch and comprises three varieties: Guarana Crunch with stimulating guarana; Müsli Crunch with four grains; and Nuss Crunch with nuts and cereals.

Dieting with candy

Some interesting sugar confectionery products are hitting the US market right now, designed especially for diet-conscious consumers. SoYummi Gummi Sours will appeal to the organic, health-market buyer. The confection is made with organic agave fruit juice and non-GMO soy ingredients and come in three fruit flavours. Kansas City-based Russell Stover Candies was one of the first companies to embrace the idea of sugar-free confections, having entered an entire line of such products in 2001. Now, the company is appealing to low-carbohydrate dieters with its Russell Stover Low Carb-brand of options, including mint patties and toffee squares, which contain zero sugar carbohydrates. Lastly, Innovative Candy Concepts adds Sinfully Delicious Candy Bites to its lineup. Tagged as "guilt free" the line is described as "real desserts without all the calories." The soft sweets contain only two calories each and are fat- and sugar-free. Flavours include key lime pie, mocha butterscotch sundae, and Southern peach cobbler.

Interesting.

I'll take some of that bubblegum tea and the Newcastle Ice Cream.

...but they can keep their over-processed phoney yogurt and so-called "cholesterol lowering" cheese.