Rollout: The best of June’s new food products

"Consumers want products that fit in a health-conscious lifestyle, and yet they are unwilling to compromise on taste," says Jeff Swearingen, vice president, shopper marketing. "Our 100 Calorie Mini Bites give consumers 'snack balance' – their favorite brands in convenient portion packaging that takes the guess work out of calorie control."

Suggested retail price for a five-pack box is $1.99.

Berries & Cream joins Dr Pepper line

Dr Pepper fans apparently are passionate about the brand – hundreds professed their love recently by puckering up to kiss a giant can of Dr Pepper Berries & Cream, the latest flavor, at the Dr Pepper Ballpark in Texas.

It’s the second flavor Cadbury Schweppes Americas Beverages, Plano, Texas, has added to the brand's Soda Fountain Classics line, which was created to meet consumers' desire for nostalgic flavors reminiscent of simpler times. Soda Fountain Classics were launched in 2004 with Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper, and it was company's most successful product introduction in more than a decade.

"Consumers like a full-flavor experience in their beverage choice, and our Dr Pepper Soda Fountain Classics have proven to be a tremendous success because they meet that need," says Jim Trebilcock, senior vice president of consumer marketing. "Based on consumer product test results, we expect both Regular and Diet Dr Pepper Berries & Cream will have strong and devoted followings."

Suggested retail price for a 12-pack ranges from $2-4.

McCormick puts sauces in pouches

McCormick & Co. Inc., Sparks, Md., rolls out McCormick’s Finishing Sauces, a new line of sauces in microwaveable standup pouches with a 12-month shelf-life.

Each 5-oz. pouch makes two to three servings and can be either microwaved (approximately 45 seconds) or can be poured into a saucepan and heated. Prior to microwaving, the pouch is cut diagonally across a score line printed on the back panel. This enables venting during heating and also facilitates pouring. Leftover sauce can be refrigerated and used for a subsequent meal.

Varieties include: Honey Mustard, Red Burgundy Wine for Beef, Roasted Chicken Gravy with Herbs, Creamy Mushroom and Roasted Beef.

“There are no other wet gravies in flexible pouches in the U.S.,” explains Stefanie Woodhouse, product manager, finishing sauce product line. “Typically those types of products are in glass jars.”

In order for the standup pouches to be both retortable and microwaveable, Ampac Flexibles Converted Products, a unit of Ampac Packaging LLC, Cincinnati, Ohio, developed a structure without a foil layer that could also withstand the temperature of the retort (250°F). Ampac developed “cool grip” heat seals on either side of the pouch, so consumers can handle the package after microwaving.

Suggested retail price is $1.99 per pouch.