May 2006 New Food Rollout

Flavors for Tostitos Sensations include Red Chile and Lime with Crushed Red Pepper, contrasting red chili and red pepper with the cooling citrus, and Southwestern Ranch with Black Peppercorn, a blend of creamy ranch and cumin with real bits of black pepper. Tostitos Sensations tortilla chips are cooked in 100 percent pure corn oil and have 0g trans fat.

"Today's consumers crave special and distinct flavors, giving us the opportunity to marry new, gourmet seasoning combinations and our most popular snacks," says Lora DeVuono, group vice president, brand marketing and advertising. "Lay's Sensations and Tostitos Sensations chips have unique mouth-watering tastes and a texture people look for in a great snack."

Suggested retail price for a 6-oz. bag of Lay's Sensations potato chips and a 7-oz. package of Tostitos Sensations tortilla chips is $2.49.

Drink a full serving of veggies and fruits

Campbell Soup Co., Camden, N.J., launches V8 V-Fusion, the newest offering in its V8 beverages line. It builds on the nutritious equity of V8 100 percent vegetable juice by providing a full serving of vegetables plus a full serving of fruit in each 8-oz. glass.

V8 V-Fusion has no added sugar and provides vitamins A, C and E. It's available in three flavors: Strawberry Banana, Peach Mango and Tropical Orange. With its hip grab-and-go packaging, light, sweet taste and texture, the drink aims to appeal to a younger group of consumers and potential new V8 drinkers.

Suggested retail price for a 12-oz. bottle is $1.79, and $3.89 for a 46-oz. bottle.

Double your mint pleasure

Chicago-based Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.'s Doublemint brand rolls out Doublemint Twins Mints, the first new product introduction to the brand in more than 90 years. Unlike ordinary mints, new Doublemint Twins offer two unique flavors, one creamy and sweet and one minty cool, blended into one mint. This combination is sure to attract those who already love Doublemint gum, as well as a new generation of mild mint fans.

"Consumers told us that they were looking for an innovative and exciting way to enjoy the Doublemint brand that they grew up with," says Paul Chibe, senior marketing director. "Because consumers look to Doublemint to provide the perfect amount of mild mint enjoyment rather than intense mint flavor, "Wrigley's new Doublemint Twins mints will become an instant classic, just like Doublemint gum."

A campy ad campaign for the mints builds on the brand's heritage of the Doublemint Twins and their unique jingle, "Double your pleasure, double your fun," but with an unexpected twist. Viewers will be introduced to a new set of twins — two very different people dressed alike as twins, singing, "New Doublemint Twins are different. They're mints." Its message is in the right place — we are more similar than different under the skin.

Suggested retail price is 69 cents for 37 mints.

Waking up to whole grains

In 2005, more than 400 whole-grain foods were introduced, according to ProductScan, and sales of wheat, whole-wheat and whole-grain bakery items far outpaced white-flour products over the past year. But the majority of consumers are still buying breads, buns, bagels and English muffins with nary a whole grain in them.

After its successful launch in July 2005 of Sara Lee Soft and Smooth Made with Whole Grain White bread — delivering more than 125 million servings of whole grain to white-bread lovers in three months — Sara Lee Corp., Downers Grove, Ill., focuses on breakfast with three new varieties of breakfast breads and two new varieties of English muffins that combine white flour and whole-grain flour, taste like traditional baked goods, but include the nutritional benefits of whole-grain.

Sara Lee breakfast breads include: Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Cinnamon with Raisins and Blueberry Crumble, containing between 35-45 percent whole-grain flour. Each is a good source of fiber. Sold in 16-oz. loaves, the breads feature moist, half-inch thick slices.

Sara Lee Original English Muffins Made with Whole Grain contain 14 percent whole-grain flour. Each muffin has 5g of whole grain, or more than 10 percent of the daily minimum amount recommended by the U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Naturally flavored with honey, the muffins are sold in six-count, 14-oz. packages.

Sara Lee Heart Healthy Wheat English Muffins Made with Honey use 30 percent whole-grain flour and contain 10g of whole grain per muffin. They are sold in a six-count, 14-oz. package.

Sara Lee Made with Whole Grain Bagels are made with 15 percent whole-grain flour to deliver 9g of whole grain per bagel and are sold in six-count, 20-oz. packages.

All contain no trans fats and no artificial flavors or colors.

Sales of wheat, whole-wheat and whole-grain breads, buns, bagels and English muffins have increased over the past year, but the majority of sales are still white bread, white buns, plain bagels and traditional English muffins, according to IRI. Dollar sales of wheat bread, buns, bagels and English muffins increased by 7.8 percent in the past year, while sales of white bread, buns, bagels and English muffins decreased by 1.9 percent. Of the pounds of packaged bread, buns, bagels and English muffins sold, 57 percent were white, 30 percent wheat and 13 percent other flavors or varieties.

Suggested retail price for Sara Lee breakfast breads is $2.99; Sara Lee English muffins $2.49; and Sara Lee Made with Whole Grain Plain Bagels $3.19.

Blak is always chic

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola North America introduces Coca-Cola Blak, an innovative, carbonated mid-calorie fusion beverage with only 45 calories per 8-oz. bottle. It contains Coca-Cola, natural flavors and coffee essence, a perfect pick-me-up.

"Coca-Cola Blak is a uniquely invigorating beverage that is full-bodied in flavor and as refreshing as you expect Coca-Cola to be," says Katie Bayne, senior vice president, Coca-Cola Brands. "There is no other beverage available today quite like it. Imagine the refreshing taste of an ice-cold Coca-Cola that finishes with a rich essence of coffee. Only Coca-Cola can deliver that distinct combination of flavors."

For its U.S. launch, Coca-Cola Blak has been specially formulated to appeal to American tastes and has a unique logo treatment and packaging as well. Designed to appeal to adult consumers looking for an indulgent and revitalizing alternative to other beverages, Coca-Cola Blak is packaged in a resealable version of Coca-Cola's signature 8-oz. glass contour bottle enveloped in sophisticated and stylish graphics.

Suggested retail price is $1.69.

Women will drink this Peel

Aimed toward a slightly more mature woman than its typical "twentysomething" audience, a woman more open to drinking something more upscale than coolers and malternatives, Anheuser-Busch Inc.'s The Peels Beverage Co., Baldwinsville, N.Y., launches Peels, a new colorful, bright alcoholic beverage (5 percent alcohol by volume), flavored with 100 percent fruit juice.

Peels is 100 percent natural and free of added preservatives and artificial flavors, and is available in four varieties: Blueberry Pomegranate, Strawberry Passion Fruit, Pear Lemon and Cranberry Peach flavors.

Whether women prefer to walk the "straight and narrow" or the "wild side," Peels is completely customizable to suit a range of personalities and taste preferences. It can be served straight up, over ice, mixed with other beverages or even frozen. In addition, garnishing a glass by rimming with fresh strawberry slices or dropping in a few blueberries is another great way to create a unique twist while enhancing the natural fruity flavors of Peels.

"Peels are truly an escape from ordinary beverages," says Stacey Berg, manager of The Peels Beverage Co. "They are not only 100 percent natural but are also fun because they can be tailored to suit any mood. Women across the country will go crazy for them."

Available in clear 10-oz. bottles featuring distinct labels and re-sealable caps, the suggested retail price for a four-pack is $4-6.