Microwave your Lunchables
The Lunchables brand of convenient refrigerated meal and snack kits from Kraft Heinz is now in the freezer. The new products use the company’s 360Crisp technology, which creates crispy, crunchy products in the microwave. The first products in the lineup are Lunchables Grilled Cheesies in two varieties.
The original variety features melty Kraft Singles with just the right level of golden-brown crisp expected in a grilled cheese sandwich. The pepperoni variety includes the same pepperoni from other popular Lunchables snack packs.
The new line came to fruition in response to research that shows kids’ snacking is a key driver of growth within the frozen category. The sandwiches come two to a box and have a suggested retail price of $4.99. The goal is to introduce five new products across four iconic brands by the end of 2024 using the technology, which delivers a pan-like crisp in 60 seconds.
andrewzimmern.com/frozen-meals/
Emmy-winning and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality and chef Andrew Zimmern is rolling out a frozen entrée line in Walmart. He created By Andrew Zimmern dishes to bring homey, chef-quality foods to every family, regardless of time and budget constraints.
The project came to fruition after traveling across the country to film “Family Dinner,” where he dined with different families to explore how culture impacts how and what people eat. It was afterward that he identified a need for wholesome, home-cooked meals that can bring people together, even busy, on-the-go families.
By Andrew Zimmern is debuting in four varieties: meatloaf with mashed potatoes and peas, pulled pork mac and cheese with caramelized onion, Swedish meatballs with gravy and noodles, and sliced turkey breast with mashed potatoes and green beans. The single-serve frozen entrees cost $5.94.
As consumers continue to appreciate and show interest in the frozen Asian food category, Bibigo is expanding its selection with the launch of Crispy Dumpling Bites, which come in bulgogi chicken and spicy chicken. Both varieties include a sweet and spicy sauce and may be prepared in the microwave or air fryer.
The Bibigo brand is part of Schwan’s Co., a subsidiary of Korea’s CJ Cheiljedang. The brand has grown significantly over the past two years, with frozen Asian foods continuing to outpace the frozen product sector and other global cuisine types. The 7.7-oz. bags have a suggested retail price of $4.29.
The U.S. lactose-free market is valued at $12.6 billion and is growing at an annual rate of 12.45%, expected to reach $32.2 billion by 2029, according to Data Bridge Research. So, Thor’s Skyr decided to make its authentic yogurt-like Icelandic dairy products free of lactose by including lactase in the milk processing step. The new formula allows dairy and non-dairy consumers alike to receive the protein-packed benefits of skyr made from cow’s milk, while also making it easier to digest.
With the reformulation come three new flavors--coconut, coffee and key lime—joining blueberry, strawberry and vanilla. The lactase enzyme breaks down lactose, a disaccharide, into its constituent monosaccharides, glucose and galactose, which are sweeter tasting than lactose. This enables a reduction or even an elimination of added sugars. The new recipe boosts the protein content of the plain yogurt to 21g per 6-oz. cup; the flavored offerings contain 18g of protein.
“We know consumers are looking for more protein and less sugar, so we are excited to be able to launch our new formula that will help introduce skyr to a wider demographic,” says CEO Unnar Beck Daníelsson. “Not only does the skyr taste delicious and refreshing, but it allows people with lactose intolerances and stomach sensitivities to enjoy the product as much as anyone else.”
Pistachios Score a New Flavor
In fact, one out of three Wonderful Pistachios consumers say they eat them while watching sports, with football being the most popular. Company research shows that Wonderful Pistachios flavors are proven to drive incremental sales and bring new buyers to the snack nut category. In consumer taste tests, the new seasoned salt flavor performed higher than current in-market benchmarks on both appeal and purchase intent among nut buyers. In addition to being a flavorful crowd-pleaser, pistachios are a smart snack option, one of the few nuts that are a complete protein, providing 6g of protein and 3g of fiber per serving.
One Big Protein Cookie Bar
Lenny & Larry’s, the manufacturer of the original protein cookie (with 5g per serving), now offers the Cookie-fied Big Bar, a super-sized version of its fan-favorite Cookie-fied Bar. The 90g soft and chewy gluten-free snack bar contains 24g of plant-based protein and comes in cookies and creme and peanut butter chocolate chip varieties.
“We’re proud to pioneer the snack bar category by creating functional products that satisfy the need for nutrient-dense options, coupled with an element of playfulness,” says CEO Jolie Weber. “Cookie-fied fans expressed their desire for an even more protein-packed version of a product that had become an integral part of their active and on-the-go lifestyles.”
