Asian-inspired Beverages
Moshi Sparkling Drinks | Asian Inspired Flavors
Moshi, a manufacturer of craft sodas and sparkling teas, adds Asian-inspired sparkling waters to its lineup. All four offerings contain 7-15% real fruit juice.
Asian Pear & White Miso is an out-of-the-box pairing of fruit with savory. The White Peach & Yuzu showcases two modern trending Asian flavors with the yuzu sourced directly from farmers in Japan. Fuji Apple & Concord Grape is a marriage of a quintessential Asian flavor--crisp Fuji apple--with a classic American flavor, Concord grape. The last variety—Honeydew Melon & Cream—is a riff on a nostalgic Asian flavor pairing of melon and cream typically seen in East Asian sodas and desserts. This beverage is friendly for dairy-free drinkers as it uses only cream flavor.
The new sparkling waters are naturally sweetened from the fruit juice. A 12-oz. can contains a mere 25 calories. “One of the things I learned in developing Moshi’s soda line was that our bestsellers always featured a combination of two or more flavors,” said Alton But, founder. “As a former chef, I also really wanted to include a savory element in one of the flavors. I thought it would be a unique tasting experience in a heavily saturated sparkling water category.”
Going Nutty
There’s a new topper in town to add craveable crunch to salads, baked potatoes, veggie sides and more. Diamond of California is rolling out Crunchy Nut Toppers, which are made with bite-sized pieces of nutrient-dense walnuts or pecans and seasoned with simple ingredients. The four flavors are bacon-free Smoky Bacon Walnuts, dairy-free Garden Ranch Walnuts, Glazed Walnuts and Glazed Pecans. A 3-oz. bag has a suggested retail price of $2.99.
“We all know a little extra flavor and crunch elevates any dish so we hope this new line of ready-to-use Crunchy Nut Toppers inspires home cooks to make good food even better,” says Craig Tokusato, chief marketing officer. “We recommend using them wherever you might add bacon bits, crispy onions or croutons.”
Veggies from Down on the Farm
Bob Evans is helping families elevate their dinner plates with Farmhouse Favorites vegetable sides, now available in select Kroger locations. The three varieties are carrots with sweet butter sauce, green beans with herb butter sauce and sweet corn with chipotle butter sauce. The sides come in 16-oz. packs merchandised in retailers’ refrigerated department alongside the brand’s potato and pasta offerings.
The sides are ready in less than five microwavable minutes. The packaging features a vacuum seal designed to duplicate the flavor of restaurant-style vegetables. The technology ensures a crisp texture and taste. And, as an added bonus, while the veggies warm in the microwave, the packaging whistles, letting everyone know that it is dinnertime.
Specialty Bread in the Ambient Aisle
Sliced sandwich breads with special content claims, such as gluten-free, low-carbohydrate and natural, historically have been found only in retailers’ refrigerated cases, as the low temperatures are necessary to ensure quality. Base Culture is changing that with Simply Bread. The ambient-aisle bread line comes in three varieties: Classic Sandwich, Hint of Honey and Super Seed.
The breads are made with a clean flour blend consisting of tapioca, coconut, almond, chickpea, flax and hemp. Combined, these flours create a nutrient-rich bread offering 8g of fiber per slice while delivering traditional bread taste and texture. The Simply Bread line includes coconut oil instead of canola oil, giving each slice a wholesome dose of healthy fat as well as a touch of honey versus refined sugar to balance the flavor.
Plant Milk Takes on the Cow
Califia Farms is rolling out Califia Farms Complete, a plant-based dairy milk alternative containing the nine essential amino acids along with 8g protein, a profile that resembles cows’ milk. Made from a blend of pea, chickpea and fava bean proteins, Califia Farms Complete also contains a similar vitamin and mineral profile as dairy milk. The 40-oz. plastic bottle sells in the refrigerated dairy department with a suggested retail price of $6.99.
“The level of total nutrition found in Califia Farms Complete is a powerful and unique way for consumers to achieve their nutritional needs,” says Rajneesh Hora, chief science officer at Califia Farms. “We spent a lot of time perfecting this formula to combine noteworthy amounts of vitamins, minerals and protein while delivering on the delicious, creamy consistency that’s become a hallmark of Califia’s plant-based products.”
Two Breakfast Brands Join Forces
Mrs. Butterworth’s, a Conagra brand, has teamed up with Dunkin’ to launch Mrs. Butterworth’s Dunkin Glazed Donut Flavored Pancake Syrup. The new product features the sweet flavor of a glazed donut combined with Mrs. Butterworth’s signature taste. It’s a two-in-one for a memorable breakfast experience.
Marketing materials encourage use on unexpected items, such as yogurt, oatmeal, biscuits and more. Developed with Dunkin’ culinary experts, the syrup mirrors the sweet vanilla flavor notes of a fried glazed donut. A 24-oz. plastic bottle has a suggested retail price of $4.19.
Dunkin’ has been busy with co-branding ventures. Earlier this year, the brand worked with Danone North America to introduce limited-edition Dunkin’ Brownie Batter Creamer. Made with real cream and real sugar, the rich, fudgy Dunkin’ Brownie Batter Creamer is a chocolate-lover’s dream. It joins other offerings under the joint venture.
