New Product Reviw

The first units of Yokit™ rolled off the production floor in early November and are ready to enter the multi-billion dollar healthy snack food market. Patent-pending Yokit is an instant product with the taste, texture and healthy attributes of dairy-case yogurt. The innovation is that it is shelf-stable-simply add water, shake and eat.

"Schools and private businesses across the country are seeking healthy alternatives to the current offering of sodas and potato chips in vending machines," says Dilip Kotecha, pres., Yokit Inc., Racine, Wis. "Yokit provides all the important nutritional benefits of yogurt without the need for refrigeration. In addition shelflife of the product is more than one year."

Yokit provides an instant, healthy snack and meal alternative for those with on-the-go lifestyles, appealing to hikers, bikers, students and office professionals. Made in less than one minute, Yokit is "yogurt when you want it," says Kotecha.

Yokit comes in a 5.5-oz serving size cup, complete with instant mix and spoon. Currently there are seven flavors: French Vanilla, Orange Dreamsicle, Pineapple, Raspberry, Strawberry, Strawberry-Banana and Tropical Fruit. Suggested retail price is $1.00 to $1.50, depending upon the retail outlet.

New product offerings soon to be available include a Yokit drinkable smoothie with added nutraceuticals. "With a great-tasting instant formulation, we plan to use Yokit as a delivery system to address many of the health needs of consumers both in the United States and internationally," concludes Kotecha.

Just when one thought there was no other possible form to sell convenience cheese in, Kraft Foods, Northfield, Ill., comes up with Crumbles. New Kraft® Natural Cheese Crumbles deliver a big cheese taste in every bite with hearty chunks of cheese crumbled right off the block. Crumbles are available in Three Cheese (Monterey Jack, Colby and Cheddar), Sharp Cheddar, Mozzarella and 2% Milk Colby & Monterey Jack.

"Since the consumer is the core of product innovation at Kraft, our goal is to introduce products that fit consumers' lives and stay one step ahead of consumer needs for tomorrow," according to a company spokesperson.

Private label refrigerated dairy dips have gone upscale with the new essential™ line from Albertson's Inc., Boise, Idaho. With the tag line "what matters most-quality," essential dips are sold in the packaged deli case and have creative names and package copy. There are four dips, each with a unique flavor name and mouth-watering description. The four varieties are:

Cool: Cucumber Dill Dip is made with fresh cucumbers, fresh onion, cream cheese, sour cream, fresh lemon juice, roasted garlic and spice blend. What's essential is the cucumber.

Hearty: Parmesan Artichoke Jalapeño Dip is made with aged Parmesan cheese, jalapeños and real sour cream. What's essential is the artichoke.

Savory: Caramelized Onion Dip is made with real oven-caramelized onions, fresh buttermilk and cream cheese. What's essential are the onions.

Private label refrigerated dairy dips have gone upscale with the new essential™ line from Albertson's Inc., Boise, Idaho. With the tag line "what matters most-quality," essential dips are sold in the packaged deli case and have creative names and package copy. There are four dips, each with a unique flavor name and mouth-watering description. The four varieties are:

Cool: Cucumber Dill Dip is made with fresh cucumbers, fresh onion, cream cheese, sour cream, fresh lemon juice, roasted garlic and spice blend. What's essential is the cucumber.

Hearty: Parmesan Artichoke Jalapeño Dip is made with aged Parmesan cheese, jalapeños and real sour cream. What's essential is the artichoke.

Savory: Caramelized Onion Dip is made with real oven-caramelized onions, fresh buttermilk and cream cheese. What's essential are the onions.

Zesty: Roasted Green Chile Dip is made with chunks of roasted Anaheim chilies, roasted poblano chilies, cream cheese, sour cream and fresh cilantro and onion. What's essential are the roasted chilies.

Lakeview Farms Inc., Delphos, Ohio, now offers decadent dessert mousse in three varieties: Chocolate, Cookies and Crème, and Peanut Buttercup. The desserts, sold in 7-oz resealable, clear plastic cartons use nonfat dry milk and whey powder as the dairy components

The cartons contain about three half-cup servings, with a serving ranging from 200 to 240 calories and 11g to 15g of fat, depending on variety. The desserts are merchandised in the packaged deli refrigerated case alongside prepared salads and gourmet dips.

Noteworthy Introductions

Chicago-based Ditka's Real Foods, as in football legend Mike Ditka, markets two "Bear" pasteurized process cheese spreads: Bacon Cheddar Horseradish and Fire Roasted Chipotle Pepper. These dips might have just enough kick to get the Chicago Bears into the Super Bowl.

Another Chicago company, Tampico Beverages, is rolling out Tampico™ Plus, the first nationally distributed brand of reduced-sugar refrigerated juice drink product that is both calcium fortified and enriched with vitamins A, C, D and E. This is the company's first new beverage platform beyond its core Tampico Fruit Punches juice drinks. The new formulation comes in four flavors: Citrus, Kiwi Strawberry, Mango and Tropical. It is sold in half-gallon plastic jugs for $1.29-$1.79.

INTERNATIONAL

New from Kyusyu Nyugyo in Japan is Midori Night Milk, a 98% milk range taken only during night time when cows are most relaxed. It is said that at night cows release three- to four-times more melatonin than during the day. Melatonin is a hormone that is said to induce sleep, as well as lower body temperature, blood pressure and pulse. The production line is closely monitored to ensure the purity of night milk. The milk is also formulated with collagen, chondroitin and dietary fiber, and is said to have a refreshing aftertaste.

In Austria, Berglandmilch introduced Desserta Halloween Drink, a black yogurt drink with wood berries. It is said to turn teeth "black as a crow." As one would expect, this drink was released just in time for the Halloween season. The drink is also low in fat and enriched with vitamins-a perfect combination for the younger consumer.

Bocca Limited has launched Drink Cheese, which is described as a new type of drinkable cheese for the Japanese market. It comes in plain (blue packaging) and yuzu citrus (yellow packaging) flavors. It is said to be a liquid-style, fresh natural cheese made from fresh milk, sugar and other milk products. It has a refreshing sour taste with an enjoyable richness. Shelflife is 14 days after production.

Also from Japan is Meiji Dairies new Maiji Bi Charge Collagen & Hyaluronic Acid (green tea) "beauty-positioned" ice cream. The ice cream contains 1,500mg of collagen, 15mg of hyaluronic acid and 5g of dietary fiber. It is available in cocoa, green tea and vanilla flavors.

In Russia, Danone introduced Danone Skeletons Sour Drink Milk-a 300ml bottle of menthol-flavored sour milk for children. Containing only 2.2% fat, the milk is described as helping to improve children's health, essentially strengthening their skeletons.

Contributed by Christy Brinnehl, assistant analyst, Global New Products Database (GNPD) Consulting Services, a division of Mintel International, a global research company. For more information call 312/932-0400, or visit www.gnpd.com