Meadow Brook, Erie, Pa., a unit of Dallas-based Dean Foods Co., is stepping up its efforts in the ready-to-drink, single-serve tea business. The company now offers many of its multi-serving refrigerated ice teas in Chug-style bottles. This includes recently introduced Diet Green Tea with Pomegranate & Blueberry and Sweetened Green Tea with Ginseng & Honey, as well as oldies but goodies: Lemon-Flavored Iced Tea in both Sweetened and Diet varieties.

In an effort to fill a void in the beverage aisle at convenience stores and supermarkets nationwide, Dean Foods introduces ice cream parlor-style milk shakes in single-serve bottles that are branded Chug Milk Shakes. The new 12-ounce shakes come in three varieties: Chocolate, Cookies ‘n’ Cream and Vanilla.

Kemps LLC, St. Paul, Minn., a company of HP Hood LLC, Lynnfield, Mass., introduces two fat-free frozen yogurts enhanced with omega-3 fatty acids. The new frozen yogurts were launched in major grocery retailers throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin in March. Available flavors are Pomegranate Swirl and Wild Blueberries N’ Sweet Cream. The company also now offers Kemps Plus Healthy Lifestyle and Kemps Plus Healthy Kids milk products, both enhanced with omega-3 fatty acids. Rachel Kyllo, vice president marketing, says, “Kemps introduced two frozen yogurt desserts and two milk products this year so that our consumers have great-tasting products that will appeal to the whole family.”

The unique packaging of New York-based Soignon’s new Crumbled Goat Cheese just won the gold medal at the 2008 World Championship Cheese Contest. The resealable pouch sits upright on shelves, and the bright, attractive label stands out from the crowd in the dairy aisle. Weighing only 5g, the pouch uses just a tiny fraction of the petroleum consumed in manufacturing and shipping most other cheese tubs, which weigh an average of 28g. The fresh crumbles of unripened goat cheese have a light, refreshing goat milk flavor and a soft texture that melts in the mouth. It’s simple to open the bag, sprinkle some fresh, tangy goat cheese on a salad, a bowl of pasta or a pizza, and reseal the bag. A first of its kind, Soignon Crumbled Goat Cheese comes in a 4-oz pouch and retails for about $4.50.

Smith Dairy Products Co., Orrville, Ohio, introduces Smith’s Pomberry Green Tea. “The refrigerated iced tea category has been on a hot streak since 2005,” says Penny Baker, director of marketing. “Sales increased 28% in 2007 alone, so now is the time to take advantage of a refreshing consumer trend.”

Smith’s Pomberry Green Tea blends the antioxidants green tea, pomegranate and cranberry with honey and a twist of ginseng for a tasty beverage that’s great chilled for the summer and warmed up for cooler weather. Suggested retail price is $2.69 per gallon.

Dairy Foods now offers Dairy Product Innovations (www.dairyfoods.com/dpi), an e-newsletter focused on new dairy products and new products and services from dairy industry suppliers. Subscribers receive Dairy Product Innovations monthly with the occasional special installation or themed issue focusing on specific niches like artisan cheese or organic and natural foods. To subscribe, visit www.dairyfoods.com.

noteworthy introductions

Natural Dairy Products Corp., West Grove, Pa., introduces Natural By Nature Brown Sugar Whipped Cream in an aerosol can. Made with fresh, organic cream and quality ingredients, this new creamy, light and decadent whipped cream tastes great on anything from desserts and fruits to pancakes and coffee drinks. 

Farmland Dairies, Wallington, N.J., the makers of the nationally recognized Special Request Skim Plus line of fortified milk products, introduces Special Request Skim Plus fat-free white and chocolate milk products in 12-ounce plastic grab-n-go bottles. Made from 100% cow’s milk and containing no artificial hormones or antibiotics, the milk is fortified with vitamins A and D and contains 37% more protein and 34% more calcium than whole milk.

International

Caprese salad is composed of fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes. In France, Italian cuisine enthusiasts can now buy a product that mimics the flavors of a Caprese salad. Galbani’s Mozzarella with Basil includes that fragrant herb directly in the cheese, making it possible to enjoy a Caprese salad with only the addition of tomatoes. This innovative product offers convenience and flavor to consumers who want to enjoy ethnic cuisine but may not have the time or ingredients to create it from scratch.

In Austria, Nöm has leveraged the health benefits of whey by creating a whey-based tea drink. This beverage claims to support metabolism and control weight, presumably as a result of whey’s satiety benefits. Green tea has a strong association with weight loss and metabolism, bolstering this product’s healthful image.

The Japanese beverage market is arguably the most sophisticated and fragmented in the world. Hybrid products that combine flavors and ingredients from two separate categories are common, as evidenced by a recent Japanese beverage that transforms flavored milk into a dessert-like treat. Barista’s Special Green Tea Tiramisu attempts to replicate the flavors and textures of that classic Italian dessert by adding mascarpone cheese, cocoa powder and green tea powder to milk. This thick, creamy, decadent beverage contains 55% milk and delivers a texture similar to mousse for a dairy-rich indulgence.

Contributed by Krista Faron, senior analyst, Mintel Custom Solutions,  Global New Products Database (GNPD). For more information call 312/932-0400, or visit www.gnpd.com.

Focus

Chicago-based Papa Lena’s, best known for its baked Beet Chips, is taking beets to a new level with Creamy Garlic Beet Dip, which comes in mild and spicy varieties. The all-natural dips combine sour cream and mayo with ground beet chips, garlic, Romano cheese and other spices. It’s a great dip, but is even better when used as a burger or beef sandwich topping.

Skotidakis Goat Farm of Ontario, Canada, markets Tzatziki based on yogurt made from a combination of cow’s and goat’s milk. This Greek-style yogurt flavor melds with the cucumber and garlic ingredients, resulting in a zesty condiment. The yogurt dip is promoted as containing active yogurt cultures. The ingredient statement indicates that the bacteria are Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Not only is tzatziki a dip, it can be served as an accompaniment to pita bread or as a topping for various grilled meats, most notably lamb.

Speaking of Greek yogurt, Stonyfield Farm, Londonderry, N.H., expands the flavor offerings of its organic, authentically strained Greek yogurt, Oikos Organic. New Blueberry and Honey flavor-on-the-bottom Greek yogurts join the Oikos Organic line of 0% fat favorites, Vanilla and Plain. Oikos Organic is the only nationally distributed organic Greek yogurt on the market today.

Called “yiaourti” in Greece, Greek yogurt is thicker than regular yogurt. Authentic Greek yogurt like Oikos Organic owes its lavish texture to a centuries-old straining process that removes the whey from the yogurt.

The new flavors of Oikos Organic Greek yogurt come in response to a growing number of consumers with a passion for Greek yogurt. The traditional way to eat Greek yogurt is drizzled with honey to add a little sweetness. Blueberry is the most popular fruit-on-the-bottom flavor for regular Stonyfield Farm yogurts. Both flavor-on-the-bottom varieties offer a healthy and delicious treat all in one convenient cup.

A just-released review article in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension concludes that an increase in potassium coupled with a decrease in sodium may be the most important dietary choice, after weight loss, to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. The problem is, most Americans consume about half the recommended daily amount of potassium and double the recommended amount of sodium, putting them at risk for high blood pressure and stroke.

Unilever, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., introduces the first functional shot that may help close the potassium gap. Promise SuperShots for blood pressure are essential fruit blend functional shots that provide a good source of potassium and are low in sodium. Each 3-ounce dairy-based drink contains 350mg of potassium, similar to the amount contained in a serving of a fruit that is a good source of potassium, such as a small banana. Promise SuperShots come in three flavors: strawberry banana, peach apricot and mixed berry.

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