Oser Communications Group

GOURMET NEWS AUGUST 2016 www.gourmetnews.com NATURALLY HEALTHY 1 4 New Snacks Continued from PAGE 1 at home. While hunger is the obvious mo- tivation for snacking, treating or rewarding oneself, boosting energy and relieving bore- dom are also top drivers. This snacking isn't necessarily guilt-free; younger consumers in particular, those be- tween 25 and 34, say that they're judgy about people who eat junk foods. A fair number of Americans are getting around that by eating snacks that con- tain a healthy in- gredient. About a third of all Ameri- cans and more than half of 25-34- year-olds say that they feel less guilty about consuming unhealthy foods or drinks if they contain a healthy ingredient. The Sweets & Snacks Expo exhibit hall provided a wealth of evidence that Vier- hile knew what he was talking about and that many snack food manufacturers had already figured most of it out for them- selves. The market is seeing a prolifera- tion of snack foods that offer protein rather than added sugar for that between- meal energy boost, and many of them are offering front-of-the-package claims of some kind of nutritional benefit, even if it's just an offset for a product that might otherwise be considered an indulgent treat rather than a component of a nutri- tion plan. Stoneridge Orchards' line of all-nat- ural dried fruits is Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, free of preserva- tives and sulfites and contain no hydro- genated oils, artificial flavors or colors. They're high in Vitamin C and free of common allergens. The fruit is grown in family-owned orchards in central Wash- ington by third-generation family farm- ers. Organic Cranberries enrobed in dark chocolate join an organic product line that now includes four items, to- gether with Organic Blueberries, Or- ganic Montmorency Cherries and Organic Mixed Berries. The 4-ounce package retails for $4.99 to $5.99. Country Prime Meats' Country Bites Naturals are meat snacks available in four flavors, includ- ing Hamalyan In- spired, flavored with tandoori spice, and Tuscan Inspired, fla- vored with tomato and pepper, cooked, smoked and dried turkey sausages. They're gluten free and lactose free, with no added nitrites and no lactose. Turkey for the snacks was raised without antibiotics, and the snacks are bite- sized to aid in portion control. The 4.4-ounce bag retails for $7.99. Simply Smart and Smart Kids snack bars are tar- geted directly at the nutrition-con- scious, with Smart Kids bars formulated to meet U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for school lunch programs. Simply Smart is the adult version, tar- geted at the consumer aged 16 and older who wants a healthy snack bar. Simply Smart bars contain no added refined sugar and contain 190 to 200 calories and 10 grams of protein per bar. "Every- thing we do is all-natural, Non-GMO Project Verified and certified gluten free," said Chief Operating Officer Rob Zelickman. Simply Smart bars are pack- aged for individual sale at retail and sell for $1.99 each. The Smart Kids bars sell for $1.30. AWAKE Energy Granola Bars offer caf- feine along with B vitamins and some added sugar for that late afternoon energy boost. Each bar con- tains as much caffeine as half a cup of coffee plus B vitamins. Each bar contains 5 grams of protein and 150 calories or less. They come in four flavors: Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate Caramel, Coconut Apricot and Cinnamon Bun. They contain no artificial fla- vors or colors and are gluten free. Peeled Snacks are designed to appeal to the consumer who looks for a clean ingredient deck with no added sugar. Peas Please are the newest item in the product line, which also includes Gently Dried Fruit and Apple Clusters. Made with 70 per- cent peas, brown rice, sunflower oil and salt, these crunchy snacks are all organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, and gluten free. They come in four fla- vors, with White Cheddar the newest. Other flavors are Sea Salt, Garden Herb and Southwest Spice. Peas Please are made by a certified B Corporation started in 2005. A 3.3-ounce bag that provides 3-1/2 servings of vegetables per bag sells for $2.99. Snack pastries from Bakerly are for those who start their snacking with breakfast. Four product lines of bakery products include authentic French crepes filled with strawberry or choco- late, mini brioche, and a chocolate croissant. They're made with real eggs and real butter, individually wrapped and delivered frozen to stores for a 30-day shelf life after thawing. "We are the only brioche to go avail- able in the m a r k e t , " s a i d D a m i e n C a l l e r y , the company's Vice President of Sales. The products are made in France with clean recipes and no genetically modi- fied ingredients. The newest in the line is a chocolate filled petit cake – some- thing like a standard American-style snack cake but without all the artificial ingredients, Callery said. "We want America to go back to an American tra- dition, but with clean ingredients and better quality," he added. The bakerly petit cakes contain no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup and no palm oil. They're non-GMO. They come in three flavors: chocolate, apricot and strawberry, with all-natural fruit fill- ings. A package of five individually- wrapped cakes has a three-month shelf life and retails for $3.49. GN Real Food, Real Easy from Bountiful Pantry Naturally delicious mixes for soups, chilis and stews, side dishes and desserts from Bountiful Pantry are easy to cook, satisfy- ing and delicious. Many are ready in 30 minutes or less. New this year are mixes for Creamy Kale & Potato Soup, Golden Pea & Curried Apple Soup, Tuscan Potato & Kale Stew and Quinoa & Grains for Sides & Salads. They're additions to a line that already includes family favorite recipes for classics and global flavors. Mixes for Black Bean Soup, Thai Sweet Potato Bisque, Italian Bean Soup, 5 Bean Chili, Hearty Fisher- man's Stew and New Orleans Gumbo & Rice as well as other soups, stews and chilis. Side dishes and salads include Jam- balaya, Wild Rice Pilaf and various risotto mixes. "We make real food real easy for every- one," says Bountiful Pantry Owner Judy Kales. "Our mixes are easy because we in- clude all the ingredients – the consumer just adds liquid and any optional ingredi- ents they'd like to include. Everything is measured and ready to cook." All Bountiful products are made only with plant-based natural food that's free of MSG, soy, preservatives and are non-GMO. "Committed to the idea that we can all eat together, our mixes are gluten free with no added salt," Kales says. "Because our mixes are shelf-stable, they're easy to enjoy with- out special shopping or planning. And be- cause we include all the ingredients, there is no last-minute dash to the market." The packaging for each mix includes ideas for easy-to-add optional ingredients, so consumers can exercise their own cre- ativity in the kitchen, or if they prefer, just take advantage of the ease of using a mix to provide a meal that requires no scrubbing or chopping of the vegetable ingredients. All of that helps to explain why more than half of Bountiful Pantry's customers have been with the company for five years or more. "Our mixes are tasty, satisfying and easy – and they're real food," Kales says. "As our customers grow, we grow with them, incorporating their ideas and needs." Bountiful Pantry products are distrib- uted directly to specialty and natural food stores, destination stores and cata- log and gift basket companies. For more information call 617.487.8019 or visit www.bountifulpantry.com. GN Pomì Introduces Organic Product Line Pomì, the premium Italian tomato brand owned by the Consorzio Casalasco del Po- modoro, presented its new organic product line to the American market at this year's Summer Fancy Food Show. Pomì Organic will be on the shelves starting in September. Pomì Organic Chopped Tomatoes and Pomì Organic Strained Tomatoes are de- signed to appeal to customers who value quality and the very highest standards of pro- duction. "Our new organic line is the natural evolution of a brand such as Pomì. Tradition, innovation, and constant attention to detail are inherently part of our philosophy," said Costantino Vaia, President of Pomì USA and Managing Director of the Consorzio Casalasco del Pomodoro. "Pomì organic was something really hoped for by the market and our consumers, who believe in the su- perior quality and origin of our products." In its effort to expand its presence across the United States, Pomì also recently launched an app for Apple and Android. The free app, downloadable on the App Store and Google Play, offers four sections (in both English and in Italian): Recipes, Products, Traceability, Shopping List. Each section engages the user into learning new ways to use Pomì products while stressing concepts such as sustainability and best agricultural practices. All Pomì products are 100 percent Ital- ian, BPA-free, kosher, non-GMO. They have no preservatives, no artificial flavors, no citric acid, no water added. The com- pany's commitment to sustainability prin- ciples was recognized with Italy's Social Footprint – Product Social Identity certifi- cation. Pomì is the first in the Italian food sector to obtain the certification. GN

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