April 2014--What's Next

When added to the washing machine at the beginning of the cycle, Snuggle Scent Boosters impart a fresh fragrance to laundry without the need to measure, or the possibility of messy spills: The convenient pre-measured packs simply dissolve in the wash. Available in Lavender Joy and Blue Iris Bliss scents, the boosters can naturally be used in conjunction with Snuggle dryer sheets and liquid fabric softener for what the Sun Products brand calls “long-lasting freshness plus static control and the ultimate in Snuggly Softness.” The product comes in 20-, 30-, 56- and 88-count pouches at SRPs of $3.99, $4.99, $6.97 and $9.48, respectively. www.snuggle.com

Pineapple Princess

In addition to the small size implied by their name, Frieda’s Zululand Queen Baby Pineapples have juicy, sweet, golden-yellow flesh; an intense flavor; and an edible core. A consumer favorite since the specialty produce company first brought them to the States from South Africa in 2001, the fruits are now being touted for myriad foodservice and floral applications. The miniature pineapples are available year-round, as they’re grown in an area where the climate is consistently warm and humid. 
Friedas.com

Right Side

Fresh Solutions Network LLC’s Side Delights Gourmet Petite Potatoes enable consumers to recreate at home the meals they’ve enjoyed in fine restaurants or seen prepared on TV. Available in six varieties, each in a 1.5-pound heat-sealed, standup pouch bag with a grab-and-go handle and a resealable zipper closure, the pre-washed potatoes need no peeling because of their delicate thin skin, while their small, consistent sizing ensures fast, even cooking regardless of method. Fresh Solutions offers customized merchandising, promotional and ad support plans at retail. The SRP of $3.99 is dependent on competitive market conditions as well as store demographics. www.freshsolutionsnet.com

Food, Beverage & Nonfood Products

Created by Diamond Foods, Emerald Breakfast on the go! Yogurt Bites are small clusters of Emerald nuts, granola and dried fruit encased in a yogurt-flavored coating. The first Emerald product to offer the brand’s nuts with other breakfast ingredients in bite-sized clusters, the line currently comes in Strawberry Vanilla and Mixed Berry varieties, with development of new flavors underway. A carton of five 1.25-ounce packages of Emerald Breakfast on the go! Yogurt Bites retails for a suggested $3.49. www.emeraldnuts.com

Gold’n Standard

Highly trimmed Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Portions, from GNP Co.’s Gold’n Plump brand, offer consumers versatility, value and convenience. Carrying the Gold’n Plump all-natural label and packaged in recipe-ready 16-ounce trays, the portions have an SRP of $4.99. GNP provides website and social media messaging, recipes, and POS marketing support. GoldnPlump.com; GNPCompany.com.

Thrill of the Grill

Ball Park’s fully cooked frozen Flame Grilled Turkey Patties, available in two varieties, “are an excellent source of protein and provide burger lovers with a delicious, quality meal that’s ideal for anytime, especially those guy-time occasions,” according to Kristin Kroepfl, director of marketing for the Hillshire Brands product line. Available in resealable 6-count packages, the item retails for a suggested $8.29. www.ballparkbrand.com

Lady Is a Champ

Lady Alice brand apples are available from February through May, or while supplies last. Similar to a fine wine in its flavor and complexity, the heirloom-like apple from Washington state is harvested in the fall, and then stored and sold to consumers at its flavor peak. The fruit’s characteristic outer coloring is pinkish red stripes over a banana-yellow background, while its flesh is sweet, crisp and dense, with a hint of tartness. Fine for snacking, the versatile apple can also be used in a variety of baking and cooking recipes, as its sturdy flesh enables the apple to retain its texture at high temperatures. Rainier Fruit Co. is the exclusive supplier of the Lady Alice apple. www.rainierfruit.com

Morning Glory

Morning Rounds, from Ozery Bakery in Canada, are heart-healthy, low in fat and sodium, and contain no artificial preservatives or GMOs. Featuring such ingredients as real fruit pieces, whole oats and seeds, the buns can be toasted and topped with consumers’ preferred spreads, or eaten right out of the bag. The SRP for a 12.7-ounce package of six Morning Rounds is $3.99. http://us.ozerybakeryinc.com

SweetLeaf Sweet Drops, from Wisdom Natural Brands, now come in two new seasonal flavors: Pumpkin Spice and Peppermint Mocha. Part of Wisdom Natural Brands’ extensive SweetLeaf and SugarLeaf stevia-based offerings, the liquid product adds flavor to consumers’ favorite foods and beverages, without calories or carbohydrates. A 2-ounce container yielding an impressive 288 servings retails for a suggested $14.99. SweetLeaf.com
 

Refresher Course

Starbucks has not only improved its lightly sparkling ready-to-drink Refreshers beverages, it’s also updated the packaging and added another flavor, Blueberry Acai. The optimized formula now delivers energy without the spike and crash. Made with real fruit juice, B vitamins and ginseng, the beverage line retails for a suggested $1.99 per 12-fluid-ounce can, or $5.99 for a 4-pack of 8.4-fluid-ounce cans. www.starbucks.com