Sweet Solutions
PG presents a flurry of after-dinner treats and merchandising ideas to help retailers tap incremental sales.
Rolling in Chocolate
For a gourmet treat that hits the sweet spot for on-the-go customers, Nyack, N.Y.-based Q.bel Foods — makers of all-natural chocolate wafer rolls and wafer bars — will showcase its new packaging that became available in late 2010 at the upcoming Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco.
Designed specifically to give retailers multiple creative merchandising options, Q.bel's new standup bag is available in four varieties of its chocolate wafer rolls: Peanut Butter with Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate (36 percent cacao), Dark Chocolate (52 percent cacao) and the new Deep Dark Chocolate (72 percent cacao). Each bag contains eight individually wrapped chocolate wafer rolls and retails for a suggested $4.49 to $4.79.
Q.bel will continue to sell its established impulse packages, which are available nationwide in all Whole Foods Market locations and many other retail outlets. For more information. visit www.ObelFoods.com.
Pies Are Flying High
With sweet and savory pies predicted to top the list of food trends for 2011, retailers can capitalize accordingly by using Peach Glen, Pa.-based Knouse Foods' ready-made Lucky Leaf and Musselman's pie fillings. Available in an assortment of flavors — Deluxe Apple, Blueberry, Cherry, Lemon, Blackberry, Apricot, Peach, Pineapple, Raisin, Red Raspberry and Strawberry — the fillings can be used to create a variety of pies, tarts and cobblers for such decadent desserts as Fluffy Cherry Lemon Pie and Easy Blackberry Cobbler.
In addition to pies, Knouse highlights recipe ideas to help foodservice professionals meet the demand for the following trends:
• Health: Chefs are challenged with developing new ways to create dishes that meet new health mandates. Substituting butter with applesauce, apple butter and apples helps cut fat and calories for a flavorful and healthful balance. Start with such recipes as low-guilt carrot cake.
• Mini Portions: “Mini” will be the buzzword in 2011 foodservice — including mini desserts — because smaller sizes fit into tighter budgets.
Retailers can find recipes for chocolate chip cherry bars, apple crisp dessert, blueberry shortbread and more by visiting www.knousefoodservice.com.
Old-world Indulgence
Coppenrath, Europe's largest producer of frozen desserts, has now brought single-serve Mousse Duets to the United States. Containing fewer than 300 calories each, the individually portioned dessert cups come in two decadent flavors: Chocolate, featuring a dark graham cracker crust and a topping of chocolate ganache and chocolate curls, and Lemon Chiffon, including a sweet graham cracker crust and a topping of tangy lemon sauce and white chocolate flakes. “There are few authentically European desserts that consumers can enjoy in the comfort of their own home, and even fewer options that cater to the ‘just a few bites’ sweet-tooth craving,” notes Lars Oltmanns, general manager of Cumming, Ga.-based Coppenrath USA. “By offering Mousse Duets single servings, we are pleased to fill the gap of this consumer desire.” The SRP for two individual 3.2-ounce servings in eye-catching containers sporting scenic European background imagery is $3.79. To learn more, visit www.coppenrathbakery.com.
Stevia in the Mix
Sans Sucre baking mixes enable those watching their sugar intake to indulge in home-baked treats with a line of sugar-free and no-sugar-added products sweetened with all-natural stevia. French for “sugar-free,” San Sucre is also low in fat, contains no cholesterol, and has fewer calories and less sodium than comparable product lines. Additionally, the easy-to-prepare mixes require just vegetable oil and water, according to the manufacturer, Evanston, lll.-based Bernard Food Industries Inc. Retailing for a suggested $3.99 to $4.99 per 8-ounce package, the items come in Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake, Milk Chocolate Brownie, Classic Blondie Brownie and Chocolate Fudge Brownie varieties. For more information, visit www.bernardfoods.com.
Cherries on Top
Packed in apple juice or light syrup, allnatural, kosher Roland Pitted Black Cherries offer a balance of sweet and tart flavors. “Our new Black Cherries are picked and packed during the summer harvest, along with other ripe fruit, ensuring maximum freshness and taste,” says Lisa Kartzman, director of public relations for New York-based American Roland Food Corp. “These versatile cherries can be used to create desserts like cherries jubilee, as a topping for gelato and sherbet, as the finish to a fruit pie postbaking, or as a filling for Roland crepes.” The dark-purple cherries come in a 15-ounce can and can be eaten out of the can, at room temperature or chilled. Both varieties retail for a suggested $3.50. For more information, visit www.rolandfood. com or call 800-221-4030.
The Urge to Splurge
For consumers who love indulgent bakery-style cakes, popular brand Duncan Hines now provides Decadent Cakes and Glazes. Duncan Hines Decadent Triple Chocolate Cake offers real chocolate chunks and rich fudge, while Duncan Hines Decadent Apple Caramel Cake contains real apples and gooey caramel. Both cakes have zero grams of trans fat and no hydrogenated oils. A 20-ounce box of either variety retails for a suggested $2.99. The cake mixes launched simultaneously with Chocolate and Vanilla Decadent Glazes, which, according to Duncan Hines' manufacturer, Mountain Lakes, N.J.-based Pinnacle Foods LLC, provide the finishing touch enabling home chefs to create professional-quality desserts. The glazes come in 10-ounce squeeze bottles retailing for $2.49 each. To find out more, visit www.pinnaclefoodscorp.com.