NEW PRODUCTS GALLERY: New launches this holiday season include 'animal-free' milk from Nestlé and Perfect Day, several low or no sugar offerings, and continued innovation in plant-based eggs, meat, and dairy.
Nestlé is making its first foray into the emerging 'animal-free' dairy space, with Cowabunga Animal-Free Dairy Beverages featuring Perfect Day's whey protein (made by microbes, not cows). Available in Chocolate and Original flavors, the lactose-free product - which is labeled as a 'beverage' rather than 'milk' - will be tested in six Safeway stores in the San Francisco Bay area.
The beverages - which are fortified with calcium and vitamin D and contain 14g and 250 calories protein per 15 floz bottle - are made with Perfect Day's non animal whey, oat concentrate, and high oleic sunflower oil. Image credit: Perfect Day
Mission Foods is tapping into the low carb trend with keto-certified zero net carb wheat-based tortillas in Original and Sundried Tomato Basil flavors. Each tortilla has 25 calories, 7g fiber and 2g protein.
Organic green banana fusilli pasta from Solely - available for $3.99 in Whole Foods stores nationwide - is made from one ingredient: green banana, and "cooks to an al-dente texture in only four minutes with a rich-tasting classic pasta flavor." Each serving contains 150 calories, 4g fiber and 2g protein.
Made with durum wheat, Barilla Al Bronzo deploys micro-engraved bronze dies "for a robust texture and an extraordinary sauce grip," says the firm, which is selling the new line at Nordstrom restaurants and on Amazon.
Alpha Foods is expanding its frozen breakfast line-up with a plant-based chik’n & maple waffle breakfast sandwich, available for a limited-time at Costco in the Bay area, in individual packages at Publix locations in Texas and Florida, and Market Basket and KVat. With 16g protein, the sandwich is also an excellent source of iron and fiber and can be heated in the microwave or air fryer.
TWO GOOD smoothies (SRP$1.89) from Danone North America - made with ultra-filtered milk - contain 10g protein, 3g naturally occurring sugar and 0g added sugar per 7floz bottle and are an excellent source of protein. Image credit: Danone
Meati Carne Asada - the first marinated offering from the fungi-fueled meat alternative brand - is seasoned with cumin, paprika and other spices, and offers a similar texture to its classic steak. Each 4 oz. serving comes as a whole-cut filet, pre-seasoned and ready to cook.
Spero’s keto-friendly Pepita Egg alternative - now available at Sprouts nationwide - is billed as "the first clean-label egg alternative you can pour and cook, or bake" with seven ingredients: Water, pumpkin seeds, salt, garlic powder, mushroom extract, beta carotene, and nisin.
MingsBings breakfast bings, plant-based pockets in the frozen breakfast category created by Iron Chef Ming Tsai, contain Just Egg plant-based eggs and are available at Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Roche Bros and Dave’s Fresh Marketplace.
Philadelphia - the leading brand in cream cheese with a 69% share of the category - has unveiled a plant-based variant made with coconut oil, modified potato starch and faba bean protein. It is currently available in one flavor (original) at select retailers in the Southeast, with additional flavors planned for a national rollout in summer 2023.
The first product to emerge from Kraft Heinz's joint venture with Santiago-based food tech co NotCo, NotCheese is being trialed at select Giant Eagle stores in the Cleveland area with a national rollout planned next year.
The dairy-free cheese slices come in three flavors – American, cheddar and provolone – and are made from coconut oil, modified starch, water and chickpea protein.
According to Kraft Heinz CEO Miguel Patricio, "We achieved this with record speed, and using our agile ways of working, we created a superior consumer offering by combining the power of our brands and NotCo’s unique artificial intelligence technology."
Ithaca Squeeze is the first hummus product to come in a pouch for kids and adults, "offering a protein-packed, gut-friendly and wholesome snack." Available in Plain, Beet, and Red Pepper flavors, each 3oz pouch contains 5g of fiber and 7-8g of plant-based protein.
Frito-Lay Minis from PepsiCo- bite-sized versions of Cheetos, Doritos and Sunchips - are now available at grocery retailers nationwide for $2.79.
Instabowls deliver a real milk experience on the go, claims Kellogg: "Each portable bowl is pre-portioned, single serve and mess free — perfect for on the go. Just add cold water to the fill line and the instantized milk turns into real milk with a quick stir."
Available exclusively at Walmart, Kellogg’s The Elf on the Shelf Snow Creme Cereal is billed as the "first-ever cereal with a snow-like cooling sensation with every bite."
