Snack Solutions

Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), Tillamook, Ore., says more than 70% of consumers enjoy a snack each day and 81% depart from traditional meal-focused eating patterns. That’s why the company created a six-item Tillamook Creamery Collection of new yogurts.

Each Creamery Collection Yogurt cup contains two side-by-side flavors that can be enjoyed one by one or swirled together. They include: Oregon Strawberry with Plain; Northwest Raspberry paired with Blackberry; Oregon Blueberry paired with Vanilla; California Peach paired with Plain; Dark Cherry paired with Plain; and Vanilla Bean paired with Plain. Flavors range between 13g-14g of protein and 9g-10g of sugar with no artificial sweeteners, flavors or preservatives.

Creamery Collection yogurts also feature a unique premium package that lets consumers add toppings directly to the cup so there’s no bowl needed. Containers even have re-sealable lids and they also are sturdy enough to clean and reuse.  

"Often times, yogurts make you choose either satisfying protein or great taste, function or flavor," said Lara Gish, senior category manager of cultured products, TCCA. "But we think you can have both. That's why we created this satisfying dual-flavored yogurt designed to let you create your own perfect bite of deliciously creamy yogurt."

Ga Ga for Ganache

Ben & Jerry's, Burlington, Vt., introduced Topped, a new line of seven unique flavors covered with a chocolatey ganache.

"We wanted to dial up the indulgence level with this unique line of flavors, which entirely challenges HOW you eat this ice cream," said Ben & Jerry's Innovation Guru Dena Wimette, "We started with sundaes and all the things you add to sundaes to make them great as our inspiration. You could say we ended up going over the Topped."

Whiskey Biz, for example, is a brown butter bourbon ice cream with blonde brownies and whiskey caramel swirls topped with white chocolatey ganache and white fudge chunks. The flavor features Vermont’s own WhistlePig Whiskey and its WhistlePig PiggyBack Rye cooked into caramel swirls.

The remaining six flavors are: Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough, PB Over the Top, Salted Caramel Brownie, Strawberry Topped Tart, Thick Mint and Tiramisu 

Topped flavors are available at retailers nationwide with a suggested retail price of $4.99-$5.49. 

Cheese Please! 

A new year brings a host of new cheeses and cheese snacks from Bel Brands USA, Chicago. In January, the company introduced two new BabyBel products and more new items under The Laughing Cow brand.

Responding to consumer interest in better-for-you, functional products, Bel Brand introduced Babybel Plus+ Probiotic (pictured) and Babybel Plus+ Vitamins. 

Officials say Babybel Plus+ Probiotic contains billions of live and active cultures. Babybel Plus+ Vitamins provides a good source of vitamins A and B12, which are known to support eye health and metabolism, respectively. Available in six-count packages, Babybel Plus+ Probiotic and Babybel Plus+ Vitamins debuted at retailers nationwide in February 2021 with a SRP of $4.49.

Also new The Laughing Cow Blends cheese spreads and The Laughing Cow & Go portable cups. The Laughing Cow Blends cheese spreads combine creamy cheese with beans, chickpeas or lentils. They come in eight-wedge rounds and three flavors: Chickpea & Cheese with Herb, Lentil & Cheese with Curry and Red Bean & Cheese with Paprika.

The Laughing Cow & Go portable cups fit car cup holders and feature creamy original dippable cheese with crunchy, whole wheat breadsticks. Varieties include Creamy Original (with whole wheat breadsticks), Creamy White Cheddar (with pretzel breadsticks) and Creamy Herbs (with multigrain breadsticks).

The Laughing Cow Blends cheese spreads can be purchased for a suggested retail price of $3.29. The Laughing Cow & Go can be purchased in a two-pack for a suggested retail price $2.49.

Lactose Free 

fairlife LLC, Chicago, greeted 2021 and introduced Good Moo’d, a line of lactose-free milks (Whole, Fat Free and Reduced 2%) with 25% less sugar than the next leading lactose-free option. 

“Happy digestion leads to a happier day,” said Jeremy Faa, fairlife chief operating officer. “Good Moo’d doesn’t compromise. Its lactose-free, great tasting and a better for you choice in what was – before today – a category with limited options.”

fairlife estimates that 30-50 million U.S. consumers are lactose intolerant and although lactose-free milk has been around for 40 years, there are few choices for consumers looking for dairy milk. Further, a consumer study found that when asked to describe today’s lactose-free options, 40% of consumers describe them as “too sweet.” Faa says Good Moo’d’s ultra-filtration approach, paired with the addition of the lactase enzyme, removes all lactose without compromising the creamy, natural taste of milk.

The new milk brand is available at select grocery and retails stores in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and West Coast regions of the United States.

By Popular Vote

Last November, Emmi Roth, Fitchburg, Wis., used a crowd-sourcing campaign and asked consumers to select their favorite of four possible new flavors. The winning flavor then would be produced at Roth’s Monroe, Wis., creamery and would be available via Amazon Fresh starting in February 2021.

 Consumers’ options were Roth Chimichurri Gouda, Roth Hot Honey Gouda, Roth Spinach Artichoke Gouda, or Roth Buffalo Ranch Gouda. Just one will be produced in Roth’s creamery in Monroe, Wisconsin starting at the end of November. Officials later said Spinach Artichoke was the “clear winner and crowd favorite from thousands of consumer votes.”