NEW YORK — PepsiCo is expanding its Mtn Dew Kickstart brand with two flavors developed for nighttime consumption: black cherry and limeade.
Each beverage combines 5% fruit juice and electrolytes with the original Mountain Dew flavor. Mtn Dew Kickstart drinks come in 16-oz servings and contain 80 calories per can.
The beverages are sold in stores nationwide.
Luna Protein adds two flavors to lineup
EMERYVILLE, CALIF. — Luna, a business unit of Clif Bar & Co., has added two flavors of protein bars: lemon vanilla and chocolate coconut almond. The lemon vanilla variety is the first of the brand’s protein bars made without chocolate coating. In lieu of the chocolate, the bar features an outer shell of vanilla.
The chocolate coconut almond bar is enveloped in chocolate, toasted coconut and chopped almonds. Along with the rest of the Luna Protein line, both bars have less than 200 calories, are gluten-free and contain 12 grams of protein per serving.
Luna Protein Lemon Vanilla and Chocolate Coconut Almond are available nationwide beginning in April 2014 for a suggested retail price of $1.39.
Cascadian Farm rolls out bars made with organic pea protein
SEDRO-WOOLLEY, WASH. — Cascadian Farm, a General Mills, Inc. brand, is pumping up the protein with bars containing protein derived organic peas, rather than soy or dairy sources. With 9 grams of protein per bar, varieties include peanut butter chocolate chip and honey roasted nut.
Made with organic peanut butter and Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa, the peanut butter chocolate chip variety offers a sweet and salty taste. The honey roasted nut bar features a combination of organic peanuts, peanut butter and honey to deliver a nutty crunch.
Cascadian Farm pea protein bars are sold nationwide in boxes of five at $4.49.
Snyder’s of Hanover introduces sweet and salty pretzels
HANOVER, PA. — In response to a high demand for sweet and salty products, Snyder’s of Hanover is launching pretzel pieces in cinnamon sugar and salted caramel flavors.
The cinnamon sugar pretzel pieces feature a light sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar atop salted sourdough pretzels. The salted caramel variety offers a buttery caramel taste with the salty crunch of the pretzels.
Both flavored pretzel varieties are offered at a suggested retail price of $3.69 for a 10-oz bag.
Hershey starts new line of sweet and creamy spreads
HERSHEY, PA. — The Hershey Co. is offering a new line of chocolate spreads in three flavors: chocolate, chocolate with almond, and chocolate with hazelnut. Each spread delivers a base flavor of Hershey’s chocolate.
Hershey’s Spreads are sold in 13-oz jars for a suggested retail price of $3.79.
Seattle’s Best expands coffee options
SEATTLE — Seattle’s Best Coffee, a Starbucks Corp. brand, is producing three new coffee innovations to be enjoyed at home.
The coffee product expansion includes Keurig K-Cup packs, instant lattes, and two new flavors: House Blend and Breakfast Blend.
The K-Cup Portion Packs for the Keurig single-cup brewing system come in five flavors: Signature Blend 3, House Blend, Breakfast Blend, Very Vanilla and Toasted Hazelnut. Packs of 10 are sold for $7.99, while packs of 16 are sold for $10.99.
Instant Lattes come in three flavors: Creamy Caramel, Rich Café Mocha and Very Vanilla. At-home lattes are sold in packs of 12 servings for $5.99.
The two new Seattle’s Best Coffee flavors, House Blend and Breakfast Blend, are made from Latin American Arabica beans to provide a medium-roast taste.
Applebee’s unveils children’s menu with nutritious options
KANSAS CITY — Applebee’s is launching a redesigned children’s menu with more better-for-you options. The 26-item lineup includes 10 meals and two sides that meet the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell nutritional guidelines.
Entree options include chicken, steak and pasta, and side items include GoGo squeeZ applesauce, steamed broccoli, apple slices or strawberries with yogurt, white rice, salads and carrots or celery with ranch dressing.
Minute Maid Juices To Go features fruit and veggie blends
ATLANTA — Fruit and vegetable juices are highlighted in two new varieties of Minute Maid Juices To Go: Tropical Blend and Berry Blend. Minute Maid is a business unit of The Coca-Cola Co.
The Berry Blend features pear, grape, purple carrot, pumpkin, beet, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry juices. The Tropical Blend is made with carrot, pear, mango and pineapple juices. Both blends are the first of the Minute Maid Juices to Go line made with vegetable juices, and each contains 100% of the daily recommended value of vitamin C.
The single-serve 15.2-oz bottled juice blends are sold nationwide at a suggested retail price of $1.79 to $1.99.
