SIMPLY SAUCE
Mizkan America Inc., Mount Propect, Ill., says new RAGÚ Simply Pasta Sauces feature wholesome ingredients such as California vine-ripened tomatoes, 100% olive oil, carrots and onions. New varieties include Traditional, Chunky Marinara, Chunky Garden Vegetable and Flavored with Meat.
Mizkan says its RAGÚ brand team members connected with 1,000 moms across America. The “RAGÚ Simply Real Moms Survey” revealed how moms, especially Millennial moms with young children, feel about the everyday dinner experience. The brand uncovered that the majority of moms polled (52%) said they feel more stress during the busy back-to-school season when compared to the summer. Additionally, three-out-of-four moms are worried about the ingredients in their children’s diets, including those they don’t recognize, as well as added sugar and artificial ingredients.
Officials say the new sauces contain no added sugar, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors and no high-fructose corn syrup. Most varieties also are Non-GMO Project verified.
“The RAGÚ Simply Real Moms Survey reinforced what we know about moms—that they feel pressure and stress when it comes to making a weeknight dinner that their family will eat, but also one that doesn’t feel like a compromise in terms of nutrition,” says David Beck, senior brand manager for Mizkan America, Inc.
The four new varieties of RAGÚ Simply Pasta Sauces are now available in the pasta-sauce aisle at select grocery and mass retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $2.19.
NEXT SRIRACHA?
This spring saw Springboard, a new platform from Kraft Heinz, launch three new Ssäm Sauce products in partnership with Momofuku, the New York City restaurant group founded by chef David Chang.
Variations of Ssäm Sauce have been a staple in the pantry of Momofuku kitchens since the opening of the Momofuku Noodle Bar in 2004. The original Ssäm Sauce combines gochujang, a traditional, umami-rich Korean chili paste, with miso, sake, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Chang says the spiciness of the Korean chilies is balanced for a subtle heat that adds a tangy and complex flavor to anything—noodles, burgers, pizza, fries, sandwiches and everything in between.
Chang says the Original Ssäm Sauce will be available alongside two new versatile flavors, Smoky and Spicy, on Amazon.com. In the new Smoky flavor, BBQ meets Korean chilies in a tangy sauce that is the perfect balance of spicy, smoky, and sweet. The new Spicy flavor takes the heat up a notch and adds a kick to everything from fried chicken to tacos to egg sandwiches.
“The flavors of Ssäm Sauce are part of Momofuku’s DNA. It’s something that we’ve served in the restaurants for 14 years, and it’s crazy to me that it will now be available across the US,” said David Chang, Momofuku chef and founder.
“David Chang’s culinary influence is stronger than ever, and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with him,” added Sergio Eleuterio, general manager, Springboard Brands. “Korean sauces and flavors have become more and more infused in American cooking, and we are so excited to take a long-time staple in Momofuku’s pantry and introduce this as a staple in home kitchens across the country.”
All three flavors of Momofuku Ssäm Sauce were available at Amazon.com beginning in mid-April.
MAYOCHUP
This fall saw The Kraft Heinz Company, based both in Chicago and Pittsburgh, announce its debut of Heinz Mayochup sauce, a blend of mayonnaise and ketchup previously only available overseas, in the Middle East.
In the running to receive a first taste of Heinz Mayochup are the three cities whose residents were most passionate on social media about bringing Mayochup stateside earlier this year: Culver City (Calif), Chicago and Brooklyn, N.Y.. Fans were be able to cast their vote at Twitter.com/HeinzKetchup_US and the city receiving the most votes would experience a Heinz Mayochup food truck takeover—complete with free samples and fries for dipping.
“After seeing the unprecedented passion surrounding this product, including the nearly one million votes on social media and 500,000 votes in favor of bringing it stateside, launching Mayochup in the U.S. was a no-brainer,” said Nicole Kulwicki, director of marketing for Heinz. “We’re excited to officially welcome Heinz Mayochup sauce to the Heinz family of products, including ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce and our most recent addition, Heinz mayonnaise.”
Officials say Heinz Mayochup combines the taste of mayonnaise, ketchup and a special blend of spices. Available in 16.5oz squeeze bottles at a suggested retail price of $3.49, Heinz Mayochup will be available at most major retailers including Walmart.com.
SNACK ATTACK
Litehouse, Inc., Sandpoint, Idaho, used the Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit to introduce a range of new products, including Litehouse Snack Packs and Organic Spoonable dressing.
Officials say new Litehouse Snack Packs are single-serve, 1.5oz. snack-size portion cups available in two top-selling Litehouse dressing flavors: Homestyle Ranch and Blue Cheese.
Unlike many competing products on the market, Litehouse Snack Packs do not contain artificial preservatives, colors or flavors, and are made without high fructose corn syrup or added MSG. Available in a six-pack of 1.5oz. cups, Litehouse Snack Packs can be found in the refrigerated produce department at grocery retailers nationwide for a SRP of $3.99-$4.49.
Litehouse Organic Spoonable dressings are a new take on the company’s classic, creamy dressing flavors and will help make organic even more accessible for consumers across the country.
Litehouse Organic Spoonable dressings are certified USDA Organic, certified Gluten Free and non-GMO, and are available in an 11oz glass jar in four classically-delicious and top-selling flavors: Ranch, Blue Cheese, Caesar and Coleslaw.
AWARD WINNER
Primal Kitchen, Oxnard, Calif., said it earned two NEXTY awards during Natural Products Expo East, this fall in Baltimore. It won “Best New Condiment” and “Consumer Choice Food or Beverage” category honors for its Organic Unsweetened Ketchup.
Primal Kitchen says the all-new Organic Unsweetened Ketchup is made with organic, California-grown tomatoes and organic balsamic vinegar—and no high fructose corn syrup, refined sugar, honey, dates or other sweetener.
“As a staple condiment in almost every house in America, ketchup is traditionally filled with high fructose corn syrup, refined sugar and other questionable ingredients,” notes Primal Kitchen Founder Mark Sisson. “Or, ‘healthier varieties’ are made with dates, honey, stevia and other sugar alternatives that compromise on taste. I couldn’t believe that no one had tackled ketchup. So, we set out to do it right and create a ketchup that tastes great and makes clean eating easy and exciting.”
Sisson says Primal Kitchen’s 11.3oz offering contains Organic Tomato Concentrate, Organic Balsamic, Less than 2% of Salt, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Garlic Powder and Organic Spices.
Primal Kitchen’s Organic Unsweetened Ketchup is already a bestseller at Whole Foods Market, says Christina Pearson, Whole Foods Market global grocery category manager. The product also will be available at over 1,000 retailers this fall, including Sprouts Farmers Market, Gelson’s, Market of Choice, Haggen, Earth Fare, INFRA/NCG, Wegman’s, Hy-Vee, Central Market and online at Amazon, Thrive Market and at primalkitchen.com.
