Food Processing - December 2008
ROLLOUT
by Diane Toops, News & Trends Editor
A BITE-SIZED INDULGENCE
The world famous Walkers Shortbread bakery in Aberlour-on-Spey, Scotland, continues to innovate by introducing two new varieties to its popular line of miniatures, the perfect indulgence for the holiday season. Miniature Shortbread Rounds are replicas of Walkers’ world famous traditional Rounds in bite-sized perfection. They have the same melt-in-the-mouth
ORGANIC CACAO FOR BAKERS
Ashland, Ore.-based Dagoba, a division of the Artisan Confections Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hershey Co., is crafting organic cacao for culinary pursuits with a new line of organic baking bars. Lauded for its exotic flavor infusions and rich, dark chocolate bars, Dagoba introduces Dagoba 59 percent semisweet baking bar, made of the same rich, organic chocolate as the awardwinning Dark 59 percent eating bar. Its balanced notes of cacao and subtle flavors of raisin and fig make it a special find in the baking category. It’s perfect for igniting culinary imagination and can be used in main courses, cocktails and baked goods. The Dagoba 100 percent organic unsweetened baking bar is the first of its kind to be made and sold in the U.S. Crafted from organic cacao of Latin American origin, it provides a depth of flavor that makes baked goods deeper and darker and savory dishes more complex. For the chocolate connoisseur, this bar’s smooth finish makes it palatable enough to eat straight out of the wrapper. Both varieties are packaged as 6-oz. bricks. A portion of proceeds supports Project Upala, Dagoba’s partnership with the Upala Cacao Cooperative in Costa Rica. This reforestation and development program supports the planting of 60,000 cacao tree and native seedlings throughout farms on the Upala cooperative. Suggested retail price for 59 percent semi-sweet is \$5.99 and \$6.99 for 100 percent unsweetened.
full flavor and texture as the full-sized cookie. And, while the miniature shortbreads are small, they have been baked to Walkers highest standards and with balanced flavor that is big enough to capture the taste buds of the most discerning cookie connoisseurs. Wrapped in Walkers signature tartan plaid, the package front for the Rounds displays a photo of two beautiful, barely open red roses nestled amongst the cookies in the foreground and a lovely, botanical style illustration of roses in bloom framed in silver. Miniature Shortbread Lemon Hearts unite the traditional Walkers family recipe with the zesty zip of lemon in a romantically shaped treat that is simultaneously sweet and refreshing. The packaging displays two vivid yellow roses and an illustration of the key ingredient – lemon on a branch – also framed in silver. All of Walkers’ products are prepared in small batches. They contain no artificial flavorings, colorings or additives and are certified kosher OUD. Suggested retail price for a 3.5-oz package of both varieties is \$6.99.
CONAGRA TRUMPS BROWN BAGGING
Partnering with New York businesswoman Ivanka Trump to change the way people think about eating lunch at work, Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra Foods introduces Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers, unique, restaurant-inspired and convenient lunches that offer a solution to the lunchtime compromise. Developed in response to the growing trend of office workers increasingly eating at their desks, these microwavable meal creations, which can be found in the pasta aisle, require no freezing or refrigeration and can be stored in a desk drawer or pantry – making them the perfect lunchtime companion for deskbound employees. Tasty varieties include: Rotini & Zesty Marinara Sauce; Ziti & Meat Sauce; Southwestern Style Chicken (with rice); Sweet and Sour Chicken (with rice); Szechwan Beef with Asian Style Noodles and Sesame Teriyaki Chicken (with rice). Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers are made from premium ingredients, such as extra virgin olive oil, wine reductions and fi re-roasted vegetables. Meals containing pasta are made with Ultragrain fl our, 100 percent whole-wheat fl our with the texture of traditional refi ned fl our. Separating ingredients during the storage and preparation process is another unique step that makes these different than other microwavable meals. Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers are designed with a distinct cooker to separate the starch and the sauce, helping to maintain the flavor and texture of both. Suggested retail price is \$3.49.
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FOOD PROCESSING DECEMBER 2008
FOODPROCESSING.COM
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