EDITORS’ PICKS FOR INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS

Probiotic Punch

In what Cleveland Kitchen is hailing as a snack innovation, the brand has introduced single-serve lightly fermented pickle chips. The refrigerated snack packs a probiotic punch, unique in the savory snacking space. It also capitalizes on consumer interest in veggies as convenience foods. The product line comes in two varieties: Hot Picks, for the spice enthusiast, and fan favorite Dilly Garlic. As with its other fermented offerings, Cleveland Kitchen sources local ingredients whenever possible and never pasteurizes its pickles for maximum gut-health benefit and fresh taste. A 3-ounce resealable pouch of either variety retails for a suggested $2.29. https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/

South Asian Ice Cream

Family-owned business Heritage Kulfi has created its own modern take on a frozen dairy dessert long popular throughout South Asia, combining fresh milk and cream from local and regional farms with all-natural, non-GMO ingredients. Local sourcing also results in a reduced carbon footprint for logistics and transport, according to the certified minority-owned business. Offering a creamy texture achieved through Heritage’s proprietary slow-cooking process, the kulfi line comes in eight vegetarian, egg- and gluten-free, halal flavors – Cardamom Chai, Earl Grey, Alphonso Mango, Saffron, Pistachio, Rosewater, Vanilla Bean and Coconut – with vegan and dairy-free flavors currently under development. The product comes in 1-pint sustainably sourced paper containers at a suggested retail price of $7.99 each. https://heritagekulfi.com/

Plant-Based Eggs on the Go

Created by celebrity chef Ming Tsai and Just Egg, MingsBings are convenient plantbased breakfast pockets based on traditional Chinese flatbreads. Using his signature East-meets-West technique, Tsai blended the ancient bing format with familiar American flavors, adding a plant-based spin. The frozen handheld line features Just Egg alongside other plant-based ingredients to create vegan breakfast offerings without gluten or nuts. MingsBings flavors are as follows: Plant-Based Egg & Cheese, combining Just Egg, dairy-free cheddar and potato; Plant-Based Sausage, Egg & Cheese, featuring plant-based sausage, Just Egg, dairy-free cheddar and potato; Plant-Based Chorizo, Egg & Cheese, consisting of plant-based chorizo, Just Egg, dairy-free cheddar, peppers, onions, black beans, corn and potato; and PlantBased Veggie, Egg & Cheese, stuffed with spinach, peppers, onions, Just Egg, dairy-free cheddar and potato. The suggested retail price is $6.99 per 8.8-ounce pack of two bings. https://ju.st; https://mingsbings.com/

Eat More Beans

Already known for its better-for-you snacks, bean-based food brand The Good Bean has now entered the ready-to-eat category with the launch of Heat & Eat bean-based meals. Inspired by the company founder’s various culinary journeys, the line combines restaurant quality, taste and convenience with plant-based nutrition from beans in four savory options: Indian Coconut Curry, Low-Carb Classic Chili, Santa Fe Green Chili and Mexican Smoky Chipotle. All of the flavors are vegan, gluten-free and made with regeneratively grown beans sourced directly from domestic family farms. Created for wellness-minded consumers seeking clean labels and products that align with their values and lifestyle, the microwavable meals are ready to eat in 90 seconds as an easy main meal or as a side dish. Each pouch contains 7-11 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber per serving. The suggested retail price for a 10-ounce pouch of any flavor is $3.99. https://thegoodbean.com/

Time for a Little Snack

With the launch of Frito-Lay Minis, consumers can now enjoy bite-sized versions of their favorite Frito-Lay snacks. Conveniently packaged in easyto-pour canisters, the product line makes it easier than ever to snack on the go or share with friends. The bite-sized snacks come in a range of options: Doritos Nacho Cheese, Doritos Cool Ranch, Cheetos Cheddar, Cheetos Flamin Hot, SunChips Harvest Cheddar and SunChips Garden Salsa. Frito-Lay Minis items are currently available at select retailers nationwide for $2.79 per approximately 3-to-5-ounce canister. Frito-Lay Minis is one of the many brands that make up Frito-Lay North America, the $19 billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo Inc. https://www.fritolayminis.com/; https://www.fritolay.com/; https://www.pepsico.com/

Rolling Into the Bakery

General Mills Foodservice is enabling retail bakeries to offer premium baked goods easily with the first-ever Pillsbury-branded retail-ready bakery item. Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls come in an eye-catching clamshell container complete with graphics featuring the iconic Doughboy. Ready to place in the bakery after thawing, the product provides a low-labor way for retailers to offer cinnamon rolls with homemade taste from the top brand in the category. Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls come frozen in cases of 12 clamshells that have a five-day post-thaw shelf life and a six-month frozen shelf life. A 14-ounce package of four 3.5-ounce pre-frosted rolls retails for a suggested $6.99. Pillsbury also offers an extensive line of baking mixes and ready-to-bake items to allow bakeries and foodservice operations to maximize back-of-house labor in the production of high-quality, scratch-like baked goods. https://www.generalmillscf.com

Portable Dips

Better-for-you dip and guacamole maker Good Foods has introduced convenient Grab & Go snack packs for two of its most popular products: Chunky Guacamole and Plant Based Queso Dip. The single-serve packs feature Good Foods’ dips, made using high-pressure processing technology for ultimate flavor and freshness and paired with corn tortilla chips. Both varieties are Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, gluten-free and contain 180 calories or under. A 2.5-ounce pack of either variety retails for a suggested $3.99. https://goodfoods.com/

Another Step Beyond

Plant-based meat brand Beyond Meat Inc. has now launched Beyond Steak, which aims to deliver the juicy, tender bite of sliced steak tips with the added nutritional and environmental benefits of plant-based meat. Seared and chopped into bite-sized pieces, Beyond Steak is packed with 21 grams of protein per serving while being low in saturated fat and containing 0 milligrams of cholesterol, with no added antibiotics or hormones. Ideal for quick and easy meals, the frozen product can be prepared in a skillet or air fryer in just five minutes and added to such popular dishes as fajitas, tacos, stir-fries, sandwiches and salads. The suggested retail price for a 10-ounce package is $7.99. https://www.beyondmeat.com/en-US/