August Celebrates Chocolate Cookies, Beverages, Great Grilling, Condiments

BY A J FLICK

What better way to start a month than with a chocolate holiday? That’s what I’m thinking the shelves this summer at many retailers including Walmart, Target, Meijer, Publix and Casey’s

Flavors sure to please the kiddos include Raspberry Lemonade and Orange u r i n g g l o b a l s u p e r s t a r a n d b r a n d p a r tn e r J e n n i f e r L o p e z

Aug 4 is National Chocolate Cookie Day To celebrate, Mightylicious offers its Double Dutch Chocolate Chip and six other varieties of gluten-free, healthy and tasty cookies: Brown Butter Chocolate Chip, Brown Butter Shortbread, Oatmeal Raisin, Grandma Arline’s Oatmeal Coconut, Salted Peanut Butter and Vegan Chocolate Chip

Carolyn Haeler, who has celiac disease, spent years looking for gluten-free cookie brands, finding none that satisfied her So she created a gluten-free, clean-ingredient cookie that satisfies everyone

These cookies are 100 percent free of gluten, wheat, r ye, barley and rBST The entire line is made from all-natural, nonGMO ingredients

The Mightylicious cookies are sold online and in retail outlets including Walmart (231 outlets nationwide), Whole Foods, Costco, King’s, Price Chopper and more

When you think of Langers, you think of orange juice or perhaps lemonade Now Langers, a family-owned Juice Company, Inc , has launched Langers 5 Calorie Pineapple

Langers is the only juice of its kind available in a variety with only five calories and 2 grams of carbs per serving and 80 percent the daily value of Vitamin C in just one cup Langers

Pineapple Juice is full of vitamins and minerals for a refreshing drink that also helps boost the immune system, keep bones healthy and improve vision

Each glass contains vitamins C, B6 and A as well as thiamine, copper, manganese and beta carotene No sugar added

The beverage and snack brand for kids good2grow has introduced Bigger, a larger, 10-ounce size of its popular juice that is compatible with its hundreds of collectible licensed character tops Bigger is hitting

Mango Bigger juices contain vitamin C, zinc and calcium with no added sugar and no artificial colors or flavors The bottles feature good2grow’s signature spill-proof tops featuring more than 350 characters from kids’ favorite shows and movies

BodyArmor Sports Nutrition has launched its first rapid rehydration beverage, BodyArmor Flash I V Designed to deliver the latest in active hydration and functionality for consumers without compromising on taste, BodyArmor Flash I V is scientifically formulated to ensure the perfect balance of carbohydrates and electrolytes for faster absorption and replenishment

Developed with the same coconut water base as its Sports Drink, BodyArmor Flash I V offers consumers the ability to refuel, replenish and recover with more electrolytes than the competition, added functionality with zinc, vitamins B and C to support a healthy immune system with no artificial flavors, sweeteners or dyes

BodyArmor Flash I V comes in a 20ounce, square bottle and contains more than 2,200 mg of electrolytes – more than traditional sports drinks – for rapid and sustained rehydration for quick recover y BodyArmor Flash I V launched in four flavors: Grape, Strawberr y Kiwi, Orange and Tropical Punch Packaging features vibrant flavor colors and highlights key functional benefits to create an eye-catching lineup at retail

Launched in retail stores regionally in May, BodyArmor Flash I V will be available in stores nationwide and online via Amazon nationally in 2024 The brand will feature BodyArmor Flash I V in a variety of social media extensions, out-of-home media, retail activations and sampling events in local markets across the United States

Teas are hot now Except when they’re cold Bigelow has launched a bunch of new products, including two additional botanical cold water infusions, Blood Orange

Tangerine and Pineapple Coconut Mango

Each Bigelow Botanicals Cold Water Infusion is crafted with ingredients that slowly create a lightly infused botanical water Different from iced tea that is made by steeping tea bags in hot water and then letting it cool, Bigelow Botanicals create a gentle herbal infusion by using real fruit and herbs steeped in cold water in order to extract each blend’s light and delicious flavor

The botanicals are a great way to stay hydrated throughout the day, adding flavor and offering a healthy alternative to sugar y drinks The botanicals have no calories, caffeine or artificial ingredients

“We know that staying hydrated is essential for overall health and well being,” said Cindi Bigelow, president and CEO of the familyowned company “In support of our consumers who are focusing on living a healthy lifestyle, we created these two new beautiful cold water infusion flavors to enhance each wellness routine These exceptional flavors are truly a new way to love your water and help each of us reach our daily hydration goals ”

Other flavors in the line are Peach around the corner and Bigelow has added Throat Defense Ginger y Honey Lemon Herbal Tea to its wellness teas It’s a caffeine-free, non-GMO project verified, throat-calming tea featuring immune-support ingredients, including spicy ginger and bright lemon with the soothing sweet flavor of honey Each cup has a blend of sweet honey and lemon combined with licorice root and marshmallow root, long known for their ability to help provide soothing comfort

“Over the past few years, we ’ ve seen a tremendous demand and expansion for products that support a healthy lifestyle,” Bigelow said “We created, as a wellness solution for ever y day, a soothing cup of herbal tea that features the sweet flavor of honey, superfood ginger plus essential ingredient lemon, and other familiar everyday herbs and ingredients, a perfect addition to our masterfully blended range of Bigelow Benefits wellness teas Healthy never tasted so good!”

Who knew someone could create a light, tasty wine with no sugar? Introducing Lifevine, a California rosé sourced from select growers in the Sierra Nevada bench lands east of the San Francisco Delta The local climate is warm and the soils are a well-drained combination of decomposed granite, sandy loam and clay The focus is on making minimal inter vention wines that are fresh and flavorful and can be consumed without the worry that they contain any harmful chemicals, toxins or pesticides

Lifevine is one of the first wines to list both serving facts and ingredients on the bottle With an alcohol content of 12 percent, similar to other rosés, it offers a balance between a crisp white and light red The rich pink color is more incandescent than the ver y pale rosés from southern France m o re e l e c t ro l y t e s t h a n t h e c o mp e t i t i o n I n M a rc h , B o d y A r m o r Ly t e l a u n c h e d t h e b r a n d ’ s l a rg e s t m a r k e t i n g o

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Lemonade Acai, Watermelon Cucumber Mint, Blackberr y Raspberr y Hibiscus, Cranberr y Lime Honeysuckle, Blueberr y Citrus Basil and Strawberry Lemon Orange Blossom

Bigelow Tea also has introduced three flavors in the popular Signature Line: Peak Energy Black Tea plus extra L-Theanine and Caffeine, Whispering Wildflowers Herbal Tea plus L-Theanine, and Ginger Honey Herbal Tea plus Zinc

The newly launched teas from the Bigelow Signature line are available for purchase in stores and online from the Bigelow Tea company website and other select online retailers

But wait! There’s more!

Another cold and flu season is just

For a bigger kick, Chopin, the familyrun Polish luxur y vodka brand, has released Bartender’s Choice, a 119 5 proof (59 8 percent ABV) rye vodka to its portfolio The product was inspired by bartenders and mixologists in search of a way to make spirit-for ward cocktails and hedge against vodka dilution in the glass that happens when adding ice or other mixers

Due to its high proof, Bartender’s Choice vodka offers a fuller flavor profile, resulting in a pronounced presence when used in cocktails

“I am on a mission to change the general per- ception that vodka is a tasteless, odorless spirit to a spirit that should be sipped and savored,” said Tad Dorda, founder and CEO “We created Bartender’s Choice to further that exact mission, ensuring that the flavor from ingredient-for ward vodkas doesn’t become diluted in your glass We want vodka to take a front seat in cocktails, not get lost in the mix ”

Small batch and hand crafted, Bartender’s Choice is a variation of Chopin’s award-winning rye vodka and is made from three ingredients – rye, water and yeast – that results in a nose that is smoky, herbaceous and mineral forward, a flavor profile that is expressive and robust with layers of piquant black pepper, mountain ash and a hit of sloe berry as well as a long finish with bitter-sweet notes of almond, apricot and raisin

Well, it is grilling season, isn’t it? There are new products to put between the buns This summer, Impossible Foods has launched Indulgent Burger, a bigger, premium version of the original Impossible Foods Burger patty that’s juicier and (relatively speaking) meatier

Not only did the Indulgent Burger get raves for its taste, but consumers were impressed because the burgers don’t shrink as much on the grill as hamburger from cows

“Our burger put us on the map and it’s the core of our business,” said Peter McGuinness, president and CEO “But we ’ ve heard from our fans they’d like something bigger and even juicier, so we –of course – said yes

“Not only do we have our original beef products for versatile ever yday cooking, but we launched Beef Lite earlier this year for more nutrition-conscious consumers who want an even leaner alternative to animal beef Our Indulgent Burger is the perfect addition, giving consumers more options and ways to try and buy Impossible Creating a more differentiated portfolio allows us to better meet consumers where they are ”

Impossible Indulgent Burger

Patties are excellent sources of protein and have no cholesterol

They also contain none of the animal hormones or animal antibiotics associated with animal meat and are a better choice for the planet –amounting to a fraction of the land use, water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions

In addition to the new burger patties, Impossible Foods is betting big on this year ’ s summer grilling season with the launch of a major brand advertising effort, including two campaigns Created under the leadership of Impossible’s new chief marketing & creative officer, Leslie Sims, the ads aim to introduce consumers across the countr y to the plant-based meat categor y and educate them about the benefits of Impossible’s brand and products

The seasonal marketing program employs lighthearted humor and entertainment to transcend the brand’s fervent fan base and welcome more flexitarian and meat-eating consumers to try Impossible

Select retailers will also begin carrying the Impossible Indulgent Burger Patties this summer, with wider nationwide availability to follow

California-based Dog Haus, maker of award-winning, all-beef hot dogs, handcrafted Haus sausages and burgers, is expanding into Alabama, thanks to a deal with Bhawesh and Shivani Malhotra that includes three Dog Haus Biergarten restaurants

Ever y Dog Haus features a menu of gourmet hot dogs and sausages free of all added nitrates and nitrites, 100 percent black Angus that is certified humanely raised, no hormones, no antibiotics and 100 percent all-natural chicken breast with no hormones and no antibiotics, all served on grilled King’s Hawaiian rolls

“The Southeast is a new territory for us, but one that is a fantastic fit for our sense of food, fun and hospitality,” said Erik Hartung, EVP of Dog Haus franchise development “We’re known nationally as a great place to get over-the-top food items, great beer and watch a game, so it is a perfect fit for SEC Country ”

Do you want fries with that? How about veggie fries?

Dr Praeger’s Sensible Foods has launched Veggie Fries, which it says are the only frozen fries that are packed with a full ser ving of vegetables Because they are vegetables!

According to the company, nearly three-quarters of Americans wish they ate more vegetables a day than they do And the average American eats nearly 30 pounds of fries each year

“Our consumers trust Dr Praeger’s delivers delicious products made with clean ingredients and real vegetables,” said Joe Wilbeck, brand marketing director “With the launch of Veggie Fries, we are excited to be the first and only frozen fry in the market that offers consumers a full serving of vegetables ”

Dr Praeger’s new California Veggie Fries and Cauliflower Broccoli Veggie Fries are

Kosher, certified vegan, certified gluten free and Non-GMO Project Verified

They’re available at select Target stores nationwide as well as Giant Foods, Hannaford, Albertsons and Giant Eagle

This fall, there will be a new option to your grilled delights and snacking Daily Crunch is preparing to launch Dill Pickle

Pepitas Sprouted Nut Medley The dill pickle flavor delivers a savory, tangy taste with mouthwatering zesty spices and infused with apple cider vinegar The pickles and pickle juice are sourced from Cleveland Kitchen, which is collaborating with Daily Crunch to present what they call a “massive PR push” for the launch

Created with Daily Crunch’s signature, patent-pending sprout and dehydrate process that turns ordinar y nuts into a crunchy snack that is easier to digest, Daily Crunch snacks feature clean ingredients for elevated flavors There is minimal to no oil or sugar without additives or preservatives while offering a hunger-crushing combination of protein, fiber and healthy fat The on-the-go snacks are vegan, keto, gluten free, and Non-GMO Project Verified

Daily Crunch snacks are sold online and in more than 1,000 retail locations and growing, including Meijer, Rouses, Raley’s, Central Market, Foxtrot, Bristol Farms, Erewhon, Harmon’s, CVS and Metropolitan Market

And there are new condiments to add to the grilled delights

Kraft Real Mayo has launched into the spicy sauce space with its Buffalo Style Dressing

In celebration, the brand unveiled a fun way to enjoy its newest offering by launching the latest must-have “beauty” staple: Buffalo Balm, an on-the-go balm tube filled with Buffalo Style Dressing, perfect for mayo freaks and buffalo sauce fans looking to get a quick hit of flavor whenever and wherever the craving strikes

Inspired by the thousands of people who profess carrying buffalo sauce in their bags, according to the company, Buffalo Balm is perfectly pocket sized It comes in a convenient container that most people never leave the house without: a lip balm tube

Buffalo Balm is available exclusively on Amazon for $14 99, while supplies last It comes with a bottle of Kraft Mayo Buffalo Style Dressing, reusable balm tube, a custom bottle spout attachment and step-bystep instructions to make prepping Buffalo Balm as easy as applying it

Kraft Mayo Buffalo Style Dressing, available at major retailers nationwide, is made with cayenne pepper puree, butter, vinegar and, of course, Kraft Real Mayo

Meantime, Heinz is delivering six limitedtime sauces to restaurants nationwide: Heinz Sauce Drops in Yuzu Wasabi, Black Garlic Ranch, Creamy Chimichurri, Brewer y Mustard, Hatch Chili Ranch and

Harissa Aioli

“As a consumer-obsessed brand at the forefront of food culture, we want to hijack fans’ behavior as they seek out new and unique flavors at their favorite restaurants,” said Diane Mays Doty, associate brand manager, Heinz Away from Home “Taking a page from the popular ‘drop culture,’ these Sauce Drops allow us to push portfolio boundaries with explorative flavors, while also allowing us to receive realtime fan feedback to inform what we bring to shelves nationwide ”

The launch of the Limited-Time Sauces Drops comes on the heels of Heinz Remix, the first customizable digital sauce dispenser, and the brand’s new global creative platform “It Has to be Heinz ”

I t w o n ’t b e l o n g u n t i l p a re n t s a c ro s s t h e c o u n t r y s t a r t p a c k i n g l u n c h e s f o r t h e i r s c h o o l - b o u n d c h i l d r e n B u m b l e B e e S e a f o o d s h a s e x p a n d e d i t s a w a r d - w i nn i n g l i n e o f c a n n e d , p o u c h e d a n d k i tb a s e d h i g h - q u a l i t y t u n a p r o d u c t s w i t h 1 2 a d d i t i o n s t o r e t a i l s t o r e s h e l v e s M a n y o f t h e n e w p ro d u c t s o r l i n e e x t e ns i o n s w i l l b e n a t i o n a l l y a v a i l a b l e a t l e a di n g re t a i l e r s

The new SKUs include: Prime Yellowfin in Extra Virgin Olive Oil in three flavors: Lemon & Pepper, Balsamic & Herb and Basil Pesto & Roasted Garlic; Snack on the Run! Tuna Salad & Crackers Kit in Ranch Flavor; Chunk Light Tuna, available in Oil and in Water; Pouched Wild-Caught Tuna in Teriyaki Flavor with MSC certified tuna; Pouched Wild-Caught Light Tuna in Water; and Solid White Albacore Cans, Low-Sodium

Products designated with the MSC blue fish icon indicate that the seafood is from an MSC-certified sustainable fishery

This month, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Markets continues its launch of exclusive products that it started in July The natural grocer prioritizes seasonal, innovative and organic products and works with small businesses to launch their foods to the communities where Sprouts stores are located

The new products are marked with “New for You” product icons throughout the store

Already launched are Sprouts Shrimp Fajitas, Sprouts Chicken Fajitas, Cosmic Bliss Gooey Caramel Pecan Pie Ice Cream and Chia Smash Strawberry Squeezables, Superfood Jam

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