Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 17, 2009
2009 Supermarket Trends
Editor's Note: Leah McGrath, corporate dietitian for Ingles Supermarkets, notes these new items and trends we will be seeing more of in 2009.
1. Juice alert — While last year the pomegranate ruled the shelves and aisles, this year we'll see new and different berries and fruits in our juices. Acai berries, the fruit of the acai palm, are native to the Amazon region and have been widely touted for their antioxidant properties. Goji berries come from China and Mongolia and also are a rich source of antioxidants, especially carotenoids which may be beneficial to the health of your eyes. Mangosteen fruit comes from Asia. The rind contains xanthones which may help prevent cancer. Don't look for these fruits in the produce section as they either can't be imported due to regulations or are too fragile, but you will find them as juice in Snapple juices.
2. Probiotics — Yogurt contains natural active and live cultures that promote your digestive health but now we are seeing more and more emphasis on this benefit in the yogurt shelves of the dairy section. Additionally new products containing added types of probiotics have appeared on the shelves. Look for: YoPlus yogurt, Laura Lynn Probiotic yogurt, Kraft Live Active cheeses and Kashi Vive cereal.
3. Portable foods — Portability of foods is still very attractive to people, despite the higher cost involved in packaging. These include drinkable yogurt, microwaveable cups of soup and now cereal packs that could be packed in lunches or for car trips and eaten with our without milk. Look for: Kellogg's Grab 'N Go cereal packs.
4. Whole Grains — Whole grains are still a big hit, with increasing number of whole grain pastas, cereals and breads on supermarket shelves, but we also are seeing other breakfast items and even snack foods reformulated with whole grains. Look for: Butoni whole wheat refrigerated pastas, Kashi Seven Whole Grain Pilaf in the microwaveable pouch, Fiber One Whole Grain Toaster Pastries, Kellogg's Whole Grain Pop-Tarts.
5. Steamable packaging — New developments in packaging in the frozen food aisle has led to single-serve, steam-in bag packaging for frozen vegetables and vegetable and protein mixes. These cook in the bag in just minutes and the quality is as good as or better than cooking them in microwave-safe containers, and you have less mess. Look for: Birds Eye Steamfresh products.
6. Less sodium — Increasing pressure from consumers has led to manufacturers offering lower-sodium soups. There also are more low-sodium and no-salt products in the spice/seasoning aisle and snacks. Look for: Wheat Thins Hint of Salt, McCormick, Weber and Spice Island Grinders.
7. Gluten-free — With increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with gluten intolerance, more products are coming on the market that are gluten-free. Look for: Glutino crackers, Pamela's mixes, Bob's Red mill flours and more.
8. Stevia hits mainstream — The leaves of the stevia plant have long been used in Central and South America as a sweetener and substitute for sugar. It has garnered attention because it has a negligible affect on blood sugar so it is useful for diabetics. Stevia has only recently been able to be marketed in the United States as anything but a food supplement. We will begin seeing stevia used to sweeten products like major sodas on the market very soon. Look for: Stevia (Truvia) in the baking aisle.
9. Shoppers OnLine — More and more shoppers are using online resources to plan their grocery shopping trips. From scanning weekly advertisements online, to printing off coupons and even making shopping lists, this can save the shopper time and money. Ingles new Advantage Mail program sends shoppers a weekly alert when products they normally buy are available at reduced prices.
Source: www2.morganton.com [Assessed 17 Jan 2009]
1. Juice alert — While last year the pomegranate ruled the shelves and aisles, this year we'll see new and different berries and fruits in our juices. Acai berries, the fruit of the acai palm, are native to the Amazon region and have been widely touted for their antioxidant properties. Goji berries come from China and Mongolia and also are a rich source of antioxidants, especially carotenoids which may be beneficial to the health of your eyes. Mangosteen fruit comes from Asia. The rind contains xanthones which may help prevent cancer. Don't look for these fruits in the produce section as they either can't be imported due to regulations or are too fragile, but you will find them as juice in Snapple juices.
2. Probiotics — Yogurt contains natural active and live cultures that promote your digestive health but now we are seeing more and more emphasis on this benefit in the yogurt shelves of the dairy section. Additionally new products containing added types of probiotics have appeared on the shelves. Look for: YoPlus yogurt, Laura Lynn Probiotic yogurt, Kraft Live Active cheeses and Kashi Vive cereal.
3. Portable foods — Portability of foods is still very attractive to people, despite the higher cost involved in packaging. These include drinkable yogurt, microwaveable cups of soup and now cereal packs that could be packed in lunches or for car trips and eaten with our without milk. Look for: Kellogg's Grab 'N Go cereal packs.
4. Whole Grains — Whole grains are still a big hit, with increasing number of whole grain pastas, cereals and breads on supermarket shelves, but we also are seeing other breakfast items and even snack foods reformulated with whole grains. Look for: Butoni whole wheat refrigerated pastas, Kashi Seven Whole Grain Pilaf in the microwaveable pouch, Fiber One Whole Grain Toaster Pastries, Kellogg's Whole Grain Pop-Tarts.
5. Steamable packaging — New developments in packaging in the frozen food aisle has led to single-serve, steam-in bag packaging for frozen vegetables and vegetable and protein mixes. These cook in the bag in just minutes and the quality is as good as or better than cooking them in microwave-safe containers, and you have less mess. Look for: Birds Eye Steamfresh products.
6. Less sodium — Increasing pressure from consumers has led to manufacturers offering lower-sodium soups. There also are more low-sodium and no-salt products in the spice/seasoning aisle and snacks. Look for: Wheat Thins Hint of Salt, McCormick, Weber and Spice Island Grinders.
7. Gluten-free — With increasing numbers of people being diagnosed with gluten intolerance, more products are coming on the market that are gluten-free. Look for: Glutino crackers, Pamela's mixes, Bob's Red mill flours and more.
8. Stevia hits mainstream — The leaves of the stevia plant have long been used in Central and South America as a sweetener and substitute for sugar. It has garnered attention because it has a negligible affect on blood sugar so it is useful for diabetics. Stevia has only recently been able to be marketed in the United States as anything but a food supplement. We will begin seeing stevia used to sweeten products like major sodas on the market very soon. Look for: Stevia (Truvia) in the baking aisle.
9. Shoppers OnLine — More and more shoppers are using online resources to plan their grocery shopping trips. From scanning weekly advertisements online, to printing off coupons and even making shopping lists, this can save the shopper time and money. Ingles new Advantage Mail program sends shoppers a weekly alert when products they normally buy are available at reduced prices.
Source: www2.morganton.com [Assessed 17 Jan 2009]
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The New Chapter Begins
The year 2009 has arrived and we at Apple Heart Marketing are still faithful to our mission.
Although we are small, we are standing firm. We believe that 'Organic is the NEW frontier'.
Let's begin this year with a resolution: a paperless global business.
Support a greener world by voting for sustainable living!
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