YumSugar

Would You Eat Spam Singles?

YumSugar — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:07:51 -0800

While watching The Oscars last night, I saw a commercial for Spam Singles. The pre-cooked meat products from the folks at Spam are easy and convenient and come in both original Spam and 100% white, lean turkey Spam. I'll admit, I think Spam has its place, and when browned and chopped into fried rice, it can be really tasty. However I don't know if I'll end up picking up these pre-sliced singles. How about you? Would you eat Spam Slices?

You Interested in a Bag Full of Bagel-Fuls?

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 05:08:31 -0800

If you're looking for ways to cut time from your morning routine, but instant oatmeal isn't your thing, then you may be interested to hear what Kraft has up their sleeves. Their new creation is called Bagel-Fuls and they're frozen bagels, which are pre-stuffed with cream cheese. The product - which is being referred to as a "hand-held breakfast sandwich" - will hit shelves in April, and will be introduced through a national ad campaign. I'm not sure how the bagels are heated, but I'm really curious to see what they're all about. On one hand it sort of terrifies me, but on the other hand it fascinates me. What do you think? Would you be interested in a Bagel-Ful?

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Do What Comes Naturally, Introducing Pepsi Raw

YumSugar — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 10:13:41 -0800

I never thought I'd put the words "Pepsi" and "healthy" together, but here goes: Pepsi is launching a healthy version of their flagship soda called Pepsi Raw. Made from natural ingredients, it contains no artificial preservatives, color, flavor, or sweeteners. It appears to be lighter in color - is that the lack of corn syrup, artificial color, or something else? - but that's not the only thing it's light in. It's lighter in calories (90 compared to 120 in regular Pepsi), too.

The product is launching in the UK, but it'll only be available in select bars and clubs in seven cities: London, Manchester, Glasgow, Brighton, Birmingham, Leeds, and Liverpool. A larger distribution arrives later in the year, but no word on a US release.

So what do you think? Do you think soda can really be healthy? I'd really like to try it; I wonder if tastes like regular Pepsi, or will all the excess artificial be missed?

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Float Into Summer With A&W Floats

YumSugar — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:27:11 -0800

What if I told you that you could have a hassle-free root beer float anytime you wanted? Well, thanks to the folks at A&W, you can! They recently announced a new line of drinks - A&W and Sunkist Floats ($1.79 each/$5.99 for four) - that promises to deliver a real float experience without all the fuss. Personally, I like the fuss associated with floats. Getting ice cream stuck in your straw is part of the fun! Yet, I can see where some people might like to indulge without the hassle. According to Andrew Springate, vice president of marketing at A&W, they have been trying to create this drink for quite some time. When asked about it, he said:

For years, beverage makers have tried to crack the code and develop an indulgent drink that tastes like a homemade float. The A&W and Sunkist Floats are indulgent treats like nothing consumers have experienced before; one pour and your taste buds will be amazed - no work, no hassle.

I haven't seen them at any of my local stores, but they should be hitting the market shortly. When they do, will you be picking one up?

Pringles Stix Goes On Tour

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:03:31 -0700

Do you like Pringles? How about dip-able cracker sticks? Have you ever envisioned the two things together? If you answered yes to all three, then you're in for a treat. Starting next Spring, Pringles will rollout a new concept called Pringles Stix. The baked wheat crackers will come in four flavors: Crunchy Wheat, Vanilla, Honey Butter and Pizza - they'll also only contain 90 calories per pack. To announce the arrival of the newest member of their family, Pringles has combined forces with Nintendo and will tour seven cities. The tour will include free samples as well as a sneak peek of Boogie - a new game for the Wii. Oh and if free snacks weren't enough to entice you out of your house, then perhaps the chance to win a Wii Game Kit might. One kit - which includes a Wii console, a Boogie game, an extra Wii remote and 2000 Wii Points - will be given away at each city on the tour (Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Montgomery and Birmingham).

Personally, I'm feeling a little skeptical about these Pringles Stix. I have a special place in my belly for regular Pringles, but haven't been too impressed with their other lines.

Source: PR Newswire
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Wrigleys "5" Gum Will Make You All Tingly

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 03:31:18 -0700

This summer we'll all be able to say "ooh that makes my mouth tingle." At least we will if we have a piece of Wrigleys new gum "5" (yep, that's the name, no letters, just the number 5). The gum claims to have longer-lasting flavor and "sensations you can feel as you chew." It will be available in three flavors Rain (tingly spearmint), Cobalt (cooling peppermint) and Flare (warming cinnamon) and come in a 15 stick envelope pack (which is apparently the first for the gum industry).

According to the press release:

In our testing, teens and young adults have told us they love everything about 5 - from the unique tingling, cooling or warming sensations that accompany its delicious and especially long-lasting flavors to its bold graphics to its sleek, revolutionary packaging.

To be honest I go through pretty big gum chewing phases and I know that I'm going to have to check this out.

Source: Trendhunter

Lego Snacks: Play With Your Food

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 00:01:12 -0800

It's pretty obvious that the folks over at Kellogg's never listened when they were told not to play with their food. They've now teamed up with the folks at Lego to come up with Lego shaped "fun snacks." I wonder if they stack like real Legos. Just imagine, you could build a house and then devour it. You know you want too... just don't get the snacks mixed up with the real Legos, okay?

According to the packaging, the new fruit snacks come in three flavors, grape, cherry and something they're calling "graperry" which I'm assuming is grape and cherry combined. Also, the box has six colors shown, so why only three flavors? Maybe the elusive "graperry" is actually a quad-colored fruit?

Available in packs of 10 at a grocery store near you.

Source: Oh Gizmo

Taste Test: Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters

YumSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:00:50 -0700

Last week, my desk was covered with bags of Cape Cod Popcorn. This week, it was another comforting snack - pouches of Granola Nut Clusters, a new item from granola bar pioneer Nature Valley. The product, which is offered in four different flavors, comes in 5-ounce resealable bags for a reasonable price ($3.79). But were the nut clusters everything they'd been cracked up to be? The final answer is after the jump

US Immigration Has Influenced Sales of Ethnic Foods

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:45:16 -0700

Tonight, I'm cooking curry - and it looks like I'm not the only one. Sales of ethnic foods have hit an unprecedented high of $2.1 billion this year. According to market research firm Mintel, this segment has increased by more than 17 percent in the last five years.

Mintel conducted a survey in which "ethnic food" encompassed Asian and Mexican products, as well as other ingredients such as chutneys and noodles. Mexican food comprises the largest percentage of purchases at 62 percent, but Indian and Asian foods have each grown 11 percent between 2006 and 2008. The cause? More than a million immigrants have become permanent legal US residents since 2005, "piquing Americans' interest in new cuisines," according to a Mintel analyst.

Perhaps the staggering sales numbers and statistics will prove to be an auspicious sign; incidentally, today happens to also be World Food Day. Have Americans' palates become more open to the culinary ways of the world? How often do you cook ethnic food at home?

Source: Flickr User avlxyz

Coming Soon: Top Chef-Branded Chardonnay and Carnations

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 11:40:17 -0700

Sounds like Iron Chef wines will need to make room for some company: Top Chef wines. The New York Times reports that Bravo is moving beyond mere product placement on its shows, and is licensing its own line of products. Besides wine, the cable network's planning floral arrangements, cutlery, and cooking classes. In case your screen wasn't sufficiently overwhelmed with product plugs from Glad, Swanson, and Diet Dr Pepper, future Top Chef episodes will feature food-and-flora arrangements (such as a mix of daisies and brussels sprouts) in the background, with an onscreen graphic telling where to purchase the products.

Want to chop like a cheftestant? There'll also be branded knives from Master Cutlery and online cooking classes led by the contestants. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the show while sipping on TC wines by Terlato Wines International, the group behind big labels like Santa Margherita and Rutherford Hill.

With waning advertising revenue, a number of media brands have turned to product licensing to bring in much-needed profits. In the past, Bravo charged a fee for featuring the likes of Glad and Swanson on Top Chef. But with its new licensing arrangements, the network will ring in even more money, receiving cuts from the sale of all its products sold online.

Do you think this will be a successful strategy for Bravo? Could you see yourself buying Top Chef-branded knives, wine, cooking classes, or flower arrangements?

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