In a "normal" year, this question would not make any sense since May is definitely late in the season for a launch in retail. However, COVID 19 has triggered various changes when it comes to planning causing innovation to be delayed in reaching the market. So let's have a look at what came up this month in the USA (which definitely remains a trend-setter for the rest of the world):
ENLIGHTENED
Fruit Infusions
Beyond Better Foods introduces Enlightened Fruit Infusions, growing its line of better-for-you ice cream and frozen dessert products.
Fruit Infusions are frozen fruit bars infused with adaptogens and contain just 3 to 5 grams of sugar, which is more than 70% less than other fruit bars and popsicles.
Comes with 4 flavours:
Coconut + Immunity (infused with elderberry, hibiscus and aloe)
Pineapple + Renew (infused with dandelion root, turmeric and ginger root)
Strawberry + Chill (infused with lavender, chamomile and lemon balm)
Watermelon + Smooth (infused with turmeric, black pepper and rosemary)
Perfectly in line with a new trend coming out of our recent time under lockdown: food containing natural stress relievers! Here, infusion makes the trick.
YASSO
Dipped Yogurt Bars
Famous for its uncoated better-for-you yogurt bars, YASSO is now offering even more indulgence with the introduction of a chocolate-dipped range.
The products feature both milk and dark chocolatey coatings with crisped quinoa inclusions, covering greek yogurt bars containing live and active cultures. For a total of 140 to 160 calories per bar and 4g of protein. Available in 4 flavours:
Mint Chocolate Crunch
Peanut Butter Chocolate Crunch
Sea Salt Caramel Chocolate Crunch
Vanilla Chocolate Crunch
KLONDIKE
Donuts
Thought we were missing the donut shape in the ice cream market ? No worries, Unilever is taking care of this (unanswered?) consumer need with the introduction of Klondike Donuts, and its classic donut flavours:
Frosted Strawberry
Boston Cream (with egg custard swirls)
Triple Chocolate (featuring "chocolate cake fried donut flavoured ice cream")
From 210 calories per bar, will you be tempted?
DAIRY QUEEN
Non dairy bars
Nobody can resist the vegan wave, not even when you have DAIRY in your brand name! DAIRY QUEEN, the giant North-american fast-food and ice cream chain (with more than 5000 locations wordwide) is opening up to dairy alternatives with the test launch of Non Dairy Dilly bars, coming in a pack of 6 and based on coconut milk covered with vegan chocolate.
This seems to answer direct calls from younger generations of consumers asking for dairy-alternatives to their all-time favorites @ Dairy Queen.
Also seen in stores:
J&J Snack Foods is launching fruit juice popsicles in partnership with Minute Maid. Released in a mixpack of 16, with 2 flavour themes: Original Juice Sticks and Tropical Juice Sticks
Wells Enterprises, recent owner of Halo Top, is extending the Halo Top Pops range with the introduction of 3 new flavours: Mint Chip, Sea Salt Caramel and Brownie Batter, all coming with "only" 110 calories per pop.
Mars Wrigley Confectionery has expanded its line of single-serve ice creams with the introduction of Twix Cookies & Creme Ice Cream Bars. The bar features vanilla ice cream mixed with chocolate cookie pieces, which is topped with caramel and chocolate cookies and coated in milk chocolate