Romer Labs, a food-safety diagnostic company, launches two gluten test kits for onsite factory testing and for quantitative testing in labs. The products use proprietary gluten-detection technology considered to be closer to ideal tests, as they establish an important link between Celiac disease and finding immunotoxic peptides in food.
When eating a favorite snack or bakery product, few people stop and consider all of the ingredients that give these products the taste and mouthfeel they enjoy. Consumers don’t care if the layer cake on their plate is moist because it’s made with a special flour formulation or that a gum blend makes the frosting smooth.
Nearly unheard of a decade ago, the gluten-free market has grown exponentially in recent years. According to the Packaged Facts report, “Gluten-Free Foods and Beverages in the U.S.,” this product group showed a 30% compound annual growth rate between 2006 and 2010, and the category is expected to balloon to more than $5 billion by 2015. These increases are a reflection of the development of new gluten-free products as well as the conversion of existing gluten-containing products to meet consumer demand.
The mounting pressure to stand out on grocery store shelves has manufacturers looking to new and exciting ways to grab interest in their products through better-for-you sweet and savory options and unique flavor profiles.
In a move toward boldly-flavored, healthful products, manufacturers are finding innovative ways to meet the needs of consumers who favor sweet and savory bakery foods and snacks. Starting with the dessert first, familiar flavors and healthful benefits can be found in many of Wholly Wholesome’s pie products.
Hollywood’s elite attending the 2012 Sundance Film Festival noshed on offerings from Udi's Gluten Free Foods. Festival attendees were greeted with gluten-free bread, bagels, granola and more at Udi’s booth.
Company: The Glutino Food Group, Laval, Quebec, Canada Website: www.glutino.com Introduced: August 2011 Distribution: National Suggested Retail: $5.49 for a 14.1-oz. loaf
Company: Mediterranean Snack Food Co., Boonton, N.J. Website: www.mediterraneansnackfoods.com Introduced: May Distribution: National Suggested Retail: $3.49-$3.99 for a 4.-5 oz. box
Company: thinkproducts, Ventura, Calif. Website: www.thinkproducts.com Introduced: January Distribution: National Suggested Retail: $1.69-1.99 for a 1.41-oz. bar or a 14.11-oz. box
Company: Kinnikinnick Foods Inc., Tyler, Texas Website: www.kinnikinnick.com Introduced: September 2011 Distribution: National and Canada Suggested Retail: $4.99 for a 10.2-oz. box
Even though the temperatures outside may be striking a new high, today’s jerky and meat snack manufacturers are heating things up on their own with hot flavorings and spicy offerings.