BOSTON -- The American Frozen Food Institute, McLean, Va., elected new officers and members to its board of directors at its 59th annual meeting, held here last month during the National Frozen Food Convention.
ayton, Ore., was elected first vice chairman. Kelly W. Brown, executive vice president at Smith Frozen Foods, Pendleton, Ore., was elected second vice chairman.
Birds Eye Pushing Baby Vegetables
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Birds Eye has begun promoting its new Baby Vegetables product line, the first national marketing initiative since the products were introduced in July 1998, said Agrilink Foods Co. here, which owns the brand. Sales of the line exceeded $45 million in the last year, the company said Oct. 7.
"Consumers are looking for premium, upscale vegetable varieties that add a special flavor and color to everyday meals without adding extra effort," said Dave Sinkula, director of marketing for Birds Eye. He said the ads target women age 30 and above "who are struggling with what to serve as a side dish."
About $6 million has been allotted for this fiscal year, which started in July, in a combination of television and radio and other events, Sinkula told SN.
The "Behind the Freezer Door" television campaign began last month and will air through December, the key period for special vegetables. Thirteen varieties of veggies include six Baby Blends and seven Baby Singles, and one of the blends contains soy protein.
Gardenburger Adds Vegetable Patties
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Gardenburger here recently introduced two new low-fat vegetable patties: Gardenburger Tayburn Smoked Cheddar and Gardenburger Hamburger Style Roasted Garlic. Both products sell at an average price of $3.29 for a box of four patties. The Tayburn Smoked Cheddar patties are made with chunks of smoked cheddar cheese, mushrooms, onions, oats and brown rice. Each prebaked patty has 140 calories and only 3 grams of fat. The prebaked Gardenburger Roasted Garlic soy patty contains only 90 calories and 1 gram of fat. It is cholesterol-free and vegan.
