A Look Back At IDDBA

A record number of retailers and suppliers made the rounds at the 2015 Dairy-Deli-Bake Seminar & Expo.   The annual International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association Show, which was held in Atlanta in June, emphasized how much stock the grocery industry is putting into its fresh departments. Officials of the association said that attendance—both among retailers and suppliers—was at an all-time high. Many exhibitors said that more of the right retailers, those who make the decisions on placement and assortment, were in attendance this year, as well as more senior executives. “I think grocery retailers understand the importance of our categories and they want to see what is new and what is coming down the pike,” said one exhibitor. “This is the showplace for what is going on now and what is going to bring in consumers in the future.” To help retailers—those in attendance and those that were unable—get a better understanding of some of the best and most innovative products at the show, Grocery Headquarters has compiled a list of what many companies were showcasing. Bake’n Joy Foods Bake’n Joy Foods’ pan free line has proved popular among retailers, so naturally, it continues to expand. The North Andover, Mass.-based company displayed its new five-by-seven-inch size pan free cornbread, available in plain and jalapeno. Bake’n Joy also makes the product in a larger size due to customer demand for a 14-ounce size. “Pan free products are beneficial to retailers because they don’t need to buy expensive pans,” said Tara O’Donovan, marketing manager. The cornbread comes outfitted with a plastic top that retailers can put on the package post-baking and immediately sell, or the bread can be cut up and sold in smaller squares. Bill Knapp’s Marty Carrier, the managing partner of Bill Knapp’s, says the company’s bakery products are unique for several, pretty fundamental reasons. “It’s pretty simple,” he said. “We have old-fashioned, high-quality, unique and habit-forming products and a lot of consumers are out there looking for these types of items.” In fact, Carrier said that Bill Knapp’s, based in Dexter, Mich., has a strategy that leans heavily toward the independent and smaller retailers. “This is the type of product that consumers will not find in a large supermarket,” he added. “It will help a smaller retailer develop a more unique merchandise mix and fight against the big boys.” In total, Bill Knapp’s offers about 20 SKUs, with price points ranging from $3.99 to $4.99. Included in the line are six flavors (nutty, glazed, pumpkin, chocolate, cinnamon sugar and cinnamon apple) of classic cakes, toaster tops, ice bread and four flavors (nutty, glazed, cinnamon sugar and chocolate) of dunker doughnuts. Blount Fine Foods Organic sales are simmering, so it makes perfect sense that Blount Fine Foods is expanding its selection of organic soups for soup bars and the refrigerated grab-and-go case. Blount’s organic options include Black Bean, Chicken Noodle, Lentil & Chick Pea, Minestrone and Tomato Bisque soups, as well as vegetarian chili. “We have a new Harvest Squash Bisque that we’re launching this year that is also organic and vegetarian,” said William Bigelow, vice president, business development – R&D, at the Fall River, Mass.-based company. Dawn Food Products From breakfast donuts to a slice of decadent Cake Boss cake after dinner, tens of thousands of consumers interact with bakery products from Dawn Food Products everyday in the supermarket. That point was driven home by the breadth of assortment on display in the Jackson, Mich.-based company’s booth, along with ideas on how retailers could create unique products and assortments to draw in shoppers. Dawn’s frozen pre-fried donuts, for example, are decorated in-store allowing retailers to create custom decorations. A minute and a half in the oven allows the glaze to set, and they can be easily prepared throughout the day to ensure a fresh supply. Dawn’s 4.5-inch-by-4.5-inch frozen croissant squares allow retailers to create a variety of store-filled croissant treats in squares, pockets and diamonds. “Breakfast is an excellent opportunity for retailers to connect with consumers in the bakery department,” said Becky Loveland, vice president, business-to-business marketing. For its thaw-and-sell Cake Boss line, Dawn has expanded its cupcake line to include twin packs and new varieties, repackaged its layer cakes into a clear dome, introduced three new varieties, and reduced the price point to a $19.99 suggested retail price. The licensed Weight Watchers line has been updated with new graphics and a “Folgers-style” commercial where a Denver coffee shop secretly replaces its desserts with Weight Watchers sweet baked goods. The Vortex line of elaborately decorated cakes, which contain both a cake and a brownie layer, has been expanded to encompass a full year with more seasonal varieties, including a red, white and blue red velvet and white cake for the summer seasons. DecoPac DecoPac is doing its part when it comes to “making it easier for cake decorators and in-store bakeries to drive margins on cakes,” said Barb Hiller, associate marketing manager. The latest focus for the Anoka, Minn.-based company is to do just that through new technology, educational items and bakery products. Sugar Soft is DecoPac’s newest line of 100% edible flowers. It comes in three sizes and four colors of roses—and a variety of little flowers as well. “Sugar Soft helps retailers because by using the product, it won’t take as long to decorate cakes,” Hiller added. She also said that for the past year, the company has worked to create more educational content, like how-to pictures and tips on customization, based on client request. Another tool driving retail sales—the Magic of Cakes Kiosk, used for digital in-store orders—is now available in any size a retailer wishes. ENJAY Converters ENJAY Converters announced its latest product offering—Gold Corrugate Circles and Sheets. The Cobourg, Ont., Canada.-based company, known for producing bakery packaging concepts, is offering this new cost-efficient line in Bright Gold Embossed for supermarket and retail bakeries and Metal Free Gold, ideal for processors. The line of circles and sheets comes in stock and custom sizes, is 100% moisture and grease resistant, and features an attractive gold finish, said Gary Coulson, international sales manager. Finlandia Great cows and the freshest milk make for the best butter, which is why Finlandia Cheese has introduced its Finlandia imported from Finland butter to the U.S. “The same know-how that we put behind our cheeses we are now doing with our butter,” said Sam Aquino, vice president of sales, at Finlandia Cheese, based in Parsippany, N.J. “This is the same butter we sell in Finland and throughout all of Europe. We are using the Finlandia brand name because it is well known in the States. “We are owned by a co-op and every family in the co-op only has about 30 or 40 cows so we make sure that everything going in and out of the dairy is of the highest quality,” Aquino said. “If you bake a cake with this butter it is like a cake on steroids because of the rich flavor from Finlandia butter. We are really pumped about it.” The butter is also kosher, available in salted and unsalted varieties and packaged in 7-ounce slabs. General Mills Any supermarket can be turned into a smoothie operator thanks to General Mills and its new line of Yoplait SmoothiePro drinks, which are designed to be merchandised in the grab-and-go, refrigerated deli and produce cases. The product is shipped to stores in five 60-ounce pouches per case, which include the sticker labels. “The operator simply chooses a cup in whatever size they prefer and the product is ready to go,” said Jeff Heiney, account manager West in the Murrieta, Calif. office of Minneapolis-based General Mills. Yoplait SmoothiePro is five times faster to make than smoothies made with a blender. It is available in Mixed Berry and Tropical flavors. They have a 21-day shelf life in the pouch and two days once opened. Grecian Delight Gyros are popping up everywhere, it seems; from fast-food restaurants to high-end establishments, consumers are finding a greater availability of gyros. Officials at Grecian Delight, based in Elk Grove Village, Ill., have introduced their own version of gyros for the retail environment. The 8-SKU line includes the Opaa brand gyro kits that are available in beef and lamb or chicken. The kits come with the meat, bread and cucumber sauce. The Opaa brand gryo slices are pre-cooked and ready to be warmed on a stovetop or microwave. Grecian Delight pre-made 7-ounce pre-made sandwiches are available in beef or chicken and include the meat, bread and sauce. Products are priced between $2.99 and $5.99. “We think these products are quite appealing to Millennials,” said John Leonardo, head of retail marketing. “They are the ones who are consuming more and more Mediterranean-style foods and this fits right in with what they are looking for. We believe this will create incremental sales for the retailer and attract more shoppers to their stores.” J. Skinner J. Skinner continues to bring out new items. The Omaha, Neb.-based company has introduced Nestle Chocolate Craver rolls, with a suggested retail price range of $3.98 to $4.50. According to David Skinner, marketing manager, the product is designed to take advantage of Nestle’s name and reputation and Skinner’s success with its cinnamon rolls. “We felt that if we were going to get involved with chocolate, we were going to do it right,” said Skinner. “Nestle lets us do it right.” J. Skinner is also coming out with Luscious Lemon Danish, created after extensive market research, Skinner said. The company is also coming out with several new seasonal items, including pumpkin spice and maple iced rolls this fall. John Soules Foods Officials at John Soules Foods think they have all their bases covered. The Tyler, Texas-based company has emerged as one the largest producers of fully cooked chicken and beef products in the country. To get there, company officials say they have placed a huge emphasis on quality, taste and food safety. “We have the best quality in the country,” said Mark Soules, co-CEO. “We are a family-owned business that focuses on our customers and our employees. That gives us a big advantage. Nielsen data will show how fast we are growing and that kind of growth does not happen unless you have the best products on the market.” John Soules, co-CEO, added that the food safety procedures the company takes also plays a big role in its success. He said that finished products are tested to ensure that retailers are getting items that are safe for their customers. “We do not ship our products until we have all the results back,” John Soules said. “Simply, our goal is to be the safest products on retail shelves. We will not allow for anything less. That way the retailer knows we have safe products and can put their trust in us.” John Soules Foods offers about 50 SKUs for retail, including certified Angus beef steak and steak strips, Angus beef fajitas, chicken fajitas and rotisserie seasoned chicken. “I think we have a company that is the perfect size,” added John Soules. “We are large enough to offer the purchasing power needed to get the job done, but we are small and nimble enough to have proprietary items that are unique to the industry.” Klondike Cheese Co. The Klondike Cheese Co. unveiled new packaging for its 6-SKU line of Odyssey brand feta cheese. The line (traditional, tomato & basil, peppercorn, Mediterranean Herb, reduced fat and fat free) features an updated look and a new 6-ounce cup designed to make it easier for retailers to merchandise and allow for more facings on store shelves. Officials for the Monroe, Wis.-based company said the line still features the traditional film seal to keep the product fresh. Kontos Foods Kontos showed off new packaging for its retail products, along with new upscale display racks, which have both been well received by consumers, said the company’s marketing director, Warren Stoll. The new packaging uses Greek scenery images for pita, because the company was “ready to bring a fresh new look to the brand,” Stoll added. Kontos also displayed its rebranded Greek Lifestyle flatbread (previously known as Smartcarb), containing 15-grams of protein. These updates were designed to play on the trendy Mediterranean lifestyle. “Our new packaging and POS helped reintroduce the brand to new stores,” said Donna Appy, regional manager for the Paterson, N.J.-based company. The company also plans to promote the fact that its pitas and flatbreads do well on the barbeque, and are ideal for summer cooking. Consumers can use them as a pizza crust for grilled pizzas, and Appy added that the company is utilizing stickers for the product packages to highlight this. Lantmannen Unibake USA With consumers’ non-wavering dedication to health and wellness, the market for bite size sweets continues to grow. Lantmannen Unibake USA previewed its new pastry assortment, set to launch this August. The assortment features five flavors of mini pastries in a variety pack format. The pastries are imported frozen from Europe. The retailer needs to simply bake and sell. Lantmannen’s current selection of mini pastries is its top seller, so it decided to continue to play on the portion control trend for its latest launch, said officials for the Lisle, Ill.-based company. “We wanted to offer something that is like a box of chocolate,” said Scott Rosenberg, marketing director. The new assortment of minis includes a Cherry Chocolate Coronet, a Toasted Coconut Swirl, a Salted Caramel Braid, a Strawberry Shortcake Crown and a Lemon Cheesecake Lattice. On the savory side, building on the trend of gourmet burgers, Lantmannen offers brioche and pretzel buns, and this year the company added a Jalapeno Cheddar bun to its line. Lawrence Foods Lawrence Foods introduced Old Tyme EZ Fudge in a two-gallon pail. According to officials at the Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company, the container allows retailers a lot of flexibility in creating different fudge, including adding different flavors such as pecan and peanut butter, to the product. “As our fudge is a base, the retailer can create a signature product that will help define their business,” said an official with the company. The product requires very little skilled labor and returns solid profit margins for the merchant, the official added. LINDAR Corp. When it comes to food, safety is the first order of importance, said officials for LINDAR Corp. LINDAR displayed extensions to its Simply Secure tamper obvious packaging line, which debuted last year. Currently, a 7-inch cake pan and 8-inch pie pan are available. The Baxter, Minn.-based company showed its 8-inch cake pan and 9-inch pie pan, to be available for retail in the fall and July, respectively. There is a special tab on the packaging to assure consumers that it has not been tampered with, the only package in the marketplace with a tamper system, said David Fosse, director of marketing. “Food safety is an important issue, one that consumers and retailers want to address,” he added. Milliken & Co. Milliken & Co. may be best known for carpets and fabrics, but through its chemical division the Spartanburg, S.C.-based company is also becoming a player in foodservice packaging. Milliken has teamed with Tray-Pak to create new take-out, heat-at-home containers. “The color can increase the color of foods, such as a green container can enhance the look of a packaged salad,” said Troy Hill, manager, new product development, at Reading, Pa.-based Tray-Pak Corp. The polypropylene containers are microwavable, top-shelf dishwasher safe, can be frozen and are reusable and recyclable. “We have the ability to match any color and they are all translucent,” said Shawn Bhavsar, account manager, plastics additives, at Milliken. “We find a lot of take-out restaurants like clear containers to make sure the order is correct.” Milliken also had a prototype of a clear can on display. “Different brand owners are looking at this to replace tin cans,” said Cristina M. Acevedo, PhD, global product line manager, plastic additives, at Milliken. “It is layered and has a three to five year shelf life. It is lighter weight than tin and is also microwavable.” MIWE America Officials from MIWE America showed off their latest tool—the Retro Condo oven, which debuted in March. The Retro Condo, part of the company’s condo line of electric deck ovens, comes in many sizes and capacities to fit various stores, said Harry Jacoby, president of the Hillsborough, N.J.-based company. It is a versatile oven that can be used to make pizza, bagels, hearth breads and more, he added. Each deck is independent and has its own controls so that multiple different items can be baked at once. “This oven is perfect for retail because it is not for mass producing—it gives the retailer both flexibility and the ability to make real hearth breads,” said Jacoby. Old Wisconsin Old Wisconsin took IDDBA as an opportunity to introduce the industry to a few new innovations and product line extensions. Fix Quix, a recent launch, is grilled chicken breast strips that come pre-sliced, in a multiple of varieties including plain and southwest. It is a more natural, upscale product, that is convenient for consumers, said Tom Buddig, executive vice president, marketing. The Homewood, Ill.-based company also debuted new flavors that are available in the Buddig line—Black Forest Turkey and Ham, and Colto Salami.   Par-Way Tryson Co. Putting a glossy shine on those store-baked pies and breads just got easier thanks to the Bak-Klene Egg Wash from St. Clair, Mo.-based Par-Way Tryson Co. Par-Way Tryson takes eggs, removes the water until they are crystals and puts it in a convenient spray bottle with a one-year shelf life. Retailers simply add water to the fill-line, shake and then spray on their pies. Each bottle contains enough egg wash to do 50 pies, and the sprays are portion-controlled. Once reconstituted, the shelf life is for five days, refrigerated. “It is ideal for pastries, breads, pies—anything you would want to put an egg gloss on,” said Ginny M. Bales, director of marketing. “We ship them in cases of six and the entire unit is recyclable.” Placon Placon makes packaging solutions designed to help retailers sell more food, while being functionally friendly for the consumer, said officials for the Madison, Wis.-based company. Its most recent launches, Selectables and Go Cubes, are both recyclable and make grab-and-go more convenient for the consumer. “We can’t reinvent the wheel, but we can make it roll better,” said Jeffrey Lucash, director of sales. The company continues to base new product launches off of its problem-solving model. “When retailers are able to sell more food, the cost of the packaging becomes irrelevant,” Lucash added. Pure Mediterranean Foods Hummus sales are exploding. So, officials at Pure Mediterranean Foods saw an opportunity to take the category in a new direction to build incremental volume for grocery retailers. The Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based company has introduced five SKUs of Hummus Plus to capitalize of this trend. The five products are traditional hummus and oven-roasted chicken breast, garlic hummus and garlic herb chicken breast, roasted red pepper hummus and barbeque-seasoned chicken breast, sun-dried tomato hummus and oven-roasted chicken breast and garlic hummus and chipotle chicken breast.  Each 8-ounce container has a suggested retail price of $5.49. “Hummus sales are exploding, growing by about 15% annually over the last five years,” said David Gacom, vice president of sales and marketing. “We think our product stands out for three key reasons. The first is that it arguably has the highest amount of protein of any product in the grocery store, with up to 28-grams of protein per serving. The second is that it is a great grab-and-go product, containing a fork and napkin in each package, and the third is that there are no artificial flavors or colors.” Reser’s Fine Foods Reser’s Fine Foods is driving traffic to the deli case with innovative new products and a NASCAR pit crew sweepstakes with driver Matt Kenseth. “We have a Toyota car that travels around to retailers across the country for store openings, etc., to create consumer excitement,” said Brenda Killingsworth, retail trade manager for the Beaverton, Ore.-based company. “NASCAR fans are loyal to brands.” Due to the overwhelming success of its bread bowls, Reser’s has introduced pull-apart Bread Rings in varieties including Pretzel Bread with Beer and Cheese Dip and Pumpernickel Spinach Artichoke Dip. Reser’s has just added a line of cashew dips to its Stonemill Kitchens artisan line. “We have a line of hummus and these cashew-based dips are a line extension to that,” Killingsworth said. Reser’s is also expanding its “behind the glass” service deli salads, available in bulk and kits for retailers to make in their store, with items such as a beet salad kit where the retailer adds their own kale, and fruit salad kits. The company is also suggesting retailers expand offerings in their hot bars to include things like mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese. Rich Products Corp. There is always room for dessert—at least that is what officials from Rich Product Corp. are hoping. Rich’s booth was flush with new products and innovations for the dessert aisle. Its Sweet Middles line, sandwich cookies with a sweet cream filling, was introduced earlier this year. It is available in four varieties: Carrot Cake, Chocolate Souffle, Crème Brulee and Oatmeal Raisin Crisp, and in two sizes, a 6- and 12-count box. This premium dessert item provides a great presentation for entertaining and gifting purposes, said Krista Corligliano, senior marketing manager, desserts for the Buffalo, N.Y.-based company. Also new is the Variety Cake, an eight-inch cake designed with four different flavors, chosen from the top flavors in the cake world, said Corligliano: Caramel, Red Velvet, Chocolate and Carrot. In celebration of the PEANUTS movie, out in November, Rich’s will offer kid-friendly sweet treats. Its Frosted Sugar Cookies are nut-free and feature PEANUTS branding. The company will also offer two ice cream cakes: a Harvest cake, with chocolate chip ice cream, and an Everyday cake, chocolate with vanilla crunch. “It is always an expectation for Rich’s to be on the forefront of innovation in the industry,” said Corligliano, on all of the new products available. Robbie Plastics Snacking continues to serve as a meal replacement, especially among the Millennial generation. Robbie Plastics, recognizing this trend, introduced its latest product designed to make on-the-go snacking even easier. Robbie’s new Tear N Serve package, made with the same film as the company’s popular Hot N Handy Rotisserie pouches, fits in a standard car cup holder. “Snacking is huge with Millennials and they want truly disposable and economically responsible packaging,” said Jennifer Barnes, marketing product manager for the Lenexa, Kan.-based company. The pouches can open and reseal, but the portion-controlled sizes make them ideal for one time use. They are designed with anti-fog, to be merchandised in the hot prepared foods section, but the company can alter the vents to work with various foods, from crispy hot snacks to fresh produce. Response at the show was so good, said Barnes, that some manufacturers used the bags sampled to pass out their own food samples on the showroom floor. Officials added that they plan to expand upon this line in the future. Sabra Dipping Co. Convenience is becoming a big word in the hummus category. So Sabra Dipping Co. is getting ahead of the trend with several different grab-and-go hummus products. According to Greg Greene, director of marketing for the White Plains, N.Y.-based company, Sabra is introducing its Roasted Red Pepper Hummus in a 2-ounce snack size. The single-serve hummus dip is also gluten-free and vegan. In the past five years, single-serve sizes in the fresh dip category have grown at a significant rate, he noted. “We’ve seen demand grow for single-serving products, and our products aimed at snacking and on-the-go markets are very popular,” said Greene. “Roasted Red Pepper is one of our top three flavors, and the original idea for the product actually came from a consumer’s request on Facebook. So we’re glad it will be even more convenient for hummus fans to enjoy anytime, anywhere.” The new 2-ounce Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Singles from Sabra come in a 6-count pack. The product is now available at major retailers nationally with a suggested retail price of $4.99. Sabra is also adding Pizza Hummus Singles to its line of dips and spreads, which includes more than 12 hummus flavors. Sabra’s Classic Hummus has been blended with a fresh pizza-inspired flavor, including familiar herbs and spices like fresh basil and oregano. The single-serve 2-ounce container is designed to pair well with pita chips and vegetables and easy to slip into a lunch box or backpack for on-the-go mini meals and snacks. “With more than 25 million kids snacking everyday—and plenty of busy adults, too, Pizza Singles present a better-for-you option in a favorite flavor Americans want,” added Rachel Zander, associate brand manager for Sabra. “What makes our Pizza Hummus Singles so great is the convenience of a grab-and-go snack in a crowd-pleasing favorite flavor, packed with all of the fresh tasting ingredients consumers expect from Sabra.” Sabra’s 2-ounce Pizza Hummus Singles launch in August and will be available in a 6- and 12-count package. Sandridge Food Corp. Officials at Sandridge Food Corp. were present to show off its latest line, out this fall, Cultural Café. The aim of the new line is to marry the technology of sous vide cooking with bold ethnic flavors. “Prepared meals for Millennials need to have bold ethnic flavors, ours offer a simple twist on comfort foods,” said John Becker, senior director of marketing for the Medina, Ohio-based company. The line will be available for retailers’ prepared foods sections. It is clean label, and uses no preservatives, so chefs do not have to worry about making the products last. TH Foods TH Foods has four new products set to hit retail shelves this September under its Crunchmaster line. The two sweet products, Baked Crispy Cravers, will be available in chocolate and salted caramel. They are made with a base of rice flour and corn. “We wanted to come out with something new that was a good carrier for fruit dips, and capture trendy flavors,” said Dani Dahlberg, marketing manager for the Loves Park, Ill.-based company. Two savory products will also debut: Baked Kale Asiago and Three Bean Chips in Southwest Chili flavor. Both are gluten-free. Tyson Foods Even after putting big money and effort behind  its previous successful marketing tactics, officials at Tyson Foods do not seem content with the speed at which the company is helping retailers develop their deli section. Now the Springdale, Ark.-based company is unveiling Tyson Velocity, a program designed to accelerate the time needed to develop a stronger deli department. “We have been working with our Deli360 merchandising program for the last five years,” said Eric LeBlanc, director of marketing for Tyson. “With the acquisition of the Hillshire brand, we decided it was time to rethink our position and see what else we can do to help the industry move forward. “Now the direction of the section is set by the retailer, but we help them with the speed and help them to move faster.” Tyson is focusing its sizeable merchandising muscle on offering its retailer partners more data on consumer trends and industry performance; combining that with retailer benchmark information that will allow merchants the opportunity to see how they measure up against their competition. Then Tyson will provide each retailer with information on how to identify their biggest opportunities and what strategies will work to maximize their potential. Finally, the acceleration plan, featuring tactics and time lines will be developed to execute the strategies and achieve the objectives. “Our goal is to help retailers better understand their shoppers, meet their shoppers’ needs and drive sales,” said LeBlanc. “The key to this program is that the analysis and recommendations are specific to each situation.” s