NEWS WATCH: KROGER OFFERS ETHNIC MEAL SOLUTIONS ... NEW DISNEY BOOKS IN SPANISH ... UNILEVER LAUNCHES HISPANIC CONSUMER STUDY ...

KROGER OFFERS ETHNIC MEAL SOLUTIONS

Market stores here have tied in their private labels with Hispanic meal solutions. Both Kroger divisions have provided $1 coupons for Kroger's private-label salsa with the purchase of two packages of Tumaro's Gourmet Tortillas, a representative from Tumaro's told SN. The promotion ran once this year and last year. L.A.-based Tumaro's provides a special merchandising rack to retailers who want to offer these and other meal solutions. The top part of the rack can be used for Tumaro's tortillas, while the bottom has space for filler ingredients, such as salsa, canned beans or jarred olives. The rack also includes space for recipe cards and coupons.

NEW DISNEY BOOKS IN SPANISH

MAITLAND, Fla. -- Advanced Publishers here is launching a series of Disney books in Spanish. Called "Los Favoritos de Disney" (Disney Favorites), the eight-book series includes such titles as "El Rey Lion" ("Lion King"), "La Bella Durmiente" ("Cinderella") and "De Paseo con Los Insectos" ("Toy Story"). The 32-page hardcover books will be featured individually in a floor-stand display. Also available is an illustrated corrugated-box set with a handle containing all eight volumes. The books will retail for $3.99 each, or $29.99 for the set. The program will be launched by the end of the year.

UNILEVER LAUNCHES HISPANIC CONSUMER STUDY

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. -- Hispanic consumers, in contrast with general market, tend to shop the whole store during stock-up and fill-in trips, according to initial qualitative information from a new Unilever U.S. Hispanic consumer study. The research is a Hispanic-version follow-up to Unilever's "Trip Management: The Next Big Thing" shopper insight study, released earlier this year. The goal is to provide Unilever and its retail clients with qualitative and quantitative data on how and where Hispanics shop. The quantitative part of the study should be concluded in October, Ricardo Martinez, director, multicultural marketing, Unilever U.S., told SN. In other news, Unilever plans to introduce bilingual packaging for key brands that over-index with Hispanics, including Hellmann's, Ragu and Country Crock. The packaging is expected to be launched within the next 12 to 18 months, according to Martinez.

REDPACK TO GO BILINGUAL

ORESTES, Ind. -- Red Gold here plans to roll out bilingual packaging for its entire line of Redpack tomato products, a company representative told SN at this year's Expo Comida Latina food and beverage show, held in New York last month. Since many Hispanic meals are tomato-based, the packaging will help shoppers quickly find the product they need, the representative said. The new packaging will be featured on Redpack's entire ready-to-serve, recipe starter and condiments lines.