KIND Healthy Snacks (KIND) announced its first-ever frozen breakfast snack offering, KIND FROZEN™ Smoothie Bowl. Just as it disrupted and elevated the bar aisle, KIND will bring its plant-based equity to the breakfast category via a new, frozen format.

Pretzels, Inc., a manufacturer of pretzels and other snack products, announced it has expanded its product line to offer almond butter filled pretzels. This addition complements Pretzels’ other snack offerings, which fulfill consumer demand for pretzel-based snacks that are tasty, satiating, and healthy.

Although there may be a pandemic-related slowdown, there’s no stopping new product development activity. To better help its readers with initial new product evaluation and development Prepared Foods asked Nancy Jo Seaton, owner and president of Seaton Food Consultants, to create a thought leadership series. Seaton has more than 30 years of food industry experience and most recently led global product evaluation for the Subway restaurants. She also has worked for such global food brands as Chiquita, Unilever and ConAgra.

PepsiCo released Frutly, a hydrating juice water designed with teens in mind. A newcomer to the juice aisle, Frutly (fro͞otlē or fruit-ly) is made with water, fruit juice, and electrolytes for taste to provide flavorful hydration and a good source of vitamins C and E.

Horizon Organic® expanded its Growing Years™ line with the introduction of lowfat yogurt pouches, cultured dairy smoothies, reduced-fat milk half gallons, and single-serve whole milk boxes, available at grocery retailers nationwide.

RightRice, a breakthrough veggie rice packed with the power of veggies, announced the debut of RightRice Risotto, a modern version of the rice dish.

Adding fruit to formulations has become not only easier, but more exciting with the continuously expanding variety of fruits to choose from and the near disappearance of seasonality. When it comes to product formulation, developers can choose from a multitude of fruit-derived ingredients and types, including whole or prepped; fresh or frozen; freeze-dried, dehydrated, or puréed; and concentrates, juices, or powders.

Prepared Foods talks Asian flavor and food trends with Andrew Hunter, corporate executive chef for Kikkoman Sales USA, Inc. Chef Hunter also is head of culinary R&D for Wolfgang Puck Worldwide and executive chef for Niman Ranch.

Molson Coors Beverage Company introduced Topo Chico® Hard Seltzer. Made in the spirit of Topo Chico® Mineral Water, Topo Chico® Hard Seltzer delivers refreshment to consumers.

Flavor is the single most important choice factor and purchase driver for ice cream shoppers. However, there are other trends in ice cream development that help to build further competitive edge. These include non-dairy formulations, low sugar recipes, cleaner labels and ethical ingredients.