And the Winners Are - CSP Daily News the Winners Are ... Skoal Snus is a spit-free, smokeless tobacco pouch product ... the company’s Spot On technology, ...Authors: Maryalice Bitts

And the Winners Are … The winners of the eighth annual Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest took

innovation to new levels this year, representing the latest in what’s unique for

c-stores in 34 different categories.

The contest included products released between Aug. 1, 2010, and July 31,

2011, with the candidates narrowed to a list of three in each category, chosen

over the course of two weeks in online voting. Thanks to all the retailers who

voted for their favorites; the contest would not have been possible without their

participation. And a hearty congratulations to all the winners!

C S P January 201236


CigarsWhite Grape Flavor CigarillosSwisher International Inc.

Swisher International introduced a new white-grape fl avor

to its lineup of Swisher Sweets Cigars. The new fl avor is

smooth and offers a mild-sweet taste, according to the

company. The new cigarillos are individually wrapped in the

company’s Sealed-Fresh foil wrapping and come in a variety

of packaging options: bonus box 60s, 25-count impulse

units and special buy-two-get-one-free three-packs.

OTPSkoal SnusU.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.

Skoal Snus is a spit-free, smokeless tobacco pouch product

that is made with adult dippers in mind. It builds on the

equity of the smokeless-pouch brand and provides adult

dippers with a spit-free tobacco product with no mess,

which is neat and easier to use. It is available in two varieties:

mint and smooth mint.

CigarettesMarlboro SkylinePhilip Morris USA

Marlboro Skyline is a premium menthol cigarette made

from an all-bright blend of tobacco. It offers a unique taste

and is the only cigarette of this type in the Marlboro family.

It is called Marlboro Skyline because the company believes

its packaging and name will help differentiate this new

product from Marlboro’s other menthol products, while still

being in line with the Marlboro brand tradition.

Tobacco

C S P January 2012 39

Energy DrinksMonster RehabHansen Beverage Co.

Monster Beverage Co.’s Rehab is a “triple threat that quenches

thirst, hydrates like a sports drink and brings you back after

a hard day’s night,” according to the company. Rehab is a

16-ounce noncarbonated mix of tea, lemonade, electrolytes

and Rehab energy blend. It joins M3 Super Concentrate and

Monster Black Ice as the latest additions to Monster’s energy-

product offerings.

Electronic CigarettesFreedom Smokeless Elite KitFreedom Smokeless

The Elite series rechargeable starter kits from Freedom

Smokeless have new packaging that is the size of a pack

of cigarettes. The product was designed specifi cally for

the convenience industry; it has a suggested retail price of

$24.99. It carries a full six-month factory warranty and is

available in tobacco and menthol fl avors. Refi ll cartridge

packs have a suggested price of $9.99 per pack, and each

equals approximately four packs of traditional cigarettes.

Alcohol BeveragesMike’s Harder Black Cherry LemonadeMike’s Hard Lemonade Co.

Mike’s Harder Black Cherry Lemonade offers a deep, bold

black-cherry taste and is available in a 16-ounce can. It is one

of three new 8% alcohol-by-volume beverage options from

Mike’s Hard Lemonade Co., with the other two offered in

23.5-ounce cans. Mike’s Harder Mango Punch has a “tropical

fl air” with hints of mango and pineapple, while Mike’s Harder

Fruit Punch offers a new take on a classic beverage.

Packaged Beverages

Tobacco


Fitness/Sports DrinksPowerade Zero Fruit PunchThe Coca-Cola Co.

The Powerade Zero brand expanded in February 2011, with

the popular fruit-punch fl avor joining the product lineup in

20-ounce and 32-ounce bottles. Appealing to healthy, active

adults, the beverage is a zero-calorie sports drink with an

Advanced Electrolyte System, designed to replenish what’s

lost through sweat. It joins the other Powerade Zero fl avors

of mixed berry, strawberry, grape, lemon-lime and orange.

Juice DrinksBug Juice NaturalsBug Juice International Inc.

Bug Juice Naturals from Bug Juice International Inc. is an

all-natural healthy kids’ juice drink that contains two full

servings of fruit, one full serving of vegetables and half a

serving of milk. It is available in four fl avors: mixed berry,

grape, pineapple banana and strawberry banana. Each case

contains 24 10-ounce bottles.

Functional/Nutritional BeveragesMain St. Café Protein SmoothiesGehl Foods Inc.

New Main St. Café Protein Smoothies are made with real

yogurt but have a six-month shelf life and can be sold through

nonrefrigerated channels. Through an aseptic process, Gehl

Foods rapidly raises the smoothies to food-safe temperatures

before cooling and packaging them in a sterile environment.

Each 11-ounce bottle contains 10 grams of dairy protein and

30% of the recommended daily value for calcium. They are

available in peach, strawberry and mixed-berry fl avors.

Packaged Beverages


Dispensed BeveragesOriginal Home-Style LemonadeSunny Sky Products

Sunny Sky Products, a manufacturer of specialty dispensed

beverages, has introduced its premium Home-Style Lemonade

program. The lemonade is made with real lemons and

sweetened with imperial pure cane sugar. It is packaged in six

half-gallon bottles with a 5-to-1 mix ratio. It is also available

in a bag-in-box option for existing fountain equipment.

Heat & EatHot Pockets Buffalo Style Chicken StixNestlé Professional

Nestlé Professional launched Hot Pockets brand Buffalo

Style Chicken Stix to bring spice and fl avor to foodservice

operators. The Chicken Stix are made with diced chicken and

Buffalo-style sauce and wrapped in a crust for wing lovers

who want to keep hot messes to a minimum while on the

go. They are 3 ounces each for a convenient lunch, dinner or

snack, without the need to add hot sauce or extra napkins.

CondimentsInternational Delight Flavor ShotsWhiteWave Foods

The new International Delight Flavor Shots from WhiteWave

Foods Co. are cost-conscious alternatives to bottled syrups.

They can deliver the beverage customization patrons demand,

with 12 sugar-free fl avors for both hot and cold beverages.

In addition, the products’ branded fl avor-delivery system, the

CreaMiser FD100 dispenser, can help operators save money

and mess while adding a burst of fl avor to beverages with the

simple push of a lever.

Foodservice


Sandwiches/Wraps/BurgersFreschetta Buffalo Style Chicken Flat BreadSchwan’s Food Service

Freschetta Buffalo Style Chicken Flat Bread from Schwan’s

Food Service cooks like a pizza, then is folded over and

put into packaging for placement in a merchandising case.

It contains fresh chicken, mozzarella, a sprinkle of parsley

and a kick of Frank’s RedHot Sauce for a hint of spicy fl avor.

According to the company, the product holds in a warmer

much longer than traditional pizza and is operations-friendly.

Roller GrillEgg Sausage with Maple Flavor TornadosRuiz Foods

Like the classic breakfast combo with eggs, sausage and

fl apjacks, this fl avor of Ruiz Foods’ Tornados provides the

fl avors of eggs, meat and maple-syrup sweetness. Tornados

are made with oven-baked fl our tortillas rolled around a

variety of fi llings, then dipped in seasoned batters and lightly

fried. They can be heated via roller grill, microwave, oven,

fryer or pan-frying. Serving bags are even provided for on-the-

go eating of the portable handheld product.

BreakfastFTO Cinnamon RollsRich Products Corp.

For breakfast and all-day snacking, Rich’s Fresh ‘n Ready

freezer-to-oven (FTO) rolls make baking a batch of fresh

cinnamon rolls simple. There is no thawing or proofi ng,

and with just 18 minutes in the oven, your establishment is

fi lled with an aroma that can help drive impulse purchases.

Bake just what you want, when you want. Icing sleeves are

included with specifi c product codes for a fi nishing touch.

Foodservice


Foodservice Equipment—ColdModel C314 Frozen Carbonated Beverage FreezerTaylor Co.

The Model C314 frozen carbonated beverage freezer is the

next generation in Taylor Co.’s Crown Series. The modular

countertop freezer dispenses carbonated slush products in a

convenient, pressurized or optional nonpressurized system.

Operators can serve four fl avors, featured in well-lit, clear

plastic dispensing doors to help drive impulse sales. Direct-

drive motors keep the product mixed while freezing for

consistent quality and fl avor.

Serving ItemsThermo Grip Insulated Hot CupLBP Manufacturing Inc.

The Thermo Grip Insulated Hot Cups from LBP Manufacturing

Inc. are double-wall hot cups that create a 360-degree air

chamber. The patented design keeps the outside comfortable

to hold, eliminating the need for double-cupping or protective

sleeves. Made with 25% post-consumer fi ber content, they

are available in 8-, 12-, 16-, 20- and 24-ounce sizes.

Foodservice Equipment—HotHeated Zone MerchandiserHatco Corp.

Hatco Corp.’s new Heated Zone Merchandiser line features

the company’s Spot On technology, which turns on overhead

heat when product is placed in the display area, unlike

merchandisers that remain at full power whether or not

product is present. The line includes single- and dual-shelf

confi gurations with opening widths available in 6-inch

increments from 24 to 60 inches to suit any application.

Foodservice


GumTrident Vitality GumKraft Foods Inc.

Trident Vitality Gum from Kraft Foods Inc. “delivers a

delicious well-being experience in each soft center piece

of gum,” according to the company. It is available in three

fl avors: Vigorate provides a burst of citrus and strawberry

with Vitamin C; Rejuve is a blend of mint and white tea; and

Awaken is peppermint with a dash of ginseng.

ChocolateSnickers Peanut Butter SquaredMars Chocolate North America

Mars Chocolate North America has added peanut butter to

the peanuts, caramel, nougat and milk chocolate found in

its popular Snickers bar to create the Snickers Brand Peanut

Butter Squared. Each singles pack contains two square-

shaped bars. It is the top-testing new candy bar launch for

Mars in the past three years, according to the company.

Candy

Foodservice Equipment—Dispensers/Display Spinner Sauce Display RackChester’s International LLC

Chester’s Spinner Sauce Display Rack provides an added value

for operators to merchandise sauces. The rotating rack allows

high visibility when counter space is limited, and it holds up to

six different sauces. The graphite-colored rack is 8.75 inches

wide by 26.69 inches high. Each rack includes a product-

header sign and graphic wrap (featuring menu images with

sauces), a price-decal sheet with several pricing options and

necessary hardware.

Foodservice


NonchocolateIce Breakers Frost WintercoolThe Hershey Co.

The Ice Breakers Frost mints from Hershey are sugar-free.

Each mint is coated with an intense combination of xylitol

and cooling and fl avor crystals. In addition to the Frost

Wintercool, Ice Breakers Frost mints are also available at

retail in a peppermint fl avor. Each package contains 1.2

ounces of the reportedly “perfectly powerful mints.”

Candy


Nutrition BarsMET-Rx Big 100 Colossal Chocolate Toasted Almond BarMET-Rx

The MET-Rx Big 100 Colossal Chocolate Toasted Almond bar

has the taste and crunch of whole almonds. It also has vitamins

and 31 grams of the exclusive MET-Rx Metamosyn protein

blend, with zero grams of trans fat. It joins the company’s

other offerings in the Big 100 Colossal family, which includes

the Super Cookie Crunch, Peanut Butter Pretzel, Crispy Apple

Pie, Sweet and Salty, and Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch.

Salty SnacksCombos Baked Snacks Buffalo Blue Cheese PretzelMars Chocolate North America

Combos Baked Snacks Buffalo Blue Cheese Pretzel combines

Buffalo wing sauce and blue cheese, surrounded by a crunchy

pretzel. They are made with real cheese, and are oven-baked to

create a hearty snack to satisfy hunger on the go. This limited

edition was so popular in spring 2011 that it will become the

eighth permanent fl avor in the Combos brand lineup.

Meat SnacksSasquatch Big Sticks FuriousJack Link’s Beef Jerky

Jack Link’s Beef Jerky has extended its existing line of

Sasquatch Big Sticks to include Furious, a new hot-and-

spicy-fl avored stick that is 18.25 inches tall to provide

“Seriously Sasquatch-sized snacks for a Sasquatch-sized

hunger.” The new fl avor joins Angry (original) and Happy

(mild) fl avors. Each stick is 2.2 ounces, and the Sasquatch

Big Sticks come in packs of 24

Snacks


Baked SnacksMrs. Freshley’s Hershey Chocolate Chip Muffi nsFlowers Foods

Mrs. Freshley’s Chocolate Chip Muffi ns feature Hershey’s

semi-sweet chocolate chips and are available in single-serve

two packs and six-count individually wrapped multipacks.

Two other items also feature Hershey’s products: Chocolate

Bells and Chocolate Pie. Now made with Hershey’s cocoa,

Chocolate Bells are moist chocolate cakes with a creme fi lling

and rich coating, and Chocolate Pie features chocolate fi lling

in a sweet, glazed crust.

Snacks


Energy ShotsWorx Energy ShotHansen Beverage Co.

Worx Energy Shots are 2 ounces and have handy wide-

mouth openings. They contain zero calories and zero sugar.

Extra Strength offers a 2,500-mg energy blend, and Worx

Original offers a 2,000-mg energy blend. Worx has a citrus

fl avor profi le, and is formulated by a Ph.D. pharmacologist

who heads the Department of Pharmacology at the

University of Arizona.

HBCFunctional ProductsSheets Energy StripsPurebrands LLC

The new Sheets energy strips from Purebrands LLC are

available through Convenience Valet in four-count cinnamon

and berry fl avors. It is the fi rst entry from co-founders NBA

All-Star LeBron James and brand builders Warren Struhl, Jesse

Itzler and Maverick Carter into the emerging dissolvable-strip

market. Sheets are individually wrapped and are free of sugar

and calories. They contain vitamins B6, B12 and E.

Sweet SnacksOreo Fudge CremesKraft Foods Inc.

Oreo Fudge Cremes, introduced by Kraft Foods Inc., feature

a crispy, thin Oreo cookie, which is topped with a layer of

Oreo creme and then covered in rich chocolate fudge. The

new Oreo Fudge Cremes treat is available in a single-serve

four-cookie, peg-holed pouch. It is packed in a 12-count

perforated tear-top display carton.

Snacks


Brink’s U.S.CompuSafe Vanguard

CompuSafe Vanguard is designed for retailers with cash

deposits of less than $1,000 per day. The smaller-sized safe

holds 1,200 notes and fi ts easily under the counter, next to

the cash register, so that cash can be scanned into the safe

during the checkout process. Vanguard was developed as

an affordable option to make the Brink’s smart-safe solution

available to all retailers, while still providing the benefi ts of

the CompuSafe Service.

HBC

General MerchandiseScentria Corp.GoneSmoke Personal for Hair and Clothes

GoneSmoke Personal for Hair and Clothes now comes in

a 1-ounce size, in addition to its 0.6-ounce and 2-ounce

varieties. Now a smoker can smell like a nonsmoker, with

each GoneSmoke Bullet containing 130 quick sprays and

four to six sprays per typical application. The new 1-ounce

size has a $2.99 manufacturer’s suggested retail price.

Personal CareScope Outlast Mini BrushOraLabs Inc.

The Scope Outlast Minibrush from OraLabs Inc. is a portable

four-in-one brush that allows people to brush on the go. It

also provides a tongue cleaner, breath gel and interdental

pick. No water is needed, and it has an ergonomic handle

for ease of use. An in-pack manufacturer’s coupon for $1

off gives consumers an additional incentive to purchase the

Scope Outlast Minibrush.

General Equipment


TechnologyTechnology—HardwareApplause TVGilbarco Veeder-Root

Gilbarco Veeder-Root and Outcast Media have introduced

Applause TV. Large color screens, audio systems, selection keys

and coupon printing (via the receipt printer) are integrated

into the dispenser by Gilbarco Veeder-Root. And retailers can

enjoy fully managed content, including national advertising,

news and entertainment from Outcast Media. Programming

includes content from CBS, Comedy Central, Warner Bros.

Pictures and more than 20 other premier content providers.

Retailers also can mix local messaging into the playlist.


Technology—SoftwareLIFT StationLIFT Retail Marketing Technology Inc.

The LIFT Station from LIFT Retail Marketing Technology Inc. is

an interactive suggestive-selling platform for the point of sale.

It notifi es shoppers about promotions or product pairings at

checkout and gives cashiers tailored sales messages for those

offers. LIFT transforms each transaction, reportedly providing

an accurate, measurable tool that empowers shoppers and

strengthens c-store operations. The LIFT Station was designed

by c-store operators, and it has grown in-store sales by more

than 7% for participating retailers, according to the company.

Technology

Documents

And the Winners Are - CSP Daily News the Winners Are ... Skoal Snus is a spit-free, smokeless tobacco pouch product ... the company’s Spot On technology, ...Authors: Maryalice Bitts