market basket 2008-07-01

EDITED BY DIANE RIDGE

Add sizzle to your summer beverage menu with DOLE single-serve Smoothie Starters. Available in three popular flavors — Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana and Mango Peach — the starters deliver 100% real fruit that's diced, pre-mixed and individually quick frozen in convenient 7 oz. pouches. Consistently perfect smoothies can be served by mixing the starter with 6 oz. of juice, or drinks can be customized by adding tea, yogurt, ice cream or sorbet, to name a few. Call 800-723-9868 or visit www.dolefoodservice.com for more information.

Tyson Food Service now offers IBP Brand Classic pork products, such as Pork Cutlets, Diced Pork, and Ground Pork. These raw, non-marinated products have unlimited applications and offer the convenience of having portioned pork on hand for creating the usual in unusual ways like Moroccan Meatball Skewers with Fiery Harissa Honey Glaze. For menuing ideas, visit www.tysonfoodservice.com or call 800-24-TYSON, ext. 900.

Exceptionally versatile, Fresh Gourmet Crispy Onions from Sugar Foods will add natural onion flavor and crispy crunch to just about any menu item. Lightly flour-dusted and gently fried, the onions are prepared with the highest quality onions and oils, offering sweet natural onion taste with zero grams of trans fat per serving. Available in both ten-ounce fresh-lock re-sealable bags and in single-serve portions these terrific toppings are easy to add to any application and have a maximum shelf life of nine months for the utmost convenience. For more information about Fresh Gourmet Crispy Onions and other Fresh Gourmet salad toppings, visit www.foodservice.freshgourmet.com or call 888-708-2222.

For inspired avocado creations see how leading chefs are using Fresh Hand Grown in California Avocados in innovative dishes and view the complete selection of Fresh Avocado Recipes by visiting CaliforniaAvocado.com/foodservice. While on the site, operators can also order free foodservice recipe brochures, or call the CAC Foodservice Hotline at 800-370-3782, for more information.

Smucker Foodservice now offers Smucker's Uncrustables Peanut Butter & Grape Jelly on Whole Wheat bread. These new thaw and serve sandwiches look and taste like white bread with the nutritional value of 100% whole wheat bread. Recognized with the Whole Grain stamp, these sandwiches deliver the recommended whole grain servings for schools without compromising on the delicious taste of PB&J your students love. For information, visit www.uncrustablesforschools.com.

Fishery Products International is expanding its award-winning UpperCrust line of top crusted natural fillets with two new products — Homestyle Crusted Haddock with bacon, cheddar and chives and Parmesan Crusted Tilapia with Tuscan herbs. Designed with operator efficiency in mind and made-from-scratch eye appeal, these new items will wow your customers while they improve your bottom line. Go to www.fisheryproducts.com for more information.

Star Manufacturing has added new Holman Countertop Convection Ovens to its product lineup. They are available in four sizes and provide maximum baking capabilities in a minimum footprint. They are ideal for restaurants, coffee shops, kiosks, catering and a variety of additional foodservice applications. For more information, visit www.star-mfg.com.

ConAgra Foodservice adds Holly Ridge, Hand Fulls, and Top Picks to their portfolio of brands. These hand-held products, previously part of the Lamb Weston portfolio, will now operate under ConAgra Foodservice. Holly Ridge hand-held pastries can be baked or fried and are offered in a variety of filling, crust, size and shape options. Calcium-added apple, cherry and peach fillings are a great solution for a nutritious on the go snack. Hand Fulls hand-held sandwiches can be baked, fried or cooked in the microwave and come in a variety of flavor and dough choices to satisfy various customers' dietary needs. Top Picks hand-held sandwiches, also available in an assortment of flavor and dough options, can be offered for everything from breakfast sandwiches to pizza-based or deli-standard options. For information, 800-357-8765.

Trident Seafoods Heart Smart breaded fish portions cut fat and calories without sacrificing the comfort associated with deep-fried fish. Made from 100% Alaska Pollock fillet with no mince or filler, each portion is coated with a revolutionary new breading without par frying. At less than 3 grams of fat per serving, they cook up crisp and delicious right from the oven. Call 800-367-6065 to learn more.

Cargill Meat Solutions is firing up operators this summer with the “Thrillin' Grillin' Summer” promotion. During the promotion period which runs through July 31st, operators can earn rewards points on purchases of TNT patties, Jobe's Tavern Patties, Cedar Canyon Prime Rib Burgers, Cedar Canyon Sirloin Carving Steak, Coach's Low Country Smoked Baby Back Pork Ribs, Beef Brisket and Pork Butt. Redeem points for a variety of rewards ranging from digital thermometers and MP3 players to an Apple MacBook Air laptop. For details, call 800-373-6515.

Charge up your performance with the new Nitro by Shoes For Crews. This low profile athletic style features High-Tech SFC III Slip-Resistant Outsole and genuine leather to keep you safe and stylish. With cushioned insoles, added lateral support and lightweight shock-absorbing outsoles. For more information, call 877-NO-SLIPS or visit www.shoesforcrews.com.

Drive incremental cookie sales with Otis Spunkmeyer Warm Wishes convenient take-home gift packaging. Five uniquely shaped sizes can be used when packaging your cookies to help operators capitalize on holiday gift-giving, special events, office parties, birthdays, thank-you's, and more. For information, call 888-ASK-OTIS or visit www.spunkmeyer.com

The whole grain trend is positively impacting onsite menu decisions according to research recently conducted by the USA Rice Federation. They found a growing demand for whole grain brown rice as a healthy menu option among foodservice professionals -and customers — in both the commercial and onsite segments. And since U.S. Dietary Guidelines continue to encourage Americans to make half their daily grains “whole” operators can access whole grain brown rice recipes and up-to-date news at www.menurice.com.

Par-Way Tryson, best known for Vegalene, its flagship brand, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Since 1948, this company's ongoing commitment to producing high quality, innovative pan and food release oils has helped them remain a solid leader within the foodservice and food processing industries. For more information on Vegalene and other baking products visit www.parwaytryson.com or call 800-642-0088.

Baked beans fit right into today's healthful menu choices. And because they are high in fiber, low in fat (0g trans fat) and have no cholesterol, they fit into every segment. Bush's Best Original Bean Pot and Vegetarian Baked Beans are slow-cooked the old-fashioned way in a blend of brown sugar and spices. For your free 14-card Bean Pot recipe set, and/or 10-card Low-Fat Vegetarian Beans recipe set from Bush Brothers and Company call 800-251-0968.

Electrolux Smart Reach-in Refrigerators and Freezers are equipped with a revolutionary control system to ensure back-of-house efficiency as well as food safety and quality. Multiple temperature probes allow for continuous management of ambient, internal storage, condenser and evaporator temperature. An electronic control system includes a memory function that records up to 24 hours of performance time and temperature history. Visit www.electroluxusa.com/professional for more.

Convenient, smaller-portioned muffins that address today's lifestyle concerns are part of the growing line of Bake'n Joy's PanFree FreshBakes freezer-to-oven line of predeposited frozen batters. The 2.5-ounce muffins are sold in three flavors: Low Fat Lemon Blueberry, Low Fat Mango Mandarin and Whole Wheat Carrot Raisin Nut. Visit bakenjoy.com or phone 800-666-4937.

A healthier, less expensive alternative to beef, Butterball's Turkey Pot Roast is a whole new way to look at meat and potatoes. It's 98 percent fat free and naturally low in sodium and saturated fats, yet brings exceptional flavor to your menu. The pot roast includes a demi-glaze sauce packet and optional chopped vegetables. For more information, call 919-658-6743.

Basic American Foods announces the launch of Naturally Potatoes brands of refrigerated potato products. The line features fresh-from-the-farm appeal, homemade taste and texture and labor saving prep. Products include six varieties of premium mashed potato products that are 100% cooked and ready in seven minutes. The five premium cut potato products are partially cooked, and ready to be finished on the grill, in the fryer, on the stovetop, or in the oven, and are available in uniform or random cuts. All products are packaged in five-pound bags, with four to a case. For more information, visit www.baf.com or call 800-722-2084.

Starbucks Coffee Company has introduced the new Serena Organic Blend to foodservice. Cafe Estima Blend and Organic Shade Grown Mexico are also part of the conservation and Certified Coffees available to operators. For more information on these and other products, visit www.starbucks.com.

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation has launched a new and convenient ServSafe Manager Certification Training Online Course, fourth edition. Designed with operators' busy schedules in mind, the course is self-paced and navigation is intuitive, allowing users to review key concepts easily using an Internet connection. It is designed for new and experienced managers and staff. Visit www.nraef.org.

Farmland Foods recognizes the demand for pork produced with health and the environment in mind with the introduction of All Natural Pork Chops. This product comes from single-source pork producers with selected and qualified genetics who follow strict production guidelines. The pork chops are produced without added hormones or artificial ingredients and with minimal processing. Visit www.farmlandfoodservice.com for more.

Silk Soymilk is a smart, simple way to live well and get delicious nutrition every day. Almost everything made with milk can be made with Silk. Log onto www.silksoymilk.com to learn more.

All foodservice items packed under the Sea Watch family of brands are now trans fat free. Many of these products have always been free of trans fats; some formulations such as chowders, soups and breaded items needed slight modifications in ingredients. To learn more, call 800-SEA-CLAM or visit www.seawatch.com.

Pilgrim's Pride Foodservice has added to its line of best-selling wings with the introduction of new Pierce Chicken Boneless Wing Dings and Boneless Wing-Zings. Wing Dings have a golden breading and a mild, versatile flavor; Wing-Zings offer a one-of-a-kind peppery zing. Both are made from high-quality solid-muscle breast meat and are fully cooked. Call 800-336-9876 or visit www.poultry.com for more.

Dessert stacks are easy to store and serve, and they make a dramatic plate presentation. The new Banana Cha Cha from Sweet Street Desserts heightens those benefits with a fresh take on chocolate. Moist banana chocolate cake soaked with sweet banana syrup on a buttery chocolate shortbread crust is piled high with chocolate truffle filling, crisp milk chocolate banana crunch, buttery caramel and smooth banana cream icing. Visit www.sweetstreet.com or phone 800-793-3897.

Pepsi is introducing its lightest half-liter flavored non-carbonated beverage bottle yet. The company has reduced the plastic in this bottle by 20%, which will eliminate approximately 20 million pounds of waste from the environment. The lighter bottles will begin hitting store shelves this month. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

The Fresh Idaho Potato Primer DVD recently released from the Idaho Potato Commission (IPC) explains everything about fresh potatoes, from purchasing and handling to dozens of new recipes to inspire a chef's creativity. To order the free DVD contact the Idaho Potato Commission at (208)334-2350 or via email at [email protected] and provide a mailing address as well as email contact for future newsletter updates.

Operators can offer scratch-made flavor without the labor by using Simplot's new UpSides line of savory side dishes. UpSides Multigrain Blends combine exotic grains, colorful vegetables and distinctive herbs. UpSides Polenta Cakes combine coarse-grain cornmeal with authentic cheeses and complementary seasonings in two easy to use formats: quarter sheets for customizable shapes and pre-cut rounds and the Gourmet Pasta Blends combine orzo in two delicious side dish recipes. For information visit www.simplot.com.

Kozy Shack announces that it is now a sponsor of the highly successful operator program, Foodservice Rewards. By participating, operators can earn points when they purchase any 48/4oz. case of product-which includes 23 different product SKUs ranging from puddings to Kozy Shack GelTreats. Points can be redeemed online for valuable merchandise. The program is an opportunity to help foodservice operators increase employee morale, customer traffic and improve their operations. For more information, visit www.kozyshackfoodservice.com.

Kraft Foodservice announces that it will offer a free A.1. Steak Server Training Program to help operators equip their servers with essential knowledge for driving steak sales, increasing check averages and improving customer satisfaction. The program includes a web-based server test that operators can use to make sure each server is ready to deliver the perfect steak experience. Once a server has passed the test, he or she will be sent a completion certificate and a gift card award. Managers will also receive gift cards as a thank-you for their participation. To learn more, register online at A1servertraining.com, or visit, www.kraftfoodservice.com.

Hershey's Food Service has created 10 new recipe cards that are sure to entice customers throughout the warm-weather months. The recipes feature on-trend flavors and incorporate branded ingredients like Reese's, Heath and Hershey's syrups and chips. Recipes range from decadent treats like Triple Treat Peanut Butter Sundae and Ice Cream S'Mores Pie to lighter options like Hummingbird Cake and Ceviche Summer Fruit Salad with Oatmeal Toffee Cookie. Visit www.hersheyfoodservice.com or call 877-772-3556 for more information.

Mars Foodservice announces its Entertainment Cash Rewards Program. Simply purchase any 12 standard single boxes from the Snackfoods product line to earn $20 in cash certificates. The certificates are instantly redeemable at hundreds of retailers across the country for CDs, DVDs, movie rentals and movie admissions. The offer is good through Sept. 30, 2008, or while supplies last. For information visit www.marsfoodservices.com or call 800-432-2331.

Hormel has introduced four new bulk Natural Choice deli meats to the foodservice industry. These premium meats are 100 percent natural, with no artificial ingredients, no coloring, no synthetic ingredients and minimal processing. To learn more, visit www.hormelfoodservice.com.

Warm weather is the perfect season for a tailgating menu starting with Fresh Hass Avocados. Offer Southwestern Guacamole, Grilled Shrimp and Avocado BLT Sandwiches or Smoked Turkey Avocado Salad in a Bread Shell. For these and other ideas visit, Avocadocentral.com/foodservice to request your free “Tailgate with Fresh Hass Avocados” kit.

Kellogg's Food Away From Home has developed the new Achieve Balance 2008-2009 K-12 Program designed specifically to help meet the vast needs of school foodservice operators. Through the program, operators can meet the expectations of administration and staff with branded products and the MVP Promotion, a turnkey, modular promotion with custom, on-trend point-of-sale materials to help drive average daily participation. The online Nutrition Search Tool helps save time during menu planning by locating products that meet state and school policies. It also provides product recommendations by grade level which meet high health expectations but still taste good. The Kellogg's H.U.B. (Helping U Balance) Club is a quarterly newsletter filled with tips, product information, industry research and rebates on a range of popular products. For details link to the website: www.kelloggsfoodawayfromhome.com or call 1.877.511.5777.

The Schwan's Food Service Mrs. Smith's line of desserts has entered the preportioned, 100-calorie market with the new Heavenly 100 dessert snacks, including Frozen Mousse Cups, Chocolate Cake Slices and Apple Crisp Cups. These individual-sized treats offer total indulgence and sweet-tooth satisfaction any time of the day or night. Visit www.schwansfoodservice.com or phone 877-302-7426.

Hobart's new Enzyme Factor cleaning products are specially developed to help restaurants and commercial kitchens fight grease. Blended with organic enzyme formulas, the cleaners work on floors, drains, grease traps and other equipment. Visit visit www.hobartcorp.com to learn more.

Fiber meets flavor with new Fiber One chewy bars from General Mills Foodservice. Available in Oats & Chocolate, the chewy bar is a good source of calcium and whole grain. It also satisfies patron demand for fiber, with nine grams of fiber — more than one-third of the daily recommended fiber in one bar. For more information about Fiber One chewy bars, contact a General Mills Foodservice sales representative at 800-874-1451 or visit www.generalmillsfoodservice.com.

The Dannon Company introduces DanActive to foodservice. This unique and delicious pro-biotic dairy drink features Dannon's L. casei immunitas culture. It is clinically proven to help strengthen the body's defenses when consumed daily as part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. Learn more at dannonfoodservice.com.

Computrition's Hospitality Suite Foodservice Operations Management software does everything from recipe and menu inception to postmeal costing and analysis. With optional ASP hosting and full technical support, it's also easy to set up. Visit www.computrition.com or phone 800-222-4488.