General Mills, Minneapolis, unveiled a host of new products rolling out in early 2017 aimed at meeting today’s snacking trends.
“Snacking presents a tremendous growth opportunity for General Mills,” says Ken Powell, chairman and CEO. “Our products are in 97% of U.S. consumer households, and about one-third of our global sales are international. This gives us a great ability to listen and deliver what consumers want. And, while preferences are changing faster than ever, what hasn’t changed is the desire for food that tastes great, is convenient and affordable. Our scale allows us to easily transfer great ideas into great products around the world.”
Calories that count
According to Jeanine Bassett, vice president of global consumer insights, one of the biggest shifts in consumer eating habits has been in the area of weight management.
“Controlling weight used to be about counting calories; now it’s about calories that count,” she adds. “Today, it’s more about satiety, which is why you see increased interest in protein.”
Back to basics
Consumers are also continuing to seek products made with simple, recognizable ingredients and free from things they are looking to avoid, like gluten or artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. For many consumers, organic is an increasingly appealing choice. Consumers also want more information about where ingredients were grown.
“Products like Liberté yogurt are providing transparency around the ingredients they use. For example, they aren’t just using vanilla beans, but vanilla beans from Indonesia,” says Bassett.
Room to indulge
While interest in simple, wholesome snacks are on the rise, consumers are still making room for indulgent treats.
“Oftentimes, consumers talk about eating healthy as a presentation of their best selves and their aspirations, but in reality, they simply want something that tastes good,” says Bassett.
Here is a sampling of the new products:
Yoplait Custard. Back by popular demand, Yoplait Custard makes its return after a 10-year hiatus. The silky smooth custard-style yogurt is made from whole milk, and is available in Vanilla, Strawberry, Blueberry, Banana, Lemon and Caramel varieties. No colors or flavors from artificial sources. No high-fructose corn syrup. Made with dairy free of rBGH/rBST growth hormones.
Häagen-Dazs “Fruit and flowers” ice cream (China only). A brand new line of “fruit and flowers” flavors such as Rose, Raspberry & Lychee and Elderflower & Blackcurrant deliver an aromatic experience as beautiful as the packaging.
New flavors of Liberté Yogurt. Earlier this year, Liberté transitioned all of its yogurts to USDA-certified organic. Look for new Indonesian Vanilla Bean and a limited-batch flavor of Nicaraguan Coffee Bean made with organic direct-trade Intelligentsia coffee.
Yoplait Dippers. Rich creamy non-fat Yoplait Greek yogurt is paired with crunchy snacks made for dipping. Available in six combinations—Chocolate Raspberry Chunk Yogurt with Chocolate Pretzels, Caramelized Banana Yogurt with Chocolate Pretzels, Vanilla Bean Yogurt with Honey Oat Bites, Toasted Coconut Yogurt with Honey Oat Bites, Chipotle Ranch Yogurt with Tortilla Chips or Coffee Chocolate Chunk Yogurt with Cinnamon Crisps. No artificial colors or flavors, and no high-fructose corn syrup.
Yoplait Whole Milk yogurt (Canada only). Yogurt the entire family can enjoy with all the goodness of whole milk along with a thick and creamy texture.
