Kraft to unveil 20 new products in 2010

Kraft, the world's second-largest food company, is unveiling 20 new products, many of them designed to help consumers recreate restaurant experiences at home. The US company predicts that consumers will continue to eat at home next year.

"Many of our new items reflect consumers' interests in bold flavors, especially those that are Italian-inspired or have a Mexican flair," John Li, director of Kraft's Culinary Center, said in a statement.

"Hot and spicy is big, so chipotle and garlic are key flavor notes, while berry-infused items remain on-trend. The increasing desire for bolder flavors is not limited to a single age group. Everyone is asking for more-adventurous taste experiences."

On the snacks front, Kraft will have popular flavours such as sea salt, chili lime and cracked pepper with Planter's Flavor Grove Nuts; dark chocolate is a star in its Back to Nature granola cookies; and Oscar Mayer is introducing super-thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. The company is also catching on to important health trends, with Planter's "Nut-ritition" antioxidant and omega-3 mixes.

Adding to its powdered beverages range, the company will now have Kool-Aid Fun Fizz drink drops, which makes the brand's first effervescent product, and Crystal Light Pure Fitness powders, with no artificial flavours or sweeteners.
The new nut mixes and applewood-smoked bacon are great while entertaining while chocolate-mousse Jell-O packages, 100-calorie packs and granola cookies are perfect for brown-bag lunches.

Many of the new items, such as Lunchable sandwiches with whole-grain bread and 100 per cent-white-meat chicken, put the brand in head-to-head competition with Subway. The company is also turning up the volume on its cheese flavors, with jalapeno American, bacon cheddar and three-cheese garlic-and-herb cheese slices from the Deli Deluxe brand.