Mainstream foods market health factor

The trend in energy-giving chocolate continues with Cadbury's launch of a guarana-fortified Tempo range in South Africa. And it was not the only mainstream food company looking for added value from products marketed as healthy last month.

The trend in energy-giving chocolate continues with Cadbury's launch of a guarana-fortified Tempo product in South Africa.

The shortcake biscuit bar contains guarana, increasingly used in functional products, and caramel, and is coated in Cadbury DairyMilk chocolate. The launch follows its Boost Guarana, available in the UK, and rival products including Milka Energy from Kraft Jacobs Suchard and Ritter Sport Guarana Crunchfrom Alfred Ritter.

Other new functional products from Mintel's gnpd (Global New Products Database) last month included Van Dijk Food Products' new cooking oil Diamont Plus, said to have a unique composition which means less fat is absorbed into food during cooking. Available in a two litre plastic container with a funnel system for pouring, the product has been introduced in the Netherlands.

German dairy company Müller is making more moves outside of its core yoghurt industry. It already produces some smoothie-style and whey and fruit drinks, and has now extended further within the juices segment with its latest offering in the Netherlands. Juicer, a single-serve bottled fruit drink range formulated with a blend of fruit juice and milk protein/lactoserum (whey), is enriched with vitamins A, C & E, and is available in Tropical, Apple-Guava-Strawberry, and Orange-Mango varieties.

Even vegetables specialist Bonduelle is adding value through marketing the healthy attributes of its products. The company's new Pleine Forme range in France comprisessalad vegetables in pots with accompanying forks, available in threehealth-oriented varieties such as Vitalité (with sliced carrots & citrusfruits) said to be a source of vitamins A & E, Ligne (with celery andsalmon), and Equilibre (with a cereal blend).