Year in Review: The Top New Products of 2013
JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- As new trends arose and some existing ones grew in popularity, convenience store suppliers got creative in 2013 and retailers had to make some tough decisions about which new products to add to their shelves. New flavors, healthy snacks and brand extensions all resonated with CSNews Online readers.
Here are the top 10 new products of the year, based on total page views from the CSNews Online New Product Showcase.
1) Montclair Cigarettes
Commonwealth-Altadis brought back one of America's classic cigarette brands with a contemporary pack design that incorporates the crest of the House of Parker & Simpson for sophisticated adult smokers. Montclair Cigarettes are available in 100-millimeter packs that come in Black, Blue, Silver and Menthol Gold varieties. Click here to view the product.
2) Vidalia Sweet Onion Petals
With more customers than ever prioritizing healthiness along with convenience, better-for-you snacks took off in a big way this year. Inventure Foods and Vidalia Brands teamed up to develop a whole new line of prepackaged snacks, led by this pack of onion sticks that contains zero trans fats and just 130 calories per serving. Click here to view the product.
3) Milky Way Bites & Snickers Bites
Consumers' preference for portability resulted in several popular brands getting a makeover. Mars Chocolate North America launched a major multimedia marketing campaign to support these unwrapped, bite-sized cube versions of the classic candy bars. Both come in either a sharing-size package or a larger resealable stand-up pouch for ease of snacking. Click here to view the product.
4) Sapphyre Hookah E-Cigarette
ECO-CIGS designed this line of flavored electronic hookah to appeal to a wide range of adult customers. Each Sapphyre Hookah features automatic operation rather than an on/off button, a Sapphyre Crystal tip and 600 puffs of one of eight different flavors. Click here to view the product.
5) New Frozen Beverage Flavors
Flavor innovation was a growing trend in 2013, with consumers increasingly driven to try new flavors and enjoy flavor fusions. Insight Beverages capitalized on this with its frozen carbonated beverages, which ran the gamut from the traditional Fruit Punch to Piña Colada, Melon Berry, Black Cherry and Mango Lime, and its granitas desserts, available in Margarita, Mango, Horchata, Green Tea with Honey and a variety of coffee flavors. Click here to view the product.
6) Frito-Lay Top N' Go Chips
The desire for customization inspired Frito-Lay North America to design the Top N' Go line. These horizontal packages of Tostitos, Fritos and Doritos allow customers to add their favorite toppings directly to the chips, and the Top N' Go displays are designed to be placed next to the chili, cheese and condiment station offerings in-store. Click here to view the product.
7) New YoCream Frozen Yogurt Flavors
Dannon Foodservice launched the frozen yogurt brand YoCream to combine tasty treats with low-fat flavors. Salted Caramel Corn, Birthday Cake and Chocolate Caramel Turtle can be swirled with other frozen yogurt varieties to create new flavor combinations. Click here to view the product.
8) resource Natural Spring Water
After launching this 100-percent natural spring water to the Southern California market in 2012, Nestlé Waters North America expanded distribution of resource nationwide this year. It is carefully sourced from springs with naturally occurring electrolytes for a crisp, clean taste and is packaged in a recyclable bottle made with 50-percent recycled plastic. Click here to view the product.
9) SoReal Health & Wellness Beverage
Consumers searching for all-in-one functionality of energy, hydration, recovery and wellness can find it in SoReal, according to Pinnacle Drinks. The beverage line provides essential vitamins, electrolytes and antioxidants, and is a rich source of calcium. Click here to view the product.
10) Keebler Pitter Patter & Fudge Stripes Cookies
These single-serve cookie rolls from Kellogg's Convenience Team make it easier for consumers to snack on their favorite cookie brands while on the go. Click here to view the product.