JIMMY DEAN EXPANDS BEYOND BREAKFAST

Chicago-based Hillshire Brands expanded its Delights by Jimmy Dean line beyond the breakfast category with new homestyle, slow-cooked lunch and dinner offerings that go from the freezer to the microwave to the table in just minutes. The sandwiches are available in Smoked Ham, Pulled Chicken, Hickory Smoked Turkey Breast and Pulled Pork, Smoked Sausage and Beef on a pretzel bun, honey wheat bun, country bun or buttermilk biscuit. All sandwiches come in a Heat Fresh microwavable pouch, which allows for the product to heat right inside the bag. The entrée bowls come in Golden Roasted Turkey, Three Cheese Pasta, Hickory Smoked Ham and Southwest Style Grilled Chicken, Grilled Steak, Smoked Bacon Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork and Golden Roasted Chicken. The new line extension can be found in the frozen entrées section of grocery stores nationwide.

ORGANIC MEAT SNACK

Applegate, Bridgewater, N.J., introduced HALF TIME, what is said to be the first lunch kit with natural and organic components. Available nationwide at food retailers such as Target, BJ’s and Safeway, Applegate HALF TIME combines Applegate natural and organic meats and cheeses, Stonyfield organic yogurt and Annie’s organic fruit snacks and crackers into one convenient kit. It comes in Turkey & Cheese, Ham & Cheese and Bologna & Cheese with a suggested retail price of $4.99.

REFRIGERATED BACON JERKY

Kraft Foods Inc., Northfield, Ill., expanded its Oscar Mayer brand to include the newest innovation from the Oscar Mayer Institute for the Advancement of Bacon—Bacon Jerky. Available in Bourbon Barbecue and Teriyaki Ginger, this bold snack is made of 100% real bacon and offers 11 grams of protein per serving. It comes in 3-ounce, ready-to-eat packages, and can be found in the refrigerated meat case of most grocery stores nationwide.

OLD WORLD-STYLE DELI MEATS

Also new to the Oscar Mayer brand is a line of Old World-style deli meats, available in Classic Salami, Cracked Black Pepper Salami, Classic Pepperoni and Turkey Pepperoni. These new deli meats are an excellent source of protein, with up to 8 grams in each serving, and can be found in the refrigerated meat section of major grocery stores nationwide for a suggested retail price of $3.29 for a 4-ounce package.

GLUTEN-FREE CORN DOGS

Foster Farms, Livingston, Calif., debuted gluten-free corn dogs in a Honey Crunchy variety. Made with 100% chicken franks and dipped twice in honey crunchy batter, they are easy to heat-and-eat in the microwave or in a conventional oven, and are certified by the Gluten Intolerance Group. They come in packages of 12 and are sold nationwide at many retailers, including Safeway, Vons, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Kroger, Frys, Smiths, Raleys, Lucky, Albertsons, Giant Eagle, Woodmans, Copps/Roundy’s, Schnucks, Food Lion, HyVee and Marsh.

HEART-HEALTHY SAUSAGE

Doc’s Amazing, Gilroy, Calif., announced that three of its chicken sausages—Low Fat Chicken Italian, Low Fat Chicken Apple and Low Fat El Chipotle Chicken—earned the Heart-Check Mark of the American Heart Association (AHA). Available in Whole Foods Markets in Northern California, these heart-healthy sausages feature dramatically lower fat content and calories by as much as 90%, compared to other sausages, and boast about 70 calories and 2.5 grams of fat per fully cooked 2-ounce link. 

BBQ PORK RIBS FOR ROLLER GRILL

AdvancePierre Foods, Cincinnati, introduced BBQ Pork Rib designed for the roller grill. The new Pork Roller Rib brings the same tender, meaty texture of AdvancePierre Foods’ Rib-B-Q pork rib patty to the low-maintenance, highly visible roller grill. Infused with the company’s proprietary blend of sweet and tangy barbecue seasonings and juicy sauce, the Pork Roller Rib boasts a 14-day refrigerated/12-month frozen shelf life.

CHICKEN CLUB SANDWICHES

 AdvancePierre Foods also expanded its Fast Choice sandwich line to include a Grilled Chicken Club. The sandwich features flame-broiled chicken topped with Monterey jack cheese and bacon ranch sauce on AdvancePierre’s sesame seed bun and is wrapped in a clear film with eye-catching graphics. These sandwiches boast a 14-day refrigerated/9-month frozen shelf life and a suggested retail price of $2-2.50.