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First new Hershey brand in 30 years draws on company's heritage
HERSHEY, Pa. — The Hershey Co. plans to launch its first new candy brand in 30 years in January, the company said.

Hershey announced the upcoming launch of Lancaster, a line of caramel soft cremes. The new brand is named after the Lancaster Caramel Co., Milton Hershey's original brand, and inspired by similar candies that he made more than 120 years ago at the Lancaster, Pa., company.
Green Mustache vegetable-based smoothies for children launch at New York specialty store chain
NEW YORK — New York-based specialty food retailer Gourmet Garage is debuting a new line of vegetable juice smoothies aimed at children.

Green Mustache announced Thursday that its line of organic fruit and green vegetable juice smoothies would be available at all Gourmet Garage locations.

The company, founded by CEO VanTrang Manges, makes 10-oz. juices with spinach, kale, chia and coconut water, as well as such fruit flavors as strawberry-banana, orange-mango, "Tropical Twist" and mixed berry.

Del Monte Foods sells canned foods business for $1.7 billion

SAN FRANCISCO — Del Monte Foods will sell its consumer products business to Del Monte Pacific Limited for $1.675 billion in order to focus on the pet products market, Del Monte Foods said.
Sprite launches new flavor to 'berry' up holidays

ATLANTA — In its first flavor innovation since 2005, Sprite is launching all-new flavor Sprite Cranberry and Sprite Cranberry Zero.

The new products will be available for a limited time through the holidays. Both products take the taste of traditional Sprite and combine it with a splash of sweet and tart cranberry notes.
New flavors, creations push beer toward high-end

Higher-end products are where the beer category is headed. “We’re seeing a lot of high-end segments continuing to steer the ship,” said Dan Wandel, SVP at IRI. “We’re seeing higher-priced products driving the category.”

(For the full category review, including sales data, click here.)
Idea Village hosts 'MasterChef Junior' cooking party

LOS ANGELES — Idea Village presented contestants on FOX's "MasterChef Junior," as well as radio contest winners from 102.7 KIIS FM Studios, with gift bags containing Idea Village culinary products on Monday at the Four Seasons in Westlake, Calif.
Menasha Packaging wins 13 design awards at Shopper Marketing Expo

NEENAH, Wis. — A company that makes packaging for manufacturers ranging from food companies to drug makers has received more than a dozen awards at a marketing exposition in Chicago.

Menasha Packaging announced that it won 13 Design of the Time Awards at the 2013 Shopper Marketing Expo, including three gold, two silver and eight bronze awards in the drug store, mass-merchandise, specialty and supermarket channels. The DOT Awards recognize creative in-store activation tactics and campaigns.
Neuro to launch six new flavors in 2014

LOS ANGELES — Soft drink maker Neuro is launching new flavors in 2014, the company said.

Neuro, which calls its products "functional beverages," said it would launch six new flavors — two each for its Sonic, Bliss and Sleep drinks — that will include new labels for the bottles. The six new flavors were refined based on a series of consumer tests and include blood orange, raspberry, mango and other flavors. The new flavors will hit shelves in January.
Anheuser-Busch announces return of Budweiser's Project 12

ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch on Tuesday announced the return of Budweiser's Project 12 — the brewmaster platform that introduced Budweiser Black Crown — with three new beers, beginning Oct. 28.

For Project 12, Budweiser's team of brewmasters develop new beer recipes featuring the signature yeast first used by Adolphus Busch in 1876. The three small-batch Budweisers named for the ZIP code where the beer is brewed include:
Anheuser-Busch intros cocktail-inspired beverages

ST. LOUIS — Anheuser-Busch is continuing to blur the line between beer and cocktails. The brewer’s latest addition to the popular Ritas family is Bud Light Lime Cran-Brrr-Rita, a limited-edition winter offering. Cran-Brrr-Rita hits store shelves in November, and will be available in 12-packs, 8-oz. cans and 25-oz. cans. Straw-Ber-Rita has been a huge hit this summer and is the largest share gainer in the beer industry this year, according to A-B.