Center Store

ROCKLEIGH, N.J. — In line with its full-scale, national launch, functional beverage brand Ginseng Up is debuting a new apple flavor.

Ginseng Up noted that its apple flavor consists 96% real apple juice blended with a touch of sparkling water. Sold in single-serve and in four-packs of 12-oz. bottles, the beverage also is available in more than 10 additional natural varieties, and is touting a new tagline, "the root of all power."

CHICAGO — Extra is enlisting consumers to help it decide what should be the next Extra Dessert Delights flavor.

Through its Facebook page, consumers can select among bananas foster, root beer float and lemon square flavors. The winning flavor of this vote will be added to the Dessert Delights lineup of orange creme pop, apple pie, mint chocolate chip, strawberry shortcake and key lime pie. Voting ends Nov. 12. The new flavor is slated to hit store shelves next summer.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets earlier this week named Regina Tator as its director of private brands. 

Tator succeeds Bruno Garisto, who was recently named VP center store sales and merchandising. Tator will oversee the product development and sales and marketing for the company’s 6,300 private-brand products, including center store, healthy and beauty care, and perishable private products.

CINCINNATI — Swiffer has updated its products with high-definition technology to offer a deeper clean.

“Swiffer is going beyond traditional methods to deliver a clean so extraordinary that the definition of clean as we know it has been elevated to the idea of ‘high definition,’” P&G's home care external relations manager Jeff Pierce said. “Consumers will be pleasantly surprised when they use our products and discover the new level of shine and clarity we’re providing.”

PITTSBURGH — T.G.I. Friday’s has brought its famous dishes to the frozen food section of retailers nationwide.

New Entrées for One combine restaurant quality with the convenience of a ready-made, individual frozen meal, the company said.

The new entrées include nine varieties in a host of flavors, including:

• Sizzling chicken fajitas;

• Sizzling steak fajitas;

• Grilled chicken mac and cheese;

• Prime rib stroganoff;

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Ben & Jerry's and Broadway Video Enterprises have developed a limited-edition flavor that salutes the talents of sketch comedy series "Saturday Night Live."

The flavor, named "Schweddy Balls," is a tribute to the popular "Delicious Dish" sketch, which starred Ana Gasteyer and Molly Shannon as hosts of a parody National Public Radio program, along with Alec Baldwin as Pete Schweddy, the fictional owner of Season’s Eatings Bakery.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.— Hanes is bringing comfortable socks to the masses with its latest line.

New Comfort Toe Seam socks do not bunch and are designed to reduce the bulk of conventional socks, resulting in a more comfortable fit.

CHICAGO — Near East has introduced a new line that combines quinoa and brown rice to promote the goodness of whole grains.

New quinoa blends, available in rosemary and olive oil and roasted red pepper and basil flavors, offer 7g to 8g of protein and 34g of whole grain per one cup serving, Near East said.