Wholesale Report

Rondeau Inc. plans to take the concept of “gourmet cookies” seriously with a major rollout that comes in three styles: Big Daddy (a large oatmeal cookie); Authentic (two oatmeal cookies); and Original (two “chubby and tender” oatmeal cookies).

All three types of Rondeau cookies come in Oatmeal and Chocolate Chunks versions. But here’s where it gets complicated: They each have completely separate flavor lines.  Big Daddy comes in Oatmeal & Raisin, Double Chocolate,  Peanut Butter & Chocolate, Choco-Bananas, and Cranberry. Authentic cookies come in Oatmeal & Raisin, Double Chocolate, Crunch Peanut Butter, Molasses, Maple & Nuts, Apple & Cinnamon, Chocolate & Hazelnuts, and White Chocolate & Macadamia Nuts. Original cookies also come in Maple & Nuts,  Peanut Butter, Black & White, Fruit Passion, Apple & Cinnamon, Date & Nuts, Wheat Germ, and Black Forest.  Got all that? Good; there’ll be a quiz later.

If you vend pastry, you’ll want to know that Wally Amos—of chocolate chip cookie fame—has a new line of muffins under his new company name Uncle Wally’s. They are single packs and come in Blueberry, Banana Nut, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Cheesecake, Pineapple Coconut, and Guava.

Blue Diamond Growers is building on the success of GORBS (Green Onion Slivered Almonds) with FABS (Frosted and Blanched Slivered Almonds), a brown-sugared, slivered almond.

A new company with an unusual name, Downpour Pastry, announces Zandid brand “Energy Cookie”, a single-serve peanut butter energy cookie with a real peanut butter filling, in a baked soft crust with a chocolaty topping.

Interesting non-beverage news from Snapple: Snapplets are rolled candies made with all natural flavors and juices, including Kiwi Strawberry, Five Flavors, Chocolate Mint, Tropical Fruit, Butter Toffee, Peppermint, Wintergreen, Spearmint, (also “Intense” Peppermint, Wintergreen, and Spearmint), Daily-C, Cinnamon—and for connoisseurs ...Smith Brothers Wild Cherry.

Frito-Lay has some new products: Wavy Lay’s Hickory BBQ flavored potato chips (with thicker chips). Wavy Lay’s is now co-branded with Hidden Valley and The Original Ranch; there should be new combinations announced soon. Also new is Lay’s Bistro Jalapeno Cheddar, Doritos Extreme Zesty Sour Cream and Cheddar (“EXtra thick and EXtra crunchy”), and Ruffles 3D’s with Maximum Cheddar.

For Mike & Ike customers, Just Born Inc. announces three new flavors: Orange ‘N Cream, Strawberries ‘N Cream, and Lemonade.

Wafer fans: Ruger has added Lemon Ruger and Coffee Ruger to their popular line.

Kraft now owns Nabisco, and they’ve added Mini Oreo Bite Size and Nutter Butter Bites lines to Snack Size Chips Ahoy!

Little Debbie fans, take note: McKee Foods has expanded their Big Snacks line with Double Decker Fudge Round, Double Decker Oatmeal Creme Pie; and bigger sizes of Nutty Bars, Coffee Cake, Zebra Cake, and Frosted Fudge Cake.

Now that the Elves aren’t helping Santa, they’re back at Keebler cranking out crackers. Cheez-It has added White Cheddar, and Hot & Spicy Cheez-It with Tabasco (it’s genuine, with the bottle on the bag). Keebler is owned by Kellogg, and that division has introduced Rice Krispies Treats Double Chocolate Chunk. And don’t forget their vending size Kellogg’s Pop Tarts S’Mores, delicious right out of the machine or heated (you supply the campfire).