One of the UK’s top selling energy drinks companies, Boost Drinks, known for its large silver bottles sold in volume through retail outlets, has launched a new 50cl format for its cranberry carbonated energy drink. Boost’s existing 1 litre cranberry variant has proved such a success that it has introduced the new smaller size in a move designed to build upon the fashionable following that low calorie cranberry flavours have with consumers in the impulse sector. Appreciated throughout the UK by drivers and a growing band of teetotallers, Boost Drinks MD Simon Gray explained: “Our flagship energy drink product, Boost and sugar free Boost Light, work particularly well in 50cl and we believe that the low calorie cranberry option will follow this trend. “There is clearly a demand for this size and coupled with the current popularity of cranberry as a variant, particularly for female drinkers, it should be a big hit for us and our customers.”

AgroFarma, a US dairy product manufacturer, has introduced Chobani Greek Yogurt, a Greek-style yogurt that contains more than twice the amount of protein in traditional American yogurts. Chobani is also all-natural and made using traditional European straining methods. “Many of the popular American yogurt brands add artificial ingredients and fillers such as high fructose corn syrup and corn starch to enhance taste, or have the equivalent of a candy bar in sugar content," said nutritionist Sophie Pachella, founder of US nutrition performance business EatStrong. "That is not healthy eating." Chobani contains five live and active cultures, and is made with milk that contains no artificial hormones. Chobani is also high in calcium and contains active probiotics for healthy digestion. There are six non-fat varieties available: strawberry, blueberry and peach, as well as honey, vanilla and plain (which is also available in 2% and 10% fat varieties). Chobani’s cup-style packaging is available in three sizes: 6oz, 16oz and 32oz.

Jalna Dairy Foods of Australia has launched several new yogurts. Its Premium Café Latte Creamy yogurt is “the perfect blend of Jalna’s signature premium creamy yogurt and real coffee” and is available in 200g tubs. The new Jalna Premium Honey Vanilla, with a hint of cinnamon, is a creamy yogurt offering delicate honey, cinnamon and vanilla flavours without added sugar or sweeteners. This product is available in 1kg tubs. For Australian consumers who enjoy a classic Greek style natural yogurt, but are concerned about their diet, there is Jalna’s new Low Fat Greek Style Natural Yogurt. Packed in 500g tubs, it has the characteristic tartness of a traditional Greek style yogurt, but retains the creamy texture and is 97% fat free. Jalna’s Vitalize Heart+ and Immune+ yogurts in 200g tubs were so popular, the company has launched them in 1kg tubs. They contain Omega-3, vitamins A, C and E, plus pomegranate and blueberry real fruit puree. Besides the healthy probiotic aBc bacteria, Jalna Vitalize Immune+ has added vitamin C, Echinacea and the real fruit puree of açaí berry, raspberry and pear. Like all Jalna yogurts, the new varieties are all made in the traditional European style and natural tub set. They are all gluten free, have low GI and no added sugar, preservatives, gelatine or artificial sweeteners. Jalna has also launched Vitalize Breakfast+ and Immune+ Formulated Supplementary Food drinks. With newly increased nutrient reference values, it is even more challenging for every age group to meet their target for calcium. These new Jalna drinks help make it easier according to the company. Jalna Vitalize Breakfast+, available in 25cl and 1 litre bottles, provides 25% of the RDI for vitamin D and key antioxidant vitamins A and E, plus 50% of the RDI for vitamin C. Jalna Vitalize Immune+, packed in 25cl bottles, offers a combination of aBc cultures and vitamin C (50% of the RDI), plus echinacea and pureed acai berry, raspberry and pear.

*Yeo Valley Organic, one of the UK’s most buoyant organic food brands, has started the New Year with a major relaunch featuring new look packaging – with a simpler, cleaner, more modern look – and new products. * Among the new products are a mixed box of Yeo’s, the smooth and creamy children’s tubed yogurt launched in early 2007. This will contain three flavours – with raspberry and apricot being added to the original strawberry variety. There is also a four pack of whole milk yogurts called Summer Fruits, containing strawberry, raspberry, apricot and blackcurrent and two new fruity layered four packs, with a generous serving of fruit compote in the bottom, topped by Yeo Valley thick, probiotic natural yogurt on top. A final addition is the launch of a four pack of fat free yogurts with a choice of two new recipes – Madagascan vanilla and Sicilian lemon.

The launch taps into health and convenience trends with a range of portable products free from additives and preservatives. With the flavoured milk market reported to be growing at 10% in the last year, Half Pint has been designed to appeal to families as a healthy addition to school lunchboxes or for after school refreshment. Plus, with recent research revealing that milk is more isotonic than water, Half Pint is also intended to be a post gym staple for active adults. Half Pint is available in three varieties – pure filtered Semi-Skimmed milk, Milk + Strawberry and Milk + Banana, which are both flavoured with real fruit extracts. Cravendale Brand Manager Alex Glen says: “With Half Pint we want to give consumers the option of drinking naturally flavoured milks with all the purity of Cravendale wherever they are. “And with flavours made from real fruit extracts, mums can feel confident they are giving their kids a healthy drink at lunchtime or after school that tastes great.”

Leading UK butter, spreads and margarine (BSM) brand Lurpak has added Lurpak Organic Spreadable, claimed to be one of the first organic products from a major BSM brand. Lurpak describes the launch as its most significant since Lurpak Spreadable Unsalted in 2006.

*US ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s has launched its latest low fat offering in the UK – a 500ml tub of strawberry cheesecake flavour frozen yogurt with less than 3% fat. * The company claims the new low fat frozen yogurt tastes a lot naughtier than it looks with real strawberries and oatmeal cookie chunks. Ben & Jerry’s has also teamed up with the Fairtrade Foundation for its latest launch this winter with its third ice cream to receive the Fairtrade Mark. Ben & Jerry’s created the world’s first ice cream made with Fairtrade ingredients when Fairtrade Vanilla was launched in summer 2006, followed by Fairtrade Vanilla Toffee Crunch soon after. Now the sugar, banana and cocoa in Chunky Monkey is also guaranteed to be traded in accordance with international Fairtrade standards. Available in 500ml tubs, Chunky Monkey is a mellow mix of pure cream from lush farmlands, real banana, Fairtrade chocolatey bananas and chunky walnuts. Ben & Jerry’s is working with the El Guabo banana producers’ assocation, Ecuador. Vice President Silvia Arevalo said: “Thanks to this co-operative, lives have been changed. Our farmers have guaranteed European sales for their bananas at a stable price all year round.”

UK independent cheese producer and milk processor Wyke Farms has launched Rosemary Conley’s Full Flavour Mature Cheese – a farmhouse Cheddar with less than 5% fat but with an authentic Cheddar taste and texture. The master cheese makers at Wyke say they have created an indulgent tasting, creamy textured and full flavoured Cheddar worthy of diet guru Rosemary Conley’s name. It contains fewer than half of the calories of normal Cheddar but no less protein or calcium. Rosemary Conley commented: “The indulgent taste and wonderful texture means that even the most experienced palate would find it difficult to believe this Cheddar has less than 5% fat”. ** Wyke Farms adds unsalted butter **In addition to the new cheese Wyke Farms has also launched Unsalted Farmhouse Butter to compliment its award winning range of dairy products.

Yoplait Group brand manager teens Angelica Costantini, said: “Frubes limited editions now account for 20% of annual Frubes sales, with a value of £11.9m year-on-year. One example that demonstrates this was the recent Doctor Who limited edition, which saw average weekly sales double versus previous limited editions. "With the huge popularity of The Simpsons Movie, we are expecting this new limited edition to be equally successful.”

*Lactalis McLelland is set to further expand its flagship Cheddar range, Seriously, with the launch of Seriously Lighter. * The company’s first lighter cheese offering follows the successful launches of Seriously Vintage and Seriously Strong Spreadable. Made with a blend of semi-skimmed and whole milk, Seriously Lighter is a third less fat cheese for those consumers seeking a tastier alternative to other reduced fat cheeses. Seriously Lighter is available in a 400g and 200g block and delivers a great Cheddar flavour and a texture that is easy to slice and grate. Use of a purple ‘Seriously’ rosette not only clearly illustrates that the product offers something different from the rest of the Seriously range, but it also indicates to consumers that the product will deliver a good, well-rounded tasting, lighter cheese which traditionally has been missing from the ‘light’ sector.

At around 28,000 pints, this surely has to qualify as the world's largest round. But for the beer buffs at Cask Marque, this wasn't about drinking but rather quality checking traditional, hand-pulled ale in thousands of pubs and bars throughout the country to see who's best. Huddersfield in West Yorkshire came out on top, with local pubs averaging a near perfect score of 19.5 out of a possible 20 points. Their ales were rigorously tested by Cask Marque inspectors for serving temperature, appearance, aroma and taste during a series of mystery shopper-style visits. Also making the top ten real ale towns and cities were Truro, Twickenham, Exeter, Northampton, Bristol, Lancaster, Plymouth, Southampton and Leicester. Paul Nunny, director of Cask Marque, an independent organisation responsible for monitoring real ale quality in British pubs, said: "For pub goers to really enjoy and appreciate their ale, it has to be served just right. "We were extremely impressed by the consistent quality of pints being pulled in Huddersfield, and offer our congratulations to local publicans, many of whom have already gained Cask Marque accreditation." Cask-conditioned ale differs from lagers and 'smooth' bitters because it's a living product that arrives at the pub not fully fermented. Publicans play a key role in finishing the ale, using their skill, knowledge and experience to look after the product and serve it when the quality is at its best. Paul added: "Cask ale is unique to British pubs, and when it's well kept and well presented, there's nothing else quite so refreshing and flavoursome. Get it wrong, however, and you run the risk of putting the consumer off for life." Cask Marque has inspected and accredited 4,300 real ale pubs throughout Britain. Its inspectors say the perfect pint must be served between 11 and 13 degrees centigrade in a spotlessly clean glass. The beer should have good clarity, a fresh aroma and a refreshing aftertaste.

dairy innovation takes a look at more dairy products that were on show at Anuga 2007 in Cologne. Following success in 2006, Italian dairy company Granarolo reintroduced its Special Edition Yomo in Season yogurt for the 2007 autumn and winter season. Available in three flavours: honey & royal jelly; chestnut; and figs – the yogurts are made with Italian milk, fruit and a little bit of sugar, with no sweeteners, flavourings or thickeners. They are available in twin packs of 125g pots. Yomo Desiderio Yomo Desiderio is a range of soft, creamy, healthy yogurts that are “as good as a dessert”. The range includes fiordilatte and crunchy cereals covered with chocolate, lemon and meringues, vanilla and granule of hazelnuts, strawberries and cream, chantilly cream, cream and black cherries, white cream (above), white chocolate and nougat with almonds and extra dark chocolate and small flakes. * Granorolo* Seizing on the drive for people to consume five a day fruit and vegetables, Granorolo has also introduced Yomo Frutta e Verdura 150, a range of yogurt drinks containing the equivalent of 150g of fruit and vegetables. Packaged in four 100g bottles, the drinks are available in five different mixes with five different colours, each offering a different health property. The range includes Yellow: yogurt, pineapple, mango, orange, pumpkin; Red: yogurt, strawberry, red grapes, orange, beet; Violet: yogurt, plums, blackberries, blueberries, chicory; White: yogurt, pear, peach, melon, fennel; Green: yogurt, apple, kiwi, white grapes, spinach. * Mlékárna* Mlékárna from the Czech Republic displayed two Bio soured milks. Soured products are beneficial to human health acting favourably on the gastrointestinal tract. Available in two flavours – natural and strawberry – and packed in 400g cartons, the 2.5% milks are produced on ecological farms in the Wallachia region of the country. Börd Käse German company Börd Käse has launched a Gourmet Käsecreme soft cheese containing Lemon and Ginger and packed in a 175g easy to open and resealable tub, together with a Special Edition Ziegenpeter Gold goat’s milk cheese – limited to just 5,000 4.5kg pieces. Parmalat After its recent well publicised troubles, it was good to see Italian dairy company Parmalat at the show. It was clear that while all the various legal wrangles were going on, the company’s new product research department was still busy developing new products. There was an impressive range of milks – designed to aid bone and tooth care, promote cardiac health, help children grow and fight free radicals. Milk Link The UK’s Milk Link dairy co-operative displayed its new look Black & Gold packaging that is used for the Tuxford & Tebbutt export range. Among the export range is a new barbecue and chilli cheese, produced for the US market. * AB Technologies* French company AB Technologies has produced a range of Squizzi Cheese – liquid cheese in squeezy bottles. The range – including camembert, blue cheese and goat’s cheese – is ideal for pizza toppings, as a salad dressing, spreading on toast or in sandwiches and several other applications. It is packed in 150g plastic bottles. The company was also displaying Zelasticks – bags of peelable string cheese, ideal for school children. The four cheeses are packed separately, each illustrating a family member (father, mother, son and daughter) that can be positioned by the child into the cardboard display. Milino With chilled milk bars one of the strongest growing product groups in the food sector, according to AC Neilsen, Austrian dairy company Milino has developed a range of Milk Snacks (left), available in two flavours – cocoa and honey. Naarmann German dairy company Naarmann has tapped into the growing popularity of coffee drinks such as latte macchiato and cappuccino with the launch of its Milch für feinen Milchschaum – Milk for fine milk froth (right). Froth is said to be important for these drinks and needs to be stable and good looking for as long as possible – characteristics that are on offer from this product. Naarmann has also developed a Basic Mix for ice cream, containing important ingredients like cream and full cream milk refined with sugar. Alongside this mix is a similar one for soft ice cream. The company says this marvellous creamy mix is available in two varieties – vanilla and chocolate. With yogurt being used in almost every kitchen, Naarmann has developed a fresh tasting yogurt for the catering market. The company says the yogurts – available in natural, strawberry, black cherry and toffee flavours – with 1.5% fat, have fine consistency with good acid stability and no whey leaking.