Date: 30 March 2009

HEALTHY CHOICE – HEALTHY PROFITS

Ocean Spray’s Ingredient Technology Group has introduced a new sweetened dried cranberry (SDC) to its market leading portfolio of dried fruit ingredients.  The new Choice SDC is a low cost option that delivers the same high quality as the Classic Soft & Moist SDC. Appealing to food manufacturers wanting to improve the taste, appearance and nutritional profile of their products, the Choice SDC also meets demand for consistent, cost-effective, value-added ingredients.

With the same functional benefits as other sweetened dried cranberries, Choice SDCs add distinctive flavor, attractive points of color and real fruit texture to baked goods, cereals, bars and trail mixes – without impacting processing.  Choice contains the health benefits associated with cranberry, with high levels of bacteria-repelling proanthocyanidins and antioxidants, as well as the anti-inflammatory flavonoid quercetin. 

Kristen Borsari, global senior marketing manager at Ocean Spray, said: “In today’s challenging market conditions, we believe manufacturers who can find new ways to meet consumer demand for high quality, healthy foods at competitive prices will succeed.  Our wide range of sweetened dried cranberries and BerryFusions® Fruits gives everyone the opportunity to innovate with fruit.

“Choice represents an evolution in the sweetened dried fruit category.  We now offer SDCs at varying cuts, moisture contents and degrees of sweetness, to fit a wide range of applications.  Our original SDC offered a tart flavor profile in a low moisture ingredient suitable for specific applications.   Expanding the range, the hugely popular Soft & Moist dried cranberry broadened the product’s reach into a variety of functional food applications, adding premium value to trail mixes, baked goods and confectionery.  Choice represents a move towards the next generation of SDC, delivering a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding marketplace, while providing all of the advantages of sweetened dried cranberries.”