More Than 20 New Products Feature Restaurant-Inspired Flavors Along With Convenient Portion Control Options

NORTHFIELD, Ill., Dec. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is making some bold new product moves in 2010! As consumers seek culinary inspiration, Kraft Foods is delivering more than 20 new foods and beverages in the first few months of the new year that boast trendy, restaurant-inspired flavors. And just in time for January's diet season, Kraft Foods also is adding several new portion-controlled options to its portfolio.

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"We are focused on the consumer from the moment we first dream up a new product to the time it hits store shelves," explains John Li, Director, Culinary Center, Kraft Foods. "We start with a deep dive into consumers' eating habits and flavor preferences. It's part art and part science, but ultimately, our goal is to create the best and most flavorful products possible."

For 2010, Kraft Foods took a cue from the top ten flavors consumers would like to see more often on restaurant menus(1). "Many of our new items reflect consumers' interests in bold flavors, especially those that are Italian-inspired or have a Mexican flair," said Li. "Hot and spicy is big so chipotle and garlic are key flavor notes while berry-infused items remain on-trend. The increasing desire for bolder flavors is not limited to a single age group. Everyone is asking for more adventurous taste experiences."

Kraft Foods is answering the call for extraordinary and authentic flavors with the unveiling of Planters Flavor Grove Nuts in five delicious almond and cashew varieties. Uniquely roasted and seasoned with real herbs & spices, the new Planters Flavor Grove skinless almonds are enhanced with the fresh flavors of Sea Salt & Olive Oil, Cracked Pepper with Onion & Garlic, and Chili Lime. Planters Flavor Grove cashew varieties include Chipotle and Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper. The pep of chipotle and kick of spicy flavors are revving up a new line of Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayo reduced fat mayonnaise featuring Chipotle, Garlic & Herb, and Horseradish-Dijon (made with Grey Poupon mustard) varieties, all with half the fat and calories of regular mayonnaise. Even the dairy case is getting a flavor lift. Kraft Deli Deluxe cheese slices will debut 3 Cheese Garlic & Herb, Bacon Cheddar, and Jalapeno American taste sensations which are perfect for sandwiches or melting on vegetables or casseroles.

And no matter how you slice it, bacon is a sizzling trend at restaurants. In fact, a recent Kraft Foods survey of 4,500 restaurants found bacon is one of the fastest growing menu items. So the launch of Oscar Mayer Super Thick Cut Applewood Smoked Bacon is particularly timely.

Berries are bountiful in the better-for-you line of Planters NUT-rition which will now include Antioxidant Mix with almonds, bananas, peaches, blueberries, cranberries and cashews, and Omega-3 Mix with walnuts, cranberries and dark chocolate-covered soy nuts. Chocolate has not lost its appeal among consumers and Back to Nature is adding its own twist with wholesome and chewy Granola Cookies that feature whole grain wheat flour and semisweet chocolate with cocoa from Rainforest Alliance Certified(TM) farms. The new Dark Chocolate and Oats variety is on-trend with the more intense flavor of dark chocolate.

"We also are building on our health and wellness commitments and evolving to meet today's consumer expectations in this area," adds Li. "When it comes to portion control, we know consumers want indulgence without overindulging! Gone are the days of thinking you can't have your cake and eat it too."

That's why Kraft Foods has several great new portion control options brimming with flavor while being short on calories. Mousse Temptations by Jell-O feature Dark Chocolate, Chocolate and Caramel Creme flavor experiences for 60 calories per serving. And the 100 Calorie Pack platform that Kraft pioneered is now in the cheese and dairy case with Kraft 100 Calorie Packs Cheese Bites. The single-serve packages are available in four delicious varieties and are perfect for lunches or on-the-go snacks.

Great taste also will come in very small packages. In February, Kool-Aid Fun Fizz drink drops debut in Partyin' Punch, Gigglin' Grape and Laughin' Lemonade varieties. Bubbling with flavor, these fun-filled drink drops transform any 8-oz. glass of water into a colorful tasty drink with only five calories.

Always the innovator, Kraft Foods is taking the lead with the introduction of restaurant-inspired flavors and bold new tastes while continuing to stock the shelves with convenient portion control foods and beverages.

(1) According to the NPD Group and as reported in Nation's Restaurant News, December 7, 2009

About Kraft Foods

Kraft Foods makes today delicious in 150 countries around the globe. Our 100,000 employees work tirelessly to make delicious foods consumers can feel good about. From American brand icons like Kraft cheeses, dinners and dressings, Maxwell House coffees and Oscar Mayer meats, to global powerhouse brands like Oreo and LU biscuits, Philadelphia cream cheeses, Jacobs and Carte Noire coffees, Tang powdered beverages and Milka, Cote d'Or, Lacta and Toblerone chocolates, our brands deliver millions of smiles every day. Kraft Foods (NYSE: KFT) is the world's second largest food company with revenues of $42 billion in 2008. The company is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the Ethibel Sustainability Index.

- make today delicious -

SOURCE Kraft Foods Inc.

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