And the Winners Are … The winners of the ninth annual Retailer Choice Best New Products Contest represent the

latest in what’s hot and happening for c-stores in 24 different categories.

The contest included products released between Aug. 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012,

with the candidates narrowed to a list of three in each category, chosen over the

course of two weeks in online voting in September. Thanks to all the retailers who

voted for their favorites; the contest would not have been possible without your

participation. And we’d like to bestow a hearty congratulations on all the winners!

C S P December 2012 41

C S P December 201242

Tobacco_OTPCopenhagen Southern BlendU.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.

Copenhagen Long Cut Southern Blend offers a natural taste

that is woodsier and slightly sweeter than a traditional natural

moist smokeless tobacco, the company says. The name, South-

ern Blend, and the packaging were chosen to convey the taste

of this natural product within Copenhagen’s brand portfolio.

According to the manufacturer, Copenhagen Long Cut South-

ern Blend has a long-lasting flavor in a manageable long cut.

Tobacco_E-CigarettesOneJoy Disposable Electronic CigaretteNJOY

OneJoy non-rechargeable electronic cigarettes are America’s

No. 1 disposable e-cigarette, according to maker NJOY. OneJoy

requires no charging and is equal to two packs of traditional

cigarettes. Each pack has three fully charged electronic ciga-

rettes with a choice of nicotine levels. OneJoy is available in

regular and menthol flavors. The new product is odor-free,

ash-free, smoke-free and less expensive than regular smoking,

according to NJOY. Each non-rechargeable electronic cigarette

can be recycled after use.

Tobacco_CigarsBlack & Mild Wine CigarillosJohn Middleton Inc.

Black & Mild Wine Cigarillos bring the smooth taste and aroma

of Middleton’s Wine blend to the untipped-cigarillo segment,

according to the company. John Middleton Inc., an Altria

company, is a leading manufacturer of cigars and pipe tobacco.

Black & Mild Wine Cigarillos are available in AromaWrap

two-pack or five-pack. Middleton’s cigars are filled with pipe

tobacco to satisfy customers who prefer the taste and aroma of

pipe tobacco but do not have the time or experience to smoke

a cigar, according to the company.

C S P December 201244

Juice Blends Snapple Half ‘n Half Tea & LemonadeDr Pepper Snapple Group

Snapple Half ‘n Half is a blend of tea and lemonade that has

proven to be very popular with consumers. According to com-

pany numbers, consumers like Half ‘n Half; the category is up

45% so far in 2012 and had the highest volume growth of all

RTD tea flavors. One-third of RTD tea drinkers say Half ‘n Half

is their favorite flavor. Snapple’s Diet Half ‘n Half has produced

21% incremental volume, the company says. Currently avail-

able in both regular and diet, Snapple will launch Regular Half

‘n Half in all key packages early next year.

Energy DrinksRed Bull Total ZeroRed Bull North America

According to Red Bull North America, new users have been

drawn to the energy-drink category by Red Bull Total Zero,

which has quickly pushed the product to the position of

top Zero item in the segment. The energy drink contains

no calories, sugar or carbohydrates. According to company

projections, Red Bull Total Zero likely achieved more than

$100 million in retail sales between April 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.

Nutritional BeveragesDr Pepper TENDr Pepper Snapple Group

Dr Pepper TEN is ideal for consumers who want to make better

choices without compromising taste, according to the com-

pany. These consumers want the full flavor of regular sodas,

don’t like diet soda, may be looking for “better-for-you” bever-

ages or are concerned about their health. Dr Pepper TEN helps

fulfill these consumer wants by providing great taste with only

10 calories, the company says. Test-market results show that

40% of TEN volume is incremental to the category, according

to company research.

C S P December 201246

Candy_Gum/MintsIce Breakers Duo Fruit & Mints StrawberryThe Hershey Co.

Hershey continues to innovate in the mint category. The com-

pany’s Ice Breakers brand has introduced a new type of mint, Ice

Breakers Duo, which the company calls “the ultimate fruit + cool

flavor sensation.” Ice Breakers Duo Mints combine a textured

fruit-flavored side, in either raspberry or strawberry flavors, with

a cooling, smooth side featuring Ice Breaker Mints’ signature

flavor and cooling crystals. Ice Breakers Duo Mints are available

in 1.3-ounce tins with a suggested retail price of $2.25.

Candy_ChocolateSnickers Brand 3X Chocolate 2 To Go BarsMars Chocolate North America

The latest variation on Mars’ popular Snickers chocolate candy

bar is Snickers Brand 3X Chocolate 2 To Go. The name “3X

Chocolate” stems from the candy’s chocolate caramel, choco-

late-flavored nougat and milk chocolate covering that mingles

with roasted peanuts, a Snickers signature. The new “2 To Go”

bright blue wrapper refers to the two candy bars in a special

twist-wrap packaging, allowing consumers to eat one bar and

save the other for later.

Dispensed BeveragesCold Cow Milk ShakesOmni Food Concepts Inc.

Made from premium ice cream, Cold Cow Ice Cream Milk

Shakes from Omni Food Concepts are a favorite with consum-

ers and retailers, according to the company. With a 12-count

case pack and using a 15.5-ounce cup, approximate retailer

cost is $1.60 each, with a suggested retail price of $2.99, yield-

ing a gross profit of 46%, according to Omni. The self-serve

system features four milkshake flavors: Vanilla, Chocolate,

Strawberry and Cookies ‘n Cream.

C S P December 201248

Foodservice_Breakfast“The Works” Breakfast BurritoDon Miguel

“The Works” Breakfast Burrito from Don Miguel is a freshly

made, hand-stretched flour tortilla filled with a blend of

eggs, bacon, sausage, smoked ham and hash browns, plus

American, cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses. The mul-

tipurpose 5-ounce hand-butcher-wrapped breakfast bur-

rito works well out of the microwave, a convection oven or

a hot case. According to the company, “The Works” will

stay fresh in the hot case with up to a four-hour hold time

and still keep its flavor.

Candy_Non-ChocolateJolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew CandyThe Hershey Co.

The Jolly Rancher brand has introduced a new way to enjoy its

fruit candy with Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew. The candy has

a soft, chewy center inside a crunchy candy shell. The original

fruit flavors of Jolly Rancher candy are combined with chewi-

ness in the new candy. Jolly Rancher Crunch ‘N Chew comes in

in four flavors—cherry, blue raspberry, green apple and water-

melon—and is available nationwide in convenience stores.

Foodservice_ Packaged Grab & Go Food Spicy Chicken Alfredo TornadoRuiz Foods

Ruiz Foods launched the new Spicy Chicken Alfredo flavor

Tornado, part of its new Italiano flavor line, in 2012. The new

Tornado is filled with diced chicken, broccoli and spices in a

creamy Alfredo sauce, then baked in a crispy tortilla. C-stores

can offer customers more variety on the roller grill with this new

Italian favorite, which the company says follows new flavor

trends. Tornados from Ruiz Foods are the No. 1 roller-grill snack

item in the United States, according to Ruiz.

C S P December 201250

Foodservice_ Sandwiches/BurgersPierce Chicken BurgersPierce Chicken

A healthy addition to the burger category, Pierce Chicken Burg-

ers gives c-store operators a new way to satisfy customers who

want healthier menu options. Pierce’s patented, proprietary

grind makes the difference, creating a chicken burger with

new texture, bite and mouth appeal, the company says. The

burgers are a 70/30 blend of white/dark meat and cook quickly

and evenly, from frozen to serving, Pierce says. The burgers

are available in both fully cooked and ready-to-cook versions.

Foodservice EquipmentEncore Rapid Cook OvenTurboChef

With high-speed air impingement, side-launched microwave

and radiant heat, the Encore Rapid Cook Oven from TurboChef

cooks 20% faster than the Tornado oven without endangering

food quality, the company says. Encore has a small footprint

and is UL-certified for ventless operation. The company says the

new oven can help expand menus and increase profits. With

only two keys to press, cooking any item is simple, according to

TurboChef. The oven has additional keys for experienced cooks.

Dispensed Beverage EquipmentSensation Chewable-Ice Beverage Dispenser Lancer Corp.

Lancer’s new chewable ice beverage dispensing machine, called

Sensation, was created in response to demand for chewable

ice and a need to dispense it “hassle-free,” the company says.

More than 70% of consumers prefer chewable ice over cube

ice, according to company research. Sensation uses a patented,

independent dual-drive system “synchronized to maintain ice

quality and deliver ice consistently and reliably.”

C S P December 201252

Meat Snacks Original Turkey JerkyJack Link’s Beef Jerky

For consumers who are looking for a healthy meat snack, Jack

Link’s has introduced its Original Turkey Jerky. The meat snack

is naturally high in protein, 98% fat free, MSG free and low in

calories and carbs, the company says. The product is made from

lean strips of seasoned and smoked turkey breast. The meat

snack company’s Original Turkey Jerky is a popular, guilt-free

snack for women and men alike who want to bypass fattening,

sugar-laden snacks, the company says.

General EquipmentNEXT Merchandising SystemSouthern Imperial Inc.

NEXT System from Southern Imperial is a versatile, strong,

expandable product-facing system that works with a wide

variety of products, the company says. Unlike other product-

facing solutions, the NEXT System can display and face almost

any product and install easily. Its unique tray design allows it to

sit on a shelf or bar and give merchandise a better presentation

so that products don’t “get lost,” the company says. The NEXT

System increases sales, reduces labor and lessens product shrink

from spoilage, according to Southern Imperial.

Snacks_Alternative Nutella & Go!Ferrero USA

For those in search of a different snack, Nutella & Go! offers

light breadsticks coupled with Nutella, the unique spread made

from roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa. Each

snack cup is divided into two compartments: one to hold the

breadsticks and one for Ferrero’s Nutella spread. The company

says the snack is perfect for on-the-go dipping and snacking.

Nutella has no artificial colors or preservatives.

C S P December 201254

Snacks_Sweet Cinnabon Honey BunMrs. Freshley’s

Mrs. Freshley’s regular honey buns have won many awards

over the years. The Mrs. Freshley’s brand joined with Cinna-

bon, known for its cinnamon-flavored pastries, to produce a

new sweet for breakfast or anytime. Cinnamon Honey Bun

pastries are individually wrapped for coffee breaks or after-

noon snacks. The honey bun features Cinnabon cinnamon

swirled through the fried yeast pastry. Mrs. Freshley’s is a

brand of Flowers Foods.

Snacks_Bars Clif Crunch Granola BarClif Bar & Co.

Clif Crunch, new crunchy granola bars from Clif Bar & Co., fea-

ture whole baked-in chips made of chocolate and peanut butter,

with organic oats, barley and rye plus rice crisps, according to the

company. Two flavors of Clif Crunch bars are available: Choco-

late Chip and Peanut Butter. Clif Bar says each two-bar pack of

Clif Crunch provides a full serving of organic whole grains plus

3 to 4 grams of protein and fiber.

HBC1 Hour Break 100% Natural Kava Spray— Natural Stress Relief Innovative Lifestyles LLC

1 Hour Break debuted the first all-natural oral spray to specifi-

cally target stress, nervousness and anxiety, according to the

company. Each bottle contains a blend of five herbal extracts,

including kava, from Vanuatu in the South Pacific Islands. Each

spray bottle contains 80 sprays, for a total of 15 mint-flavored

herbal extract servings. The product delivers a “concentrated

blast of the most-powerful anti-anxiety and stress-reducing

herbal extracts,” according to the company.

C S P December 201256

General MerchandiseNatural CoolerLBP Manufacturing Inc.

LBP Manufacturing, known for its packaging solutions, recently

introduced the Natural Cooler. This one-piece, durable, water-

tight recyclable cooler for ice and packaged beverages is an

alternative to foam coolers. LBP’s Natural Cooler is made with

25% post-consumer recycled content. Featured at the 2012

NACS Show, Natural Cooler is one component of a portfolio

of take-out, beverage and catering packaging for c-stores,

including the Thermo Grip air-insulated hot cup, and fluted

clamshells for foodservice-on-the-go convenience.

TechnologyApplause with LoyaltyGilbarco Inc.

Gilbarco’s new Applause with Loyalty allows operators to target

customers and enhance existing loyalty programs at the pump.

Applause is the first and only digital forecourt media system with

these capabilities, allowing operators to personalize their custom-

ers’ fueling experience, according to the company. The system

also adds mobile merchandising and social-media programs to

the pump. Loyalty and media investments can be maximized with

targeted promotions and personalization, according to Gilbarco.

Best New PackagingCoca-Cola Hand-Held 12.5-ounceThe Coca-Cola Co.

The Coca-Cola Co. has introduced a new 12.5-ounce

“hand-held” package as an immediate consumption strat-

egy for convenience retailers. Coca-Cola says tests show

the package is appealing for “the traditional gas-and-go

consumer,” as well as those who do not frequent c-stores

as often, such as females and white-collar profession-

als. It is part of Coca-Cola’s strategy “to drive business

and enable sustainable profit for c-stores.” The suggested price

of 89 cents is designed to drive foot traffic, stimulate trial with

new users and convert gas-and-go customers, the company says.