“General Mills Expands Pillsbury Line with New Baking Products Amid Rising Home Baking Trend”
With an increasing number of consumers embracing baking during the COVID-19 pandemic, General Mills is introducing six new products under its Pillsbury brand, designed to offer convenient home-baked alternatives for popular items. The new lineup features two Pull-Apart Bread Kits, Mini Cinni Stix, Mini Pizza Crusts, and snack-size edible Cookie Dough Poppins, which can be enjoyed straight from the package. These easy-to-make products are now available across the nation. According to a company spokesperson, General Mills plans to expand its baking kit offerings in the future. “As we return to our regular schedules, it’s vital to continue prioritizing family time,” remarked Tiffany Seelen, experience leader for the Pillsbury brand. “These products maintain the home baking convenience associated with Pillsbury, and we’re thrilled to enhance our portfolio with these new options.” (Hometown Food holds exclusive rights to the Pillsbury shelf-stable baking and dessert products.)
During the lockdown in 2020, many consumers found themselves with extra time, leading to a surge in baking and cooking. Individuals who once hesitated to cook from scratch discovered they could do so and incorporated it into their daily routines. An Instagram poll cited by General Mills revealed that 97% of over 1,000 respondents baked more during quarantine, and 98% planned to continue baking moving forward. As shoppers begin to venture out more, even with the latest COVID-19 variant, companies are looking to engage consumers who still enjoy baking but have busier lives than they did a few months ago. Hershey, for instance, has promoted baking as a year-round activity rather than just a fall pastime for families. Nevertheless, few have been as proactive as General Mills. In addition to the new Pillsbury products, the company’s Betty Crocker brand launched cupcake and giant cookie kits in January.
In another culinary innovation, Sir Kensington’s is offering consumers a new dipping option for French fries, developed in collaboration with cookbook author and TV star Chrissy Teigen. The Unilever-owned premium condiment brand has introduced Sir Kensington’s Honey Mustard Fry Sauce. “French fries are incomplete without sauce, and I’ve always wanted to create the perfect dip,” Teigen stated in the launch announcement. “Hearty, sweet, spicy, and satisfying, we’ve created a sauce that checks all the boxes and begs for a salty fry to pair with it.” The Fry Sauce is made from premium, non-GMO ingredients, including grade A mustard seeds and Fair Trade organic honey, and the bottle is crafted from 100% recycled plastic.
However, some fried potato enthusiasts in Utah may find the marketing of a honey mustard condiment as Fry Sauce controversial. The Beehive State is known for its own version of Fry Sauce, a pink mixture of ketchup and mayonnaise created in 1940 by chef Don Carlos Edwards, which is widely served and even bottled by Arctic Circle, the restaurant chain Edwards founded. Teigen has also produced a feature-length documentary titled “FRIES! The Movie,” which explores the global fascination with French fries. It is available for streaming on Peacock and features figures such as author and podcast host Malcolm Gladwell, Michelin-starred chef Eric Ripert, and Dave Arnold, president of the Museum of Food and Drink.
Globally, consumers have a variety of favorite dips for their fries, with ketchup reigning supreme in the United States. A documentary about French fries, combined with an innovative dip, seems like a perfect recipe for an enjoyable day of snacking at home.
Meanwhile, Cappello’s, a gluten-free brand, aims to attract health-conscious pizza enthusiasts with its latest product line featuring an unexpected star ingredient: turnips. The company has launched a range of keto-certified frozen pizzas, including Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese and Buffalo Ranch varieties, as well as a plain crust for DIY pizzas. Unlike its other products primarily made from almond flour, Cappello’s new pizzas spotlight turnips, which, while not common in frozen foods, offer health benefits like organic calcium citrate, vitamins C and B, and calcium.
Other ingredients include almond flour, cage-free eggs, and flaxseed, while the Buffalo Ranch option is topped with cauliflower, another popular gluten-free ingredient. The keto-friendly pizzas and crusts are priced at $7.99 and $10.99, respectively, at Whole Foods Market and are also available at retailers like Kroger, Mariano’s, Ralphs, Fry’s, and Smith’s, or through Cappello’s website for $10 and $13. Co-founder Ben Frohlichstein stated that the product was “intentionally crafted to satisfy the consumer the way a classic slice of pizza would.”
The market for keto foods continues to expand as more individuals seek to improve their health by reducing carbohydrate intake, with Technavio projecting the market to reach $1.18 billion by 2024. Keto diets are associated with a lower risk of conditions like heart disease and metabolic syndrome. Foods labeled Keto Certified receive this distinction from The Paleo Foundation, which certifies products suitable for keto and paleo diets. Other brands like The Keto Oven and Foster Farms have also received Keto Certified recognition. The frozen pizza market has experienced increased sales recently, alongside other frozen foods during the pandemic. It remains to be seen whether consumers curious about keto will embrace Cappello’s turnip-infused pizzas, but the combination of innovative ingredients and certification may provide the brand with a competitive edge.
