On the Shelf!

Rich and robust
The latest offering from Mount Gay Rum is Eclipse Black, a deep, dark and naturally spiced spirit. The beverage is a balance of smoked wood flavours and spicy notes of pepper, cinnamon and ginger, creating a robust yet smooth taste crafted especially for true rum lovers. Eclipse Black retails in Ontario at LCBO stores for $37.95. Produced in Barbados since 1703, Mount Gay is the world’s oldest brand of rum.

Natural flavours
Nestlé Pure Life Natural Fruit Flavoured Beverage is now available in Acai Grape and Wildberry flavours. With no artificial flavours, the calorie-free beverages from Nestlé Waters Canada are an affordable and healthy alternative to sugared drinks. Both flavours are available in packs of six 500-mL, 100-per-cent recyclable PET bottles for a suggested retail price of $3.49, as well as a 35 pack of bottles. Also new from Nestlé is Nestlé Pure Life Natural Spring Water in a four-litre, 100-per-cent recyclable PET bottle, retailing for a suggested price of $1.99.

Snacks to go
Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn from ConAgra Foods Canada is now available in four ready-to-eat varieties: Sweet & Salty Kettlecorn, White Cheddar Gourmet Popcorn, White Cheddar Chipotle Gourmet Popcorn, and Dill Pickle Gourmet Popcorn. The grab-and-go snack is made of 100-per-cent whole-grain kernels, contains no trans fat, and is a source of fibre.

Easy fruit
Mott’s Fruitsations Fruit Rockets from Canada Dry Mott’s offer parents a nutritious and convenient way to get kids to eat nutritiously while on the run. A fun, on-the-go pouch with an easy twist cap also makes the snack an ideal lunch bag item, without needing a spoon. Flavours include Unsweetened Strawberry and Unsweetened Apple, both of which have just 50 calories per 111-g cup. Mott’s Fruitsations Fruit Rockets retail for between $2.99 and $3.79.

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Artisan oats
Wheat-free Raincoast Oat Crisps are the newest offerings from cookbook author and chef Lesley Stowe. The crunchy, artisan-style crackers are baked in small batches using all-natural ingredients, and are available in two varieties: Original Raincoast Oat Crisp and Rosemary Raisin Raincoast Oat Crisp. Ideal for health-conscious consumers and those with gluten sensitivities, the crackers can be enjoyed either on their own or paired with dips, cheese, pâté or antipasto.

Dairy alternative
Earth’s Own Food Company has introduced Almond Fresh Coconut flavour to its lineup of almond beverages. With a “coco-nutty” flavour, the new beverage is ideal as a drink or as a substitute for milk in recipes, and features only 90 calories per 250 mL. In addition, the drink is high in vitamin B12, is fortified with calcium, and vitamins A and D, and is cholesterol-, dairy-, lactose-, wheat- and gluten-free.

Whole-grain snacking
Popcorn, Indiana Kettlecorn is now available in Canada. The all-natural, whole-grain treat is low in fat, is gluten-free, and is packed with fibre and polyphenols. With a total of 17 varieties and three lines – Popcorn, Indiana Kettlecorn Popcorn; Popcorn, Indiana Chip’ins Popcorn Chips; and Popcorn, Indiana indulgent series – the brand features a flavour to suit everyone’s tastes. All flavours retail for between $3.99 and $4.99.

Hydrating beverage
Grace Kennedy (Ontario) Inc. introduces pulp-free, no-sugar added Coconut Water cans. High in potassium, gluten-free and low in sodium, the healthy beverage is a natural source of essential electrolytes and supports rapid hydration. The 310-mL cans can be found in the international food aisle of major retailers, and in most ethnic food stores across Canada.

Cool line
The PoP Shoppe, in partnership with Cott Corporation, is launching the first line of PoP Shoppe canned sodas. The retro-cool can line includes four classic flavours – Lime Ricky, Radical Root Beer, Groovin’ Grape, Crazy Cream Soda – plus four new additions: Psychadelic Strawberry, Big Time Banana, Omazing Orange n’ Cream, and Got the Blues Raspberry. The 355-mL cans will be available at major retailers across Canada.

Limited-edition ale
Muskoka Harvest Ale is a limited-run specialty brew from Muskoka Brewery. Packaged in a signature 750-mL swing-top bottle, Muskoka Harvest is a bold, hoppy ale with a grassy character and 7% alc./vol. The beer retails in Ontario at the Beer Store and the LCBO for $8.95.

Sweet flavours
The new range of smoothie mixes from Monin Gourmet Flavorings are packaged in SIG Combibloc aseptic cartons with combiSwift screw cap for added convenience and ease of use. With five flavours – Strawberry Banana, Mango, Peach, and Wildberry and Strawberry – the mixes can be poured over ice and blended to create frozen drinks, or can be added to tea or lemonade for a refreshing beverage alternative.

Bold taste
BIGS Sunflower Seeds from Thanasi Foods LLC are now available in Canada. Originally launched in the U.S. in 2009, the snacks feature bold-tasting fire-roasted, jumbo-size sunflower seeds in five varieties, four of them co-branded: Frank’s REDHOT Buffalo Wing, Hidden Valley Ranch, Salted & Roasted Original, Vlasic Dill Pickle, and Bacon Salt Sizzlin’ Bacon. The 140-g resealable bags of sunflowers sell for a suggested retail price of $1.99.

Natural yogurt
iögo is a new line of yogurt products from Ultima Foods. The line includes more than 40 varieties, all of which are free of gelatine, artificial flavours and artificial colours. Categories include: iögo yogurt and Dessert Duets; iögo O% fat-free yogurt; iögo Probio probiotic yogurt, including lactose-free varieties; iögo Greko Greek yogurt; iögo Nomad drinkable yogurt; iögo Zip yogurt tubes; and iögo Nano fresh cheese and drinkable yogurt for kids. The line is available in a range of container sizes, as well as larger packaging for foodservice use.

Super soy
Super Squeezies Omega-3 DHA Dessert Tubes from Sunrise Soya Foods make a healthy, on-the-go treat for kids. Featuring a vegetarian source of omega-3, Super Squeezies are gluten-, peanut- and preservative-free. The non-dairy snack can be served chilled or frozen, and is available in a two-flavour combo box featuring Strawberry Banana and Chocolate Fudge.