Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, NY, introduced several dairy desserts at NACS. In the refrigerator, there’s new Specialty Treat Shop Tres Leches Style Cake Cups. The desserts are made in Mexico and distributed frozen. Retailers thaw for refrigerated merchandising. Each 6.6-oz cup features soaked sponge cake, whipped icing and cake crumbs. Varieties are chocolate, strawberry and traditional. The line is in response to data showing that 47% of US consumers are interested in global desserts, according to Datassential World Bites Global Desserts 2023. The company also is rolling out two new limited-edition f’real milkshake varieties: birthday cake batter and cinnamon churro. The f’real milkshake machine for convenience stores is a turnkey self-serve program that enables shoppers to create their own milkshake with the touch of a button.

With the rising popularity of high-protein lifestyles, pre-packaged hard-boiled eggs have been gaining traction in c-stores, said David Hayes, national accounts, NestFresh, Fullerton, Calif. In response and to add excitement to the category, NestFresh, as well as other egg suppliers at NACS, now offer unshelled flavored eggs in convenient two-pack pouches, often with salt and pepper packets. Varieties include buffalo, dill, mustard and red beet.

Miniature apples branded as Rockit are grown and packed in New Zealand, and now available in convenient, on-the-go plastic tubes, three apples to a pack. The small-core apples are washed and ready to eat. The special packaging provides a long shelf life and ensures a crisp bite, according to the company.

Top-selling snack brands are committed to the hot and spicy craze. Conagra Brands Inc., Chicago, for example, is adding Slim Jim Monster Chile Limon to its meat snack business. Chile limon-flavored snacks had more than $1.6 billion in annual sales in the United States for the 52-weeks ended Aug. 27, 2023, according to Circana data. Conagra’s BiGS sunflower seeds brand now has a spicy dill pickle variety, while its Andy Capp’s brand is rolling out Fire Fries. Available in 3- and 8-oz bags, the new flavor is a hotter take on Andy Capp’s famous Hot Fries.

From squeaky curds to cracker-size slices, cheese marketers show no signs of slowing down when it comes to making this high-protein food more convenient and snackable, with many products becoming more demographic focused. Greenridge, Elk Grove Village, Ill., for example, is rolling out the “rugged” Ridge Mix, which combines the company’s original beef bites with pepper jack cheese cubes. And, at the same time Cheesewich Factory, Hodgkins, Ill., contemporizes its packaging to better appeal to younger c-store shoppers, the company also is rolling out new “all-natural” meat and cheese snacks featuring mozzarella cheese sticks wrapped with uncured meat. Options are pepperoni, salami, prosciutto and turkey bacon.