2013 Readers Choice New Products of the Year

Micro markets, nutrition and coffee round out this year’s category winners.

Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com readers love their products and they showed it again this year by voting for their favorites in the 2013 Readers Choice New Products of the Year contest. Voters read through product descriptions on the Automatic Merchandiser Online Buyer’s Guide, and vote on an online ballot at VendingMarketWatch.com/awards. Nominators could choose from the products on the ballot, or write in their own suggestions. There were more than 300 nominations submitted.

This year’s winners are consistent with the vending industry key growth trends of 2013. One of the biggest demands in vending this year has been micro markets. Many of the winners this year are micro-market friendly products. Another well represented trend in 2013 is healthy choices, while consumers’ love of coffee remains a theme as well.

The cookie category winners, Ruger LLC Strawberry Wafers, are served in multi-functional pouches perfect for traditional vending or micro markets. The food category winner, AdvancePierre Drive-Thru Deluxe Sandwiches, also fits into the micro market category and offers restaurant-style food. And, Mars DOVE® Brand Silky Smooth Cookies And Crème Bar, which is available in diverse packaging sizes great for vending machines or micro markets.

The snack category winner, Kellogg’s Special K Cracker Chips is regarded as a healthy choice snack low in sodium and calories. The cold beverage category winner, Nestle Sweet Leaf Tea, is viewed as a healthy beverage alternative, made with pure cane sugar and no high-fructose corn syrup.

Also, consistent with the demand for café-quality office coffee, the hot beverage category winner is the Keurig Vue Barista Prima Vanilla Latte Coffee.

The last category is representative of a consumer favorite -- Mrs. Freshley’s Cinnabon Honey Bun Pastry wins in the pastry category.

Micro market mania

The cookie category winner uses real fruit flavor to entice consumers. Ruger LLC introduces Strawberry Wafers, with the taste of fresh strawberries. The new wafers have strawberry flavored cream between crispy, crunchy wafers. Shelf life is 18 months.

Mars Chocolate North America offers a classic candy combination with the 2013 new product of the year candy winner. The Mars DOVE ® Brand Silky Smooth Cookies and Crème Bar blends sweet and creamy white chocolate and crunchy chocolate cookie bits into an indulgence that only DOVE® Chocolate can deliver. DOVE® Brand encourages consumers to own moments of chocolate pleasure every day. This new item is available in three formats- – single bar, large bar and bags of individually wrapped DOVE® Brand PROMISES® for micro markets.

Restaurant-quality taste straight from the microwave is the goal of the food category winner—AdvancePierre’s Pierre Drive-Thru Deluxe Sandwiches. These sandwiches uses high quality ingredients and are available in three varieties, a 100-percent beef cheeseburger with ketchup and mustard, a breaded chicken breast filet sandwich and a spicy breaded chicken breast filet sandwich.

All-natural, healthy

A low calorie, high-fiber product is the winner of the snack category. Kellogg's Special K Cracker Chips are hybrid snacks that combine the goodness of a cracker with the light crunchiness of a chip for a snack that delivers great taste, fiber and 110 calories per bag. Flavors include cheddar and sea salt.

Nestle Sweet Leaf Tea, the cold beverage category winner, offers a full line of Sweet Leaf Tea made from a superior blend of black and green organic tea leaves in purified water. Sweetened with pure cane sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, Sweet Leaf iced teas are free from artificial preservatives, colors and flavors. The line of 15.5 ounce cans includes the following flavors: original, mint and honey, citrus, lemon, peach and raspberry.

OCS and fan-favorite

The hot beverage category winner, Keurig Vue Barista Prima Vanilla Latte Coffee, shows the emphasis on premium coffee amongst consumers. Exclusive to the Keurig® Vue® Brewer, Keurig Vue barista Prima Vanilla Latte Coffee combines premium gourmet coffee with real milk, real cream and a hint of vanilla to create a true latte lover's delight.

Mrs. Freshley’s combines two pastry favorites, Cinnabon® and Honey Buns, for the pastry category winner. Mrs. Freshley’s Cinnabon Pastries are baked with Cinnabon® cinnamon, Mrs. Freshley’s Cinnamon Danish has a cinnamon filling, wrapped in a golden, flaky crust, that’s drizzled with icing. The Coffee Cake, topped with icing, has the flavor of Cinnabon® cinnamon in every bite. And Mrs. Freshley’s has taken its classic honey bun to a new level, swirling Cinnabon® cinnamon throughout the popular icing-topped pastry.

All of the nominated products, many more can be found on the Automatic Merchandiser and VendingMarketWatch.com Buyer’s guide.