Triarc Companies, the parent company of Arby's Restaurant Group, which is the franchisor of the Arby's restaurant system, and Wendy's International, have completed its merger transaction, the combined company will be named Wendy's/Arby's Group [Source].

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We spotted Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers at the Wal-Mart in Fishkill, NY - in a big display right in front of the cashiers. I was immediately intrigued. I had thought Healthy Choice would get left in the dust when their arch nemesis, Lean Cuisine, totally revamped their line and started introducing product after product. But Healthy Choice has countered with packaging innovation geared towards making us more involved in the preparation process, with the introduction of Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers and now Healthy Choice Fresh Mixers Simple Meal Creations.

There is no word on the Healthy Choice website about Fresh Mixers, but there are 4 varieties (that I saw): Ziti and Meat Sauce, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Rotini & Zesty Marinara Sauce and Sweet Teriyaki Chicken. Meal preparation involves adding water to the rice and microwaving separate from the sauce - then combining everything together. I've had the Ziti and Meat Sauce and it is delicious. Tres magnifique!

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Television commercials for PomX Iced Coffee are weird, but because I have a warped sense of humor, I really like them. Am I alone in this? Below are the 2 commercials that have been aired so far. I prefer the first one where the man-sheep (or is that sheep man?) jumps into bed with a woman.

Will I hear people on the street using the PomX catch phrase, "What the flock" or Wakey wakedness?

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Suze Orman, financial guru, is the new face of the Got Milk? Mustache campaign. Times are tough in the US, and it makes sense that advertisers will now start trying to capitalize on consumers desire to save money.

"In today's economy it's vital to put family first," says Orman. "Though food costs are up, there still are ways to feed your family well for less. One thing you can't afford to be without is milk because it's packed with nutrients to help make you strong and healthy. Milk is one of the most nutritious investments you can make for your family in the grocery store." [Source]

The other "Milk Mustache Celebrities" can be found at WhyMilk.com.

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Starbucks has recently been moving towards a breakfast menu with healthier options, no doubt in an effort to boost lagging sales. In September,they added 6 menu items including a Baked Berry Stella, Apple Bran Muffin, Chewy Fruit & Nut Bar, Multigrain Roll with Spreads, Power Protein Plate with a cage-free hard-boiled egg, cheese, apples, grapes, and a whole-wheat bagel, and an Oatmeal cup with choice of dried Fruit, Nut Medley or Brown Sugar (they have been reviewed at Slashfood, which found the Fruit & Nut bar to be "the crown jewel of Starbucks' new offerings").

But, what I have been anticipating is the launch of the Starbucks Piadini breakfast sandwich, which will reportedly come on September 30, according to MarketWatch.

The Italian inspired, square-shaped, doughy, Starbucks Piadini sandwiches will feature artisan bread filled with either sausage, egg and cheese or portobello mushroom stuffed with spinach, creamy feta and ricotta cheese. They will cost $3.25."

I'm looking forward to getting my hands on the Piadini because I smell a food war brewing: Starbucks Piadini vs Dunkin Donuts Egg White Sandwiches - which tastes better and which has better nutrition facts ... coming tomorrow.

[Photo Source: Yahoo News].

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Between Krispy Kreme and Dunkin Donuts, I would bet on DD to win. It's not really a matter of taste - although I prefer Dunkin Donuts to the glazed goodness of Krispy Kremes that so many people find irresistable (nothing beats DD's chocoalte frosted for for me). But more importantly, DD has successfully re-branded themselves away from being just a "donut and coffee shop", to a place that you can go and grab breakfast or lunch. Their expanded menu items has helped keep them out of a financial rut, but the same cannot be said for Krispy Kreme.

Krispy Kreme has been stagnating financially for the last 3 years. Finally, it looks like they are going to try and do something about this - by introducing soft serve ice creme into some of it's stores. I think this is a dubious idea at best, and Krispy Kreme twice rejected the idea, according to The News Tribune. But somehow, the latest execs are convinced that this will help the company turn around.

In the first half of the fiscal year that began in February, Krispy Kreme sales declined 8% for that period and same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, dropped 6.5% in the six months ended Aug. 3. During the company's second-quarter earnings conference call, the company laid out plans for a revival of sorts. They will begin opening smaller locations that are less expensive to build than its older "factory store" model that allowed consumers to watch the doughnuts being made.

Another key part of the plan is the company's new Kool Kreme soft serve, which will be featured with a toppings bar. The product is being tested in several stores around the country. [Source: USA Today].

So Dunkin Donuts introduces a new "healthier" DDSmart Menu featuring egg white sandwiches, and Krispy Kreme goes with fat laden soft serve ice cream.

Photo Credit: Daquella Manera and Y/ FLickr.

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The "pro" high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) ads have been airing on television for the last month, sponsored by The Corn Refiners Association and promoting SweetSurprise.com - as in (I suppose), you'd be surprised that HFCS isn't as bad as internet hype has made it seem.

There are countless comments on the videos on YouTube (videos shown below), and since most everybody knows what HFCS has been implicated in obesity, I thought I would highlight one of the few comments that didn't call HFCS poison.

"A man drinks himself to alcoholism and death, and the man is to blame. A man eats himself to obesity and HFCS is to blame?

C'mon. HFCS is unlike any other pleasure. Practically everything is bad in excess, even vitamins.

People want SO badly to blame something other than their own lack of self-control and this is why America is fat. Sorry but it's true. We love pointing fingers. It's why lawsuits in this country are out of control. Don't get mad cause you're not addicted to broccoli."

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No mention of Pringles Restaurant Cravers on the Pringles products website, but they have been spotted around town. Each flavor in the series is supposed to taste like something off of a menu at an average restaurant.

The flavors we have seen are:
• Cheesy Fries
• Cheeseburger
• Mexican Layered Dip
• Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara
• Onion Blossom
• Slow Cooked BBQ

There are reviews at SitandStaya-Weihl and En-tur-tain-munt blogs which give the thumbs up to Onion Blossom and Cheesy Fries, and thumbs down to Mexican Layered Dip and Mozzarella Sticks with Marinara.

Pringles have certainly diversified their product line, with Pringles Select, Pringles Stix (which we reviewed at Iateapie.net and found quite yummy), Pringles Minis and the new Pringles Extreme (wild and wacky flavors).

[Photo Credit: SA Steve/ Flickr]

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Dannon Activia is one of my favorite yogurts (read the review at Iateapie.net), and when Dannon Activa Light came out, I was all over that too. Dannon Activia is shaking things up even more by introducing Dannon Activia Intensely Creamy Yogurt.

The flavors will be Sumptuously Strawberry, Luscious Cherry, Zesty Lemon and Peaches & Cream. This yogurt will be more creamy, have all the digestive benefits of regular Activia plus less than 3% fat, but the new packaging is what's really innovative. They will be sold in round pots120 gram pots.

This is one product I'm looking forward to getting my hands on - I love yogurt, and Dannon has had some real winners in the past.
Source: Talking Retail.

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Popeye's Chicken is changing it's name from Popeyes Chicken and Waffles to Popeyes Louisiana Chicken. In addition they're also changing the logo, colors and planning on expanding their appeal to a more "upscale" audience.

Popeyes has what seems like a cult following and I must admit - I'm a Popeyes fiend. There hasn't been one in the actual town in which I lived for the past few years, but I have been known to drive 30 minutes to get my Popeye's fix. I don't particularly care for the new name, but I really don't care what they call it as long as the recipe for their addictive chicken remains the same. Actually, I always thought the name was simply Popeyes Chicken - I wonder why they didn't just shorten it to that.

Source: UnderConsideration.com

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