Even though there are some single-serve macaroni snack cups available to consumers, these meals still must be eaten with a spoon—Cole’s Middles introduce a convenient alternative to this.
The frozen bread bites with a macaroni and cheese filling are new handheld treats that emphasize portability. To launch the product, Cole’s Quality Foods took its Middles to a small town in the United States and had consumers try them while enjoying various outdoor activities such as concerts, parades and fishing tournaments.
The easily prepared microwavable product is offered in a variety of flavors, including: 'French Toast Bagel stuffed with Sweet Cream Cheese,' 'Plain Bread stuffed with Mac & Cheese,' 'Plain Bagel stuffed with Cream Cheese' and 'Pretzel stuffed with Beer Cheese.'
Breaded Macaroni Bites
Cole’s 'Middles' are Frozen, Cheese-Filled Bread Snacks
Trend Themes
1. Portable Bread Snacks - Convenient and portable bread-based snacks with unique fillings, such as macaroni and cheese, represent a trend towards on-the-go meals.
2. Flavor-stuffed Bread - Innovative bread products that are stuffed or infused with interesting flavors, such as sweet cream cheese or beer cheese, represent a growing trend in the snack industry.
3. Outdoor Activity Foods - Snack products designed for outdoor activities, such as concerts or fishing tournaments, represent a new trend in marketing food towards specific demographics and occasions.
Industry Implications
1. Frozen Foods - The frozen food industry has room for disruptive innovation in portable, convenient and unique snacks, such as Cole's Middles bread bites with macaroni and cheese filling.
2. Bakery Products - Innovative bakery products, such as bread stuffed with sweet cream cheese or beer cheese, represent a disruptive opportunity to shake up the traditional baked goods industry.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Marketing food products towards specific demographics and occasions, such as outdoor activities, presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation and niche advertising strategies.