Sara Lee North American Retail has tapped into the taste and expertise of Miller High Life beer to introduce Hillshire Farm Miller High Life Beer Brats. The bun-sized sausages allow consumers to enjoy the taste of brats cooked in beer in only a fraction of the preparation time. Also new for 2009, Hillshire Farm Hot & Spicy Italian Style Smoked Sausage delivers old-world Italian flavor, slow-cooked with natural spices. In supermarkets nationwide this spring, Hillshire Farm Miller High Life Beer Brats and Hillshire Farm Hot & Spicy Italian Style Smoked Sausage are available in packs of six for a suggested retail price of $3.99.

Ruiz Foods brings Tornados to retail venues

Ruiz Foods announces the introduction of Tornados by El Monterey to retail grocery stores, in six flavors. Tornados were introduced to convenience consumers seeking hot-to-go food approximately five years ago and quickly revolutionized this segment on a national level. Tornados — tortillas rolled in a seasoned batter and stuffed with meat and cheese — offer value and convenience coupled with quality and great taste. Each Tornado contains 0 grams trans fat and can be prepared by pan-frying, microwaving or deep-frying, or in a conventional oven.

Palermo’s enters morning daypart with new breakfast pizza

Palermo’s new Breakfast Pizza™ is a hot and nutritious option that combines classic morning flavors with an authentic rising crust. This twist on traditional morning fare features Palermo’s rising crust smothered in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce and topped off with generous portions of homestyle scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and savory Italian sausage. The launch of the Breakfast Pizza marks Palermo’s entry into the frozen breakfast category, in which frozen entrees make up the fastest growing market segment. Palermo’s new Breakfast Pizza is currently in limited distribution in the Midwest and retails for approximately $6.49.

Barber Foods introduces all-natural chicken burgers

Barber Foods, the industry leader in frozen premium stuffed chicken breasts, is introducing Barber Foods All-Natural Chicken Grillables™ — a lightly seasoned, all-white chicken meat alternative to beef burgers. With only 140 calories and 5 grams of total fat per 4-ounce serving, Chicken Grillables™ have been developed as a healthy alternative to beef burgers, while delivering an appealing flavor profile. Chicken Grillables™ can be pulled from the freezer and cooked on an outdoor or indoor grill, on a stovetop, or in the oven. The product is sold in four-packs and eight-packs, separated into pouches of two for easy storage and preparation.

Johnsonville announces release of heat-and-eat sandwiches

Johnsonville® Sausage, LLC, introduces hand-held sandwiches featuring the company’s famous link sausage enrobed in a soft, warm roll. The 5-ounce sandwiches feature on-trend flavors and intriguing ingredients already built into a juicy, savory smoked-sausage link, including: Southwestern Style, Spicy Sunrise, and Sweet & Smokey. For time-starved customers on the go, Johnsonville’s hand-held sandwiches — frozen to lock in just-made freshness — are individually wrapped and go from freezer or refrigerator case to the microwave or a hot sandwich in 75 seconds or less. Or, they can be merchandised straight from a point-of-sale warmer, where sandwiches maintain optimum quality for up to four hours. The full line of Johnsonville’s new grab-and-go sandwiches also includes Smoked Bratwurst and Smokey Cheddar Sausage.

Lloyd’s new products hit the market

In addition to sleeker, greener, more convenient packaging on its traditional barbecue tub products, Lloyd’s BBQ Co. is introducing new Lloyd’s® BBQ Hardwood-Smoked Restaurant-Style BBQ Entrees. The new Lloyd’s BBQ Hardwood-Smoked Restaurant-Style BBQ Entrees are slow-smoked using real hardwood to deliver authentic flavors, and are available in the following varieties: Sliced Brisket in Original BBQ Sauce, Pulled Pork in Original BBQ Sauce, and Boneless Smoked Pork Chops in Original BBQ Sauce. Lloyd’s is also introducing a half-rack of spare ribs — Lloyd’s® Jr. Making it easier for consumers to enjoy ribs more often, Lloyd’s® Jr. has the great taste of Lloyd’s® regular full rack of ribs, but in half the size — perfect for reheating in the microwave.

Premium turkey breast meat at an affordable price

New Perdue® Pan-Roasted Golden Turkey Breasts are premium quality products available at a more affordable price point than comparable turkey breasts. They’re moist, tender and full of flavor, and are certified by the American Heart Association. Pan-Roasted Golden Turkey Breasts are perfect for upscale sandwiches, salads or center-of-plate entrees. They have the premium quality for which customers will gladly pay more, and the product’s golden appearance and color help it stand out among menu items.

National Beef launches new retail program

National Beef Packing Co. LLC (National Beef), announced today the launch of its Black Canyon Grillmasters Program, a retail program that will drive excitement for the 2009 grilling season. The Black Canyon Grillmasters Program uses a variety of strategies to position retailers as the market destination for grilling season. The program includes: new item and recipe support, Grillmasters-branded package label and in-store signage, and merchandising and retailer training support. The program includes new items from the Chuck Roll and Inside Round, such as Denver Steak, Tuscan Steak, Santa Fe Steak and Country Style Ribs among others. Together, these new cuts and old favorites will create excitement and interest among consumers, driving sales for weekly every-day grilling and improving retailer margin mix.

Perdue Foodservice unveils fresh turkey tenderloin product

Perdue® TENDERREADY® Roasted Turkey Tenderloins are fresh, never frozen — and incredibly moist. Already slow-roasted for tenderness and succulent taste, foodservice operators can simply heat and serve. TENDERREADY® Turkey Tenderloins are fully cooked for safety, convenience and consistency, and can be easily prepared in browning or convection ovens and microwaves. They’re always fresh, so no thawing is required, and they feature a 90-day shelf life.

Chi-Chi’s brand launches Fiesta Plates

Hormel Foods breathes new life into workplace lunches with the introduction of Chi-Chi’s® Fiesta Plates™ — fresh, contemporary, Mexican-inspired lunch offerings. After 90 seconds in the microwave, these shelf-stable products deliver flavorful and satiating meals, sure to keep hungry office workers satisfied. The new line includes Creamy Chipotle Chicken, Savory Garlic Chicken, and Salsa Chicken.