"premium" news and stories

A few months ago I read a short piece on kosher wines. I had been keeping my eye on them over the years because most people think of them as those overly sweet concord grape wines that tasted more like candy than wine. I'm not Jewish, but have quite a few friends that are, and I live in an area with a high population of those who try and stay kosher. Now kosher wine is hitting the big time. A few months ago I became friends with one of the distributors of kosher wines and spirits in my area and we've been planning on getting together soon so I can sample them. Well, yesterday I was at KosherFest, a kosher food and beverage trade show, and was amazed at how many high quality kosher wines are out there. In the next few weeks and months I will be reviewing wines of all types, but with the holidays coming I wanted to give a heads-up on a few good kosher ones to try.

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Folgers, the coffee formerly known as the best part of waking up, is aiming further change its image by branching out into gourmet coffees. With new and improved packaging, new and improved flavors and a $20 million dollar advertising campaign, the company is hoping to prevent to loss of customers as these days "a gourmet version of coffee is the new standard."

But since the name of Folgers is associated with being an "everyday" coffee, not a premium coffee, they had to create a new category of coffee that wouldn't alienate their no-frills customer base. Market research told the Folgers executives that people who drink their coffee will "save" premium coffees for special occasions. So, to appeal to existing customers while potentially attracting new customers, the new Folgers Gourmet Selections are "gourmet-inspired coffee [and can] be consumed on an everyday basis."

Folgers has had mixed success with its recent product trials, so it's too early to say for certain whether they will be a success. You can get a free sample here if you want to try it before it hits shelves in September.

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At Luxist, Deidre mentioned that there is a vodka with a purpose beyond mere intoxication. Snow Leopard Vodka is an ultra-premium Polish vodka made with spelt grain that promises to be the "best vodka on the market," with a round, smooth taste. It is being sold to benefit the Snow Leopard Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the protection of the endangered felines. A full 15% of the profits will be donated to the trust and the company hopes to be able to donate more than £543,000 ($1 million) each year. The vodka will be available at Harvey Nichols wine shops in the UK this month, where it will sell for £36. There will also be at least eight upscale restaurants and nightclubs that will be selling the vodka and specialty cocktails that feature it, so customers can drink with a conscience.

 

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As consumers become more discerning in their tastes, particularly with regard to food, they are just as likely to get a craving for foie gras with dinner as they are to want spaghetti and meatballs. And people are projecting their tastes onto their pets - because if they want the foie gras, why shouldn't their beloved dog have some, too? People button some dogs into tiny clothes and carry them around as though they were children. The Wall Street Journal points out that the humanization of pets is what is driving the upswing in the number of gourmet and premium pet foods that are hitting the market.

New lines of pet foods include gourmet, pre-prepared "stews" and pet condiments, like IAMS Savory Sauce, which comes in flavors like Roasted Turkey and Pot Roast. These products are marketed as ways to spoil your pet, though the companies are undoubtedly hoping that they will be used daily, or at all meal times. The people who tested the food for the company reported that they were "like people food... It's what [they] would give their own [families]." People don't like the idea of feeding seemingly unappetizing food to their pets, but love it when the products sound like things they would want to eat. And, of course, the pets love it. Unfortunately, the trend is also driving up the number of obese pets.

Pet food companies assure consumers that the new foods can be healthy, but vets say that not only are most house pets not active enough to warrant extra calories, but that they have no significant nutritional benefit over ordinary dog foods. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, obesity affects 25-45 percent of pets.

On Monday, McDonald's will be rolling out their new "premium roast" coffee at stores across the country. You may have seen TV ads for the coffee, or even tasted it yourself, as it has been released in several markets already. It seems that the fast-food giant wants to capitalize on the love of the American public for gourmet coffee, following in the footsteps of chains like Dunkin Donuts and Burger King, which recently began to promote its coffee. Another reason for the new coffee is that McDonald's is trying to increase its share of the breakfast market, as consumers more frequently turn to specialty coffee retailers and grab a pastry with their lattes. White the coffee is unlikely to be up to the quality of the specialty retailers, it will certainly be a step up from the "coffee" previously sold at McDonald's. In keeping with the "premium" theme, the new coffees will be served in insulated cups with the same style of lid seen at places like Starbucks instead of the usual fast-food hot beverage lid, which has a punch-out flap for drinking from. According to the McDonald's website, you can get a coupon for a free coffee with any purchase by visiting a participating store between now and March 4th.

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