2007 “Build a Better Mousetrap” New Product Innovations of the Year

Wasabi flavored sorbet, powdered peanut butter, beer with nicotine and hot dogs coated with yogurt were among the most unusual new product innovations reported worldwide in 2007 by Datamonitor’s Productscan Online database of new products.

Each year, Productscan Online (www.productscan.com) examines the year’s new food, beverage, health & beauty, household and pet products to identify the top ten innovations from around the world. 2007′s search uncovered unique new entries such as Bilk, a new concept in Japan, which manages to combine beer and milk for the first time. New in Germany, NicoShot Beer is touted as the world’s first nicotine-infused beer to help smokers control cravings.

The ten new products that follow represent 2007′s Build a Better Mousetrap new products of the year, as chosen by Datamonitor’s Productscan Online database of new products. Each launch offers “new to the world” product benefits with the potential to change or shape the consumer packaged goods markets worldwide. Convenience was certainly a key theme in 2007, as was new product innovations aimed at the kids’ market.

Swiss Miss Pick-Me-Up Hot Cocoa Mix

The popularity of energy drinks is having an impact on other product categories, prompting the inclusion of caffeine in a whole range of new categories, from potato chips to instant oatmeal. This new version of Swiss Miss Cocoa, available in the US, contains as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, plus as much calcium and vitamin D as a glass of milk to offer the best of all worlds.

Organic Batter Blaster Pancake & Waffle Batter

Making pancakes and waffles from scratch can be a messy process. Batter Blaster offers a helping hand with pancake and waffle batter that is sprayable and is packaged in an aerosol can. The refrigerated product makes organic, light and fluffy pancakes, as well as light and crisp waffles, in just minutes. The aerosol can packaging greatly reduces cleanup and the product is touted as fast, easy and fun for the entire family. The product is new in the US.

JT Fragra Functional Water

Bottled water is about more than just refreshment when it comes to this new launch from Japan. Fragra is said to refresh the breath and leave a pleasant fragrance of citrus fruit in the mouth. Officially referred to as a “near water” by virtue of its 1% juice content, Fragra uses an active ingredient called linalool for breath freshening. Linalool is a natural substance occurring in lemons, oranges and other citrus fruit.

Popsicle SlowMelt Long Lasting Pops

One of the pleasures of summer is enjoying an icy frozen novelty. The only problem is trying to finish the novelty before it melts. That is less of a problem with Popsicle SlowMelt, which seems to have been designed with global warming in mind as it apparently lasts longer than ordinary pops to reduce drips and sticky fingers. This pop is also “good for you” as it contains fruit juice, vitamin C and features natural colors and flavors. It is new in the US.

Tetley’s Twistea Tea On The Go

Tea lovers tend to like their tea a certain way. Now it is possible to enjoy this degree of customization in a packaged product with Twistea. New in the UK, Twistea features a Tetley teabag locked into a plastic cup. The consumer simply adds boiling water and twists the lid of the cup to customize the taste of the product and achieve the desired strength. The teabag remains in the cup and does not need to be disposed of separately.

Children’s Benadryl Perfect Measure Pre-Filled Single Use Spoons

Kids find it a lot easier to swallow liquid medication than pills, but liquids have their drawbacks. For one, they are not very portable. Until now, that is, with Perfect Measure that consists of pre-measured, pre-filled spoons filled with Children’s Benadryl that are great for “on-the-go” relief. Offered in an Allergy variety, the product is new in the US.

KidKupz Candy-Coated Medicine Dispensing Cups

Taking your medicine is often something to dread, especially for kids who would just as soon stay sick than choke down some bad tasting medicine. Enter new KidKupz which are designed to “take the ick out of sick” with a candy coated rim that makes almost any medicine taste better. Using a similar concept as a salt-coated rim for a Margarita glass, KidKupz come in a variety of flavors, including Sour Cherry, Blue Raspberry and Watermelon. Sold in a 6-cup box, they are new in the US.

Pur Flavor Options Water Filtration System Flavor Cartridges

Bottled water is refreshing, but it can be boring. Plus there are waste issues, so much so that the city of Chicago has a new tax on bottled water. Enter Pur Flavor Options, a new way to get flavored water right from the tap. Flavor Options mounts on a regular water faucet. Whenever you feel like adding flavor to a drink, just push the dispenser. The more you push; the more flavor is added to your glass. Each cartridge provides up to 75 servings of flavor without any sugar, calories or dyes. New in the US, Flavor Options comes in flavors such as Peach and Raspberry.

Air Wick FreshSweep 2 in 1 Broom with Air Freshener

Sweeping the floor can be hard work, but at least there is a new benefit for this task thanks to Air Wick. FreshSweep is a broom equipped with a Stick-Ups air freshening disc that helps disperse the air freshener and make rooms smell fresh and clean every time you sweep. The broom’s Stick-Ups air freshener is refillable and comes in fragrances like Fresh Waters and Crisp Breeze. The product is new in the US.

Nature Made Rx Essentials Daily Supplement Tailored To Your Prescription.

The population is aging and millions of consumers need to take medications each day to manage health issues. Now, for the first time, there is a supplement that is optimized for consumers taking specific prescription medications. Nature Made’s new line includes Softgels for People Taking Cholesterol Medication such as Lipitor, Zocor or Pravachol. Other supplements are offered for those taking anti-depressants, arthritis medication, and diabetes medication. The line is new in the US.