Oscar Mayer First to Offer Complete Line of Meats That Have No Artificial Preservatives, Flavors or Colors

MADISON, Wis., May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Oscar Mayer today announced a new line of meats called Selects that have no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors.  Delivering on what consumers want – more simple, everyday ingredients – Oscar Mayer is the first brand to offer this choice across a complete line of meat products that includes hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts.  In 2012, 50 percent of new Oscar Mayer products will have no artificial preservatives.  Goals also are in place to build on its sodium reduction progress by reducing sodium 20 percent across the entire Oscar Mayer portfolio by year end.

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The new line builds on the success of Oscar Mayer Selects Hot Dogs, which were introduced in March of 2010, by adding even more options that have no artificial preservatives.  "Our goal is to have 20 percent of our portfolio made with no artificial preservatives by 2015," said Heather Buettner, Senior Director New Product Development at Oscar Mayer.  "The consumer response to Selects Hot Dogs was simply astounding."

Only 0.5 percent of new products reach $100 million in the first year, according to Symphony IRI Group.  Oscar Mayer Selects Hot Dogs achieved that and more which put it in the top three new product introductions last year (Symphony IRI Group).  Selects Hot Dogs also brought 20 percent incremental growth to the category, 70 percent incremental growth to the Oscar Mayer brand and brought non-users back to the category.

"Listening to our consumers, and finding better ways is just the way we do business," said Buettner. "More and more, consumers today want simple, everyday ingredients they know and trust. They want food they can feel good about that is affordable and easy to find. That's why we're bringing these new choices to the meat case and offering them at everyday prices in everyday stores," she said.

Oscar Mayer has a 129-year history of finding better ways using innovation to deliver fresh tasting, high quality meats. For example, it was the first to offer a self-serve sliced bacon package and the first to brand quality meats using the now famous yellow band. This pursuit of finding better ways continues today, giving consumers more of what they want and more reasons to say "yes" to the foods they love. Oscar Mayer Selects includes 12 varieties: Six hot dogs, five cold cuts, as well as bacon. The complete line of Selects is now available in grocery stores nationwide. 

"For Oscar Mayer, finding a better way is about more than new product introductions," Buettner said.  To that end, Oscar Mayer, together with its suppliers and their farm families are working to find better ways to keep animals healthy and in a safe environment while treating them with respect. "Our consumers expect this from Oscar Mayer and our famous yellow band, which has always signified quality you can trust." 

Visit OscarMayer.com for more information about how Oscar Mayer is giving consumers more reasons to say "yes" to the food they love.

ABOUT KRAFT FOODS Kraft Foods Inc. (NYSE: KFT) is a global snacks powerhouse with an unrivaled portfolio of brands people love. Proudly marketing delicious biscuits, confectionery, beverages, cheese, grocery products and convenient meals in approximately 170 countries, Kraft Foods had 2011 revenue of $54.4 billion. Twelve of the company's iconic brands – Cadbury, Jacobs, Kraft, LU, Maxwell House, Milka, Nabisco, Oreo, Oscar Mayer, Philadelphia, Tang and Trident – generate revenue of more than $1 billion annually. On Aug. 4, 2011, Kraft Foods announced plans to divide and create two independent public companies: a high-growth global snacks business and a high-margin North American grocery business. The transaction is expected to be completed before the end of 2012. A leader in innovation, marketing, health & wellness and sustainability, Kraft Foods is a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, Standard & Poor's 500, Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethibel Sustainability Index. Visit www.kraftfoodscompany.com and www.facebook.com/kraftfoodscorporate.

SOURCE Oscar Mayer