Diners Seeking New and Delicious Ways to Eat Healthy Bacteria

Diners Seeking New and Delicious Ways to Eat Healthy BacteriaDiners Seeking New and Delicious Ways to Eat Healthy Bacteria

Karoun Dairies Grows Blue Isle’s Award-Winning Product Line with New Probiotic-Rich Spreads, Yogurts, Cheeses, and Sour Creams at the Western Food Service & Hospitality Expo

Visit Booth # 1311 at the Los Angeles Convention Center, to sample Blue Isle’s new Mediterranean products, August 23 – 25.

Diners Seeking New and Delicious Ways to Eat Healthy BacteriaSAN FERNANDO, CALIFORNIA (AUGUST 13, 2015) – If research had predicted 50-years ago, that people would be intentionally eating foods with live bacteria, we would’ve thought the bacteria had gone to the researchers’ heads! However, the growing desire for probiotics is real. Health conscious diners, from millennials to boomers, are looking for ways to easily incorporate healthy bacteria in their diets. Influencers such as lifestyle TV shows, magazines, and celebrities are all sharing the health and happiness benefits of probiotics. According to Food Manufacturing, “Probiotic dairy products are expected to command the highest market share among all the probiotic foodstuffs accounting for almost 80% in the year 2011 and reach a market size of almost $23.93 billion by 2017.” Additionally, the 2014 State of Dairy Industry Report, written by Dairy Foods editor Sarah M. Kennedy, shows that the growing trends for 2015 include, “Bold flavors, nutrition labels, and snacking… Cheese makers are adding spicy peppers, herbs, and fruits to their offerings in an effort to attract younger consumers to the category.”[1]

In addition to probiotics and bold flavor demands, consumers are moving towards health conscious menus, such as Mediterranean and European style dining. The health benefits of Mediterranean and European approach to healthy eating are not just positive perceptions, but are also being supported by the scientific community, according to new market research jointly published by Packaged Facts and CCD Innovation.[2] Even Men’s Health Magazine noted, “Mediterranean going mainstream” as a top culinary trend for 2015.[3]

As an award-winning leader in dairy, Karoun Dairies (KarounCheese.com), is raising the foodservice bar with the introduction of Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads as well as the new Blue Isle Mediterranean Greek Yogurts, and Blue Isle Sour Creams. Designed for a growing health-conscious population, Blue Isle replaces tired menu items with tastier and nutritionally superior alternatives. Additionally, Karoun Dairies will also be exhibiting their award-winning Yanni Grilling Cheese, which will be filling the booth #1311 with the most appetizing aroma. As well as the Karoun Mediterranean Labne, the deliciously creamy yogurt that’s excellent for cooking, topping, and as a rich yogurt.

Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads launched in 2014. The yogurt spreads are made from the healthy goodness of yogurt, including live cultures, probiotics and calcium, but no added sugar. With only 60 calories and 6g of fat per 2 tbsp. serving, Blue Isle has nearly 40% fewer calories and total fat than the leading cream cheese. At this year’s Summer Fancy Food Show, Blue Isle will be adding Strawberry to their line-up of yogurt spread flavors.  All natural and kosher continue to be important factors in the consumer’s purchase choice, and Blue Isle is both natural and OU Kosher certified. While the health benefits of Blue Isle are clear, the delicious flavor and mouth-watering texture truly make them a category innovation.

Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads are available in six flavors:

  • Original
  • Honey
  • Blueberry
  • French Onion
  • Spicy Vegetable
  • Strawberry (New Flavor)

Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads were awarded 1st place at this year’s American Cheese Society Awards in Sacramento for the “Greek Style Yogurt and Labneh” categories.[4] The American Cheese Society is a top endorsement for Blue Isle Mediterranean Yogurt Spreads’ quality and category excellence.

New Innovations for 2015:

Blue Isle Mediterranean Greek Yogurt is smooth and creamy Greek yogurt made with fresh, Grade A, all-natural Real California Milk and contains live probiotic cultures that aid digestion. Blue Isle Mediterranean Greek Yogurt comes in Plain Non-Fat and Plain Full-Fat as well as the following delicious flavors – Honey, Honey Coconut, Honey Blueberry, and Honey Vanilla.

Blue Isle Mediterranean Sour Cream is made with all natural ingredients in the Mediterranean old country style with no stabilizers, just cream and cultures. Used for dips, toppings or to thicken soups and casseroles, this is an extremely versatile product that is available in Original and Lite.

Karoun Dairies, Inc. Best Sellers:

Yanni Grilling Cheese is a traditional semi-firm Mediterranean grilling cheese with a distinctive layered texture. It is mildly salty with a rich buttery taste. Yanni can withstand a tremendous amount of heat without melting. It develops a delicious golden crust when pan-seared, grilled, or BBQ.

Karoun Mediterranean Labne is a thick and creamy yogurt cheese and a healthier alternative to regular cream cheese. It is also rich enough to be used as a substitute for sour cream.

Meet the team and sample Blue Isle’s new Mediterranean products by visiting booth #1311 at the Western Food Service & Hospitality Expo.

Blue Isle is distributed by Karoun Dairies, Inc. (KarounCheese.com), a second-generation family business with multiple awards for excellence in the cheese and dairy industry.  Accolades include World Cheese Awards, World Championship Cheese medals, U.S. Championships, California State Fair awards and in 2014, 1st Place for Blue Isle Original in the Labneh, Greek Style Yogurt, and Other Strained Yogurt Products category from the American Cheese Society. Karoun produces some of California’s finest specialty cheeses using century-old and handmade methods. All 130+ SKUs are made from ultra-premium ingredients, including premium milk from cows that are free of artificial hormones, BGH/rBST, and are Real California Milk certified.

For additional information, images, and product samples for press purposes, please contact Nora Miller, Gauger + Associates, nmiller@gauger-associates.com.

Blue Isle Social Media: 

Thank you Food & Beverage Magazine

[1] http://www.foodmanufacturing.com/news/2013/11/consumer-trends-probiotics-market-benefits-functional-foods-fad

[2] http://www.foodproductdesign.com/news/2014/01/mediterranean-diet-spurs-menu-flavor-trends.aspx

[3] http://www.mensfitness.com/nutrition/what-to-eat/forecasting-2015-we-predict-top-10-nutrition-trends-new-year

[4] 2014 ACS Judging & Competition Results Sacramento, California.