Beech-Nut Introduces Whole New Toddler Food Line

LATHAM, N.Y.-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation today announced the introduction of Beech-Nut Let’s Grow!, a full line of innovative, nutritious toddler food. This new line was developed to offer moms nutritious options in the toddler aisle that don’t sacrifice nutrition for taste or convenience. The launch of Let’s Grow! is part of Beech-Nut Advancing Nutrition, the company’s pledge and commitment to providing nutritious food to support the healthy growth of infants and toddlers, as well as developing new and better offerings for the grocery store. The Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! line will be the first to feature Beech-Nut’s “No Junk Promise?” – mom’s cue that the product offers the best possible nutrition without the added junk that can be found elsewhere in the grocery store, for example: high fructose corn syrup, excessive sodium and added refined sugar.

The No Junk Promise, called out prominently on each package, shows Beech-Nut’s commitment to a strict set of nutritional criteria important to moms:

• No artificial flavors, colors, MSG or preservatives
• All-natural ingredients without any trans fats, additional refined sugar or unnecessary salt that are empty and non-nutritional
• Excellent source of vitamins and minerals for healthy growth and development

“At Beech-Nut we saw a need in the toddler aisle for a product that fit within today’s on-the-go families without sacrificing nutrition,” said Christoph Rudolf, president and CEO of Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation. “We want to offer new products that reflect our promise of advancing nutrition, while remaining convenient for Mom’s busy lifestyle.”

The new Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! line features 19 products that are all-natural with added vitamins and minerals and made with real fruits and vegetables that taste natural because they are all-natural, not artificially flavored. The new line also introduces three product groups brand new to the toddler category including toddler cereal, yogurt-covered whole grain snacks and seven grain snacks, all representing Beech-Nut’s commitment to driving innovation and nutrition in the baby food industry.

According to The 2007 Gallup Study of Infant and Toddler Foods and Feeding Habits, nearly half of 2-year-olds are fed pizza (49 percent) and hot dogs (44 percent), and more than a third are fed French fries (38 percent) as part of their diet. Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! meals and snacks are designed to give moms more healthy food options, instead of feeding their little ones junk that can be found outside of the toddler food aisle.

The Let’s Grow! line features a fresh look that reflects Beech-Nut’s all-natural commitment. Packaging depicts a whimsical outdoor world that is imaginative and uncluttered, incorporating each of the 19 foods into its respective design. The Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! world is meant to be a cheerful, simpler departure from the loud designs that are often found in the toddler food aisle.

The introduction of Let’s Grow! marks the biggest product launch in Beech-Nut’s 117-year history. The new line will be supported by television advertising – a toddler first for Beech-Nut – as well as print advertising, direct mailers, coupons, promotions, in-store merchandising and online and public relations components to drive awareness and trial of the new products.

Comparing the Competition

Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! toddler line is designed to offer moms healthier choices when feeding their toddlers. In comparison to the Gerber GRADUATES^? line, Let’s Grow! has many clear nutritious advantages:

• Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! Tummy Meals and Mini Meals have up to 50% less sodium than Gerber Lil’ Entrées and Lil Meals.
• Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! meals have 200 mg of sodium or less per serving, while:
  • Gerber Lil’ Entrees have as much as 430 mg of sodium.
  • Gerber Lil’ Meals have as much as 470 mg of sodium, which is more than a large order of McDonald’s French fries.
• Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! Fruit Nibbles fruit snacks are all natural with vitamins and minerals and contain a full serving of fruit and five times more fruit puree than Gerber Graduates Juice Treats – which also has corn syrup and sugar as its first two ingredients. Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! Fruit Nibbles also contain 100 percent of Daily Value of Vitamin C versus just 20 percent in Gerber Graduates Juice Treats.
• Beech-Nut Let’s Grow! cookies and biscuits contain no added refined sugar, while Gerber Graduates cookies and biscuits have both sugar and high fructose corn syrup.

Tradition of Innovation

Beech-Nut has a long-standing commitment to innovation in nutrition and packaging, and to providing choices for parents as a way to grow the infant and toddler nutrition category. The company recently introduced the first-of-its-kind functional beverages for infants as well as the first seafood, whole wheat and muesli food options for baby.

Additionally, last year the company introduced Good Morning & Good Evening and DHA plus+, two new lines of jarred and dry cereal foods for babies. The company also introduced Easy Pour, a packaging innovation to make feeding baby easier.

The latest additions to Beech-Nut’s portfolio of products are part of the “new Beech-Nut” as part of Hero’s Global Infant Nutrition division. By leveraging Hero’s expertise, Beech-Nut continues to be an industry leader in advancing nutrition for toddlers and infants, bringing international innovation and expertise to the United States.

The Let’s Grow! line was created based on the new Beech-Nut Advancing Nutrition platform, which outlines strict nutritional guidelines that all new products must meet in order to make it to the baby food aisle. Beech-Nut Advancing Nutrition is the company’s pledge to provide the most nutritious food to support the healthy development of infants and toddlers.

About Beech-Nut

Since 1931, Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation has been built on a history of innovation and dedication to infant nutrition. Headquartered in Latham, New York, Beech-Nut is the number two leading baby food brand in the United States and is committed to deliver more nutritious choices for parents and babies. As a subsidiary of Hero Group of Lenzburg, Switzerland, a global leader in consumer goods and infant feeding, Beech-Nut is able to combine resources to continuously improve food and nutrition for infants.

For more information about Beech-Nut, visit www.beechnut.com.

Beech-Nut Nutrition Corporation

Lorie Eigenrauch, 314-552-6783

Leigenrauch@webershandwick.com

or

Ann Balsamo, 314-552-6723

Abalsamo@webershandwick.com