IzzyCue’s noodle is as skillfully crafted as
any dish Ducasse, Keller or Trotter ever created!
WASHINGTON DC (PRWEB) August 9, 2004 -- IzzyCue, the
venerable lifestyle brand, launches a new line of super-premium
ready-to-eat gourmet noodle at cafe stores in the mid-Atlantic
region.
Almost half a year in the planning, the product boasts
of a high-end spinach fettuccini-style noodle with a rich
thick premium citrus ginger sauce packaged separately
on the side within the container. The noodles are topped
with three expertly-prepared ingredients, consisting of
sautéed sliced shitake mushrooms, Pollock-Surimi
flakes and lightly-seasoned julienne carrots. The presentation
comes in a square plastic container with a designer label
going across the side panel (label design by IDeG: IzzyCue
Design Group).
“This lunch product would not have been possible
without the commitment and dedication of some of the industry’s
top suppliers,” IzzyCue chief executive Kenneth
H. Tan explains. “We are especially excited that
Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFMI: Nasdaq) will be co-packing
the product line for us,” Kenneth comments.
With compound annual growth *(CAGR) reaching 4% globally,
noodles is one of the fastest growing sectors in world
packaged food. Growth was derived mainly from continuing
strong performance in non-traditional outlets.
An integral part of Asian diets, noodles is a new and
relatively unestablished product in the rest of the world.
That said, in the US sales increased by 16% between 1998
to 2003, making it the third largest noodle market in
the world behind Japan and China. Demand is driven by
strong exposure to Asian cuisine in foodservice, mainly
through the rising number of noodle shops, which in turn
prompted retailers to stock a wider variety of noodles,
making the product more readily available to consumers
They're comfortable and familiar, yet international and
exotic. Noodles play a role in the cuisine of cultures
worldwide and can range from the simplistic to the divine.
While noodles, and restaurants serving noodles, are nothing
new, national noodle chains are just emerging. Regardless
of whether noodles are a menu cornerstone or general theme,
these concepts appeal to customers looking for something
a little healthier to eat while remaining in familiar
territory.
The main distribution channel for noodles in the US was
originally specialized Asian shops and restaurants. But
as demand for noodles is growing, new distribution channels
are emerging and supermarkets/hypermarkets and cafes are
meeting these demands.
Value sales of noodles are expected to grow by 10.6%
in constant terms in 2004, making it one of the dynamic
areas of the packaged food industry in the US. This strong
growth will largely be the result of growing urbanization
as noodles offer a quick meal option for those with increasingly
hectic lifestyles.
The company expects to roll-out to additional outlets
each new quarter.
IzzyCue Café Division and IzzyCue Design Group
(IDeG) collaborated in this project. The former specializes
in innovative up-and-coming food and beverage products;
while the latter entity is an upstart packaging and branding
agency within the food and beverage industry.
About IzzyCue
IzzyCue, a unit of BKN International Incorporated, is
an emerging cross-channels manufacturer of high-end consumer
products. The unit-brand builds leadership products in
three highly-focused global businesses: Food & Beverage,
Popular Culture and Design & Fashion. Its primary
vision is to create a desirable long-term super-premium
brand of significance.
This press release contains forward-looking statements
and projections concerning the Company’s plans,
strategies, expectations, predictions and financial projections
concerning the Company’s future activities and results
of operations and other future events or conditions, and
are “forward-looking statements” as defined
by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Copyright & Registered Trademark:
IzzyCue ® is an international Registered Trademark
of BKN International Incorporated. All other trade names
and/or trademarks belong to their respective companies.
2004 All rights reserved. This article is protected by
intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced,
rewritten, distributed, re-disseminated, transmitted,
displayed, published or broadcast directly or indirectly,
in any medium without the prior written permission of
BKN International Incorporated.
