RICE & PASTA A quick snapshot of new and best-selling products.
Exciting new organic rice varieties with high levels of antioxidants have arrived in store and the Pasta category has evolved too. We now find ‘better for you’, high fibre, high protein, and gluten-free pasta variants on offer. San Remo’s Pulse Pasta range, for example, ticks some of these boxes with dried pasta made from lentils, peas, chickpeas, or brown rice.
Diamond Pasta & Rice Risotto Wilson Consumer Products markets the Diamond brand of Pasta as well as Diamond Rice Risotto and Meals. Diamond pasta is New Zealand’s first pasta brand, which was launched around the time of World War II. Unlike most pasta brands on the market today, Diamond is still Kiwi owned. “Generations of Kiwis continue to love the Diamond brand, which aims to be a cook’s best friend,” explains Marketing and Business Development Manager Susan Harvey. “Diamond has developed something for all cooks - from 14
FMCG BUSINESS - AUGUST 2021
confident experienced cooks to those who are less confident in the kitchen. “We have recently incorporated several features in our products that make life easier for every cook. For example, most of our pasta packaging is recloseable, so you don’t need to transfer pasta into another container. We also found that many people struggled to gauge how much dry pasta to cook up, which often results in too much finished pasta which was then thrown away. Each Diamond pasta pack has portion markings, which act as a guide on how much to cook for each person, minimising food wastage. “For those who are in a hurry or who are less confident in the kitchen, our range of Diamond Rice Risotto offers an easy family meal solution. Rice Risotto only takes 20 minutes to cook and just requires the addition of oil and water to make up a wholesome family meal. Rice Risotto can be eaten on its own or with the addition any meat or vegetables; also making it an ideal versatile meal option to keep in the pantry. The range also has
“DIAMOND WAS THE FASTEST GROWING BRAND IN THE LAST QUARTER WITH SALES UP 31%”.” SUSAN HARVEY, MARKETING AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER