Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Pearson Foods Corp. (pearsonfoods.com) introduces a “first-of-its-kind” collection of fresh, heat-and-eat ramen bowls featuring fresh-cut vegetables, ramen noodles and authentic, custom-developed broths. Offered in crystal clear, recyclable bowls that go from fridge to microwave, the meals come in five flavors, each with a 10-day shelf life: Savory Chicken Broth & Seaweed, Spicy Soy Broth & Pickled Ginger, Tangy Miso Broth & Wood Ear Mushrooms, Nutty Sesame Broth & Seaweed, and Traditional Pork Broth & Wood Ear Mushrooms. Consumers just add water and microwave for 2 minutes. Packed four to a case, the 7- to 7.5-ounce bowls are expected to retail around $4.99. The company can also add a pair of chopsticks to the cardboard sleeve for true grab-and-go convenience.

MAPLE LEAF SALES UP 4.3%
Mississauga, Ontario-based Maple Leaf Foods reported sales up by 4.3% to $1,174.9 million (Canadian) for the first quarter ended March 31. Net loss was $57.7