CHICAGO — Armour-Eckrich Meats L.L.C., a division of Smithfield Foods, Inc., has introduced pepperoni with cheese, a sliced product that blends cheddar cheese with pepperoni in a dry sausage. The company is marketing the product as a snack item.

“People love pepperoni,” said Chrles Gitkin, vice-president of marketing, innovation and R.&D. for the John Morrell Food Group, also a business unit of Smithfield Foods. “That’s why we’re very confident in our belief that high quality, ready-to-eat pepperoni will continue to help retailers grow in this economy.”