Prepared Foods showcases new snacks and appetizers for foodservice in April 2020.

Tyson Foodservice, Springdale, Ark., greets this spring with a focus on flavor in two new snack and appetizer lines for foodservice.

“Whether served as a snack, sharable appetizer or standalone entrée, Tyson Loaded Chicken Bites will bring a fun eating experience to consumers. Available in three enticing flavors—Cheddar Bacon Ranch, Parmesan, and Mac and Cheese—these new bites are stuffed with all-white-meat chicken and visible particulates of real ingredients such as cheddar and parmesan cheeses, elbow Macaroni and bacon,” says Tyson.

With its fully cooked format, operators can count on quick and easy prep with every order.

Nashville Hot Chicken continues to be a hot product for foodservice operators, and Tyson Foodservice has expanded its Tyson Nashville Hot Chicken portfolio to include bone-in wings, giving operators more ways to add the popular flavor profile to their menu.

This new bone-in wing is the fourth product in the Tyson Nashville Hot Chicken line, which also includes boneless wings, breast filets and thigh filets.

Says Tyson, “Forty-five percent of the population orders chicken wings at restaurants and foodservice outlets and 60% of wings served are bone in. The easy, two-step process for these breaded and fully cooked wings helps reduce back-of-house prep time and ensure consistency with every order to meet consumers’ needs. Just heat and toss with the included signature sauce to give consumers a quality dish with authentic appeal that will leave them wanting more.”

They say variety is the spice of life. And Lamb Weston Holdings Inc., Eagle, Idaho, knows restaurant customers and consumers alike crave new flavors, textures, shapes and more.

That’s why the company introduced Lamb’s Seasoned Seashore-Style Flats, a new type of home-style, skin-on, thin-cut crispy and crunchy fry. And speaking of spice, the new product features a taste of black pepper, garlic, and sea salt.

“According to Datassential research, 54% of customers crave more exciting fry options,” notes Kim Cupelli, vice president of marketing. “We took that knowledge to our kitchen and created a unique fry shape and flavored it with distinct seasonings to deliver bold flavor and big results for our operators.”

Lamb Weston first introduced Lamb’s Seasoned Seashore-Style fries in 2014. Today, officials say Seashore Fries are growing six times greater than traditional fries, according to NPD Supply Track data for three months ending October 2019 versus the same period a year earlier.

Officials note that thin cut fries cook up fast to save prep time, cook time and labor costs. Moreover, the product’s pre-seasoned coating means operators can serve up greater flavor with no related chef training needed.

Officials note that last fall the Master Chefs’ Institute issued Lamb Weston a “Seal of Excellence” rating across five product categories, comprising 52 Lamb Weston potato products. The Master Chefs’ Institute, Temecula, Calif., conducts comprehensive and third-party testing of food products, beverages, and equipment. Lamb Weston frozen potato products were submitted for testing against national competitors’ products.

General Mills Convenience & Foodservice, Minneapolis, says it’s helping convenience stores and foodservice operations meet consumers’ cravings for salty snacks that pack a flavor punch.

The business offers Chex Mix MAX’D Snack Mixes with bold flavors that consumers crave, as well as new textures unlike any other salty snack. The line has had two flavorful varieties: Buffalo Ranch, Spicy Dill and officials say a new Jalapeno Chili flavor is coming this July.

All three feature unique “flavor-blasted” Chex cereal pieces and a combination of the Chex Mix components that consumers know and love such as pretzels, mini breadsticks and crispy crackers.

“We are always innovating to offer consumers a new experience grounded in the nostalgia and familiarity of our beloved brands,” says Katrina Oyanagi, a senior marketing planner with General Mills Convenience & Foodservice. “Chex Mix MAX’D gives consumers a new amped-up version of one of their favorite snack mixes with a blast of bold and spicy flavor that they crave.”

Chex Mix MAX’D snacks come individually packaged in 4.25oz bags for on-the-go convenience store patrons.