Clean, Plant Forward

“Understandably, today’s diners are concerned about ways they can enhance their diet and minimize their impact on the environment,” said Stacey Kinkaid, vice president, product development and innovation, US Foods. “Spring Scoop was developed to not only address an elevated focus on well-being but also offers products that align with consumers’ continued interest in sustainable products. Hungry for Better answers these demands with offerings that may have once been considered ‘trendy’ but are now table stakes.” 

Kinkaid said Spring Scoop offerings include plant-forward products, items with a clean-label profile and functional foods. One of those is US Foods’ Roseli Premium Gluten-Free 100% Red Lentil Rotini.

Made with a single ingredient, this 100% red lentil rotini pasta provides an excellent source of fiber and a good source of protein. As part of the company’s Serve Good6 program lineup, the product is made entirely of lentils and is gluten-free certified and Non-GMO Project Verified. These traditionally shaped rotini are a versatile and simple alternative for any pasta recipe.

Sysco Corporation, Houston, greeted the new year with nine new product concepts in its Cutting Edge Solutions platform. 

“Now more than ever, foodservice operators must provide differentiated offerings to succeed in this challenging operating environment. Sysco’s Cutting Edge Solutions platform offers our customers unique and on-trend products to stay ahead of their competition and provide chef-tested menu items that are not only innovative, but also provide labor and operational savings,” said Judy Sansone, Sysco’s executive vice president and chief commercial officer.

Among the new offerings are fries formulated for takeout and delivery. Officials say new Sysco Imperial Red Battered Jumbo Crinkle Cut Fries feature a distinctive red batter and size to deliver savory potato flavor and striking visual appearance. Most importantly, the fries’ thickness and battered coating help retain heat and maintain crispiness for a superior hold time.

Sansone also notes that plant-based pastas also have increased in popularity for diners seeking grain-free alternatives. She notes Sysco Simply Plant-Based Vegetable Pastas “are pre-cooked, deliver great flavor and texture, and are ready-to-serve in under four minutes.” Available options include penne, rotini, a curly noodle and orzo.

Simplot Food Group, Boise, Idaho, offers two new side dishes combining Latin flavor appeal with a vegetable-forward focus. These include a new Simplot Good Grains Cilantro Lime Rice & Fire Roasted Corn Fiesta Blend and Simplot RoastWorks Roasted Redskin Potatoes & Jalapeno Blend.

 “International flavors are finding their way onto all kinds of menus,” says Simplot Corporate Executive Chef Michael Zeller. “These products help you serve those flavors with a lot less prep and a lot more consistency day to day.”

Simplot Good Grains Premium Blends feature nutritious whole grains and colorful vegetables in delicious combinations designed to appeal to the palates of today’s health-conscious consumers. This new Cilantro Lime Rice & Fire Roasted Corn Fiesta Blend features brown rice, black beans, fire-roasted corn, poblanos, tomatoes, onions and a savory cilantro lime seasoning.

This consistent, heat-and-serve Latin-inspired side fits vegan/vegetarian diets and has brown rice and black beans for a protein punch. It’s ready from pan to plate in less than 10 minutes with applications that fit every menu daypart.

Simplot RoastWorks Roasted Redskin Potatoes and Jalapeño Blend pairs the universal appeal of roasted potatoes and the mellow heat of poblano and flame-roasted bell peppers with jalapeños, green onions, garlic and spicy pepper seasoning. This vegan, gluten-free product has labor-saving appeal and eliminates the costly handwork associated with potato cutting and roasting.

Both products ship frozen in 2.5lb bags shipped six per case.

Reser’s Fine Foods, Beaverton, Ore., knows that foodservice operators need more pre-packaged meal options. That’s why it developed Deli Preferred, a new 10-item line of side dishes already packed for grab-and-go appeal at in-store delis, colleges and universities, corporate foodservice venues or restaurant curbside pick-up programs. 

“From singles who are constantly on the go, to families with diverse tastes and appetites, the Deli Preferred Salad line has a solution for very customer need,” the company says. “Each Deli Preferred salad is pre-packaged, safely sealed and ready to sell. Gone are the days of buying fresh refrigerated products in bulk and portioning them out on-site.”

New salad varieties include Greek Pasta, Rotini Pasta, Thai Noodle, Lemon Capellini, Smoked Mozzarella Penne Pasta, Hot & Sweet Summer Corn, Basil Pesto Bowtie, BBQ Beans with Brisket, Chicken Salad, and Rustic Red Potato Salad.

The refrigerated offerings come with a guaranteed 24-day shelf life. They range from 7oz to 11oz and come in clear packaging so consumers can instantly see the product, ingredients, colors, textures and more.