Side Show Attraction

Side dishes were among more than 50 new items this summer from Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago. 

Conagra extended its Birds Eye line (Steamfresh microwave prep) with four new sauced vegetables: Maple Glazed Carrots, Teriyaki Glazed Green Beans, Garlic Butter Broccoli and Garlic Butter Green Beans. Also new were three 20oz-24oz potato dishes: Garlic Herb Baby Potatoes, Cheesy Potato Casserole and Loaded Mashed Potatoes. Birds Eye Voila! also added two family-size side dishes: 

Chicken Bacon Ranch Mac & Cheese and a Beef Lo Mein.

Joining the Alexia line were two new oven roasters and two new skillet vegetables. They include Parmesan Truffle Broccoli and Balsamic Brussels Sprouts & Carrots. Ready for skillet prep are new Brown Butter Green Beans and Hot Honey Carrots.

Added Flavor, Convenience

Riviana Foods Inc., Houston, expanded its Minute Rice Cups line with three new varieties: Hot Honey Chicken Seasoned Rice; Long Grain & Wild Seasoned Rice with Herbs; and Sticky Rice.

“The Hot Honey Chicken Seasoned Rice Cups embrace the popular 'swicy' food trend in one convenient cup and are perfect for those craving the ideal balance of sweet and spicy,” says Riviana. The product combines a savory chicken flavor with medium heat and the subtle sweetness of honey, melded with paprika, turmeric, and red peppers. Riviana says Long Grain & Wild Seasoned Rice with Herbs comes enhanced with a savory seasoning of onion and garlic, and finished with zesty herbs. 

Riviana says its new Sticky Rice “allows consumers to forget the tedious process of cooking sticky rice and enjoy hassle-free sushi and poke preparation in a cinch.”

Flavor, Diet Appeal

It’s been a busy year at Idahoan Foods LLC, Idaho Falls, Idaho. In August, it introduced Idahoan Bacon Cheddar Potato Shreds (two-cup pack) and collaborated with Tapatío Foods’ hot sauce for new Idahoan Tapatío Triple Cheese Mashed Potatoes (four-cup pack).

"We are eager to expand our most popular on-the-go lines with two new flavor-packed options designed for potato fans looking for convenience and great taste," said Ryan Ellis, vice president of retail marketing & business development. 

In July, Idahoan added Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes in three new varieties: a 12oz Value Size, a Dairy-Free offering and a Reduced Sodium (30% less) offering. 

Street Food Flavors

Mars Food & Nutrition, Chicago, introduced Ben’s Original Street Food, a line offerings straddling the line between side dish and entrée. Four varieties (9oz) include Jamaican Jerk Style Red Beans & Rice with Chicken; Gumbo with Chicken Andouille Sausage; Fried Rice with Vegetables; and a Bean & Rice Burrito Bowl.

"We are excited to introduce our newest innovation that responds to the changing needs of consumers," said Angie Madigan, vice president of marketing at Mars Food & Nutrition North America. "With Ben's Original Street Food, we are offering delicious meals that suit their fast-paced lifestyles. This innovation puts Ben's Original at the heart of the plate, not just the side.”

Veggie-Forward Sides

This September saw B&G Foods Inc., Parsippany, N.J., bolster its Green Giant brand with 12 new veggie-forward frozen offerings. 

Capitalizing on the viral trend of smashed veggies, Green Giant introduced two frozen varieties of Crispy Smashed Potatoes: Original (Sea Salt & Black Pepper) and Garlic Parmesan. Also new are Corn Cob Bites in two varieties: Butter, Salt & Pepper and Mexican Style Street Corn. Each frozen bag has approximately 1" cuts of corn on the cob “that are perfect as a side dish, an appetizer or for snacking,” the company says. Green Giant also added a new category with Veggie Ramen. Available in Chicken Flavored, Beef Flavored, Garlic Soy and Spicy Chicken Flavored, Veggie Ramen delivers a blend of vegetables, ramen noodles and broth.

Green Giant also extended its Restaurant Style Roasting Veggies and Veggies & Rice lines with new Broccoli & Roasted Red Potatoes with Cheddar Seasoning; Tri-Colored Potatoes with Steakhouse Butter Seasoning; Broccoli Pilaf with Garlic Parmesan Seasoning and Asparagus; and Pea & Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Parmesan Sauce.  

Same Name. New Store Shelf

This September saw Nestlé USA, Solon, Ohio, take its Stouffer’s brand out of the freezercase for the first time with Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese, a shelf-stable item. It comes with dry pasta and liquid cheese sauce and debuted in two flavors: Cheddar Cheese and Three Cheese. Officials say stovetop cooking time is just 10 minutes with no additional ingredients required. The new mac and cheese is available on Amazon, and at select national retailers at an MSRP of $3.99 per 12oz box with continued rollout in 2025

"Americans love their mac and cheese, and so do we! We saw an opportunity to expand beyond our fan-favorite frozen options by introducing Stouffer’s Supreme Shells & Cheese to provide a more cheese forward flavor experience than what's currently available in the aisle," said Megan McLaughlin, Stouffer’s senior brand manager. 

On-Trend Flavors  

Reser’s Fine Foods, Beaverton, Ore., brought a range of convenient meal solutions, premium salads, and bulk offerings to this summer’s 2024 International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) annual expo. 

New premium grab-and-go Stonemill Kitchens salad offerings include Chili Crisp Pasta, Tuscan-Style Pasta, Lemon Capellini, Basil Pesto Pasta, and Korean-Style Noodle. Joining the Reser’s American Classics Sides line were Creamed Corn, followed this fall by Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots.

New Bulk Deli sides include Potato Rosettes, Hot Honey Macaroni & Cheese with White Meat Chicken, a Red, White & Blue Mashed Potato Kit with Bacon, and Cheesy Garlic Cauliflower Rice. Reser’s also introduced three fresh salad kits: Ginger Chicken with Broccoli and Feta, Korean Style Noodle Salad, and Three- Tomato Bowtie Pasta.

New Formula, Better Bite

Litehouse, Inc. says it upgraded its Veggiecraft pasta brand with improved formulas and new packaging. The new formula features a classic, neutral flavor and a sturdier al dente consistency that holds its shape, officials say. 

The product line includes eight new and improved options including Cauliflower Rotini, Cauliflower Penne, Cauliflower Spaghetti, Cauliflower Elbows, Zucchini Penne, Zucchini Spaghetti, Sweet Potato Penne, and Sweet Potato Spaghetti. Veggiecraft is available nationally in the pasta aisle at major retailers including Kroger, Food Lion, Publix and Winco, as well as on Amazon, for a suggested retail price of $3.49-$4.99. 

Fresh Approach

This fall saw Bolthouse Fresh Foods (BFF), Bakersfield, Calif., introduce three new lines for retail and foodservice distribution, including Side Dish Sizzlers. BFF says these premium, “artisan-sliced” Side Dish Sizzler carrots come with a paired sauce, ready for quick stovetop, air fryer, or oven roasting. Consumers simply add the sauce right before cooking. Varieties include Garlic Herb, Sweet Honey Heat, and Herb Vinaigrette. 

“This is a big year for Bolthouse Fresh Foods, underscoring our commitment to a more consumer-focused approach,” said Karen White, BFF vice president of marketing. “While positioning our company for the next generation of consumers, we’re simultaneously innovating with products that make it easier to incorporate nutrient-rich foods into our consumers’ busy lifestyles.”