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Bob Garrison came in from the cold. A founding editor of BNP Media's Refrigerated & Frozen Foods (R&FF) Bob has profiled industry-leading companies, explored corporate strategies and covered food product development trends at more than 150 leading private and CPG companies since 1989. He has chronicled the histories of leading brands and businesses, including Gorton's, ConAgra Frozen Foods (Banquet) and Swanson's frozen TV dinners. He also has interviewed or profiled such food industry leaders as Mike Harper (ConAgra), Don Tyson and frozen bagel icon Murray Lender.
Looking more closely at new product trends, it's clear that meat, poultry and seafood processors are addressing consumer interests in flavor and new food experiences. Still more new products help operators address back-of-house labor issues and consumers' concerns about ethical sourcing and sustainability.
Manufacturers' new offerings need to fit their customers' menu trends and operational demands. Those two requirements are standard. And then there's a third dimension—the true reason that makes a new item stand out for customer and consumer.
Remember when dairy products were sexy and on-trend? Food executives and consumers might recall the "Got Milk?" and the "Milk Mustache" campaigns in the early and mid-90s.
Among many processors addressing this need is General Mills Foodservice. The past 12 months have seen this Minneapolis-based company launch a range of Pillsbury frozen baked goods that can be baked fresh on site to give restaurants, retail bakeries and foodservice operations added versatility and creativity.
I’m equally excited to tell you even more about another Prepared Foods “state of the industry” (SOI) offering—this time one designed to be the ultimate interactive, in-person event. I’ll note, however that this SOI stands for much more than “state of the industry.” In fact, it’s better billed as the “state of innovation” in food and beverage.
Traceability and wholesome, better-for-you attributes represent just a few of the key themes across today's retail meat, poultry and seafood categories.
Traceability and wholesome, better-for-you attributes represent just one of several key themes across today's retail meat, poultry and seafood categories. Other dominant trends involve snacking, flavor and convenience.
When you're talking about the dairy category, there's a seemingly endless array of opportunities—dairy and non-dairy alike—stretching across the refrigerated dairy case to the freezer case.
There’s no better way to introduce Prepared Foods’ upcoming 17th annual Spirit of Innovation Awards. These distinctive awards recognize new foods and beverages in retail, foodservice and alternative channels—all those items introduced from January 2018 through March 2019.
I realize you already may be in the middle of fiscal 2019, yet I believe there’s something noteworthy in turning the page on a calendar year. Perhaps it’s simply that holidays and vacations (hopefully) offer respite, a moment to downshift, an opportunity to pause and hit “refresh.”
