Salinas, Calif.-based Fresh Express recently launched several new salad kits inspired by global cuisines.
In a commissioned study conducted by OnePoll, Fresh Express discovered that when it comes to international flavor profiles, 36% of Americans say Mexican is their favorite, followed by Italian (32%) and Chinese (25%).
The study also found that 47% of Americans said that using international ingredients when cooking made them feel like a professional chef, and 69% of Americans would be more likely to make internationally inspired meals if it was easier. One example mentioned by 25% of those surveyed was enchiladas.
That is how Fresh Express decided to launch its new Twisted Caesar Enchilada Caesar Chopped Salad Kit. The kit comes with a blend of crisp green leaf and iceberg lettuce, chili lime tortilla crisps, crispy sweet corn kernels, a Mexican cheese blend, and green enchilada Caesar dressing.
Two of the brand’s other new salad kits are inspired by French cuisine.
Citing research from Datassential, Fresh Express said that 25% of US restaurant menus have French food, and 17% of restaurant menus feature brioche bread.
The company’s two new French-inspired salad kits are the French Bistro Chopped Salad Kit — a blend of iceberg and green leaf lettuce, shredded carrots and red cabbage, crunchy garlic brioche croutons, shaved Romano cheese, and honey Dijon dressing made with real honey — and the French Blue Cheese Salad Kit — a blend of baby spinach, spring mix, red cabbage and carrots with aromatic blue cheese, crunchy garlic brioche croutons, and a savory French blue cheese dressing.
The new salad kits are now available nationwide with a suggested retail price of $3.99.
More top trends: Korean-inspired cuisine
The vegetable enthusiasts at Immokalee, Fla.-based Ark Foods have created a first-of-its kind meal kit to be featured in the fresh produce department.
The new Korean BBQ Stir Fry Kit is packed full of farm-fresh vegetables and comes with packets of pre-cooked rice and sweet Korean barbecue sauce for fast preparation.
According to the company, the convenient meal kit only takes minutes to cook and results in a hearty, complete family meal.
“Our meticulous R&D team has closely followed the growth of the Korean BBQ trend, both on restaurant menus and in home kitchens nationwide,” said Noah Robbins, founder and CEO of Ark Foods. “We knew that this kit’s sweet and savory mix and crispy texture would be a hit, and we can’t wait to see consumers across the country enjoying it.”
The stir fry kits have already launched on the West Coast, and Ark Foods plans to expand distribution nationally soon.
The company will be exhibiting at the upcoming International Fresh Produce Association’s 2023 Global Produce & Floral Show Oct. 19-21 in Anaheim, Calif.
Sacramento, Calif.-based Blue Diamond Growers is offering a limited-time, Korean-inspired flavor of almonds through December.
Developed to taste like Korean honey butter chips, Blue Diamond’s Honey Butter Almonds are ketogenic- and kosher-certified with 5 grams of protein per serving.
“We never stop innovating at Blue Diamond,” said Maya Erwin, vice president of innovation and R&D, Blue Diamond Growers. “Honey Butter Almonds were proudly developed by Blue Diamond’s R&D scientists to create the perfect flavor balance. Our goal is to ensure that our consumers never have to search outside our products to find every flavor category they crave. These snack almonds satisfy the sweet and salty flavor blend beloved by so many — but be sure to try them before they’re swapped out for another exciting flavor.”
Other globally inspired flavors by Blue Diamond include the following:
- Korean BBQ
- Wasabi & Soy Sauce
- Dark Chocolate & Chili Pepper
- Sriracha
- Sweet Thai Chili
- Elote
This article is an excerpt from the September 2023 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Global Cuisine feature and more in the digital edition here.
