A host of new seafood products is tapping into surging consumer demand for new and exotic flavors.
Rich Products, which owns the SeaPak and Morey’s seafood brands, is tracking increased consumer demand for quality, convenience and bold flavors, said Ciera Womack, marketing director of Rich’s Seafood Consumer Brands division.
“Consumers are still purchasing their everyday favorites, but also enjoy finding new, interesting items to try and share with their family and friends,” she said.
Rich Products is tapping into that demand with two new products this year, one under the SeaPak banner, the other from Morey’s.
SeaPak’s new Dynamite Shrimp is targeted at lovers of spicy foods, Womack said.
Featuring oven-crispy popcorn shrimp with a creamy, spicy chili sauce, Dynamite Shrimp taps into surging demand for bang-bang shrimp, which has seen a 119% increase in placement on US restaurant menus in the past four years, according to Datassential.
It also aligns, Womack said, with a growing trend of consumer interest in foods with a kick and with consistent growth in the Asian-style frozen snacks and foods category.
“We know that so many consumers are familiar with and love the bold, spicier flavors they get in restaurants, so we wanted to create a product that would allow them to bring that experience home.”
After cooking the shrimp in a conventional oven or air fryer, customers can use the separately packed chili sauce to “sauce and toss” the shrimp in a bowl, or dip individual shrimp directly into the sauce, depending on how much flavor and spice they prefer.
Dynamite Shrimp, which has four servings per package, joins a roster of Asian-inspired SeaPak products that also includes Shrimp Fried Rice Bites, Tempura Shrimp, and Shrimp Spring Rolls.
Seafood goes sweet heat
The new product from Morey’s, Tilapia Sweet Chili, capitalizes on consumers’ growing affection for sweet heat, Womack said.
The products joins high-quality ASC-certified tilapia with a sweet and spicy marinade that features notes of honey, soy, peppers and garlic.
“The popularity of Asian-style sweet chili flavors continues to grow in the US, and this is an exciting new entry in that category,” Womack said.
It’s also gluten-free, she added, giving it wide appeal to consumers looking healthy white fish options.
Foods with sweet chili and other Asian-style flavors are experiencing double-digit growth across the US and particularly in the South, Womack said.
About 46% of consumers say they love or like the flavor of sweet chili, and 42% say it’s their most preferred Asian-style sauce, according to Datassential.
“We’re incredibly excited to add such a beloved flavor profile to our product portfolio,” Womack said.
Morey’s Tilapia Sweet Chili began showing up in Publix stores in January with a suggested retail price between $7.99 and $10.99. Each 10-ounce package includes two fillets in marinade.
Rich’s believes that both Dynamite Shrimp and Tilapia Sweet Chili will help consumers experience restaurant-quality fare at home, but at a lower price.
“We’ve been able to bring new, bolder flavors with restaurant inspiration to the marketplace, providing value and convenience to our consumers at home,” Womack said.
This article is an excerpt from the March 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Seafood feature and more in the digital edition here.