Many consumers love to try to replicate restaurant-style meals at home, said Drew Calvert, vice president of marketing at Niman Ranch.

That often means embracing new flavor combinations that seasoned and marinated meats can offer.

Niman Ranch’s pork, beef and lamb can be found in some of the country’s top restaurants, where innovative chefs are introducing new flavors and trends to consumers.

Niman Ranch studies how those chefs are using their products and applies to it their own development of seasoned and marinated products for retail, Calvert said.

“Consumers are looking to experiment with new spices and global cuisines," Calvert said. Seasoned and marinated meats are a great way to explore these flavors of the world."

Easy meal solutions

People on the lookout for easier meal solutions is among the main drivers of surging demand for seasoned and marinated meats at retail, Calvert said.

“Consumers are looking for the convenience of pre-seasoned meats and are willing to add new products to their basket that appeal to their family and make mealtimes a bit faster and easier.”

Niman Ranch’s lineup of pre-seasoned products includes three pork chops — Herb and Cracked Mustard Seed, Bacon Wrapped with Rosemary and Sea Salt and Cracked Black Pepper — and a line of pre-seasoned fresh ground pork, available in Sweet Italian, Breakfast and Chorizo.

Niman Ranch has extended its line of ground products in recent years to meet surging demand for grinds, Calvert said.

“Not only are grinds fast and easy to prepare for home cooks, they also provide less pressure on the consumer’s pocketbook.”

The latest addition to the lineup is Chorizo, which Calvert describes as a “boldly flavored blend that delivers a satisfying spicy heat level,” along with all the claims Niman Ranch is known for: crate-free, raised by family farmers humanely and sustainably, without the use of antibiotics or hormones.

“We’re very excited about the Chorizo,” she said. “It can be used as a component in so many recipes from breakfast scrambles, to pasta or chili or — my favorite — queso.”

This article is an excerpt from the June 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Seasoned & Marinated feature and more in the digital edition here.