Sweet and savory flavors are a classic combination, and the reason behind Excalibur Seasoning’s new Hot Honey Beer rub, designed specifically for bacon, said John Brewer, the company’s vice president of sales and marketing.

“Cane and brown sugar add the sweet to this blend, and natural beer flavor is prominent in the bite. The red pepper gives it a mild heat and a touch of clove provides the finish that makes for a fantastic bacon rub.”

Well-received by customers thus far, Hot Honey Beer rub has been described as “bacon with a kick”, “unique” and “a great addition to our bacon offerings,” Brewer said.

 And it’s not just good on bacon. Excalibur customized the blend for application on popcorn at the request of a snack food manufacturing customer, and it’s been so far. Moviegoers should find it at concessions in theaters this fall, Brewer said.

Two other new flavors for Excalibur in the bacon realm are Bacon BBQ patty blend, a combination of the flavors in the company’s popular Smokehouse BBQ rub, and Hickory Smoked Bacon flavor salt.

Ground beef reigns supreme as the top choice for grill masters, Brewer said, making Bacon BBQ patty blend  the perfect addition for Excalibur.

Excalibur is also bullish on its Tarragon and White Wine marinade, a rich and creamy blend featuring aromatics of shallots, garlic, and tarragon and a white wine finish.

“This is one of my favorite marinades, especially when applied to boneless, skinless chicken thighs,” Brewer said. “Our customers tell us it’s packed with flavor and shows fantastically in the meat case, or even in Cryovac packaging for freezer display.”

Liquor paired with proteins is trending, as customers are drawn to alcohol-infused flavors in product names, he added.

Excalibur has discovered what it thinks is the next generation in uncured and cleaner-label seasonings, Brewer said.

A few years ago, the company partnered with Prosur on developing clean-label products across all categories. Prosur’s food scientists, Brewer said, have the know-how in biotechnology to develop natural plant-based ingredient solutions.

“This helps us create flavorful foods with a clean and honest label that also extends shelf life in finished products. The demand for clean label products is here to stay, and Prosur has been instrumental in helping us develop great selling sausage, patty, and marinade blends that are all- natural.”

Excalibur also continues to partner with retail meat departments in the development and portion packaging of meal kit ingredients.

One of the company’s grocery customers uses its Butter Garlic, Hatch Chili, Captain’s Bay, and Sweet & Sassy Garlic portion packed to season one pound of cooked shrimp. The contents are boxed, sold pre-seasoned and selling very well.

“We know that products paired with flavors drive sales in the meat case.”

This article is an excerpt from the October 2024 issue of Supermarket Perimeter. You can read the entire Seasonings and Marinades feature and more in the digital edition here.