What's New in Review
New meat products have made their way onto store shelves and restaurant menus in recent months. Meat Marketing & Technology, with the aid of Marketing Intelligence Service of Naples, N.Y., reviews what's new in the market.
-- Matador Processors, Blanchard, Okla., introduces Clif's Frozen Chile Rellenos and Clif's Frozen Little Hot Shots Stuffed Jalapenos.
The Rellenos come in beef, bean, chicken/cheddar and cheese varieties. They can be prepared in oil. The precooked version can be prepared in an oven or microwave.
The stuffed jalapenos come in spicy beef, chicken and cheddar, cheddar cheese and cream cheese versions. The mild jalepenos are stuffed, breaded, individual quick frozen and packaged for ease of preparation.
-- Alexander & Hornung, Detroit, has available its All Beef Mini Salami in mild and hot varieties. The meat snack is high in protein, the company claims.
-- Jacque's Croc's Alligator Farm, Scott, La., offers its alligator meat in vacuum-packed white, vacuum-packed mixed, and vacuum-packed bits and pieces mixed. It is also available in pre-cut, bite-size tenderized, vacuum-packed tenderized tenderloin, plain canned and smoked canned.
-- Johnsonville Foods, Sheboygan, Wis., has changed the labels to three versions of product on its sausage line: Smoked Sausage-Beddar with Cheddar; Country Sausage-Vermont Maple Syrup; and Bratwurst-Original.
The Smoked Sausage comes in a vacuum pack, and the other varieties are sold in plastic overwrapped foam trays. According to full-page ads that offer 25-cent coupons, the labels have been dressed up "to make it easier for you to choose all your favorite Johnsonville flavors."
-- Randalls' Food Markets, Houston, has launched its Cattleman's Select Reduced-Fat Beef. It has 15 percent less fat than Randall's traditional beef, and is priced considerably lower than regular beef, the company claims.
-- Mitchell Foods, Barbourville, Ky., introduces BBQ Pork and BBQ Beef, which come in 1-pound and 5-pound tubs, ready to heat and eat. Cases are prepared with 12 units each, except for the 5-pound tub which comes two to a case. Individually bar-coded, as well as case-coded, the product is easy to handle and inventory.
-- Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn., introduces the Hormel Omelet Master Microwave Omelets in bacon, mushroom, Mexican, Western, and cheese varieties. The packaged frozen products produce light, fluffy omelets in two minutes, the company claims.
Hormel is also offering its Hormel Quick Meal in value packs, described as larger-size packages with lower portion costs. Cheeseburgers, bacon cheeseburgers and corn dogs are packaged in six-count boxes that weigh 28.8 ounces, 30 ounces and 27.5 ounces.
The frozen burger meals are microwaveable. The corn dog packaging is tagged "premium."
n Stouffer's, Solon, Ohio, has added nine Cafe Classics entrees to its Lean Cuisine line, including Sirloin Beef Peppercorn, strips of sirloin beef in a creamy seasoned sauce of mushrooms, onions, crushed peppercorns, herbs and garlic. The beef is accompanied by red skin potatoes, green beans and red peppers in a seasoned sauce of parsley butter.
The new products have a suggested retail price of $2.79, and will be launched with the support of television and print advertising, coupons and trade promotions.
-- ConAgra Frozen Foods, Omaha, Neb., is offering varieties of its Healthy Choice Frozen Entrees, including Lasagna Roma with Meat Sauce, in "new, convenient recyclable trays (that contain) 35 percent more food." Full-page advertisements with 35-cent coupons and mail-in refund certificates are being used for promotion.
-- Gol-Pak Corp., Monterey, Tenn., introduces Beef Steak Nuggets and Meatballs. The nuggets are "breaded, chopped and formed" and can be microwaved, baked or fried. The meatballs can be baked, simmered or microwaved. Both products contain no MSG or tropical oils, the company claims. They are packaged in 16-ounce bags that are tagged "fully cooked" and "ready in minutes."
-- Mortimer's Fine Foods., Burlington, Ontario, offers Mortimer's Shepherd's Pie. The frozen entree is sold in 10-ounce, single-served packages and 21-ounce packages. They have suggested retail prices of $1.99 to $2.49 and $4.49 to $4.99. A 5-pound family pack is also available.
If your company has launched a new meat product, please mail or fax a news release to Larry Aylward, Meat Marketing & Technology, The Arcade, 401 Euclid Ave., Suite 461, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, phone 216/579-0814 or fax 216/579-0911.