As consumer demand remains strong for convenient, healthy, and high-end restaurant-quality meals at home, Fresh Express®, a large player in value added salads, has announced three new offerings in its line of best-selling chopped salad kits: Twisted Caesar Lemon Caesar, Twisted Caesar Pesto Caesar and Mexican Style, and its newest crunchy blend, Butter Supreme.
Trends like convenience, plant-based nutrition, and restaurant-inspired international flavors are driving food innovations, and chopped salads kits are well positioned to drive growth for the value-added salad (VAS) category. Chopped kits represent 18% dollar share of the total VAS category.
"At Fresh Express, innovation is at the heart of everything we do – from seed selection to packaging technology to culinary development," said Fabian Pereira, Vice President of Marketing and Innovation at Fresh Express. "Whether consumers are looking for a quick and flavorful meal with our chopped kits or curating their favorite salad creation with one of our salad blends, we have more than 100 fresh and affordable salad varieties for every meal occasion."
A recent study conducted by OnePoll2 on behalf of Fresh Express found that of the respondents who believe there's such a thing as the "ultimate salad", 78% think the ultimate salad should be chopped and 51% think it should be loaded with toppings. The new Fresh Express chopped salad kits deliver on these consumer preferences and incorporate trending flavors and premium ingredients.
Lemon Caesar and Pesto Caesar are the latest additions to the Fresh Express Twisted Caesar Chopped Salad Kits line, which combine the popular Caesar salad with an unexpected yet delicious flavor twist.
Twisted Caesar Lemon Caesar: crisp iceberg and green leaf lettuce, topped with crunchy Parmesan cheese crisps, dried cherries, and a well-balanced lemon white wine Caesar dressing.
Twisted Caesar Pesto Caesar: a fresh blend of crisp iceberg and green leaf lettuce, tossed with crunchy garlic brioche croutons, parmesan cheese, and a creamy pesto Caesar dressing.
According to a consumer survey, more than 80% of consumers love Mexican food 3 and the cuisine appears on 23% of U.S. restaurant menus4. These insights, along with others, inspired the new Fresh Express Mexican Style Chopped Salad Kit.
Mexican Style: crisp iceberg and green leaf lettuce, slivered carrots, and shredded red cabbage garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds, cheddar cheese tortilla strips, crumbled cotija cheese, and a cheesy sweet tomatillo dressing.
For consumers who prefer to create a salad using their favorite lettuce, toppings, and dressing (40% of survey respondents), Fresh Express Butter Supreme delivers crunch in every bite.
The new Fresh Express Chopped Kits and Crunchy Blend have a suggested retail price of $3.99 and are available now in the refrigerated produce department at retailers nationwide, including Albertsons, Aldi, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, and Walmart.
For more information: freshexpress.com