JBS USA, Greeley, Colorado, is growing its line of seasoned or marinated packaged meats which includes Swift-brand dry rubbed roasts.
Exposing excellence
At the new product tasting and expo event at the meat conference, Smithfield showcased additional new Skinnygirl products on the horizon, including frozen heat-and-eat meat-containing breakfast sandwiches and meat and cheese snack packs. These products affirm for women that consuming meat when managing their weight is positive.
To keep meat on the menu of personalized nutrition menus, Bentz identified strategies for innovators to incorporate in their new product development endeavors. First there’s reclaiming the protein story.
“You need protein callouts on product labels,” she said. “Second, you need to leverage meat’s nutritional advantages as a complete protein. Consumers do not understand complete protein and essential amino acids. You need to educate them.”
Product developers should tailor benefits to personal health needs, as consumers are looking for particular benefits. The Skinnygirl brand does that with the American Heart Association seal. Also, flagging protein content and communicating how protein may assist with satiety, weight loss and energy will assist with appealing to a segment of the female population.
Bentz emphasized that when marketers do all this they must remember that consumer engagement is paramount with today’s consumers who are always connected. In-store communication is also important.
Another opportunity is collaboration across industries, in particular industries that are about protein. Think meat and cheese snacks and meat with eggs.
“Collaboration provides true value to the consumer,” Bentz said.
Negri challenged attendees to envision the protein aisle of the future. This may include menu/nutritional kiosks, portion-control packaging and smart labeling. It will likely include more simplified meats with cooking instructions.
For example, JBS USA, Greeley, Colorado, is growing its line of seasoned or marinated packaged meats. This includes Swift-branded dry rubbed roasts intended for slow cookers.
Reasoning for seasoning
Seasoning suppliers are making it easier for butchers and processors to add flavor to products. This appeals to consumers craving flavor adventure while also seeking out leaner cuts of meat and poultry to meet their personalized nutrition goals.
At the expo, Amazing Taste Foods Inc., Malibu, California, showcased how the company partners with retail customers to sell more protein by offering seasonings that add value and drive purchase. There are industrial seasonings that the butcher applies to the meat and then packs for merchandising or showcase in the display case for counter service. The company also offers single-use polyvinyl packets that can be packaged with packaged proteins. For consumers who prefer to apply their own seasoning, there are branded packets for at-home application. These packets are not found in the spice aisle, rather they are cross-merchandised using shelf hooks in the meat case. This helps sell more protein.
The seasoning systems function as both flavor enhancer and tenderizer. They are composed of all-natural spices, herbs, rice flour, tapioca starch and other functional ingredients without any artificial flavors, fat, preservatives or monosodium glutamate. These unique formulations bind and seal in the natural juices of the protein. They are clean-label seasonings that also are low in sodium, with most varieties being gluten free and kosher.
Food is no longer a one-size-fits-all business. This includes meat and poultry products.
“Food and health will increasingly converge,” Negri said, “in industry and for consumers.”
