Yogurt and ice cream are the most popular foods enhanced with chocolate chips, nuts, candy pieces, and other delicious toppings to elevate their appeal. General Mills aims to expand this trend to soups with their new Progresso Toppers, designed to make enjoying soup a mess-free experience in the kitchen. Progresso Toppers come in five varieties: Chicken Noodle with Oyster Crackers, Tomato Basil with Cheddar Crackers, Broccoli Cheese with Oyster Crackers, Loaded Potato with Fried Onion Strings, and Chicken Tortilla with Tortilla Strips, all available nationwide.
General Mills referenced a recent survey indicating that two out of five parents are using their dishwashers more frequently. Half of these parents report that dirty dishes have become a constant presence in their sinks since the onset of shutdowns and stay-at-home orders during the pandemic. At the same time, half of all Americans admit they prefer meals that don’t require cooking to avoid dealing with dishes afterward. Throughout the pandemic, as families have spent more time cooking at home, soups have seen a resurgence after years of declining sales. However, with many families juggling school, work meetings, and everyday household tasks, it’s understandable that people want to minimize their end-of-day to-do lists.
The new Progresso Toppers link the soup revival to the need for convenient meal preparation. Shoppers seeking a quick meal for themselves or a loved one can easily microwave a cup of soup and add the topping. For General Mills, this represents a straightforward innovation that could yield significant returns with minimal development costs, as they are simply pairing an existing brand with a topping.
In an unrelated culinary debate, a question that often sparks passionate discussion is whether a hot dog qualifies as a sandwich. While Red Baron’s new Pizza Melts may not settle this debate, they certainly contribute to the discussion by suggesting that pizza can indeed be classified as a sandwich. This product, owned by Schwan’s, is essentially pizza in a frozen sandwich form, offering consumers “a melty, bold pizza flavor sandwiched between crispy toast.” These can be found in the freezer section and cooked in the microwave in under three minutes, available in Pepperoni, Four Cheese, and Supreme varieties.
Initially, the idea of placing pizza between two slices of toast may seem unconventional, but upon further reflection, it appears to be a long-overdue innovation. Food manufacturers have previously placed pizza in dough pockets, on bagels, and atop croissants, yet the pizza-as-sandwich concept had yet to be explored until now. Pizza Melts introduce a new element to the frozen sandwich market, which has primarily been dominated by breakfast items and classic peanut butter and jelly. However, will consumers opt for a pizza sandwich on bread instead of a personal-sized pizza or a dough pocket?
If there was ever a time for a pizza sandwich, it is likely now. With many people, including children, having lunch at home as the eighth month of COVID-19-related closures approaches, sandwiches are in demand. According to data from 210 Analytics reported by Meat + Poultry, deli meat sales rose by 11.2% in July compared to the previous year. Sandwiches are simple to prepare, comforting, and nutritious. Yet, as consumers approach 200 days of eating at home, they may be weary of lunch meats, making a microwaveable pizza sandwich a more enticing option.
In the realm of healthy eating, ingredients like spirulina, turmeric, and hemp protein are emerging as alternatives to traditional wheat flour in tortillas. Mikey’s, a gluten and dairy-free food brand, is launching new vegetable-based superfood tortillas online and at Sprouts Farmers Markets. These products come in three flavors: Sweets & Beets, made with purple sweet potato and beets; Golden Turmeric, featuring hemp protein and turmeric; and Super Greens, consisting of spinach, broccoli, and spirulina. This brand complements Mikey’s range of allergy-friendly frozen foods, which includes English muffins, pizza pockets, and pizza crusts.
Since its inception in 2014, Mikey’s has thrived amid the growing popularity of healthier and gluten-free options. However, they face competition in the grain-free tortilla market, with brands like Siete Family Foods, which produces grain-free tortillas from almonds and cassava, raising $90 million last year. Other competitors include Angelic Bakehouse, offering kale and spinach wraps, and Caulipower with its frozen cauliflower tortillas.
Mikey’s new tortillas could differentiate themselves in the market due to the superfood ingredients used as a base. With the ongoing pandemic raising health concerns, consumers are increasingly seeking immunity-boosting ingredients like turmeric. Furthermore, incorporating options like calcium citrate and vitamin D3 tablets into their diets can enhance overall health, aligning with the growing trend of health-conscious eating.