Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is widely recognized for his sharp wit, fiery remarks, and renowned restaurants and cookbooks. Now, the “MasterChef” star is bringing his vibrant personality to the frozen food aisle with the launch of his frozen entrée line, By Chef Ramsay. This new line features eight different dishes, including lasagna, chicken pot pie, four cheese macaroni bake, and lemon caper chicken, among others. Produced in collaboration with Golden West Food, these meals are available exclusively at Walmart across the nation. While Ramsay is no stranger to fine dining, boasting a total of seven Michelin stars for his restaurants, these frozen entrees are priced affordably, as stated by Golden West. The goal behind these frozen dinners is to allow consumers to experience Ramsay’s culinary expertise at home and to “bridge the gap” between his famous dishes showcased on television and those served in his upscale restaurants. Ramsay is entering the frozen food market at an ideal time, as sales of frozen food products are on the upswing compared to pre-pandemic levels. In 2022, sales surged by 8.6% to reach $72.2 billion, according to the American Frozen Food Institute. “I’m thrilled to bring my favorite dishes into homes across the country,” Ramsay stated. “It excites me that these meals are widely accessible for everyone to enjoy, and I hope they inspire the home chef in each person.”
In another development, Banza, known for its chickpea-based pasta and products, is venturing into the breakfast category with its new Protein Waffles. Each serving contains 10 grams of protein, and they come in three delicious varieties: Homestyle, Blueberry, and Chocolate Chip. Banza Waffles are available at Whole Foods, as well as on Amazon and the Banza website. Since its debut in 2014, the brand has thrived amid the growing demand for healthy options. Banza was motivated to expand further into the frozen food sector after the successful launch of Banza Pizza in 2020, and it also offers mac & cheese and rice products. “Our customers expressed a desire for breakfast to be quick, tasty, and nutritious,” said Brian Rudolph, CEO and co-founder of Banza. “By transforming chickpeas into waffles, we’re aiming to achieve all three while promoting our mission to encourage people to consume more chickpeas and other beans.” Other breakfast brands that emphasize high-protein options include Kodiak’s frozen waffles and pancakes, with the former providing 12 grams of protein per serving.
Lastly, Nestlé’s Coffee mate is tapping into nostalgia with its latest launch of Peanut Butter & Jelly Flavored Duo Creamer, the first PB&J creamer of its kind. This new offering brings the beloved flavor combination of peanut butter and jelly from lunchboxes to coffee cups. Nestlé highlighted that while consumers may debate the best type of jelly for the classic sandwich, strawberry’s sweetness pairs perfectly with creamy peanut butter to evoke the nostalgic taste of a classic brown bag lunch. “Inspired by coffee lovers who grew up enjoying peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, this limited-edition Coffee mate Duo will bring a joyful splash of nostalgia and celebrate the only pairing as iconic as coffee and creamer,” said Leonardo Aizpuru, Nestlé’s vice president of brand marketing for the beverage division. According to IRI Market Advantage data, a significant reason for introducing new flavors is that 53% of Coffee mate users switch between flavors, and 56% are always looking for new options. The PB&J creamer is likely just the beginning, with additional Coffee mate Duo Flavors set to hit stores in December. While Coffee mate is best known for flavors like French Vanilla and Hazelnut, the brand has not hesitated to integrate other beloved products into its offerings to entice both existing and new consumers. Over the past few years, Coffee mate has rolled out limited-edition flavors including Snickers, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Pop-Tarts, and Rice Krispies Treats, providing healthy options for flavor enthusiasts.