Meat+Poultry - April 2023 - 45

experience. Substituting cheap alternatives for
the real deal does not invite retrial.
" We take pride in the ingredients we put
into our box each week, " Adler said. " When we
select them, we want to make sure they are the
best representation of the particular ingredient
that is available at scale and meets all of our
sourcing requirements. When it comes to the
authenticity of dishes, we want to be very
respectful of the fact that everything we are
creating are facsimiles or dishes inspired by
other cuisines and cultures. We tend to call this
out in our recipe titles and introductory copy. "
Blue Apron's meals are meant to help
people discover ingredients and learn new
techniques to make their home-cooking
experience more enjoyable and delicious. The
company never claims that it is the true source
for the most authentic recipes from across
the globe.
" Doing so would be disrespectful to the
time-honored traditions and foodways of other
cultures, " Adler said.
Retail brands participating in the valueadded
meat and poultry space are wise
to be authentic, but humble at the same
time when adding international flavors to
packaged proteins. Partnering with culinary
professionals from around the world adds
legitimacy to the flavor profile.
This is a space that a growing number of
brands have entered, as showcased at the
2023 Meat Conference in Dallas, March 5-8,
2023. US consumers are buying more fresh
meat and poultry than before the pandemic,
but shoppers' purchasing decisions are
driven by a laser-like focus on value in terms
of price, convenience and other attributes,
according to the Power of Meat report. The
survey defined value-added meat as items that
are pre-marinated, pre-cut or pre-seasoned,
such as kabobs, meatloaf, meatballs or premarinated
chicken wings.
" Value-added meat has been a growth driver
for several years, based on the combination
of a higher consumption frequency and an
increase in household penetration, " said
Anne-Marie Roerink, principal, 210 Analytics,
San Antonio, Texas, who presented the
18th edition of the report at the conference.
" Engagement jumped ahead in 2020 as people
looked for a helping hand with much greater
levels of at-home meal preparation versus
pre-pandemic. Convenience remains important
despite the inflationary pressure on income,
with the ever-growing popularity of valueadded
meat driving above-average sales gains. "
WHAT'S HOT IN FLAVOR
Authentic international flavors add value to
center-of-plate proteins in restaurants and at
home. Understanding what's trending outside
the home should provide inspiration for retail
food brands.
The National Restaurant Association's
annual What's Hot Culinary Forecast for
2023 identified sweet-heat fusion flavors on
chicken, variations of sriracha on all types of
applications, and the flavors of Southeast Asia
(e.g., Vietnam, Singapore, Philippines, etc.) as
growing in popularity on menus this year.
" Consumers will always want foods
that reflect the familiar flavors they know
and love, but they continue to expand their
palates with unique global fare, " said Hudson
Riehle, senior vice president of research for
the National Restaurant Association. " With
so many eyes on screens, social media plays
a huge role in spreading the word about the
latest flavor sensations. Consumers crave
Blue Apron's meals are
meant to help consumers
discover ingredients
and learn new cooking
techniques to enhance their
home cooking experience.
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