Orlando, Florida-based Fresh Express has launched its newest salad kit, French Blue Cheese, and three new offerings in its line of chopped salad kits: French Bistro, Smokehouse and Twisted Caesar Enchilada.
With international flavors continuing to trend, and growing consumer demand for convenience in the kitchen, the new Fresh Express products make it easier for consumers to enjoy flavors inspired by cuisine from around the world at home.
A recent study conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Fresh Express found that 36 percent of Americans claim Mexican is their favorite international flavor profile, followed by Italian (32 percent) and Chinese flavors (25 percent).
Nearly half of respondents (47 percent) said they feel like a professional chef when using international ingredients in their cooking.
“At Fresh Express, we pride ourselves on our commitment to innovation and growing the value-added salad category,” said Fabian Pereira, VP of marketing and innovation..
“By keeping our finger on the pulse of consumer trends and culinary preferences, we can continue bringing unique products to market, featuring the flavors and premium ingredients consumers crave, with our fresh salad greens at the heart of every recipe.”
The survey also found that 69 percent of Americans would be more likely to prepare international or international-inspired dishes, like enchiladas (25 percent), if they were easier to make.
To meet this consumer demand, Fresh Express has launched Twisted Caesar Enchilada, the latest addition to the Caesar Chopped Salad Kits line. It features a blend of green leafs and iceberg lettuce, chili lime tortilla crisps, crispy sweet corn kernels, a Mexican cheese blend and a green enchilada Caesar dressing.
According to Datassential, French food appears on more than 25 percent of U.S. restaurant menus. Brioche is on 17 percent of restaurant menus and is projected to keep growing.
These insights, along with others, led Fresh Express to develop two new French-inspired salad kits:
- French Bistro Chopped Salad Kit – iceberg and green leaf lettuce, shredded carrots and red cabbage, garlic brioche croutons, shaved Romano cheese and honey Dijon dressing.
- French Blue Cheese Salad Kit – baby spinach, spring mix, red cabbage and carrots, blue cheese, crunchy garlic brioche croutons and a savory French blue cheese dressing.
Although international flavors continue to trend, 35 percent of Americans have the most love for the flavors of their home country. When asked which ingredients they would add to make a dish taste better, 39 percent said bacon and more than a quarter (27 percent) said barbecue sauce.
The new Fresh Express Smokehouse Chopped Kit features barbecue croutons, shredded smoked gouda and a smoked bacon dressing, with a blend of iceberg, green leaf, red cabbage and carrots.
The new products join the brand’s more than 100 varieties of salad kits and blends, with new recipes that expand its library of more than 330 recipes on Fresh Express’ website.
These salad products have a suggested retail price of $3.99 and are available in the refrigerated produce department at retailers nationwide.
