Northern Wind launched Bon Cuisine Seafood Proteins earlier this year to help retailers offer more choices of convenient, protein-rich meal options for their customers. The frozen seafood meals combine scallops or shrimp with flavored butter medallions.
Thus far, the line is available at Stop & Shop stores in the Northeast, with additional regional and national supermarket partners anticipated soon, according to a spokesperson for the brand.
“The response from retailers has been extremely positive,” he said. “Buyers are particularly responding to the line’s combination of premium seafood, protein-forward positioning, chef-crafted flavors and convenience. They also see an opportunity in the versatility of the product. Rather than being a complete frozen meal, Bon Cuisine gives consumers a premium seafood protein that they can easily pair with pasta, rice or vegetables to create a meal their way.”
He added that retailers also have responded positively to the line’s ability to make seafood more approachable for consumers. The products cook from frozen in minutes, eliminate much of the guesswork associated with preparing seafood at home and offer flavors that feel elevated while still being accessible for everyday meals.
Jeff Bolton, president of New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Northern Wind, added, “Consumers want meal solutions that are convenient, customizable and packed with protein. Bon Cuisine Seafood Proteins give shoppers the flexibility to create a variety of meals while helping retailers drive additional purchases across multiple departments.”
Cross-merchandising opportunities
Retailers can merchandise the products alongside fresh vegetables, pasta, rice, sauces, salad kits and bakery items, encouraging shoppers to build complete meals and increasing incremental purchases beyond the frozen seafood aisle, the company said.
The line includes six varieties:
- Premium Scallops with Gochujang Butter Sauce – Korean-inspired flavors with 24 grams of protein per serving.
- Premium Scallops with Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce – 25 grams of protein per serving.
- Premium Scallops with Lemon & Herb Butter Sauce – 24 grams of protein per serving.
- Premium Shrimp with Spicy Cajun Butter Sauce – Cajun-inspired butter with peppers, herbs, spices and lemon, offering 27 grams of protein per serving.
- Premium Shrimp with Garlic Parmesan Butter Sauce – Roasted garlic butter with Parmesan and Italian herbs, delivering 28 grams of protein per serving.
- Premium Shrimp with Spicy Asian Soy Butter Sauce – Umami-rich butter featuring soy, miso, ginger, garlic, sesame, rice wine and scallions, providing 28 grams of protein per serving.
Each variety contains no added sugars or trans fat, according to the company.
Founded in 1987, Northern Wind is a vertically integrated seafood company and one of North America’s largest scallop and seafood producers.
Related: FMI Report: Frequent Seafood Shoppers Drive 40% Of Category Sales