Targeting more consumers? Go for the taste buds! Although convenience is key—taste-tempting flavor is the way to draw attention. Last year saw innovation ideas trickle down to the basics including hot dogs, lunch meat and yes—even SPAM.

In time for summer grilling, The Kraft Heinz Company added three flavor-filled Stuffed Dogs varieties to its Oscar Mayer line: Jalapeño Cheddar, Chili Cheese, and Cheese. Smithfield Foods took a similar approach to deli meat and extended its premium Kretschmar line with two new offerings: Spiced Pineapple Ham and Lemon & Cracked Pepper Turkey. Hormel also took its flavor game to a new level last July with a SPAM Korean BBQ flavor, its 12^th permanent variety. Officials say it boasts a blend of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, paprika and sesame with a hint of spice from gochujang paste.

In another move, Hormel said an internal, company employee potluck led to another Asian-inspired innovation last year: Hormel Sweet Garlic Ginger Pork Loin. Feng Walkup, a 24-year company veteran and international account manager in Hormel’s fresh meat category, prepared the dish for her group’s 2023 office potluck. Co-workers loved it so much that they pushed for the flavor idea as an addition to Hormel’s marinated meats product line. It carries a SRP of of $8.99 for a 1.5-pound pork loin filet.

Here are overviews demonstrating how flavor and convenience also led innovation in …

… bacon: Hormel led bacon’s charge with three extensions to its Hormel Black Label line. A significant move was new OVEN READY Thick Cut Bacon that “removes all the pain points of traditional bacon preparation,” the company said. Consumers simply place the oven safe tray in a preheated oven, cook for 20 minutes (depending on preferred crispiness) and discard the tray in the trash—with no need to touch raw meat or babysit the frying pan, and no cleanup. Two fun, flavorful LTO items included a collaboration with General Mills’ Cinnamon Toast Crunch brand. It involved a “CINNADUST” seasoning blend that was hand-rubbed and held overnight for optimal flavor. Another effort (not co-branded) paired Black Label bacon with ranch dressing flavor. In other flavorful news, Daily’s Premium Meats, St. Joseph, Mo., introduced two new flavored thick-cut bacon offerings: Hot Honey and Spicy Maple.

Those processors targeting healthier options include Hormel Foods’ Applegate Farms, Bedminster, N.J., which introduced Applegate Naturals Fully Cooked Sunday Bacon. The shelf-stable offering carried a MSRP of $7.99 at Sprouts, Whole Foods and Amazon. Also angling for health was North Country Smokehouse, Claremont, N.H., which launched a Reduced Sodium, Organic Applewood Smoked Bacon at Whole Foods Market locations nationwide.

… sausage: Among those touting more authentic regional flavor were McCormick & Company and Cacique Foods LLC. McCormick said it reformulated and relaunched Zatarain's Andouille Smoked Sausage to deliver more New Orleans style flavor. Already known for Hispanic chorizo, Cacique, Irving, Tex., took another route and introduced a Texas-Style Premium Pork Chorizo with mild heat and different “Southwestern flavor” notes.

… snacking: New snack options ranged from fun and flavorful (jerky) all the way to fancy (ready-made charcuterie selections.) Fun snacks included two co-branded jerky products—involving Tillamook Country Smoker, Bay City, Ore., and Tajín USA International; as well as Link Snacks, Minong, Wis., and Keurig Dr Pepper, Inc. Respectively, Tillamook introduced a Tajín Flavored Beef Jerky; and Link Snacks introduced a Jack Link’s WILD Dr Pepper inspired flavored meat stick and Jack Link’s Dr Pepper inspired flavored beef jerky.

At the other end of the spectrum, Hormel Foods extended its Columbus Craft Meats line with seven new products for holiday entertaining as well as snacking. A Rustic Charcuterie Trio offers authentic traditional flavors featuring Sopressata Salame, Prosciutto and uncured Coppa, while the Bold Charcuterie Trio delivers more flavor with Hot Sopressata, uncured Hot Coppa and uncured Chorizo. There’s also a “Tour of Italy Tasting Board” with a selection of Italian craft meats, cheeses and accompaniments. Elsewhere, Smithfield Foods, Smithfield, Va., extended its Margherita and Carando with charcuterie-ready packs. Margherita launched All-Natural Charcuterie Cuts line (Uncured Italian Dry Salami, Uncured Pepperoni, Uncured Genoa Salami) along with a savory duo pack of Uncured Pepperoni and Uncured Genoa Salami. Carando launched a Premium All-Natural Dry Sausage line (Italian Dry Salame, Pepperoni and Genoa Salame) along with a duo pack of Genoa Salame and Pepperoni.

Interestingly, last June saw Applegate Farms introduce what it was the first nationally available uncured organic pepperoni. The new Applegate Organic options come in two varieties: Pork & Beef, as well as and Turkey.

Poultry Power: Flavor + Convenience

New poultry items appealed with items promising both full flavor and optimum convenience. One intriguing new restaurant-to-retail offering was chef José Garces’ new Como Como Yucatan Chicken. It features slow braised chicken “infused with the bright, earthy flavors of onions, garlic, sweet peppers, and dried chilis,” said Garces. The 32oz (2lb) restaurant style entrée debuted at 97 Costco locations across the Northeast.

Also targeting flavorful at-home meal and snacking occasions were Tyson Foods Inc., Hooters of America LLC, JBS Foods USA, Perdue Farms and Amylu Foods.

Last June saw Tyson, Springdale, Ark., introduce Tyson Honey Chicken Bites (24oz, eight servings) and Tyson Restaurant Style Crispy Wings (16oz, three-four servings). Fully cooked and dry rubbed, the wings come in three flavors: Rotisserie (Original), Garlic Parmesan and Caribbean Style. In a separate fall, football-related move, Tyson partnered with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys at Thanksgiving with Tyson Dallas Cowboys (star-shaped) Nuggets.

Another category leader, JBS Foods USA, Greeley, Colo., said it was bringing the “excitement of quick-service restaurant chicken to the frozen food aisle with bold new recipes and packaging.” It launched three chicken nugget lines: Pilgrim’s Loaded Nuggets (Chicken Pot Pie and Cheesy Jalapeño flavors); Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets; and Pilgrim’s Mini Nuggets (Zesty Ranch, Buttery, and Original flavors).

Also promoting an at-home restaurant experience was Hooters, Atlanta, which partnered with Golden West Food Group. The collaboration launched four items last June: BBQ Smoked Wings, Dry Rub Smoked Wings (Texas-style BBQ rub), Buffalo Style Boneless Wingz, and Buffalo Style Popcorn Chicken. The offerings debuted Publix Super Markets and Instacart. Items range from 12oz to 16oz with SRP varying $7.49 to $8.99.

Perdue, Salisbury, Md., angled for flavorful meal-prep convenience and extended its Perdue Short Cuts line with Hickory Smoked Chicken Breast Strips as well as Shredded Roasted White Meat Chicken. Elsewhere, Amylu Foods, Chicago, targeted breakfast with its first frozen SKU: Amylu Breakfast Bites. These meatball-style bites come in two flavors (Country Style, White Cheddar) and add high-protein appeal to any breakfast in just five minutes.

Butterball LLC, Garner, N.C., introduced the ultimate in convenience: Butterball Cook from Frozen Premium Whole Turkey. This no-thaw “deep brined” offering promises a tender turkey with just two steps: unwrap and roast. Total cooking time is five hours or until the product reaches its internal 170F temperature.

Sea Food Differently

Not to be outdone, seafood processors add flavor and convenience so their products also appeal for any occasion.

Emphasizing mealtime solutions were frozen and refrigerated offerings from coast-to-coast processors Scott & Jon’s, Auburn, Me; and Aquamar Inc., Rancho Cugamonga, Calif. Last fall saw Scott & Jon’s Scott & Jon's extend its seafood bowl line-up with two new additions: Lemon Butter Dill Salmon and Baja Fish Taco.

Last spring, it announced it was fighting “shrinkflation” and it 20% more food to its shrimp bowl offerings. It also came right back with three new namesake 10-Minute Meals: Shrimp Alfredo, Shrimp Fajita, and Shrimp Scampi. It said each multi-serve meal includes portions of shrimp with crisp vegetables, and home-made sauces or seasoning blends. For its part, Aquamar used last year’s Seafood Expo North America to launch five new refrigerated items “modeled after traditional dishes from Italy and Spain.” New offerings included Wild Red Shrimp in Lobster Sauce, Baby Clams with Garlic, and Shrimp Skewers in a Tangy Garlic Dressing.

Speaking of the Seafood Expo, last year’s “Best New Retail” product winner was the UK’s Highland Farms Ltd., and its namesake brand Salmon Salami.

Convenience-focused consumers found more value-added offerings in the center store from Bumble Bee Seafoods LLC, San Diego, and Chicken of the Sea International, El Segundo, Calif. Bumble Bee celebrated National Seafood Month (last October) with 11 new canned, pouched, and kit-based seafood products. New offerings include Wild-Caught Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water (Lemon & Garlic flavor) in a 2.5oz pouch; Everything Bagel Seasoning Tuna Salad "Snack on the Run!" Kit (MSC-Certified); and Bumble Bee Low-Sodium Albacore Solid White Tuna in Water in a 2.5oz pouch, a 5oz. can four-pack, and in a 12oz can. Other new items are Wild-Caught Pink Salmon, Skinless & Boneless Pouch; Wild-Caught Sardines and Prime Wild-Caught Tiny Shrimp (4oz tin).

Chicken of the Sea kicked off this year with two flavorful collaborations with McCormick & Company: Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with OLD BAY Seasoning and Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with McCormick Chili Lime. Last year, the brand introduced Packet Up! Tuna and Salmon Salad Kits including a full-size, wild caught tuna or salmon packet, plus accompaniments. The White Tuna Salad Kit includes a 2.5oz Wild Caught Albacore Tuna Packet, dried cranberries, light mayonnaise, four artisan crackers, mixing tray and serving spoon. The Pink Salmon Salad Kit includes a 2.5oz Alaskan Pink Salmon Packet, Dijon mustard, light mayonnaise, four artisan crackers, mixing tray and serving spoon.

Also targeting on-trend flavor was Rich Products Corp., Buffalo, N.Y. and St. Simon’s Island, Ga. It kicked off this year with Morey’s Wild Salmon with Mike’s Hot Honey. It includes two individually wrapped 5oz fillets and two packets of Mike’s Hot Honey.

“Hot honey has seen remarkable growth on U.S. menus, with Mike’s Hot Honey leading the way in the category,” said Ciera Womack, director of marketing, Seafood, for Rich’s Consumer Brands Division. “Honey is one of the most popular seafood sauce flavors, which happens to pair perfectly with salmon’s savory notes.”