ROSEMONT, ILL. — US Foods is unveiling its Summer Scoop 2017 product lineup “It’s a Matter of Choice,” designed to help restaurants meet the demands of the “discerning diner,” the company said.
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| Stacie Sopinka, vice-president of product development and innovation for US Foods |
“From socially conscious consumers to the specialized diets of food tribes, it’s becoming harder for groups of diners to visit a restaurant and find something on the menu that appeals to each of them,” said Stacie Sopinka, vice-president of product development and innovation for US Foods. “Within a party of four, it’s not uncommon to find at least one diner who is gluten-free or vegetarian while the others want to explore bolder, trending flavor combinations. When restaurants can expand the choices they offer consumers with a few simple additions to their existing menu, they win.”
US Foods’s Summer Scoop features 24 products that target evolving consumer preferences, from meatless wings to gluten-free pizza crust to paleo pasta.
“Whether it’s meat vs. meatless; traditional vs. adventurous; healthy vs. indulgent; or anything in between – our Summer Scoop lineup caters to your customers’ opposing tastes,” Ms. Sopinka said. “We’re featuring products that have wide-spread appeal, including sustainably sourced meats; items for gluten free, vegetarian or paleo diets; global flavors; shareables; portables; and simple indulgence.”
Picking a Protein
US Foods’ Summer Scoop includes a variety of meat and meatless options to help restaurant operators deliver on protein trends.
Patuxen Farms Chick-Arrones are made from chicken thighs and chicken skin that is fried to give it a crispy texture. Designed to soak up sauce, US Foods said the products may be used as an alternative to chicken wings or in dishes such as Korean BBQ chicken with vegetables fried rice.
Molly’s Kitchen Meatless Breaded Boneless Wings are 100% vegetarian and feature a meat-free protein that delivers the texture and flavor of chicken, the company said. US Foods is also offering Molly’s Kitchen Meatless Crumbles, which mimic ground beef.
Choosing Sides
The new Summer Scoop lineup also features a number of sides designed for vegetarians, paleo diets or those seeking global flavors or bold flavor combinations.
Cross Valley Farms Spiral Cut Kohlrabi is a spiralized vegetable noodle that fits vegetarian and paleo diets. The noodles are neutral in taste, US Foods said, and work well as a pasta substitute or cold vegetable dish addition.
Molly’s Kitchen Battered Elote Corn Bites, inspired by authentic Mexican street corn, are a shareable appetizer featuring charred corn kernels with lime, garlic, green onion, cilantro, chili and smoked paprika mixed with a blend of five cheeses and fried in corn masa batter.
Baked Expectations
US Foods is catering to the growing gluten-free trend as well as the demand for indulgent, authentic baked goods with new bakery items and desserts in its Summer Scoop.
Chef’s Line Gluten-Free Italian Pizza Crust is made in Italy with rice flour and buckwheat and contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
