The people have spoken and they want poppable, portable snack foods — convenient, bite-sized snacks easily eaten on the go and shared with others.
In response to this trend, last December Lakeside Foods launched a new line of frozen appetizers with a breading specially formulated to crisp up in home appliances such as air fryers and conventional ovens.
The launch is a first for the Manitowoc-based private label company, which has traditionally been a supplier of frozen and canned foods to the retail, food service and industrial sectors. Â
“This particular launch is the first time that we have developed products that are ready to be prepared in-home,” says Laurie Neff, senior vice president of sales for Lakeside Foods. “It’s a very intentional part of our strategy to reach more consumers.”
The line consists of the trifecta of appetizer favorites — breaded green beans, pickles and Wisconsin white cheddar cheese curds. The products were developed to align with changing consumer tastes and eating habits, Neff says.
“There’s more snacking in the world than there is traditional three square meals a day,” she says. “And there’s also an indulgence factor where people want to make products that mimic a fast food or a restaurant experience.”
The product development process was twofold. It required not only ingredient and recipe changes, but it also required updates to Lakeside’s Riverside Foods plant in Two Rivers.Â
“Our manufacturing process had to be changed,” Neff says. “We upgraded the line filtration system. That process improvement sort of eliminates the bread crumbs, [which] helps us have better throughput and a more reliable product through production.”
Last fall Lakeside acquired Oregon-based Smith Frozen Foods — a move that added significant frozen storage capacity and some new production capabilities for the company.
Several retailers have already launched the appetizer line, with more to come this spring. Neff says the company is planning to add additional products in the line, particularly in bolder flavors such as the popular Nashville hot seasoning blend.
“This is the start of a new capability for us,” Neff says. “We know that with the evolving popularity of air fryers and consumer behavior of snacking — particularly in busy adults and younger people — the combination of those two make these products a home run.”
